<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">An InsideHoops.com source says that the Seattle Sonics will sign free agent center Mikki Moore. The 7-0, 230-pound Moore has played for six different NBA teams, and spent the 2004-05 season with the Los Angeles Clippers. He has a career average of 4.7 points and 3.2 rebounds in 13.6 minutes per game." </div> www.insidehoops.com Having another body doesn't hurt I guess. He had a solid season last year, and will give us some length at the C besides Swift. At the end of the day, I'm hoping this goes through so I can stop having nightmares about DeClerq in green and gold. To tell you the truth though, I really was hoping Booth would be brought in - he's a solid rebounder, runs he floor well, great FT shooter, but more than anything is a tremendous shotblocker - something we totally lack and something Mikki doesn't give us. Cal could definately give us 10 minutes a game. We definately will have enough bodies to cover the minutes if this materializes though. Vitaly, Forston, Swift, Moore, and Collison - 48 minutes can be found somewhere in that list. If anything, we can take bets on who hits the IR first, Robert or Mikki.
I would've preferred Cal too. But maybe there's some history there, and my recollection of Big Game Mikki is that he maybe provides us with more athleticism at that position. I seem to recall a few games against us where he finished pretty well around the basket. And his stats look suspiciously familiar
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting M_Cage89:</div><div class="quote_post">www.insidehoops.comhe's a solid rebounder, runs he floor well, great FT shooter, but more than anything is a tremendous shotblocker</div> Solid for a sucky center maybe, doesn't matter because he literally cannot finish near the hoop unless there is nobody (teammates included) around him in a five foot radius, doesn't matter when we have Danny, and the shotblocking is the only good thing. I think Moore will be better because he's still fighting to stay in the league, so he can give us some energy and enthusiasum. Signing Calvin is too much like giving up.
He'll give us energy and a bit of buzz off the bench, but he's still a seven footer who weighs around 220 lbs. That alone will ensure he can only play in spurts, which will be annoying if Pot gets an injury. My guess is management felt Moore was a better fit in an uptempo game than someone like DeClerrcq, Cal or Ervin, which is fair enough in that sense.
This is a decent move. I'm not going to get excited about this but Mikki Moore does play hard and block shots. He is a player who is capable of scoring around the basket, but in our free willing, pick and roll offense he'd be best suited trying to get offensive rebounds and being a presence defensively. I'd of preferred someone who was capable of guarding another center--meaning someone who had some bulk to him--but he is a better pick up than Booth--if only because Booth symbolized our stretch of team mediocrity and apathy. Had Ben Hangloten not had Smitty (Steve Smith) knees I would have rather taken him but Mikki is a person who is capable of giving us 15 minutes of production. Sund continues to try to plug holes with Clipper cast offs--maybe b/c they handed it to us both times we played them at the Staples Center.
I can see the press conference already: Reporters: 'How do you intend to replace Jerome James?' Mikki Moore: 'One guy can't replace Jerome James. Mikki Moore can only go out on the floor and be the best that Mikki Moore can be.'
Moore played pretty well for the Sonics in Summer League not too long ago...might have got signed if not for the standout play of someone else that year...though I don't remember who that might have been. Was it two years ago and they picked up Frahm to fill in at the 2/3 and provide long range shooting?
Is this actually nearly official (any legit report) or is this just all speculation? Because I havent found anything that really adds any validity to this...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Coolguy777:</div><div class="quote_post">Is this actually nearly official (any legit report) or is this just all speculation? Because I havent found anything that really adds any validity to this...</div> Haven't heard/seen anthing about Mikki except that blurb from insidehoops.com that I posted to start the thread. Hopefully it does go through though. As much as I'm not too enthused about anyone taking minutes away from Swift, big Rob just isn't ready to be the backup center and if Vitaly gets injured or Fortson goes psycho he's thrust into an even bigger role than backup. I mentioned I would rather have Cal back, but good points were made about his deficencies. Casual was right when he said he can't finish, and Moore would at least be a put back threat. Having a guy who can change shots down low when its inevitable that other guards will get pentration is invaluable though, thats why I am a little pro Booth. I do like the Moore signing though if it goes through.
Why Is Robert Swift just not ready to be a backup center? Every indication ive heard is that he is ready for that role. I dont think signing Moore is necesarily a sign that Swift wont get minutes...its more about having someone so that swift doesnt HAVE to get minutes...he can earn them still.
I guess Mikki is that extra insurance. You all saw (or read) what big Johan did in summer leage...foul out in 8 mins per game. He's got some talent but is no where near ready to play in the NBA. So maybe Mikki takes his place...and competes with Swift for the backup C. maybe that'll ignite swift a bit and hopefully he'll give us some numbers. if not, we always got mikki...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Coolguy777:</div><div class="quote_post">Why Is Robert Swift just not ready to be a backup center? Every indication ive heard is that he is ready for that role. I dont think signing Moore is necesarily a sign that Swift wont get minutes...its more about having someone so that swift doesnt HAVE to get minutes...he can earn them still.</div> I don't think barely being able to compete in summer league is an indication he's ready to play any meaningful minutes at all.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Coolguy777:</div><div class="quote_post">Why Is Robert Swift just not ready to be a backup center? Every indication ive heard is that he is ready for that role. I dont think signing Moore is necesarily a sign that Swift wont get minutes...its more about having someone so that swift doesnt HAVE to get minutes...he can earn them still.</div> Every indication we've gotten from mgmt says he isn't ready. A resigned Pot, along with Fortson and Collison who can play 5, Swifty, and they STILL are looking to add another guy. If Robert was ready to step into the role we wouldn't have been so interested in Davis, and now Moore. I never said Swift won't get minutes, but Weiss having a more experienced option at the end of the bench means he probably won't get as many - and that was my concern. Its better for the team next season though to have a guy like Mikki on the team, and Moore won't command a ton of playing time so he's probably perfect to bridge the gap until Rob is ready to take on a bigger role.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting psheehy:</div><div class="quote_post">Moore played pretty well for the Sonics in Summer League not too long ago...might have got signed if not for the standout play of someone else that year...though I don't remember who that might have been. </div> Check the sig, fam. Mikki Moore was also playing with Reggie and Vlad in that summer league too which hurt his chances of being signed. This guy has played well when he's been given minutes so I wouldn't dismiss this trade as simply filling out a roster. Putting him with Danny Fortson can make up for his inability to guard extremely physical frontcourt players.
I like this move mostly just for the fact that its adding an extra big body to the team. We now have 5 guys that will play most of their minutes at the 5 spot. Clearly we are preparing to do another dance with San Antonio.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iron Shiek:</div><div class="quote_post">Check the sig, fam. Mikki Moore was also playing with Reggie and Vlad in that summer league too which hurt his chances of being signed. This guy has played well when he's been given minutes so I wouldn't dismiss this trade as simply filling out a roster. Putting him with Danny Fortson can make up for his inability to guard extremely physical frontcourt players.</div> Ok...so that was when Flip tore up the Summer League before he stepped in for Ray Ray and freaked out all the GM's who passed on him in the draft the year before. I think they also signed Reggie's last contract that summer which meant they didn't need another big.
