I want us to take a chance on him, especially if we don't give up much to get him. But Aldridge isn't really a mentor. He seems more of a follower than a leader
Actually he really never needs to post up IMO. All we need from our center (On the offense end) is to be able to set screens, handle a pass when wide open, be able to dribble a few times and then dunk it. Plus have the ability to shoot free throws so he can actually play late in games. No post up game is required. Just enough offense so the other team has to guard him. So for McGee the free throw issue is a problem IMO, however it seems like most defensive centers suck at the line.
It looks like successful teams are able to pound the ball inside in the playoffs. The game slows down a lot, and unless you are a team like Golden State who hits an odd amount of 3's, then you have to have an inside game. Draw fouls and punish the defense for not double teaming. It would be nice to be able to throw the ball inside and watch a center destroy the other team, or be able to pass out to a wide open Damian, Wes or Nic. Marc Gasol seems to be a good defensive center who doesn't block a ton of shots. Maybe that stat isn't all that important?
True but how many center can do that better than LMA? Let alone centers who are available. Do we need both our bigs doing it? Now I know some will say LMA doesn't do it enough and that may be true. But the game is changing and the little guys with handles who can score need the ball in their hands, not big guys who all seem to have poor handles and horrible free throw shooting ability. Yes there are exceptions, but not many. Sure I would like to have a center who can do it all, but let's be realistic, are we going to find one? I will take one with the skills I mentioned above. i am not greedy. Teaching McGee to post up is a waste of time.
This isn't a conversation to be having about a guy making 11m a year.If he was on a rookie contract or a small to medium contract sure take a shot at him and if he doesn't live up to his hype you let him walk but since he is making so much money just ignore this bonehead and walk away. He is a horrible defender/help defender and his only upsides are Elite athleticism/length, good rebounder, good at blocking shots. He doesn't do anything else well at all and is usually a detriment to his team on the court. If George Karl can't turn him into a good defender/team player I don't think any coach will. It seems like people are trying to talk themselves into him because he is our only real option at a young C, but its a bad option. We would be better set at bringing in Journeymen centers and spending the rest of the capspace on other targets then going all out for a knucklehead that people will be bitching about for 3 years about how stupid he is.
The Dude is no stat guy, so bear with me. If you look at centers, or guys who could legitimately play center, who average 4.5 FTA per 36 minutes and played at least 1200 minutes you get Howard Amare (including him because he normally plays a lot) Cousins B Lopez Pekovic Nene Duncan Favors Monroe Splitter Blatche Speights Mahinmi McGee Drummond Aldridge Jordan Valanciunas Now take those players and keep the ones who shot 70% or better from the FT line, and you that leaves. Duncan Aldridge Amare Valanciunas Speights B Lopez Pekovic Cousins Splitter Nene And one last offensive stat I like would be where they are shooting from. Majority of shots within 10 feet. Duncan Amare Valanciunas Speights B Lopez Pekovic Cousins Splitter Nene I am going to eliminate Duncan because we have literally no shot at him. Some of the other guys are probably out of reach too, but at least there is a chance. Now to defense. The Dude has no idea what the best measure is for defense, so I will look at PER for and against Amare - 23.0 for. 13.6 against (it was equally impressive last year) Valanciunas - 16.2 for. 17.3 against Speights - 18.4 for. 21.0 against B Lopez - 25.6 for. 17.3 against Pekovic - 21.2 for. 15.8 against Cousins - 20.7 for. 19.4 against Splitter - 21.6 for. 14.5 against Nene - 18.6 for. 14.3 against So as crude as this is. Taking injury, age, availability, etc into account. I think we should go after... Pekovic I didn't before starting that ridiculously long post.
Splitter and Nene are options as well. Problem with going after Pek is you can give him max and they still might match. (Doubt they match max but the will match a high contract). The guy isn't a max player.
If having a center who can draw free throws is such an important commodity, how come nearly everybody on your list isn't in the playoffs anymore? Meanwhile, pretty much every team still alive in the playoffs has a starting big man or two relied on mostly for solid defense and rebounding. We have none.
Is that the case? I hadn't noticed? Still, is it the fault of the player? I mean is Lillard a bad player because he isn't in the playoffs? Miami doesn't have that guy OKC has a player in Perkins that does ok SA has Duncan and Splitter (on the list) Brooklyn has Lopez (on the list) Chicago has Noah, who doesn't shoot a lot of FT's, but a good %. Is he a good defender, or is the system good? Clippers have that guy in Jordan (missed the list due to poor FT%. met everything else) Indiana obviously has Hibbert Atl doesn't have that guy Memphis doesn't Houston does and would have been out without the Westbrook injury Boston doesn't NY has Chandler and Amare (on the list) GS doesn't Lakers do and are out Denver does and is out Milwaukee does and is out The Dude is not sure your statement is correct?
Man, I answered this question. Marc Gasol is not relied on mostly for solid defense. He happens to be a good defender as well as a great offensive center
