2013 Official NBA Off-season Movement & Rumors (Merged threads)

Re: 2013 Official NBA Off-season Movement & Rumors

He does have a point there. You watch a season of games and Nic seems to lock in on one thing and the rest fall off. If he has a lot of assists, he ends up only taking 7 shots. If he is shooting the lights out, chances are the guy he is guarding is too.

 

Re: 2013 Official NBA Off-season Movement & Rumors

Nice post. Maybe it will take another year or two for Batum to be more consistent. He is only 24.

 

Re: 2013 Official NBA Off-season Movement & Rumors

I have. Except if we trade Batum... Then we get 7 mill in cap space additional to address that issue. You also think that one of the hardest workers will not be able to improve his shot. Also if they help off of MKG he will rebound as he is a much better rebounder than Batum. Look my issue isn't so much with Batum but with how limited we are with him being our second best player. Thus his cost.

 

Re: 2013 Official NBA Off-season Movement & Rumors

Very few players can. The fact that Nic can do all of those things pretty well confirms that he's more of a complementary player or a great #3, than a true star. We all knew that. If you expected more, then that is your poor judgement of expectations based on his first three years before he got his $$. And this nonsense about his contract-- he got market rate. You should take a look at contracts that Granger, Gay, Iggy, Gallo, Afflalo etc all got. Nic's is right on par with that.

 

Re: 2013 Official NBA Off-season Movement & Rumors

Sorry to interrupt the Batum discussion.

Zak Keefer ‏@zkeefer 8m
#Pacers coach Frank Vogel met with former Blazers coach Nate McMillan Monday about team's open asst. coaching spot

Carry on

 

Re: 2013 Official NBA Off-season Movement & Rumors

Batum was having a terrific season until he fell and injured is wrist. I don't know why people act like that didn't impact his effectiveness.

 

Re: 2013 Official NBA Off-season Movement & Rumors

+1.

 

Re: 2013 Official NBA Off-season Movement & Rumors

Exactly the issue. We should probably find a number 1 or 2 before we start paying a third or fourth option 10 mill. Grainger gay and iggy also do something very well. I don't think anyone sees Batum at elite offensively or defensively. I find batum to be a very good role player. But not someone who can take over a game consistently and be a star.

 

Re: 2013 Official NBA Off-season Movement & Rumors

This excuse just makes me laugh.

 

Re: 2013 Official NBA Off-season Movement & Rumors

I think this is the best critique of Nic's game that I've seen. His defense certainly wasn't as good this past season, as he gained a larger role in the offense. I didn't particularly care because it was great to see his play-making abilities develop. We weren't going to be a winning team so it was reasonable to focus on developing new parts of his game even if it meant losing focus on others. My hope is that over the next two seasons he's able to bring all of his abilities together. But even as it stands he's a good shooter, good play-maker, and good defender.
Saying his defense sucks - or any aspect of his game sucks - has got to be hyperbole if not stupidity. Nic's defense is above average, and was well above average when that was his only role with the team. He rarely lets his man get by him to score at the rim - instead forcing them to shoot low-percentage 18' jumpers. That's the very definition of good defense, and almost won the Spurs a championship. Nic's defense would be tremendous if we actually had a decent system for him to work within - but when he doesn't have a big to funnel towards, when there aren't any defensive rotations, it'll severely limit what a good defender can do.
Also, let's not forget that he was passing up open shots because he was shooting poorly due to an injured wrist. We all know he's an above average shooter - the previous season (w/o wrist injury) he was Top 10 in FG%, 3P%, and FT% for SFs playing >25mpg. It's the smart player who passes up long shots (especially when they're unable to shoot well) to create higher-percentage scoring opportunities for others.
I suppose if you want him to be the next Pippen, then yeah, he sucks. But if you realize that his role is that of the "glue guy", then he's a tremendous talent.

 

Re: 2013 Official NBA Off-season Movement & Rumors

You assume to much. I like Nic. I think he could truly be great. But, he has to make sure he gets his shots in games (assuming the wrist is okay), and he really needs to put as much effort into defending as he did passing this year. I'm not asking for first team NBA, but Stotts said this too in his exit interview.

 

Re: 2013 Official NBA Off-season Movement & Rumors

Nic's problem is he's mentally soft and passive with no handle.

Not hard to figure out.

 

Re: 2013 Official NBA Off-season Movement & Rumors

Granger, Gay and Iggy can't take over a game consistently and be a star either - few players can. Nic's court-awareness far exceeds that of his peers.

 

Re: 2013 Official NBA Off-season Movement & Rumors

Yes, because for the time leading up to the wrist injury, Batum was killing it, and everyone was killing you for not admitting how wrong you were. And you still couldn't give him any props. So it's clear you've got something against him, for whatever reason. Or you just can't ever consider you could be wrong (after reading many of your "I'm always right posts," it's likely this is the case). Even after his triple-doubles and 5x5, you were still saying that retaining Batum was a bad idea and still spewing your garbage. Then, the wrist injury, and his season immediately goes in a completely different direction. And you use that as a way of saying you were right.

When frankly, you can't pull your head far enough out of the sand (or your ass) to figure out when you're right and when you're not.

 

Re: 2013 Official NBA Off-season Movement & Rumors

I disagree. It's on par at best.

 

Re: 2013 Official NBA Off-season Movement & Rumors

Nic had 18 games last season of 7 or more assists. In those games he averaged 11.2 FGA per game. On the season he averaged 11.4. 6 of those games, he shot 10 or less FGs, all coming after his wrist injury.

 

Re: 2013 Official NBA Off-season Movement & Rumors

My issue is he is a 3 or 4th fiddle. Not a first or second. It is impossible for us to get someone to demote him into his proper role as currently constructed. If you can find a way to land us a truly elite player to surpass him with him on the roster please show me how. Unless we tank for the draft it won't happen.

 

Re: 2013 Official NBA Off-season Movement & Rumors

If he's a 3rd fiddle, I don't see why we need anyone to demote him to that spot. We're not asking him to be a #1 or a #2. I think that's pretty clearly Lillard and Aldridge.

 

Re: 2013 Official NBA Off-season Movement & Rumors

Batum shot under 40% in December. Was his wrist "injured" then?

No.

Problem with the Batum fans is Batum has a nice hot streak and the Batum fans believe that is his normal level of play, when all it really is is just a hot streak. No, that's not his normal level of play, and he proved that over the course of the season. The wrist injury is just an excuse. Every player plays hurt. Just ask Wesley.

 

Re: 2013 Official NBA Off-season Movement & Rumors

Sam Amico ‏@SamAmicoFSO 4m
For those asking about Bobcats shopping Kidd-Gilchrist ... I'm not buying it. Can't imagine why they'd do that.


Ummmmm and then this ....

Chris Sheridan ‏@sheridanhoops 56s
EXCLUIVE: #Bobcats shopping Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and will look to replace him with Otto Porter using No. 4 pick. http://www.sheridanhoops.com/2013/06/25/source-bobcats-shopping-kidd-gilcrest-to-draft-otto-porter/ …

Chris Sheridan ‏@sheridanhoops 40s
#Bobcats believe Porter will be available because #Wizards will draft Andrew Bennett at No. 3: http://www.sheridanhoops.com/2013/06/25/source-bobcats-shopping-kidd-gilcrest-to-draft-otto-porter/ …