More On NBA Centers

[George O'Brien]

My inventory of NBA centers was actually pretty depressing. The few competant backup centers who might be trade prospects have already been traded including Battie and Dale Davis. Antoine Davis (Bulls) is horribly overpaid and Pollard is quite overpaid for the performance he gave last season. Most of the reast are projects and guys who were not as productive as Jake.

Much of the problem the Suns have is that they don't have good trading pieces. It is hard to find anyone despirate enough for a PG that they would take Eisley's contract. Many teams might have interest in Jacobsen, but he only makes $1 million so he cannot be traded alone. Cabakapa remains unproven, but trading Casey and Zarko for a third string center seems like a bad deal.

Trading Marion remains a popular choice by many fans, but it is not easy to strucuture a deal. The only centers that make more than Marion are Shaq, Ilgauskas, and Antoine Davis. Shaq and Z are not available and Antoine Davis is grossly overpaid. A trade for Ratliff works financially, but the Blazers do not have a backup center.

What is left are guys making substantially less money than Marion. This means taking back a bad contract. This is a huge financial problem when looking at guys with who will become free agents soon like Dalembert and Chandler. However, even with guys who have mid range contracts like Magloire, it is very hard to structure a deal even if the Hornets had a competant backup, which they don't.

The ideal for the Suns would be to find someone who will give the Suns anything for Eisley. It seems unlikely, although Eisley might actually be able to start in Houston.

As much as I hate to say it, free agent signings of Joel Przybilla and Scott Williams or Kevin Willis looks more promising than a trade. In any case, the Suns are putting a lot of pressure on Lampe to become a 20 minute plus a game player this season. I just hope he's ready.

 

[Yuma]

I agree. That's why I keep saying Amare could play center, when you see how some of the guys are undersized, unathletic, and slow on your lists. That being said, I wouldn't trade Marion for any of them. Actually, we only NEED a defensive center to play at the end of the half and at the end of the game. Twenty effective minutes a game from a Kevin Willis would be plenty. Jake and Lampe should be able to fill out the rest of the time admirably!

 

[NJYAJ09]

I don't understand why you guys want Kevin Willis. The man is basically useless. All he provides is the great "veteran guidance" bullcrap that we could gain by getting Scott Williams. I mean Willis can barly run the floor anymore. We need to get Pryzibilla, at least he's not 60 years old like Willis.

 

[elindholm]

Twenty effective minutes a game from a Kevin Willis would be plenty.

Just for the record, the last time Willis averaged 20 minutes per game (if you include DNP's in the average) was 1999.

Plus it's hard to envision any reason why he would want to come to the Suns.

As Joe Mama has pointed out a few times, one of the biggest problems with playing Stoudemire at center is that the Suns have no backups at PF other than Vroman.

 

[NJYAJ09]

Twenty effective minutes a game from a Kevin Willis would be plenty.

Just for the record, the last time Willis averaged 20 minutes per game (if you include DNP's in the average) was 1999.

Plus it's hard to envision any reason why he would want to come to the Suns.

As Joe Mama has pointed out a few times, one of the biggest problems with playing Stoudemire at center is that the Suns have no backups at PF other than Vroman.

LOL we could play marion 40+ minutes again, but this time as a (no-so) power forward.

 

[elindholm]

In any case, the Suns are putting a lot of pressure on Lampe to become a 20 minute plus a game player this season. I just hope he's ready.

Not to further dampen anyone's spirits, but the last 19-year-old big man to average 20+ minutes per game was Kevin Garnett. So unless we see Lampe as a Garnett-caliber prodigy, I wouldn't count on him putting up those minutes.

 

[elindholm]

LOL we could play marion 40+ minutes again, but this time as a (no-so) power forward.

Unfortunately, it seems inevitable at this point that Marion will see major time at PF -- probably as much as he sees at SF, and maybe even more.

 

[Yuma]

What you guys miss about playing Amare at center, is there are a lot better PF options on the market then center options. If Amare was a center, we could find a PF a LOT easier.

 

[devilalum]

How about trading for a big bruising PF to play along side Amare?

Never mind there aren't any of those either.

Shawn Marion is 14th in the league in rebounds.

How about PJ Brown?

He'd be a great compliment to Amare. Not a big scorer, doesn't need the ball, defends big guys well, has good size, might be available for the right price.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

How about PJ Brown?

He'd be a great compliment to Amare. Not a big scorer, doesn't need the ball, defends big guys well, has good size, might be available for the right price.

When his contract was up last year (maybe the year before?) I remember myself and a few others hoping the Suns would go after him with their MLE. Of course they didn't, but I agree, he would be a nice player to play alongside him.

 

[elindholm]

there are a lot better PF options on the market then center options.

Such as? PFs who are way undersized (e.g. Weatherspoon) don't do the Suns any good. It would have to be someone legitimate.

 

[Joe Mama]

there are a lot better PF options on the market then center options.

Such as? PFs who are way undersized (e.g. Weatherspoon) don't do the Suns any good. It would have to be someone legitimate.

thank you. At this point the idea of getting a real center who is a free agent is basically gone. There just aren't any. The Suns will have to settle for a power forward type playing out of position.

Kevin Willis isn't going to give you 20 minutes per game. He might be good for 5-10 minutes per game. However I do think he could come in and make a difference during that time. At 400 years old he is still in better shape than most of the other players in the NBA. I also think Corie Blount as a backup power forward/center would work.

Joe Mama

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

I also think Corie Blount as a backup power forward/center would work.

Joe Mama

Would he want to come back? He said a lot of things on his way out, although I guess most of it was directed at Skiles.

 

[cepstrum]

thank you. At this point the idea of getting a real center who is a free agent is basically gone. There just aren't any. The Suns will have to settle for a power forward type playing out of position.

Joe Mama

A lot of times we try to pinpoint people to positions. Right now we just need a big. He has to be able to rebound and defend. I think blount fits that nicely as does Kevin Willis. It really doesnt matter if he is a pf or c according to hoopshype, because beggers cant be choosers also.

 

[JCSunsfan]

A lot of times we try to pinpoint people to positions. Right now we just need a big. He has to be able to rebound and defend.

If this is how we are going to go, then a Pollard for Eisley trade is what makes most sense. I really don't know why this hasn't happened yet.

Pollard can play the 4 or 5 and can be inserted as an enforcer. Maybe JC can't take Pollard's "do". Trading for Pollard (along with Nash) would make the Suns the "worst haircut" team in the league.

 

[Joe Mama]

If this is how we are going to go, then a Pollard for Eisley trade is what makes most sense. I really don't know why this hasn't happened yet.

Pollard can play the 4 or 5 and can be inserted as an enforcer. Maybe JC can't take Pollard's "do". Trading for Pollard (along with Nash) would make the Suns the "worst haircut" team in the league.

What are you going to give Indiana along with Howard Eisley? Perhaps both the Indiana Pacers and Phoenix Suns note that he is not nearly as good as he used to be.

Joe

 

[elindholm]

I'd be up for Blount. He played very well in the playoff series against the Spurs in 1999. It would be nice if he were more of a shot blocker, but I'm sure he could still help the team.

 

[NJYAJ09]

I would take Pryzibilla or Blount, whoevers in better shape.

 

[George O'Brien]

I would take Pryzibilla or Blount, whoevers in better shape.

Healthy is probably the applicable term.

BTW, the only reason Pollard's name comes keeps coming up is that he all but disappeared from the Pacers, yet no one has a definitive reason why. Some have suggested the reason was minor injuries or perhaps he just didn't get alone with Carlise. Unfortunately, without knowing why Pollard's productivity fell off the table, it is hard to know if adding draft picks or something would even be justified.

 

[JCSunsfan]

What are you going to give Indiana along with Howard Eisley? Perhaps both the Indiana Pacers and Phoenix Suns note that he is not nearly as good as he used to be.

Joe

Indiana needs a backup pg and has no use for Pollard. The Suns need a backup center and have no use for Eisley. Their contracts are almost identical and of an equally distasteful length.

One bad contract for another, but at least it fills a need for both teams.

 

[Joe Mama]

Indiana needs a backup pg and has no use for Pollard. The Suns need a backup center and have no use for Eisley. Their contracts are almost identical and of an equally distasteful length.

One bad contract for another, but at least it fills a need for both teams.

yes, but if Scott Pollard is worth acquiring in the first place is worth more, as a center, than Howard Eiseley.

Joe Mama

 

[George O'Brien]

If the Pacers Get Dampier

There is some discussion in the Indiana papers about the possibility of Dampier signing a one year deal with them. This is from an interview of J O'Neal:

Indianapolis Star: Pacer focuses on the future

Q Do you feel the team you have now can win it all?

A I sure hope so. I would love to see us get another big guy; another big strong guy who can score and give me some time to dance around and do my thing and not be the guy who's guarding the best post guy or trying to score every time. I'd love to play weak side and go get a couple of offensive rebounds and do stuff like that rather than coming down and having to bang against everybody and try to get the ball in there and score. That's hard on you.

I've been begging (Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh) and those guys, 'Please get a big guy. Please get a big guy.' My back won't be hurting as much, my legs won't be hurting. I love Jeff Foster . . . but we also have to have another big guy.

Q Such as Erick Dampier?

A It's a tough situation because he's looking for so much money. We don't have that available and we'd have to give up some other guys (in a sign-and-trade). That's just not something you should do. We shouldn't give up core guys to get another big guy.

Q Have you suggested to Dampier that he take less money to play for the Pacers?

A We've talked an awful lot this summer. I told him he should do a one-year deal. The only option out there for him is Atlanta. It's his judgment call. He understands we'd love to have him.

But whether we can get a big guy or not, I really think this team is going to be ready to play. There's going to be so much opportunity this year. Guys know what it takes now. Guys will play hard and it's going to be hard for (coach) Rick Carlisle to make decisions on playing time.

Pollard becomes VERY expendible if the Pacers get Dampier.