Shane Battier is in the final year of his rookie contract and will be one of the top free agents in the 2006 summer. Jerry West has referred to him as a "core player" for the Memphis Grizzlies. This current off-season we've seen SG and SF players cash in on huge paydays. Larry Hughes and Joe Johnson got a near max deal in Cleveland, Bobby Simmons went from 860K a year to 8M a year, Cuttino Mobley went for 7M a year, and a 30 year old Antonio Daniels received 5M a season. How much should the Grizzlies pay to keep Shane Battier? At what point does Shane Battier price himself out of Memphis?
From the few Grizzlies game I get to watch to what people tell me, I know Shane Battier will be a very valuable acquisition to any team. He?s a nice all-around player and although his stats seem fairly mediocre, he has many intangible effects to the game such as the great defense he plays. His steal per turnover ratio also shows how alert he is on offense where he ranks 3rd. I think the Grizzlies should match any offer for him. If it is extremely ridiculous than maybe they shouldn?t match, but I wouldn?t mind overpaying him because he is a part of the Grizzlies core players along with Pau Gasol and Mike Miller. I think Memphis would be Battier?s first option because they drafted him and he?s spent his whole career with that organization, but if the Grizzlies don?t make much noise in the league next season than I think he might want to price himself out and play for a serious contender.
I might be totally wrong on this, but didn't Battier sign an extension worth $40 million last season? Voodoo Child would know about this but if what I remember is true, then his extension would kick in this season. EDIT: Look at the Transactions section. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketbal...ansactions.html
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Locke:</div><div class="quote_post">I might be totally wrong on this, but didn't Battier sign an extension worth $40 million last season? Voodoo Child would know about this but if what I remember is true, then his extension would kick in this season. EDIT: Look at the Transactions section. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketbal...ansactions.html</div> According to your link it looks like he did sign an extension. I guess my question is a moot point.
Yeah, it's a mood point, but the Grizzlies still got him extremely cheap ($37 mill). He's one of the most underrated players in the NBA, and I personally can't see what makes Ron Artest that much better. Statistically, Battier is the #1 defensive Small Forward in the NBA, and he has a more complete offensive game. If he played for Indiana and got the minutes that Artest did, or if he went in the stands beating up on kids half his size, then you can bet that he'd be just as highly rated and popular as Artest is. In fact, I think he might have more trade value because of his works with the community. Memphis has had it's fair share of celebrities and athletes from Penny Hardaway to Steve McNair to Justin Timberlake. However, no one outside of Elivs has made as big of an impact on the city as Shane Battier has. I'd pay somewhere between $8.5 million and $11 million a year for Battier.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Statistically, Battier is the #1 defensive Small Forward in the NBA, and he has a more complete offensive game.</div> more complete than Artest? i don't know about that.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting lessthanjake:</div><div class="quote_post">more complete than Artest? i don't know about that.</div> Don't misquote me or anything. I didn't say he was a more complete player overall, but he's definitely more complete on the offensive end of the floor. He's got better range and better intangibles. Personally, I think he's just as strong as Artest and just as good as on defense as well, but I'm not going to start a flame war on that one.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">Personally, I think he's just as strong as Artest and just as good as on defense as well, but I'm not going to start a flame war on that one.</div>
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting P.A.P.:</div><div class="quote_post"></div> Yeah, I knew that'd get a reaction out of some people. Battier was a PF/C in High School and a Power Forward at Duke. He's got huge guns. You don't really notice it from watching him play, but whenever I got the chance to go to a pregame practice this year, I'd be amazed at how buff he was. He's definitely the biggest guy on the team. These aren't really flattering pics of eithers muscles, but they're the first ones I found. I think there's room for a lot of comparison -
Is that Troy Bell in the Shane Battier picture? Is it just me or does Ron Artest remind me of Sam I Am...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Buckets:</div><div class="quote_post">Is that Troy Bell in the Shane Battier picture? Is it just me or does Ron Artest remind me of Sam I Am...</div> Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's Troy Bell guarding Shane Battier; ironic. And I agree, Ron Artest does look a lot like Cassell. Weird...
Shane Battier is just as good an offensvie player as Artest, and I'd say he's just as good defensively, too. The two are very similar on D; they can guard multiple positions, they're tough and physical with their guy, they can block a shot, play the passing lane, or just make the guy dish or take a bad shot. I don't think there's any drop off between Battier and Artest. Then you factor in that Battier is a leader, a spark plug, the type of guy winning teams need and that Artest is likely clinically insane, leaves his team midseason for a rap record and has a long history of hurting his team, I don't think there's much of a comparasin. If you told me to pick between Artest and Battier 100 times, I'd take Battier every single time. Back on topic, he's worth a LOT to the Griz. They should make every effort to lock him up before he hits the open market. He's extremely valuable.
