I spent this weekend with a friend of mine who delivers pizzas and there was some NBA highlights on tv of a few different centers. He is not the rim protector that Olshey described, but he really does seem to wear out his opponent and rotates very well. Pros 16/9/1 in 31 minutes. 5.2 FTA 31 minutes. His defensive rating has gone down each year. Will be 28 years old next year. Takes alomost all of his shots in the paint. Cons Probably will command a max contract Not a great shotblocker
Not a good fit offensively with LMA, IMO. More offense than defense, so taking looks/touches away from Lillard and Aldridge, as well as Batum. Mediocre defensively. And restricted. I have no interest in him, personally.
I can dig it that you have no interest, but a bad fit for LA? La loves the high post and Pekovic loves the low block. Seems like a perfect fit
He is a big body in the paint--I like that. He seems to have trouble showing on the pick and roll--don't like that as much. Age is good. Would rather have a true defensive center, but I just am not sure who we could realistically get. He would be an upgrade for sure.
I'd prefer LMA down low more often. Though you're right, he does prefer high post a little more. But, if we have him up there, running PnRoll/pop with Lillard, Pek just clogs the lane.
Olshey seems to think this Center that we are getting is going to happen during the days leading up to and right after the Draft. That rules out Pek to me.
So he's a bad fit with your wishes for LMA, but a good fit for who LMA actually is. What we need is a player who can set a real, hard but legal, pick.
I want nothing to do with Pek. His contract demand will be a mistake by whatever team decides to gamble on it. He's just not that type of player. Now if its 10 mil, then it's way more manageable.
If you make a different thread about the Blazers signing or trading for every player in the NBA eventually you'll get one right.
I still think the player Olshey is going after is Jordan. This only has a chance of happening if LAC loses to MEM in the first round. I can't say he wouldn't be a big upgrade but I not thrilled with his contract either. DeAndre is the goal though imo.
There was a stat posted in here a while back that showed players ranked by amount of post ups they had, and Aldridge was at or near the top. Yet people were still complaining about him being away from the basket way too much. Pekovic being here is going to make those complaints more of a reality, and IMO, bad for the team.
Reminds me of a younger Chris Kaman. Forgettable on defense, ok offensive player, going to get paid $12m+ by somebody. With Aldridge (and eventually Leonard I hope) already filling the role of scoring big man, I don't see the point. I'd rather get somebody who focuses on defense and rebounds.
What makes you think we're going after Jordan? At $10MM+ per year, and at 24..... I'd like to see Jordan here.
