Actually, it's easily arguable that AK has been their best player all year. And that makes me kind of sad.
yes, our 3rd most valuable player on the team. He does everything. Basketball geniuses are EVERYWHERE in portland.
16.4 PPG | 9.8 RPG | 1.0 BPG | 20.3 PER (21.4 last year) Clearly putting up better stats than Hibbert the year before he got his max deal. Centers this productive and in the early stages of his prime, he's going to get a $12m/per deal.
Max the man! We already have LaMonster, and Roy With Better Knees... why not sign Oden With Better Knees too?
Unless someone comes up with a better prospect, I'm all in. If they fear we are going to go hard after him this summer, and they truly don't want to pay the price, maybe we can make a deal before then to lessen their loss. If not, make an offer this summer that would cripple them if they match.
I like Pek, but he is not perfect either. He has a high PER because, much like Hickson, is a rebounding maniac. But that rebounding has been next to non-rebounders. And like Hickson, he is not a very good defender or rim protector. However, unlike Hickson, at least center is his real position. He is a wider body and has more gifted hands scoring the ball. I do like Pekovic, but he really is not worth a near max contract. Since its Paul's money, and since we have the other four starting spots worked out, with a good center prospect coming, I would be fine overpaying for Pek, but make no mistake, it would be overpaying. Just like Hibbert was overpaying, but I think Hibbert at least fills in the defensive woes and so would be a better fit. Pek is really good at rebounding, and pretty good at scoring. The good news is, although he is 26, he has only been in the league a short time, and could become a better defender. So, how much is he worth? 9 mil ish. But to have a chance at getting him would likely start at 11mil max length/raises.
Agree with all this. I have been pimping Pek since this summer, but in no way do I think he is a perfect fit or worth the money. I don't watch him play much, but he doen't look quick on his feet, doesn't look like he owns the defensive glass and is not close to the defensive presence a player like Hibbert is. I do check out the box scores and his numbers are impressive (I really like his FG%), but I know that is only a piece. My thought is the Blazers have one summer to make a big offer, center is their most pressing need, Pek. And if you have to overpay, well that is the luxury of having Allen . . . although big contracts can be an albatross on the franchise and it would suck for a team give a huge contract and Pek was really just a big stiff putting up big numbers on a weak team.
Aside from my stated desire to Pick the Pekker, I can't help but feel he's a journeyman style player. I guess we won't know without the benefit of hindsight.
Well I think he will likely be pretty close to what he is showing now, but with the chance to improve his D a bit. if you take a look at Pek's per 36 stats, you will see he is performing almost exactly the same as he did last year, and those were a modest improvement over his rookie year. Basically, he is a brick shithouse that can rebound and score. I provide room to grow as a defender because that is the one area that bigs tend to improve in through their first 5 years o so. If the Blazers sign him, he will look quite overpaid in his third and fourth years, but, hopefully fe can then be flipped for his expiring. In the meantime, that's a solid starting five.
Ya, I guess you are right, I just remember watching several games this season where he beasted on the boards. But non the less, he is a good rebounder, and on the weak-rebounding (except for Hickson) Blazers, Pek should continue his solid play on the backboards.
Al Jefferson or Pekovic I think the better move may be Jefferson. He is a slightly less efficient scorer, but better defender, rebounder, and turns the ball of less often.
