MUTOMBO is available

[hcsilla]

Originally posted by ...tTs*...
Hah you're wrong hcsilla - from jim james:

Ok, you are two.

Seriously how can you be so sure - the guy's in good shape, has lost ten or so pounds, was a 20 and 10 guy for a while;

You like your memories and I like your optimism.Probably you would be optimistic about Bobby Phills' future as well........

i just don't think you can write him off yet. Unless you've seen him in the last month or so. Have you?

I just don't think you can realistically expect anything from Gugliotta.
Unless you forgot that he can't run and jump.Did you?

 

[Joe Mama]

Originally posted by capologist
WTH not? He’s getting a $27.5M buyout from New Jersey. With a guaranteed minimum-salary contract, he’d be getting close to $29M. What difference is another $1M or so going to make? It’s probably more important for him to choose the best situation for him.

I'm not sure who has their full mid-level exception left. I believe New York does. So the difference could be more than $1 million. Besides that $1 million would probably go a long way toward some of Mutombo's charities like that hospital in Africa.

Joe Mama

 

[jimjames1]

I'm not sure who has their full mid-level exception left.

We do. We should use it.

 

[3rdside]

Unless you forgot that he can't run and jump.Did you?

You mean just like hardaway was washed up and done?
Right - i'll believe it when i see it.

 

[Chaplin]

Forget about Mutombo. He's nice to have on defense, but what good will he be on defense if it takes him 10 seconds to get down the floor? By then, the other team will have already tried to get to the hoop.

 

[jimjames1]

Forget about Mutombo. He's nice to have on defense, but what good will he be on defense if it takes him 10 seconds to get down the floor? By then, the other team will have already tried to get to the hoop.

But it doesn't take him 10 seconds to get down the floor, at all. In the Nets/Spurs series, he was very effective on defense. The Nets always had trouble finding time for him, but we're not as deep as they were last season. We don't have guys like Jared Collins and Aaron Williams who could bang down low. Now, if some of our new guys turn out well, we'll probably be okay, but they're not supposed to be bangers, and even then, do we really want to place this season in the hands of middle-of-the-first round picks and undrafted free agents? I know I don't. Having Mutombo would at least give us some insurance if our new guys don't pan out they way we ideally want them to.

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by jimjames1
But it doesn't take him 10 seconds to get down the floor, at all. In the Nets/Spurs series, he was very effective on defense. The Nets always had trouble finding time for him, but we're not as deep as they were last season. We don't have guys like Jared Collins and Aaron Williams who could bang down low. Now, if some of our new guys turn out well, we'll probably be okay, but they're not supposed to be bangers, and even then, do we really want to place this season in the hands of middle-of-the-first round picks and undrafted free agents? I know I don't. Having Mutombo would at least give us some insurance if our new guys don't pan out they way we ideally want them to.

The only way I'd say ok to Mutombo is if he got the minimum or close to it. There's no way in hell that I'd give him anything resembling the MLE. I'd rather have Big Jake back.

 

[Joe Mama]

Originally posted by Chaplin
The only way I'd say ok to Mutombo is if he got the minimum or close to it. There's no way in hell that I'd give him anything resembling the MLE. I'd rather have Big Jake back.

I hope you are just exaggerating. The Phoenix Suns would be a much better team with Mutombo in the lineup. It would be awfully tough for their opponents to get baskets in the paint with Amare Stoudemire and Mutombo down low. Mutombo is worth every bit of the mid-level exception. However the chances that the Phoenix Suns would spend the money to get him now are almost nonexistent.

I think he would be a perfect fit in Dallas. The Mavericks have almost all of their mid-level exception to use, and I'm sure Cuban would have no qualms about spending it.

Joe Mama

Joe Mama

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by Joe Mama
I hope you are just exaggerating.

Why? How much did you really see him play last year? And he was arguably their best center on that team. The guy's wrists are bad. Now, ankles are one thing, but wrists? He missed 56 games last year because of his wrists.

Don't tell me the Suns would be a lot better with Mutombo in the lineup--that just isn't true. There might be a slight improvement, but he wouldn't get that many minutes on the Suns anyway--with all the running we'll be doing, he'd be lucky to get 15 minutes a game--and for the money we'd probably have to pay him, he isn't worth it.

 

[hcsilla]

Originally posted by ...tTs*...
You mean just like hardaway was washed up and done?

Hardaway more or less recovered from his injuries.He lost his explosiveness but he contributed.
When Skiles overplayed him in Nov. and Dec. of 2001 he was still able to average 20/4/4 and later he became an important complementary player of Suns' young core.

Gugliotta did not.
When he got PT, he couldn't contribute.Later he couldn't even earn PT. He is done.

Right - i'll believe it when i see it.

You already could have seen it last 2 seasons if you would have seen him on the floor.

You are acting like Gugliotta's injury would have happened 3 days, 3 weeks or 3 months ago.
Actually it was 3 years ago.
By your standards he recovered already many times from his injuries.On paper.
On the court he is only a very very pale shadow of his former himself.

 

[Joe Mama]

Originally posted by Chaplin
Why? How much did you really see him play last year? And he was arguably their best center on that team. The guy's wrists are bad. Now, ankles are one thing, but wrists? He missed 56 games last year because of his wrists.

Don't tell me the Suns would be a lot better with Mutombo in the lineup--that just isn't true. There might be a slight improvement, but he wouldn't get that many minutes on the Suns anyway--with all the running we'll be doing, he'd be lucky to get 15 minutes a game--and for the money we'd probably have to pay him, he isn't worth it.

I saw him in the playoffs. He looked pretty good to me. When you are running a fast-break it helps to get a defensive stop first. It's very difficult to run the ball when you can't stop anybody from scoring. I think Mutombo's presence on defense and on the boards would compensate for his inability to run the break. Besides, you don't need all five guys running down the court to have an effective fast-break offense.

Mutombo is not as good as he used to be. There's little doubt about that. But I think he's a lot better than anything the Phoenix Suns have had.

Joe Mama

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by Joe Mama
I saw him in the playoffs. He looked pretty good to me. When you are running a fast-break it helps to get a defensive stop first. It's very difficult to run the ball when you can't stop anybody from scoring. I think Mutombo's presence on defense and on the boards would compensate for his inability to run the break. Besides, you don't need all five guys running down the court to have an effective fast-break offense.

Mutombo is not as good as he used to be. There's little doubt about that. But I think he's a lot better than anything the Phoenix Suns have had.

Joe Mama

Fair enough. If we end up with him, then obviously I'll be a little suspicious, but I'll support him. If not, well, we'll probably never know whether he could make a significant impact.

 

[Chaplin]

from AZCentral.com...

No interest in Mutombo
The New Jersey Nets have bought out the contract of center Dikembe Mutombo, meaning the 37-year-old (at least) center is on the free-agent market.

While the Suns are without veteran Scott Williams because of a thumb injury and are undersized even with him, club sources said there is no interest in pursuing Mutombo - even for a minimum contract.

The Suns are looking to run with a young, athletic lineup. Being old and slow sort of puts Mutombo at odds with that plan.

 

[elindholm]

I love how small ball isn't supposed to look so onerous anymore, now that it's a "strategy."

It would be one thing if the Suns said that they didn't think they could afford what other teams will be able to offer Mutombo. But for this perpetually center-challenged, interior-defense-weak franchise to say that they have no interest in Mutombo, not even for a minimum contract, is most discouraging.

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by elindholm
I love how small ball isn't supposed to look so onerous anymore, now that it's a "strategy."

It would be one thing if the Suns said that they didn't think they could afford what other teams will be able to offer Mutombo. But for this perpetually center-challenged, interior-defense-weak franchise to say that they have no interest in Mutombo, not even for a minimum contract, is most discouraging.

Well, considering the rumor that the Knicks will sign him for 4.5 per, I'd say maybe they have good reason not to be interested.

 

[elindholm]

Yes, but that's not what they said. They said they weren't interested "even for the minimum." That's a much stronger, and more negative, statement.

 

[hcsilla]

Originally posted by elindholm
Yes, but that's not what they said. They said they weren't interested "even for the minimum." That's a much stronger, and more negative, statement.

Moreover that's a very stupid statement.
For the vet min. Mutombo would have been a no-brainer for every single NBA team.

 

[elindholm]

For the vet min. Mutombo would have been a no-brainer for every single NBA team.

Every team except one, apparently.

 

[schutd]

Originally posted by elindholm
For the vet min. Mutombo would have been a no-brainer for every single NBA team.

Every team except one, apparently.

Dun dun DUUUUUUN!!!!!!

Nice effect. Except you guys neglected to mention that no one contacted every single to team to find out if thats a truism or not.

Obviously, The Nets were more interested in paying him 27 million to NOT play for them. DOnt forget that.

Now, Im in no way supporting the decision, or agree with our apprent philosophy for this upcoming season, but why do you guys consistently feel the need to harp on this as if its some HUGE Suns-only blunder?

I dont get it.

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by schutd
Dun dun DUUUUUUN!!!!!!

Nice effect. Except you guys neglected to mention that no one contacted every single to team to find out if thats a truism or not.

Obviously, The Nets were more interested in paying him 27 million to NOT play for them. DOnt forget that.

Now, Im in no way supporting the decision, or agree with our apprent philosophy for this upcoming season, but why do you guys consistently feel the need to harp on this as if its some HUGE Suns-only blunder?

I dont get it.

I'd like to know that too.

It seems like 95% of the time, everything is a Suns blunder.

 

[hcsilla]

Originally posted by schutd
but why do you guys consistently feel the need to harp on this as if its some HUGE Suns-only blunder?

I don't think that was a huge Suns' blunder since Mutombo is worth and will get significantly more than the vet min. which Suns probably didn't want to pay for him.
So it couldn't be a mistake to not sign Mutombo for the vet min. since he probably wouldn't even have considered this possibility.

 

[schutd]

Originally posted by hcsilla
I don't think that was a huge Suns' blunder since Mutombo is worth and will get significantly more than the vet min. which Suns probably didn't want to pay for him.
So it couldn't be a mistake to not sign Mutombo for the vet min. since he probably wouldn't even have considered this possibility.

We're not talking about viability of doing so, we're talking about the lack of interest the SUns had in even considering the possibility.

I dont really care one way or the other, but even if I was pissed, I wouldnt be using this forum as a sounding board to make the Suns out to be the only team in the entire league inept enough to not try. Thats silly.

And even then, considering an inept decision is still just a matter of opinion.

 

[hcsilla]

Originally posted by schutd
we're talking about the lack of interest the SUns had in even considering the possibility.

That sounds as if Mutombo would have asked the Suns to allow him to play for the min. but Suns weren't interested.
Is that your and Bob Young's point?

I dont really care one way or the other, but even if I was pissed, I wouldnt be using this forum as a sounding board to make the Suns out to be the only team in the entire league inept enough to not try.

Wouldn't you? It's good to know.

Thats silly.

Thanks again. I was really curious about your great analysis.

 

[schutd]

Originally posted by hcsilla
That sounds as if Mutombo would have asked the Suns to allow him to play for the min. but Suns weren't interested.
Is that your and Bob Young's point?


Wouldn't you? It's good to know.


Thanks again. I was really curious about your great analysis.

It may not be great analysis, but its RIGHT, jerk. The Nets didnt want him, and we didnt want him. So your assertation that every team in the league would want him for the min is WRONG. Glad youre so adept at being an ass though.

 

[elindholm]

I think that using this forum as a "sounding board" for how we feel about the Suns' team philosophy is an excellent purpose. What else is this board for, if not for Suns fans to discuss the team, good and bad?

I don't really care whether it's one, five, ten, or twenty-eight teams that have no interest in Mutombo. The point is this:

1. The Suns have a glaring, potentially crippling weakness at center.

2. Apparently, their solution is to play power forwards (Stoudemire, Gugliotta, and maybe Archibald) out of position at center, most likely leading to the need to play small forwards (Marion, Cabarkapa, and maybe DJohnson) out of position at power forward.

3. They are so set on this "solution" that they are refusing to consider scenarios involving a real center. They could easily have said, "We think Mutombo could help us, but we know we can't afford him, so we won't be pursuing him." But they didn't say that.

4. I'll say things are good when I think they're good, and I'll say things are bad when I think they're bad. I encourage everyone else to do likewise. And I think this is bad.