Hunter traded for 2 2nd round picks.

[JS22]

Just heard this on 910. Looks like Steven Hunter was traded to the Hornets for 2 2nd round picks.

Kinda feel bad for the guy. He wasn't as bad as many people tend to rate him. He just frustrated the hell out of the coaches.

 

[Chaplin]

Uh oh. Now the deluge of "why didn't we do that?" will be coming ALL day.

 

[fordronken]

Uh oh. Now the deluge of "why didn't we do that?" will be coming ALL day.

Because our second round picks suck even more than Hunter does.

 

[Chaplin]

Because our second round picks suck even more than Hunter does.

Apparently not according to D'Antoni and Bryan Colangelo.

 

[fordronken]

Apparently not according to D'Antoni and Bryan Colangelo.

I meant more that two Hornets picks can be traded for Hunter, not two Suns picks.

 

[nathan]

Do we even have any more 2nd round picks?

 

[Joe Mama]

The Phoenix Suns probably didn't even consider trading for Hunter, and I'm sure it had nothing to do with the draft picks. They wouldn't want his contract.

Even after he had a decent/good season here last year they weren't about to pay him what Philadelphia did. They certainly weren't going to take on that contract now.

Joe Mama

 

[reader]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2315028

Hornets make second trade in 24-hour span

Associated Press




OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Philadelphia 76ers traded center Steven Hunter to the New Orleans Hornet on Wednesday for two second-round draft picks.


It's the Hornets' second trade in a 24-hour span in an attempt to reinforce their front line following the dismissal of forward Chris Andersen last week for violating the NBA's drug policy.
"We were real small," coach Byron Scott said at the team's shootaround. "We've gotten bigger in a matter of minutes."
Hunter, a 7-footer, is averaging 4.9 points and 3.4 rebounds in 35 games with the 76ers this season. A first-round pick by Orlando in 2001, he played three seasons with the Magic and one with Phoenix before signing with Philadelphia as a free agent before this season.
"We're excited. We bring in another athlete, a 7-foot athlete, 24 years old who runs and jumps and does a lot of the things that we want here," Scott said. "I think he'll fit in extremely well."
The Hornets are giving up their 2006 and 2007 second-round picks and will also receive cash considerations from Philadelphia. On Tuesday, the Hornets acquired Aaron Williams from Toronto for their other 2006 second-round pick and a 2009 second rounder. Williams is expected to be in uniform for New Orleans' game against Chicago on Wednesday night.
The Hornets have two first-round picks in this year's draft, including one they received from Milwaukee when they swapped Jamaal Magloire for Desmond Mason in the preseason.
"We were able to get a young center that we feel is going to get much better and better, that's shown improvement," Scott said. "He had his best year in Phoenix playing the type of basketball that we play. And then we got a veteran in Aaron Williams. We've still got our first-round picks."
Unlike Williams, who played for Scott in New Jersey for more than three seasons, Hunter may take longer to fit in.
"There'll be an adjustment for Steven because this is an offense that he hasn't done," Scott said. "But again, once we get him in, we'll go over it every single day with him just to try to get him as comfortable as possible. ... I don't think it'll take him real long because one thing that we do a lot of is repetition on our offense."

 

[Chaplin]

I will say one thing--I like what the Hornets are doing, getting Williams and Hunter for a handful of 2nd rounders.

 

[Mainstreet]

I read this on a Philly fan forum yesterday so I thought it was probably going to happen.

I know Hunter was definitely not popular to some fans on this forum but I think he brought something to the table for the Suns defensively in regard to shotblocking and he altered a number of shots inside. Also, occassionally, he could play a little man-to- man defense on a player like Paul Gasol.

As D'Antonni was not high on him (like Voshkuhl), I knew he probably would not be pursued by the Suns especially with the higher salary and a long term contract Philly gave him.

Anyway, I viewed Hunter as the glass half-full (what he could do right), not half-empty (what he could do wrong).

Perhaps Skita can develop some of the same skills as Hunter defensively. Of course, Skita is supposed to be able to shoot from the outside which appears mandatory to be a Sun. I can't argue with D'Antonni as he appears to know what he is doing.

I guess it's just sad to see Hunter traded for two second round picks after he helped the Suns last year get to the WCF.

 

[Chaplin]

I read this on a Philly fan forum yesterday so I thought it was probably going to happen.

I know Hunter was definitely not popular to some fans on this forum but I think he brought something to the table for the Suns defensively in regard to shotblocking and he altered a number of shots inside. Also, occassionally, he could play a little man-to- man defense on a player like Paul Gasol.

As D'Antonni was not high on him (like Voshkuhl), I knew he probably would not be pursued by the Suns especially with the higher salary and a long term contract Philly gave him.

Anyway, I viewed Hunter as the glass half-full (what he could do right), not half-empty (what he could do wrong).

Perhaps Skita can develop some of the same skills as Hunter defensively. Of course, Skita is supposed to be able to shoot from the outside which appears mandatory to be a Sun. I can't argue with D'Antonni as he appears to know what he is doing.

I guess it's just sad to see Hunter traded for two second round picks after he helped the Suns last year get to the WCF.

IMO, the only thing Hunter brought us was a threat of a shot-blocker. I don't think he ever intimidated anybody enough to keep them from driving and he couldn't rebound worth a damn.

 

[elindholm]

LOL, it took Philadelphia all of three months to regret that signing. Congratulations to them for finding their way out of it.

 

[fordronken]

Hopefully now teams are realizing how much better players look in Phoenix than they would on their own rosters. Maybe if Barbosa or Diaw become RFAs they won't get offered outlandish contracts.

 

[Chaplin]

Hopefully now teams are realizing how much better players look in Phoenix than they would on their own rosters. Maybe if Barbosa or Diaw become RFAs they won't get offered outlandish contracts.

I don't know, didn't exactly work for a certain wannabe point guard in Atlanta...

 

[Mainstreet]

IMO, the only thing Hunter brought us was a threat of a shot-blocker. I don't think he ever intimidated anybody enough to keep them from driving and he couldn't rebound worth a damn.

If a player can block shots effectively, this tends to make opposing players change their shot and shoot quicker around the basket. Perhaps we differ on the meaning of the word "intimidate".

I think Diaw intimidates alot of players shooting their normal shot underneath the basket making them put up quick or bad shots for fear of getting them blocked. Certainly, Diaw is not physically intimidating but he nevertheless helps to anchor the Suns inside defense and causes oppossing players to miss what appear easy shots near the basket because of his shotblocking ability.

Certainly Diaw is the better rebounder/shotblocker and has the most upside. I'm not trying to draw a comnparison between the two except perhaps in regard to both players can make opposing players alter their shot inside.

 

[Chaplin]

If a player can block shots effectively, this tends to make opposing players change their shot and shoot quicker around the basket. Perhaps we differ on the meaning of the word "intimidate".

But players never did tend to change their shots or shoot quicker. He just didn't do that.

I think Diaw intimidates alot of players shooting their normal shot underneath the basket making them put up quick or bad shots for fear of getting them blocked. Certainly, Diaw is not physically intimidating but he nevertheless helps to anchor the Suns inside defense and causes oppossing players to miss what appear easy shots near the basket because of his shotblocking ability.

Diaw has much better footwork and is a much smarter basketball player than Hunter will ever be.

 

[fordronken]

I don't know, didn't exactly work for a certain wannabe point guard in Atlanta...

Right. That's why I said "now". I think teams are starting to realize, as of this season, how good this system makes players look on offense.

 

[Mainstreet]

Diaw has much better footwork and is a much smarter basketball player than Hunter will ever be.

I think we agree on this point! IMO, Diaw has star potential. Whether this is ever realized is another question.

 

[sly fly]

I guess I'm the only one who views Hunter as a capable "big guy" bench player... in the right system.

IMO, he could have helped. But, then again... BC will probably get Executive of the Year for the 2n straight year... so what the hell do I know?

 

[Chaplin]

I guess I'm the only one who views Hunter as a capable "big guy" bench player... in the right system.

IMO, he could have helped. But, then again... BC will probably get Executive of the Year for the 2n straight year... so what the hell do I know?

If he would have helped, why did we let him go in the first place? Just curious what you think.

 

[sly fly]

If he would have helped, why did we let him go in the first place? Just curious what you think.

Besides cap space, I don't know. Probably his practice habits. Once a coach creates, implements, and goes to war with a "system"... you'd better be in the coaches good graces. Looks like Hunter just didn't fit in with Coach D's "system".

 

[Yuma]

Plus, look it up, we are one of the top shot blocking teams. We need rebounding, which Hunter never really did. So why trade for a guy who doesn't fit our needs?

 

[Chaplin]

Besides cap space, I don't know. Probably his practice habits. Once a coach creates, implements, and goes to war with a "system"... you'd better be in the coaches good graces. Looks like Hunter just didn't fit in with Coach D's "system".

I think you're correct for the most part. But I would find it very strange for any player to not fit into this system, unless you're named Shaq, and Steven Hunter will never be confused for him. You'd think his thin and long body would be a big asset in D'Antoni's system, which leads me to think it's more than just that.

 

[mjb21aztd]

Getting Hunter back wouldve been ok but no way in hell would I give up two 2nd rounders for him that is a joke. Hunter imo will be nothing more then a avg to below avg bench player who can provide you with 4 pts a game and a few rebounds. Sigh to bad my nba2k6 for the 360 stoped working I want to play my suns franchise now oh well he he ...

GO SUNS

 

[jibikao]

Maybe because Hunter can't shoot at all? Somehow I think D'Antoni likes all the players who can shoot from outside and I think both Burke and Kurt Thomas can. I am not too sure about Brian Grant but I remember he has a pretty nice jumper for a big guy.

Having said that, Hunter 1.) can't shoot at all 2.) can't finish inside at all 3.) has terrible post up moves for a guy his size and speed.

Hunter can probably finish well in fast breaks but we have Marion and Amare to do that. Hunter can't give us what we need from the bench and I think ultimately we have to get rid of him and get other players.

Speaking about Hunter, where is Jim Jackson? Is he injured? When is the last time he plays?