someone is gonna throw at least 13 million at him, I would be comfortable giving him up to 12 mil. After that it gets dicey due to injury history and lack of any further development besides his passing.
Pek maybe a good one on one defender; but his help d is suspect. That's what we need the most. Our pick and roll defense is just horrible. I could only imagine how shitty it would be with an even slower center.
FYI Jon Krawczynski @APkrawczynski Nikola Pekovic is the Western Conference player of the week. 25.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg. Wolves went 3-1. [video=youtube;HApwAOFf9h4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HApwAOFf9h4#![/video]
I like Pekovic a lot. He's old-school. A big lug who can't jump but can push anyone around and has surprising touch. It's a study in contrasts with him and Batum: Batum naturally gifted, seems to glide a bit too much. Pekovic gifted in nothing but size puts in the effort, and would never be in the same sentence as the word "glide" (used, rather than mentioned, so this doesn't count). They're probably of comparable value in the abstract, but neither team is good enough to give up theirs just for the other. Plus we already have a guy playing C who can score efficiently and vacuum up rebounds but block no shots and defend no rim. We need a shot-blocker or at least a good help defender.
Check out a comparison of Hickson's and Pek's stats. (That's not to say that I wouldn't prefer Pek over Hickson because (a) stats don't measure everything (b) I doubt Chris Kaman gets his season high against Pek (c) Pekovic is an actual legit C, but it's interesting nonetheless.)
Wow - look where Lamarcus ranks! I wonder if Amir Johnson is available? Combine him and and improved Leonard and we might be okay.
Now look at their stats on/off the court for their respective teams: http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/pekovni01/on-off/2013/ http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/hicksjj01/on-off/2013/
DaMarcus Cousins is actually up there as well. If that guy wasn't such a basket case; he could be the greatest active center in the NBA. Hopefully that kid grows up sometime soon.
Kevin Love bottom 5 Easily the most overrated player of this generation. Greg Monroe is ranked lower than him. Lol.
Watch the ultimate three-way deal coming this summer. Lakers sign and trade: Howard Lakers receive: Love Minny trades: Love Minny receives: Horford Atlanta trades: Horford Atlanta receives: Howard
That only works if Howard wants to go to ATL. I'm kind of doubting that. Who knows where Dwight will end up.
