Jesus dude, WTF? I was just pointing out the FACT that including Meyers Leonard, because of his salary, could not have been included in the NOP trade. The Blazers never made a Leonard vs. Withey decision. They specifically requested Withey for salary cap reasons. I would have been happy to give them either Leonard or Withey to get Lopez, but the whole purpose of the trade was to dump salary and clear cap space to sign Tyreke Evans. While you're making all your other comparisons, you may also want to try this one: Which would you rather have: Starting Center: Robin Lopez Back-up Center: Meyers Leonard Starting Center: Meyers Leonard Back-up Center: Jeff Withey I actually like Withey's defensive potential too, and I said I thought he was a good value pick where we drafted him. But you have to give up something to get something and giving up Withey to get Robin Lopez was a small price to pay to get the legitimate starting center LaMarcus requested in his exit interview. BNM
Actually, LaMarcus Aldridge will be our back-up center for ~10 minutes a game. As he said in his exit interview, he just wanted a legitimate NBA center with a big body to bang down low for 25 minutes a game. Lopez gives him that. Leonard will still get ~12 minutes a game, but when the game is on the line, it will be Lopez or Aldridge playing the 5 spot. Stotts has the option to go big with Lopez/Aldridge or small with Aldridge/Robinson, or really small with Aldridge/Batum/Matthews/Williams/Lillard - depending on the match-ups and situation. He can also make offensive/defensive substitutions late in the game with Lopez at the center on defense and Aldridge and four 3-point shooters when we need a score. BNM
Your talking about the value of Meyers and Withey going to only a single team in a single trade at one specific moment. I'm not interested in that tiny view; I'm interested in more. Their acquisition cost to the team, their production for a team going forward, the difference in their production when compared with each other, their roles on a team, and their trade value at a future point in time. I'm especially interested in their current value compared to their acquisition cost.
I'm with BNM, i think you're being unrealistic and too hypothetical. There was a good trade offered to us and it had to cost us Withey for Lopez. You don't decline that kind of a trade in hopes of a better coming along.
I saw a lot of Withey this year. I like him. I thought he was a steal in the draft. I couldn't believe he fell so far, so I was definitely disappointed we dealt him. But I do the deal for Lopez every single day of the week at this point. If we were trading LMA, maybe I don't make the deal for Lopez as it'd feel like we were rebuilding. That being said, I won't be shocked if he doesn't have much of a career.
Even if we were rebuilding, I'd still probably do the Lopez trade. Lopez is less than 2 years older than Withey, and a proven NBA starting center. His game does not rely (at all) on athleticism, it relies on his size - which isn't going to diminish anytime soon. Lopez will still likely be an above average starting center when Lillard, Batum, McCollum, etc. are all in their primes. That's one of the reasons Lopez is such a good fit. In addition to giving us the big body starting center to bang down low for 25 minutes a game, that LaMarcus requested in his exit interview, Lopez is young enough to fit well with the rest of our roster. BNM
I was hoping for Lopez as a FA last year when we failed on Hibbert. Was disappointed when it sounded like we didn't make any effort. I was a big fan and always thought he was undervalued. My concern with Lopez was (and remains) injuries. After this last year, I'm hoping he's beyond them. If so, I think he's going to play a big role in us surprising a lot of folks. So make no mistake, I'm happy with the deal.
What serious injuries has he had, and when was the last time he was injured? He started all 82 games last season and played in 64 of 66 two seasons ago backing up Gortat in Phoenix. Looks like he missed 15 games three seasons ago. Not exactly serious injury territory. BNM
The biggest concern I have with Lopez is his rebounding, especially defensive rebounding. He has a lower rebounding rate than LaMarcus and that is one of LMA weaker aspects of his game. I hope our starting five gels as a unit but being a good defender doesn't mean much if the other team keeps the ball when they miss.
List currently at 366 370 Earl Watson 371 Travis Outlaw 372 Hedo Turkoglu 374 Jared Jeffries 379 Will Barton 387 Jeff Withey 393 Joel Pryzbilla 412 Allen Crabbe 422 Victor Claver 433 Ronnie Price 434 Sasha Pavlovic 441 Joel Freeland 487 Terrel Harris
I can't believe Sacramento has him signed for two more years until 2015. Worst amnesty or waiver claim ever. Makes me think more highly of Nate as a coach. He got some amazing production out of untalented players like Outlaw, Rudy, Pryz. Don't get me wrong, he has many shortcomings as a coach. But he had some great strengths.
He had injuries in 2009-10 and 2010-11. You took my quote to another level by adding "serious". I never said "serious". So it seems odd to try to make a point by adding that, when I didn't say "serious" injuries. Phoenix always had some concerns about his durability. That's a big reason why they limited his minutes so much a couple of years. He had a bulging disc in his back. Anyone who's ever had back issues knows that back issues rarely go away completely. And to add the fact that we have a horrendous track record with big men (you may or may not be aware of this), and yes, my biggest concern with Lopez is his health. Why don't you spend some time asking me to clarify my point if you're confused, rather than put words in my mouth and shoot down a point I never made?
I haven't looked up the stats myself, but I thought I remember seeing something about how his teammates all rebound much better with him on the floor than without. If we see more rebounding out of LA next season, I'll buy in to the theory that Lopez helps make his mates better rebounders, even if Lopez's stats aren't what we'd like them to be. For me, as long as we're getting it done, I don't care about individual stats.
bold for current players + math are mine. 15th man Freeland is ranked as a 14.7th man 14th man Claver is ranked as a 14.1st man 13th man Crabbe is ranked as a 13.7th man 12th man Barton is ranked as a 12.5th man I could nitpick but I basically agree with these conclusions.
