When the Lakers recently lost Shaquille O'Neal to the Miami Heat, they had a gaping hole in the center spot. After searching for about a week they picked up free-agent Vlade Divac, former Sacramento King, to fill the hole. After the Kings lost Vlade Divac to the Los Angeles Lakers, they were left with a weak spot at center. Brad Miler, their All-Star center, was the only one left at the position. The Kings have now filled that spot with Greg Ostertag from the Utah Jazz. Who got the better deal out of that? Which team will benefit more from their new center? Personally I say that the KIngs will miss Divac but will benefit from Ostertag at the same time. Thoughts?
Divac>>Ostertag... Kings lose out, and they'll get a nice 6 ppg/5 rpg from Ostertag, but nothing that will replace Divac's efforts... Lakers did alright by signing Divac...hes not a great big man, but hes no slouch either...
I think Ostertag has more left in the tank than Vlade but Vlade fit into the kings offense better the lakers would have been better off with ostertag as he is a better rebounder and defender right now, they dont need a passing big man with kobe and odom to handle the ball.
Vlade in my mind still the best passing big man in the NBA, finds the open man so well. Has that nack of knowing where you at all times. He was the key to the Kings great chemistry by the great ball movement. It all started with him in the post. There's no question Vlade is the better player and the better fit for the Lakers than Tag would be.
Without a doubt, the team that made out the best is Miami! But Sac will be better off with Miller starting all the time (at least while he is healthy). Tag won't be much help. The Lakers get a guy that was virtually benched in the playoffs because he couldn't hang any more. But Divak will be able to pass the ball to Kobe, so he'll fit in well.
There is no question on this one. Divac is the better player. That doesnt exactly mean that the kings are the looser in this sitation. A few points to ponder: Divac was not going to start for the Kings this coming season. No matter what he made in the way of a contract, he was going to come off the bench. Ostertag has been coming off the bench and is already settled into that role for the upcoming season. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">in the past. Nobody has ever put the ball in my hands and said, ?Score 20 points.? I?m here to clog up the middle, set a screen, and if not block a shot, alter it. ~Ostertag</div> Sac is most assuredly going to miss the leadership that Divac brings with him while I believe the Lakers will not recieve it well to begin with and thus, one of the greatest assets Divac brings with him to the Lakers will be wasted. Sacramento gets a 7'2 center that is neither among the best centers to play, nor is he a slug. He can block and alter shots (in 98-99 he was 5th in blocked shots in the NBA) and can put up some numbers in limited minutes. I really would have to call it a draw.
wow is this a rumor? cuz i'll hate it if divac goes to the lakers. Divac was one of my fav players on the kings, my favorite center all-time 2. Divac is a great offensive player he passes and shoots perfectly and really fit well with the kings. Just kidding i know this already happened, so y is it in the rumor mill??? Anyways the Lakers easily got the better end of the deal, Divac is great and he's cool. Ostertag soothes the King's loss a little bit, but at the end the Kings should have re-signed Divac, who cares about the salary, the kings probably could have one a championship this year, well they still can... LET'S GO KINGS!
.. i just think its cool that Divac is a Laker again. He's getting old, but he can hold up as a starter for another 2 seasons i say. Since leaving Lakers in 96 (or was it 97?) the lakers fans have always shown much respect to him during his return to the staples to play the Lakers.. he;s a good fit for the lakers who will be a good passing team nxt season, but its only a short term investiment.. after 2 seasons, the lakers must find another center.. as for tag and the kings.. I've never liked him, and i never will..
Vlade is still good, very good passer in the middle. Of course not as dominant but still, good trade. Kings were probably thinking just getting another big body to bang around in the middle. What did Utah get?
