As we wind down to the playoffs, J to the Eastside and I will be going through each prospective free agent this offseason on the roster, and getting everyone's thoughts on them. This is in terms of value to the team, likelihood that they'll be a Sonic next season and where else they could end up. Jerome James will be an unrestricted free agent. Strengths: He is talented. He can block shots with the best of them, and when he can be bothered, is a more than capable low-post scorer. He has a variety of moves on the low block and has been known to go on little scoring runs of his own, presuming his teammates have enough faith to give it to him often. Weaknesses: For a bloke who is 7'1 and 280lbs, he is a pathetic rebounder. Yes, he plays alongside three of the most effective PF rebounders in the league. His season high is seven rebounds, his career high is 12 and his is averaging three rebounds per game in 17 minutes this season. He is also stupendously foul prone, usually dumb ticky-tack fouls, and his career has been dogged by questions about his heart, commitment and willingness to do the hard yards. Importance to the team: It seems to change from week to week. One week he'll look really good, and obviously we're a better team with an effective seven footer scoring in the middle, but too often he is rendered completely ineffective due to getting into early foul trouble. Danny Fortson, Nick Collison and even Vitaly Potapenko are all generally more effective in the middle, but you can't teach legitimate size. Chances he'll be back: Low. At the end of the day, he is still a seven footer with ability, meaning someone will give him some money. It won't be a lot, but I suspect management will be a bit tired of Jerome's unfulfilled promise, and it will be more than they are willing to match. Possible Interest: New York has always seemingly had a long standing interest in him, as they continue to shop Kurt Thomas, and have traded away Nazr Mohammed. Atlanta if they don't land Andrew Bogut in the draft, maybe even New Jersey who seem to be in permanent need of big men, although Nenad Krstic has done well for a rookie. Certainly more suited to a back-up role, where his tendency to get into early foul trouble isn't as damaging. Prediction: Atlanta will go through an off-season with nothing to show for their caproom, and will end up overpaying for him simply so they have some semblance of a player in the middle.
I'd say the one positive Jerome can bring consistently is his height. Not being facetious - we can plug him in in situations where some post guy is killing us. Jerome's not going to stop him but what he will do is be 7-1 and force the guy (say, Amare) from just shooting over top, maybe put it on the floor where the help is. Other than that, I'm really just at a loss as to what he's thinking out there sometimes. I say let the Hawks take him and make a run at Pryzbilla (although he looks too much like McIlvaine).
Big Joel is under contract for another season (unless he has a player option?), and Portland would be absolutely stupid to let him go. He was one of the lone bright spots of the season, and the difference between him and McIlvaine is a) he can score, and he produced consistently when given big minutes, without getting into foul trouble. http://www.nba.com/playerfile/joel_przybil...game_stats.html Just cast your eyes down the shotblocking column, and the minutes column.
The only possibility that Portland might let him go is they just signed Theo Ratliff to some big bucks - something like 5yrs 48 million - and might not be able to afford both. Same with Miles. I think Paul Allen is being more fiscally responsible and doesn't want to pay the luxury tax (maybe I'm getting my billiionaires mixed up), so he might be reluctant to match whatever deal Pryzbilla might get (wasn't sure if he's under contract) The sad thing is that JJ has every bit the talent that Pryzbilla has, maybe more in terms of his offense - but apparently his head/heart just isn't in the game to the point where he wants to get better.
Jerome James can play and we should resign him. You are not going to find too many true centers in this league that can play both ends. JJ has proven that he can score in the post and that he can block shots. Granted he may be the worst rebounding center in the league, but I guarantee if he wasn't surrounded by three very good rebounding power forwards his numbers would be way up. A lot of guys are down on JJ b/c he isn't consistent. Well in Nate's system, he doesn't get consistent minutes. No one is a bigger presence on our front line defensively than JJ and considering that most likely Pot or James won't be here next season (or maybe both) I would do what it takes to keep the better of the two--which is Jerome. Bobby Swift is not ready for big minutes and it is important for us to continue to develop a low post presence. Jerome isn't the poster child for hard work and dedication but he is our best option at the five. Resign him to another 3 year deal (no more than 16 million.)
Decent point Shiek...im just curious if maybe Swift is ready for the minutes Jerome is getting...15-20 MPG...hard to say what with never seeing him play. BUt resigning Jerome would defiently be the safer move.
Shiek, Jerome is not as good as you say. His post moves are horrible. It's like he's trying to make up for not being able to pull And1 moves with a basketball by trying ridiculous moves in the paint that do absolutely nothing but look fancy. Too bad they don't work. He is not consistent, period. If he was, the Sonics would pass to him more in the post and he'd actually try on the floor.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Casual:</div><div class="quote_post">Shiek, Jerome is not as good as you say. His post moves are horrible. It's like he's trying to make up for not being able to pull And1 moves with a basketball by trying ridiculous moves in the paint that do absolutely nothing but look fancy. Too bad they don't work. He is not consistent, period. If he was, the Sonics would pass to him more in the post and he'd actually try on the floor.</div> Harsh Casual and alteast semi inaccurate. James CLEARLY has good post moves...he has trouble scoring on guys his size or bigger but he still does have repitore. But no he isnt consistent you are right. But as for him not trying I think I can safely say he has put forth a great deal of effort this year.
JJ very rarely finishes at the rim when he gets the ball in the post i.e, no drop step, no power moving towards the rim. He usually ends up fading away (sometimes off one foot) or shooting that hook across the lane. I guess his moves are 'good' if those are the shots he wants. I will say he seems to know how to roll to the hoop and runs pretty well for Luke, and gets most of his dunks that way.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Roland Hood:</div><div class="quote_post">JJ very rarely finishes at the rim when he gets the ball in the post i.e, no drop step, no power moving towards the rim. He usually ends up fading away (sometimes off one foot) or shooting that hook across the lane. I guess his moves are 'good' if those are the shots he wants. I will say he seems to know how to roll to the hoop and runs pretty well for Luke, and gets most of his dunks that way.</div> Jerome shoots over 51% from the field and most of those points (though not a lot) are on post ups not open dunks.
James' minutes are more a product of him always getting into foul trouble, and the fact that he is NOT a high IQ player. This is a guy who you don't want on the floor in the 4th quarter more often than not. He has the raw size/talent but just doesnt play smart on a consistent basis. Flashes of brilliance but it's pretty doubtful he'll make anything of himself.. That said, if we can sign him for a little less than what we've been paying in the past couple years it wouldnt be too bad a buy. But it seems more likely a different team will overpay him. Anything in the 6mil/yr range is too much IMO.
