I don't think Hibbert is "dominant" but the "rookie max" (a term I'm using for a max deal for a player coming off a rookie contract) isn't really dominant player money. A truly dominant center would be worth $20+ million. That's not Hibbert. Hibbert is a very good center. He can be dominant on defense (he isn't all the time, though he's always at least a valuable defensive presence), he's very good on the boards and he at least forces teams to guard him on offense (unlike some other notable defensive centers like Okafor or Chandler without a great P&R point guard) with some upside to be more than that. Dwight Howard he ain't, but I think he's a borderline All Star.
The fact he's 7-2 and only shoots 50% against no real frontline is NOT dominant Yeah, he can protect the basket. So could Joel Przybilla in his day....and not on a MAX contract If I'm handing out a MAX contract, the guy better be truly dominant. I don't think Hibbert is.
I don't think you're wrong that we're over paying Hibbert. However, the odds of Portland landing a "dominant" player in free agency is slim to none.
Using the term "max contract" as a scare phrase isn't very compelling. All max contracts aren't the same. Hibbert's max deal isn't in line with what a "truly dominant" player should be earning. I wouldn't offer Hibbert the kind of max deal that LeBron James can earn, but he's worth the max deal that he's in line for coming off a rookie contract.
Well, the only way to possibly get him is to overpay. Such is life when your target is a RFA. If Portland and all the other teams offered $8m/y over 4 years, Indiana would automatically match it. Hibbert was 21st in the NBA in FG%, by the way. http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/player/_/stat/field-goals
In today's NBA, 12/11/3 on 50% shooting is dominant. Also remember, he's only played in the NBA for four years. He has lots of time to improve. Why are you against having one of the best centers in the league? You'd rather Omar Asik? Or Joel? Or inexperienced Leonard?
Hibber - 7'2" Leonard - 7'1.25" When was the last time the Blazers had this big of a center rotation?
Yeah, I know. "Borderline All Star" to me means that he's on the line of All Star caliber in a normal season. Dale Davis and Magloire made the All Star team in down years for big men in their conference, so I stay away from noting actual All Star berths and stick with evaluations of whether I consider the play All Star caliber in any normal year.
You kind of made my point for me with that link So he shot .497% last season. For a 7-2 guy, that's not very good! I like Hibbert and I think he's a good player. But we're talking about MAX money here.
ok, I get it, you are just trolling, good job, you got me. You tipped your hand with the complaint of his shootine percentage,nd comparing his offence to Joel, lol , funny stuff, thanks
Tim Duncan only shot 49% against Utah (no center), LAC (no dominant center), and OKC (Kendrick Perkins sucks these days). Tim Duncan sucks.
Toss in Aldridge and the team has a pretty nice young/young-prime group of big men. Assuming that the Blazers do end up with Hibbert.
No, we aren't. We're talking about max money...not MAX money. There's a difference, which you keep forgetting.
