But if Mozgov only costs you scrubs (say Nolan Smith and Babbitt or Jeffries) then he might be the one to try out easier.
Only if you guarantee they are on the team next year and we can't really do that. You are giving up more and getting more. Mozgov you are giving up less and getting less but you actually have the ability to get more if he impresses. He has started in this league so he isn't a total stiff. DEN has 3 Centers who can start is the problem.
MM, why the hate on JJ?..man I have seen the math and all the stats..but sometimes numbers do not tell the whole story. I am not ready to fix the guy for a red cape, but if A) the was what we were getting from a draft pick or a potential FA I think you would be jazzed..
I know that this is directed towards MM, but I would really like to reply my thoughts. I absolutely love Hickson most the time. I was swinging from his jock last season. And from what I remembered, I think I was one of very few that talked homerish about him like I did. There is a little reality regarding this tough issue. Hickson really should be a PF. He doesn't play well defending other Centers. He has a hard enough time going against other capable PFs (look at Bosh's stats). We can't afford to pay him 9 mil per to be a back up power forward, since we already have a starting forward in Aldridge. So what to do? If there is even a hint that Hickson will demand 7-8 mil, I just don't see Portland wanting that amount of cap to be associated with a back-up PF/C. I think they would much rather use more cap space to grab a legit 7 footer. Maybe this center won't rebound at the same rate as Hickson, or get the same PER; but he's a legit center that defends; which I think is even more valuable.
That would be a great slogan for the Blazers to roll out if they were ever to make this deal. "Wright and Beaubois. They're better than Mozgov!" If you're so in love with Wright, then why not just keep Hickson and sign Wright in the offseason? Why trade 1 of 5 players on our team that actually contributes for a guy like Wright? Makes no sense.
I don't hate Hickson at all. I love the guys hustle and energy. We just don't really need him, so why not get something for him. Hickson is a PF, not a center, and while he has done well there, he is not the answer long term. Paying him 7-9 million to be a back up makes no sense to me. I also think you have to look at his past. Cleveland dumped him for a scrub and a pick Sacramento flat out waived him Portland was able to re-sign him for 4 mm 1 years because he couldn't get a better offer. There is a reason for that
You make that argument, but then say someone will pay him 7-9. Seems like with the latter examples in your argument, he'd be worth hanging on to, because we should be able to retain him with a MLE-ish deal.
I highly doubt it as well, just going along with the negatives MM was mentioning in regards to his value. Still, am curious looking at the teams with cap space this offseason: Charlotte, Atlanta, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Indiana, LAC, Milwaukee, Minnesota, N.O., Orlando, Philly, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, SA, Toronto, Utah I'll cross out Cleveland and Sacramento, his previous two stops. Clippers won't have any money once Paul is retained. SA wouldn't have much of anything once Splitter and Manu are kept. So Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Indiana, Milwaukee, Minnesota, N.O., Orlando, Philly, Phoenix, Portland, Toronto, Utah. Can eliminate more willing to go over, Minnesota will have nothing if they keep Pek, Philly close to the same with Bynum retained, If ghey're going over for a big, I imagine Utah would just as soon keep one of their own. Indiana would be out, likely, if they keep West. Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Milwaukee, N.O., Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, Toronto This is assuming a cap close to 60. Orlando, Phoenix an Toronto just dn't seem like likely destinations to me. So you can look at it from a free agent perspective, and also a trade mid-season perspective. Houston will have plenty of cap space to retain Hickson. Would they part with some of their younger players to try Hickson alongside Asik up front. Might actually pair pretty well alongside eachother, and their rebounding would be tough to beat. Milwaukee seems unlikely to me, with Gooden locked in, and young guys in Sanders, Henson and Udoh. N.O. with a 3 man rotation of Anderson, Davis and Lopez, the same. Might pair well alongside Drummond and Monroe in Detroit. Could be a decent 3rd big in Atlanta with Smith and Horford.
Maybe they feel, like a lot of our fans feel, that Hickson is a better piece this year and going forward?
Not to mention that we suck at rebounding and Brandan Wright is a fucking awful rebounder and a bad defender.
