It's weird that Wilcox has never panned out. He seems to have good physical tools but just isn't motivated to play with any fire. He's sort of like a less extreme case of Stromile Swift.
Warrick only got 24 mins/game on the worst team in basketball. At 27, he has essentially reached his ceiling and is a classic tweener between the 3 and the 4. You're right, he probably should be in the league as someone's deep bench guy. But the numbers don't impress me in spite of his athletic ability.
I haven't seen much of Bynum since college so I can't tell you if he "belongs". I imagine most of Bynums points came in garbage time with him going to the basket a lot.
What I do know is that there is more talented players than available roster spots. Just because a guy is talented doesn't mean he belongs in the NBA.
I think Suns should give Ike Diogu a chance.
The Grizzlies rescinded their $3m per qualifying offer to restricted free agent Hakim Warrick tonight.
Interesting target if the Suns want to get another big man, especially if they're willing to pay only $3m per year. But I'm not sure he helps the center position at all.
Why? ..because he played for Arizona State? or does he have some reedeming value we've all been oblivious to?
Ike Diogu (unrestricted, Kings)
If you're looking at guys who will be available for the minimum or not much more, Diogu is a good place to start. Let's start with the negatives: His practice habits and conditioning have been questionable at best, and he's not a good defender.
But look at the production. Diogu has been in the league four seasons for four different teams, and put up big numbers at every stop. His PER has been above the league average all four seasons, he has averaged more than 22 points per 40 minutes the past two, and he's done it with reasonably efficiency -- a difficult feat when the minutes come in sporadic seven-minute chunks.
As a scoring big man off the bench he can be devastatingly effective, and I'm surprised he hasn't got the chance to do it more regularly. For a team looking to fill that role, he'll be available for pennies.
Ike Diogu- Enter Mr. Diogu. I like Ike, and you should too. He never really got a chance with the GSW, or the IND, or the POR. Finally, he got some minutes with SAC last year, and they were predictably glorious. In the last two games, he dropped 32 on Denver, and 28 on Minnesota (oh, what's that you say about Denver resting its starters and Al Jefferson being injured? I can't really hear you, you're going to have to speak louder). He can rebound, and he draws fouls like a maniac. While he's kind of foul-prone, he doesn't turn the ball over. The kicker? His full name is Ikechukwa Somotochukwa Diogu. Pau Gasol is already recoiling in fear.
Why? ..because he played for Arizona State? or does he have some reedeming value we've all been oblivious to?
Taylor Griffin is not the 13th man.
I didn't know Theo Ratliff was still playing. He's 35 but can still be a defensive option in the paint. Looks like the SPURS are on it though.....shocker.
.....and that the SPURS are on top of it when it comes to adding defensive depth and size. He'll probably only play 10-15 min but can be a valuable insurance piece.I wonder if the Suns are on top of anything that could give them another C-F. It's only a shocker because the Suns are not on top of much anything when it comes to player personnel.
.....and that the SPURS are on top of it when it comes to adding defensive depth and size. He'll probably only play 10-15 min but can be a valuable insurance piece.
They've reloaded quite impressively IMO.
-R. Jefferson
-D. Blair
-Antonio McDyess
-Theo Ratliff
But Frye can run and score.The Spurs added three bigs at the 4/5. The Suns only add Frye.
Yet another "for the sake of argument" reply from E.The Spurs are title contenders and their roster isn't hugely overpaid. The Suns are a borderline lottery team that has been trapped behind bad contracts for years. What do you want?
SUNS need to be either a contender or a team rebuilding towards being a contender.....but like you said, we're neither. They did have a choice.
SUNS could've afforded a shot-blocking old scrub like Ratliff.
They did? What trade did they turn down that would have put them on the contending rebuild path?
Not sure i understand the question....why would we want him?What for?
Rebuild path? Nash to Portland. NY also wanted him and Hill.
Are you saying that there were no possible moves that the SUNS could have made to get younger players and possibly a #1 pick in order to rebuild?
You feel as though the SUNS had no choice but to stand pat this season.....i disagree.
Not sure i understand the question....why would we want him?
Shot blocking at the 5?........an alternative to Lopez/Frye who are crap and soft respectively?
On the Spurs, whatever happened to Oberto?
So your expectations are to find one single trade that allows you to rebuild your team in one step? There are no Hershel Walker deals anymore.The rumored offers were garbage. The Suns are going to rebuild around Bayless and Fernandez, or whatever nonsense it was?
You can rebuild initially around mediocre talent. Teams are forced to do this often...nobody rebuilds arounds good talent. Having young,mediocre talent breeds lottery picks...You can't rebuild around mediocre young talent and late first-round picks.
Fair enough....we disagree.No, I just feel it was their best choice.
I agree with you...but how does extending a 36 yr old Nash shore up finances?There are other parts to rebuilding: shoring up finances and keeping the fan base engaged. Trotting out a 15-win team in the name of doing something different would not help the rebuilding effort. The Suns' best option is to try to tread water until they can accumulate some assets, including cap room.
For the 10 millionth time(to all) i don't like this roster or this garbage system but i'm willing to throw out names that i believe can help them do whatever it is they want to accomplish with it. If that means shoring up a position of weakness i don't see how thats a waste of time. We are very thin at the 5 and Ratliff would have come dirt cheap as insurance.But what difference does it make long-term? Zilch. Maybe the Suns win 49 games instead of 47, big deal. In the meantime you've made another compromise to your financial goals. Besides, Ratliff is constantly injured and I'll be amazed if he plays in half of the Spurs' games next season.
I don't think the Suns have managed their franchise well, but there comes a time to face up to your mistakes and ride them out, rather than continuing to flounder in quicksand. That's where we are now.