George O'Brien
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When it looked like the Sixers might sign Blount, there was a lot of discussion about whether the Suns could trade for Dalembert. Now that Blount is going back to the Boston, it seems unlikely that Dalemebert will get moved.
I started thinking about the problem and it is pretty discouraging. Here is my quick review of some of the guys.
ATLANTA - Joel Przybilla - Widely considered a total bust, he actually averaged 8.4 rpg once he joined the Hawks. He has zero offensive skills and is injury prone. He is actually an RFA, but $3.2 million is too much for this guy.
BOSTON- Raef LaFrentz played in only 17 games last season. He has four more years starting at $9 million. He is a good shot blocker, but not much overall as a defender. With his contract and injury problems, he is not an attractive trade prospect.
Chris Mihm - He is an RFA at $3.9 million. He is actually gotten better over the years, but he is still hard to figure. He is actually a pretty good rebounder at 5.1 rpg in only 17.4 minutes. My guess is that his defense is not adequate, which is why he gets so few minutes.
CHICAGO - The Bulls are actively pushing Chandler who gets $4.8 million. This alone is steep for a guy who played in only 35 games last season. When healthy, Chandler is an excellant rebounder 7.7 rpg and OK shot blocker with 1.2 in 22.3 minutes. If it was straight up, he might be worth considering, but the Bulls insist that along with him, they unload someone like Eddie Robinson who is grossly overpaid.
Eddie Curry is not currently being shopped, although he has had his ups and downs. He is out of shape, lazy, and doesn't play hard all the time. But right now, Chicago does not have an alternative and hope to finally motivate him.
CLEVELAND - Zydrunas Ilgauskas is entering the last year of a contract that pays him $14.6 million. With the likely loss of Boozer, the Cavs may be interested in trading Z for some players who better fit their needs. That being said, it is unlikely the Suns would be a particularlly good trading partner since they will want several players including a big. BTW, I would not be shocked if he was traded to the Wolves in a deal that included Wally Szczerbiak ($9 million) and perhaps Olowokandi. Silas has had success with big men and might feel he could do something with the Candy man.
DETROIT - After losing Okur, they are shopping for big men rather than selling. Their backups are Campbell (not attractive) and Darko who is less developed than Lampe.
INDIANA - In addition to the untouchable, their center position was played by committee. Jeff Foster started most games, but averaged only 23.9 minutes a game. Other guys like Austin Croshere 13.6 minutes, Scot Pollard 11.1 minutes, Jonathan Bender 12.9 minutes in 23 games, all played. None stood out. Foster with 7.4 rebounds in 23.9 minutes is clearly their main man and won't get traded unless it involves another center. Croshere had a good playoffs, but at $8.2 million is grossly overpaid. Pollard at $5.7 is grossly overpaid for what he produced.
Two years ago, Pollard was very productive, but declined his last year with the Kings and was not effective at all with the Pacers: 2.7 rpg, 1.7 ppg, etc. A straight of Eisley for Pollard deal would work out cap wise, but it is hard to see this worth more than that.
MIAMI - Brian Grant is currently being rumored to be part of a deal with the Lakers to get Shaq. Grant is a decent center, but is only 6'9". He is OK, but hardly worth the $13.3 million he gets this season with two more years after.
MILWAUKEE - They have apparently lost Skinner to the Sixers. They got Etan Thomas to sign an offer sheet, but he is a RFA with the Wizzards and may get matched. Dan Gadzuric operates under a three year minimum contract signed in 2002. He is a decent rebounder and shot blocker, but did not play much in spite of a team need for inside help.
NEW JERSEY - The Nets starting center is Jason Collins, who played 28.5 minutes, yet grabbed only 5.1 rpg. To give some perspective, Voskuhl averaged 5.2 rpg in 24.3 minutes. He is a better defender than Voskuhl, but overall their games are similar.
NEW YORK - They have a lot of big guys they'd love to move, but they are all overpriced and not very good: Kirt Thomas is their best inside guy and at $5.8 million actually reasonably priced, but at 6'9" 225 he is not really a center. Nazr Mohammed put up a respectable 7.7 rpg, At 5.2 million he is almost a bargain, but he is not a terribly dynamtic player and at 6'10" a bit undersized. There is not much chance of doing anything with either guy.
ORLANDO - They have Cato and DeClerq. Why bother?
PHILADELPHIA - They added Brian Skinner, who will play PF while Kenny Thomas moves to SF, while Dalembert continues at center. Marc Jackson and Derick Coleman are just not very good while coming off injury seasons.
TORONTO - This is a team that may end up starting rookie Rafael Araujo.
WASHINGTON - Etan Thomas signed an offer sheet with the Bucks, but the Wizzards are likely to match. Brendan Heywood is the Wizzards starting center, but averaged only 5 rpg in 19.3 minutes. He might be available, but is not good enough to make much difference.
I will review the West in another post.
I started thinking about the problem and it is pretty discouraging. Here is my quick review of some of the guys.
ATLANTA - Joel Przybilla - Widely considered a total bust, he actually averaged 8.4 rpg once he joined the Hawks. He has zero offensive skills and is injury prone. He is actually an RFA, but $3.2 million is too much for this guy.
BOSTON- Raef LaFrentz played in only 17 games last season. He has four more years starting at $9 million. He is a good shot blocker, but not much overall as a defender. With his contract and injury problems, he is not an attractive trade prospect.
Chris Mihm - He is an RFA at $3.9 million. He is actually gotten better over the years, but he is still hard to figure. He is actually a pretty good rebounder at 5.1 rpg in only 17.4 minutes. My guess is that his defense is not adequate, which is why he gets so few minutes.
CHICAGO - The Bulls are actively pushing Chandler who gets $4.8 million. This alone is steep for a guy who played in only 35 games last season. When healthy, Chandler is an excellant rebounder 7.7 rpg and OK shot blocker with 1.2 in 22.3 minutes. If it was straight up, he might be worth considering, but the Bulls insist that along with him, they unload someone like Eddie Robinson who is grossly overpaid.
Eddie Curry is not currently being shopped, although he has had his ups and downs. He is out of shape, lazy, and doesn't play hard all the time. But right now, Chicago does not have an alternative and hope to finally motivate him.
CLEVELAND - Zydrunas Ilgauskas is entering the last year of a contract that pays him $14.6 million. With the likely loss of Boozer, the Cavs may be interested in trading Z for some players who better fit their needs. That being said, it is unlikely the Suns would be a particularlly good trading partner since they will want several players including a big. BTW, I would not be shocked if he was traded to the Wolves in a deal that included Wally Szczerbiak ($9 million) and perhaps Olowokandi. Silas has had success with big men and might feel he could do something with the Candy man.
DETROIT - After losing Okur, they are shopping for big men rather than selling. Their backups are Campbell (not attractive) and Darko who is less developed than Lampe.
INDIANA - In addition to the untouchable, their center position was played by committee. Jeff Foster started most games, but averaged only 23.9 minutes a game. Other guys like Austin Croshere 13.6 minutes, Scot Pollard 11.1 minutes, Jonathan Bender 12.9 minutes in 23 games, all played. None stood out. Foster with 7.4 rebounds in 23.9 minutes is clearly their main man and won't get traded unless it involves another center. Croshere had a good playoffs, but at $8.2 million is grossly overpaid. Pollard at $5.7 is grossly overpaid for what he produced.
Two years ago, Pollard was very productive, but declined his last year with the Kings and was not effective at all with the Pacers: 2.7 rpg, 1.7 ppg, etc. A straight of Eisley for Pollard deal would work out cap wise, but it is hard to see this worth more than that.
MIAMI - Brian Grant is currently being rumored to be part of a deal with the Lakers to get Shaq. Grant is a decent center, but is only 6'9". He is OK, but hardly worth the $13.3 million he gets this season with two more years after.
MILWAUKEE - They have apparently lost Skinner to the Sixers. They got Etan Thomas to sign an offer sheet, but he is a RFA with the Wizzards and may get matched. Dan Gadzuric operates under a three year minimum contract signed in 2002. He is a decent rebounder and shot blocker, but did not play much in spite of a team need for inside help.
NEW JERSEY - The Nets starting center is Jason Collins, who played 28.5 minutes, yet grabbed only 5.1 rpg. To give some perspective, Voskuhl averaged 5.2 rpg in 24.3 minutes. He is a better defender than Voskuhl, but overall their games are similar.
NEW YORK - They have a lot of big guys they'd love to move, but they are all overpriced and not very good: Kirt Thomas is their best inside guy and at $5.8 million actually reasonably priced, but at 6'9" 225 he is not really a center. Nazr Mohammed put up a respectable 7.7 rpg, At 5.2 million he is almost a bargain, but he is not a terribly dynamtic player and at 6'10" a bit undersized. There is not much chance of doing anything with either guy.
ORLANDO - They have Cato and DeClerq. Why bother?
PHILADELPHIA - They added Brian Skinner, who will play PF while Kenny Thomas moves to SF, while Dalembert continues at center. Marc Jackson and Derick Coleman are just not very good while coming off injury seasons.
TORONTO - This is a team that may end up starting rookie Rafael Araujo.
WASHINGTON - Etan Thomas signed an offer sheet with the Bucks, but the Wizzards are likely to match. Brendan Heywood is the Wizzards starting center, but averaged only 5 rpg in 19.3 minutes. He might be available, but is not good enough to make much difference.
I will review the West in another post.
