Around the NBA - July 2017 Edition

So Waiters got $53M for 4 years. Deals are getting normal again. Last year was just ridiculous.

 

So SAD

 

But somewhere in Texas there will always be a small house full of shoes!!!

 

He's inefficient from all areas of the floor, he's turnover prone, he can't pass, he can't dribble, and his defense is solid, but overrated. He's a liability offensively, and he definitely can't play SG. SF is even a bad fit for him unless you have a PF that can shoot.

 

When he played well in the playoffs last year against the Clips and Warriors, we won. When he struggled, we struggled. You don't throw the baby out with the bath water. You just don't want to rely on Aminu as your third best player. Now we have Nurk.

 

interesting article from 2014 about Chief
http://thesportsquotient.com/nba/2014/10/18/the-curious-case-of-al-farouq-aminu

 

Chief defends Lebron and Durant the way Batum used to...quickness and length...he just doesn't have the handles or pretty shot that Nico had...he's a better rebounder and help defender...

 

Idon't want to rely on Aminu as my 6th best player.

When bad players have good games, it goes a long way to helping the team, because it's an unexpected contribution. If Aminu had good games more consistently, I'd be fine. That would mean he be efficient from the field and not turnover the ball as much. However, hell have one good 7-8 game stretch a season and the rest is poor.

 

He's solid but let's not act like he's some great defender. Nico was solid but not great either. Its been a very long time since we've had a great, all-defensive level perimeter defender. Wesley was good, but not at that level. I think that Portland fans overate Aminu's defense because they haven't seen great perimeter defense in the past 10-15 years.

 

Some people grow up. If we were suddenly millionaires I don't think any of us would transition into that lifestyle well.

 

Like ok, you can criticize his shot, and his decision making, but to shit on his defense? There's only one other defender in the league that shows up in the leaderboard for spot up and post up defense, and his name is Draymond. Aminu is also near the 90th percentile in points per possession. The only area he struggles in is pick and roll defense. And by struggle I mean, he's average. Overrated? Naw. If anything he's underrated. If he wasn't surrounded by shitty defenders his whole career he would get more recognition.

 

I'm not remotely against trades... Not in the least but the trade has to make sense. The trade scenario earlier with Gasol coming back to Portland is a case of severely undervaluing our assets. Market value is assessed by looking at other transactions in a similar time frame. For example the Jimmy Butler trade. Chicago sent Butler and #16 to Minnesota for #7, Lavine and Dunn. Lavine is a good player but also just had ACL surgery... On a guy that relies on athleticism. Dunn only played 7 games so who knows. That to me overall is a pretty fair trade assuming Lavine returns to form. In the Draft you go BPA, in trades you get what you need and try to avoid excessive duplication. We have a starting center we don't trade for another.

 

Yeah that gasol scenario didn't make much sense. What are we going to do, ask the leagues best center to go out and guard the perimeter? And he's going to be like ok cool! And also, he's proven he can do that, how? By staying in front of Ryan Anderson a couple times? Come on.

 

Does this mean ZBo can't wear that number any more?

 

Maybe you should point out what was wrong and why; that seems to create a little friendlier conversation

 

What could that even entail??

 

You've been hating on Aminu for as long as anyone can remember. People have different views than you do. Simply saying someone is wrong doesn't say what they're wrong about nor does it promote any discussion about your disagreement.
You have a biased opinion about Aminu that everyone doesn't hold...

 

I really like wingspan as does D69.....but that single aspect doesn't make a PF and neither does hustle. Both great attributes but when combined with the lack of any post up game, very little outside shooting even when left ungarded, and handles that wouldn't strike fear in a YMCA baller, it's not much of a PF or SF resume'.