AZ REPublic say we may get Ostertag (?)

[Yuma]

Suns may be back at square one

FanBoy
azcentral.com
Jul. 16, 2004 12:29 PM





Which free agent center is the best option for the Suns? Vlade Divac
Greg Ostertag
Joel Przybilla
Stromile Swift
Jake Tsakalidis
None



The biggest power play in the history of the NBA came to its conclusion on Thursday afternoon. In a series of moves that would have made Tony Soprano proud, Kobe Bryant whacked Phil Jackson and Shaquille O'Neal in order to take his spot as the new godfather of the Lakers family.

Although there was some flirtation with the Clippers, Bryant finally agreed to stay with the Lakers, and he will have the weight of all those championship banners placed squarely on his shoulders.

The mess Kobe has created in Los Angeles is his concern. He made his bed and now he has to lie in it. I am more concerned with the impact that his decision has on our very own Phoenix Suns. While the Suns had fallen out of the Kobe sweepstakes almost immediately, the decision to go after Quentin Richardson meant that they had to wait and see what the Clippers were going to do. With Kobe staying put, it probably means that the Clippers will match the Suns' offer and keep Richardson. In the time it took for me to accept the Suns' decision to go after Richardson in the first place, it was that quickly pulled from under me.

So know what? That $45 million will be out there and now the Suns need to refocus. They need to go back to square one, when they pulled a fast one on most of us and, instead of going after a big man, they decided to negotiate with Richardson.

One name that has been flying under the radar screen since the free-agent period opened is Utah center Greg Ostertag. Stop snickering. The preconceived notions of what Ostertag can do are pretty much dead on. Slow? Yes. Inconsistent? Definitely. Maddeningly frustrating? Absolutely.

But...

He also happens to be a center who fits what the Suns are looking for. He will only be required to be the fifth option on offense, give some support on the boards to Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion and bang a little bit with the bigger guys in the West. Ostertag can do that and he will sign on the dotted for much cheaper than other centers on the market.

Still not convinced about Ostertag? Well, one look at the available centers on the market will make you an Ostertag convert. Stromile Swift of the Memphis Grizzlies is probably the best athlete left on the board who has played some five in his career. He is young and has more upside than Ostertag, but at 6-9, 225 he is seriously undersized to battle with players like Yao Ming and Tim Duncan. Plus he is likely to snare $6 million to $7 million a year contract. Why overpay for someone who hasn't even been able to break into the Grizzlies' starting lineup?

The other option would be Vlade Divac, who will be 36 next season. At this stage of his career, Divac would be better served coming off the bench and playing a productive 20-25 minutes a night. The Suns need more than that. They need a guy who will go out and and play 30 minutes a night, and Divac isn't that guy, especially for the money he will attract. The most likely scenario is that the Lakers overpay to pry him away from the Kings.

The other centers available are Joel Pryzibilla of the Bucks and our old friend Jake Tsakalidis of Memphis. The list is that impressive.

So, that brings us back to Ostertag.

The Jazz, after agreeing to terms with Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur and re-signing Carlos Arroyo, have very little money to offer Ostertag, who made over $8 million last year. He could be had for much less this time around and would provide the Suns a little more flexibility under the boards.

I'm not saying that Ostertag will finally be the center the Suns have been looking since, well, forever, but he happens to be one of the best options and a need position. With a starting lineup of Nash, Johnson, Marion, Stoudemire and Ostertag the Suns will be a contender in the newly restructured division in which they will compete with all the California teams.

The Kings are another Chris Webber knee injury away from being an also-ran, especially given the fact that Divac probably won't be back. No one will know what to expect from the Lakers, but they won't be anywhere as good as the last couple of years, meanwhile the Blazers are still the Blazers, meaning they will have plenty of talent but not know what to do with it. There is a definite shift in power going on and the Suns are in as good a position as any team to take advantage of it. A division title is not out of the question and a playoff run into the second round is not out of the question.

After having about a week to toss around the idea of having Q in the fold it started to sound pretty interesting. But in reality, adding Richardson was more of a luxury than a necessity. Now its time that the Suns go after what they really need - someone to stand in the paint and pound away at the big guys in the West. Even if that means a big, slow center with a bad crew cut.

Not a bad option to play the bigger centers defensivly.

 

[F-Dog]

They need a guy who will go out and and play 30 minutes a night, and Divac isn't that guy...

But Greg Ostertag is?


If the Suns settle for Ostertag for $6m (or $4m, which will slag their cap room just as thoroughly), I will not be happy at all. I would prefer that they sign Przybilla and sit on the rest of their money.

 

[Evil Ash]

But Greg Ostertag is?


If the Suns settle for Ostertag for $6m (or $4m, which will slag their cap room just as thoroughly), I will not be happy at all. I would prefer that they sign Przybilla and sit on the rest of their money.

I'd be willing to pay Ostertag that amount for a 1 year deal. If he didn't work out then the money would be ours again next season and it would also make him a valuable trade commodity by the trade deadline for teams trying to get cap space.

Of course, the question is ... Would Ostertag be willing to sign a 1 year deal?

 

[elindholm]

I'm trying to figure out what this has to do with the Arizona Republic. This wouldn't be another one of those misleading thread headers, would it?

 

[Chris_Sanders]

I'm trying to figure out what this has to do with the Arizona Republic. This wouldn't be another one of those misleading thread headers, would it?

Azcentral.com=Arizona Republic website.

 

[elindholm]

Azcentral.com=Arizona Republic website.

Ah, okay. But this author has no affiliation with the Republic, right? The times that I've visited that site, it looks like just another fan board.

 

[slinslin]

I'd be happy if we just signed Przybilla for the veteran minimum. We can really use that guy. He is a big and specializes in defense.

I'd also sign Steven Hunter. He never got a real chance under Doc Rivers according to Magic fans and he had a torn acl early in his career that held him back.

 

[newfan101]

I think it's a good rule of thumb to stay away from any player whose last name starts with a manufacturer of small appliances.

Actually, I hope if Q is matched we just sign Hunter or Przybilla for the minimum. Then I'd like to see the Suns exercise some patience for once, sit on some cap space, and use it as a facilitator for a trade to a team looking to dump a salary to get under the luxury tax, much like Utah did to us last year.

Stockpiling picks and young talent seems a better solution than spending money on mediocrity for the sake of spending.

 

[hcsilla]

I think that Przybilla is hopeless. Hunter may be a bit better.

But for the vet min. why not?

 

[Michael]

The Kings are another Chris Webber knee injury away from being an also-ran, especially given the fact that Divac probably won't be back. No one will know what to expect from the Lakers, but they won't be anywhere as good as the last couple of years, meanwhile the Blazers are still the Blazers, meaning they will have plenty of talent but not know what to do with it. There is a definite shift in power going on and the Suns are in as good a position as any team to take advantage of it. A division title is not out of the question and a playoff run into the second round is not out of the question.

Ain't the Blazers in the Northwestern Division?

I thought the Suns would be in one with the Clippers, Lakers, Kings and Warriors.

 

[elindholm]

I think it's a good rule of thumb to stay away from any player whose last name starts with a manufacturer of small appliances.

I know what you mean. Everything I get that's made by Przyb breaks within a couple of years.

 

[Yuma]

Azcentral.com=Arizona Republic website.

Ah, okay. But this author has no affiliation with the Republic, right? The times that I've visited that site, it looks like just another fan board.

He's in the AZ Republic as an official writer. He keeps his identity a secret like restararunt reviewers. That way he can criticise or praise in sports stories and not be influenced, supposedly. He's a regular in the Republic, if you ever buy that paper.

 

[NJYAJ09]

I hope the clips don't match and we sign Przyb really cheap.

 

[coloradosun]

I would rather have Mamadou.

 

[pokerface]

I'd still rather have Divac for 20-25 mpg than Ostertag for 35 minutes. I mean heck....Ming only plays about 25 mpg himself.

Divac is an extremely smart center and he would make a difference out there even in limited minutes. He could be just enough to get us over the hump to get us a lot more wins. With Divac and Nash guiding our young team we could really grow.

 

[mark1]

When the Clippers match Q, Ostertag will be our center.

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/ci_2377759

 

[slinslin]

Clips won't match Q imo.

 

[Yuma]

Clips won't match Q imo.

I think the Clips WILL match Q, imo. Just look at the free agents left, the salaries being paid, and the upside with Q, and it should be a no brainer for the Clips. The only way they don't resign him, is if they think they can stick it to the Suns by letting us have him and not getting a center this year. I think the Suns are looking at signing Ostertag outright if Q is signed by the Clips, or a trade if we get Q. Just a gut feeling.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Like I have said earlier, I think the Clips will only match Q if he says he will play in LA. I dont think that will happen, so I dont think they will match.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I think you guys are nuts if you think the Clips won't match for Q - right now they are riding an unprecedented wave of good-will for coming in second to the Lakers for Kobe (I know - that in of itself is pathetic - celebrating for coming in second) and IMO will the right thing to keep that good-will going. Elgin Baylor's not stupid and he knows that Q signed to a relatively manageable contract and that he has major upside and is young. The fact that Q has come out and said he doesn't want to be in LA means as much as Elton Brand saying the same thing last offseason when the Heat signed him to an offer sheet. Bottom line - the Clips could sign him, make him play or have a VERY attractive piece at an affordable price for trade value. No way they just let Q go for absolutely nothing.

I know they are the Clippers - but they aren't absolutely ******** - although I'm with you guys in hoping otherwise . . . a Nash/Q offseason would make us pretty good and with windows of opportunity closing for teams like Minnesota (Cassel and Spree are both close to signifcant drops in level of play) and Sac-Town (who knows if Webber will ever be what he was and how much of an impact a Vlade-less hole will be to the Kings) within two years and maybe adding one more big body - this team can contend with the Spurs and Rockets for it all.

 

[elindholm]

My guess is that the Clippers are trying to figure out whether they can parlay their massive cap space into a major trade acquisition. Shareef Abdur-Rahim (at SF), Ray Allen or -- here's a long shot for you -- even Jason Kidd could really give them a shot in the arm. They don't have a lot of assets other than draft picks, but there are some big names out there rumored to be on the market, and anything's possible.

If the Clippers can't pull off a major trade, then I agree it's hard to see why they wouldn't retain Richardson. What else are they going to do with all that money?

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

this team can contend with the Spurs and Rockets for it all.

You made some good points.

Anyways, am I the only person who doesn't think that the Rockets will be a big time future contender? Their supporting cast is pathetic, they draft horrible, and I'm not sold on Yao being the best center in the league soon. He has the tools, but not the personality. Not to mention he plays year round, and plays pretty limitied minutes in the season.....

Who knows how Tmac will wind up playing with Yao. I think they will be constant playoff locks, near the 5th or 6th seed. People will claim they are title contenders, but no one will believe it. Kind of like how people viewed the Mavs the last few years.


I think the Nuggets are better built than the Rockets.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

If the Clippers can't pull off a major trade, then I agree it's hard to see why they wouldn't retain Richardson. What else are they going to do with all that money?

The same thing they have done for the last decade, put it straight into profits. The Clips make the most money in the league, and it isn't because they spend money when they have it.....

 

[Cheesebeef]

My guess is that the Clippers are trying to figure out whether they can parlay their massive cap space into a major trade acquisition. Shareef Abdur-Rahim (at SF), Ray Allen or -- here's a long shot for you -- even Jason Kidd could really give them a shot in the arm. They don't have a lot of assets other than draft picks, but there are some big names out there rumored to be on the market, and anything's possible.

If the Clippers can't pull off a major trade, then I agree it's hard to see why they wouldn't retain Richardson. What else are they going to do with all that money?

that could be as well. E - you live in LA - right? Do you think all the attention the Clips have gotten simnply because they play in the same city as the Lakers and thus were Kobe's second choice - has been a tad on the ridiculous side, especially considering that Kobe basically went to a team with a lesser roster than he would have had he gone to the Clips - which basically just stamped home that even if it meant going to w rose team, he'd rather put on the purple and gold over Sterling's White and red?

 

[elindholm]

Anyways, am I the only person who doesn't think that the Rockets will be a big time future contender?

No, you aren't the only person. I'm not too worried about the Rockets, for the same reasons you aren't.

The Clips make the most money in the league, and it isn't because they spend money when they have it.....

True, but they do have to field a team, and Richardson is good value. Besides, it's important not to get too carried away when discussing the Clippers' stinginess. They matched very lucrative offers to Brand and Maggette last summer, even when a lot of people assumed they wouldn't. And they paid good money to bring in a veteran NBA head coach -- something the Suns, for instance, refuse to do.