Suns targeting Batista

[fordronken]

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/

The Celtics are one of four teams courting the services of Atlanta Hawks free agent Esteban Batista, according to his agent Marc Cornstien.

The Bobcats, Suns and Pacers are targeting a player who made a mark for himself playing for Uruguay at the FIBA Tournament in Las Vegas.

 

[fordronken]

He can rebound like crazy and run the floor. He's also young and flourishes in European style basketball. I think he might have a shot at the rotation.

 

[fordronken]

Nobody cares that it sounds like the Suns have made an offer to a big man?

 

[Cheesebeef]

i like his potential as a pickup more than the other stiffs currently out there.

 

[Griffin]

Nobody cares that it sounds like the Suns have made an offer to a big man?

It has been already reported the Suns were looking at Batista, but they are also actively looking at about 10 other players so I doubt Batista got an offer yet.

 

[fordronken]

It has been already reported the Suns were looking at Batista, but they are also actively looking at about 10 other players so I doubt Batista got an offer yet.

The article says that he's going to be coming to a decision soon. If he's "coming to a decision", then he has an offer. I'm guessing Colangelo had some good words to say about him from Europe.

 

[azirish]

http://www.boston.com

September 19, 2007
Batista update

By Marc Spears, Globe Staff
The agent for Atlanta Hawks free forward-center Esteban Batista said late tonight that his client has declined an offer to sign with the Celtics. Agent Marc Cornstien said this afternoon that the Celtics, Charlotte, Phoenix and Indiana had made contract offers to the 6-foot-10, 270-pounder. While Cornstien said via text message Wednesday night that Batista had turned down Boston, he didn't say why and wouldn't say where his client was leaning now.

"Boston could be a good fit, but there are teams expressing more serious interest," Cornstien said.

The Uruguay native played sparingly for Atlanta last season, but averaged a tournament-best 12.4 rebounds and 20.8 points during the recent FIBA Americas Championship in Las Vegas. Celtics executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge couldn't be reached for comment, but the inquiry on Batista gives the impression that his club is interested in bringing another big man to camp. The Celtics are currently expected to bring 15 players to camp.

I wasn't sure if this was the article being referenced.

 

[SunsTzu]

I guess any type of front court depth is a plus at this point. From what I've seen though Batista is a bit undersized and cannot defend worth a lick.

 

[Griffin]

I wasn't sure if this was the article being referenced.

This is a different article, but what's interesting is that if the Suns indeed made an offer to Batista, then apparently they liked him more than anyone whose been trying out. We know the Suns will sign one player and one player only.

Also, I wonder what "more serious interest" refers to. If that means money, the Suns won't offer more than the minimum.

I really liked what I saw of Batista in Vegas though. I would rather have him than Potapenko.

 

[azirish]

I guess any type of front court depth is a plus at this point. From what I've seen though Batista is a bit undersized and cannot defend worth a lick.

Fit right in.

 

[WuRaider]

Also, I wonder what "more serious interest" refers to. If that means money, the Suns won't offer more than the minimum.

It has to be money. Maybe the Suns are fed up with the dwindling pool and are willing to offer a little bit more than the min and match the Pacers and Bobcats. If it isn't money, D'Antoni just has to explain how his game would mesh perfectly with ours.

 

[SunsTzu]

Fit right in.

Thats what I'm afraid of. It's just he isn't exactly an offensive force either.

 

[KloD]

I guess any type of front court depth is a plus at this point. From what I've seen though Batista is a bit undersized and cannot defend worth a lick.

W/out knowing anything about the guy, 6'10' 270 doesn't sound undersized to me?

 

[SunsTzu]

W/out knowing anything about the guy, 6'10' 270 doesn't sound undersized to me?

He's a wide but he certainly doesn't look 6'10" on the court. Maybe he just has really short arms that make him play smaller than he is but from what I've seen oppossing front court players have no problem shooting over him.

 

[elindholm]

It would be better to add someone than no one, but I don't see how Batista can be worth more than the minimum. He's already 24 and hasn't done squat in the NBA so far.

 

[Mainstreet]

It would be better to add someone than no one...

I'm there.

 

[azirish]

It would be better to add someone than no one, but I don't see how Batista can be worth more than the minimum. He's already 24 and hasn't done squat in the NBA so far.

I doubt it's more money, but he may see a chance to play.

As for his NBA career, I think there are three issues.

First, he was not in condition and had to lose 25 pounds to play in FIBA Americas. That might scare anyone who remembers Oliver, but would explain his lack of minutes.

Second, while in Atlanta he was behind a bunch of lottery pick guys, so it there weren't a lot of minutes available.

Third, when he played, he did hit the boards. In 70 games over two years, he averaged 2.5 rpg in 8.2 minutes a game. That works out to 0.30 per minute. That's just under what KT did at 0.316 and better than Marion at 0.26 per minute. In the FIBA America's he averaged 12.4 rpg in 35.5 minutes and 0.349 per minute.

None of this means he can contribute. But considering the Suns problems with rebounding I'd like to give him a try.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/2007/09/batista_update_1.html

He declined bostons offer, so now between us, bobcats, and pacers.

I like our odds, and it seems that we may be offering a bit more than the min, so unless IND and CHA offer significantly more cash, I'd say bastista may be the real deal.

 

[JoRain]

i think in all that Boston offered just non-guaranteed contract - that's why Batista declined and that's why the talk about serious interest...
Honestly - i'm not so sure if the Suns would offer anything more - unless they know that PJ is not coming to Phoenix

 

[jandaman]

I guess any type of front court depth is a plus at this point. From what I've seen though Batista is a bit undersized and cannot defend worth a lick.

Suns at this point want a big man who speil Stoudemire and contribute in rebounding or scoring rather defending...

You sound like you want someone who could play defense all game... D'Antoni isnt looking for that... although suns did try to get PJ..., but only plans to use him like to foul Duncan a few times during a series. At this point Suns need another big body to come in to cover foul trouble, be able to run without pulling a hernia (PJ is in his late 30s)

If the Suns wanted a big man who will play regular minutes as a defender.. they would of done it through a huge trade...

Batista will give the Suns 4-5 rebounds when Stoudemire sits out... and be decent in the offense by getting good passes from Nash.

 

[cepstrum]

Batista will give the Suns 4-5 rebounds when Stoudemire sits out... and be decent in the offense by getting good passes from Nash.

Unfortunately, Batista would never play to be able to contribute. I am a little excited at the possibility of him coming here just because there might be some small, tiny chance that he has a breakout year, but I am expecting absolutely nothing from him. D'antoni would never play him.

 

[jandaman]

well it seems D'Antoni wouldnt play any other big man, unless its Dirk Nowitski or Pau Gasol..... so guess its the current line-up then.

 

[cepstrum]

well it seems D'Antoni wouldnt play any other big man, unless its Dirk Nowitski or Pau Gasol..... so guess its the current line-up then.

There are probably a few others, but none that are available (except maybe PJ Brown). I really hope he becomes more open-minded about "his system." I remember the first time we played the spurs in the playoffs, we tried to run them out of the gym, and we ended up getting run out of the gym.

Then last year, before game 1 of the spurs series, D'antoni was talking about how "we have to play fast", "we have to be ourselves"... Guess what? The spurs beat us in game 1 when we tried playing "fast" and it had nothing to do with Nash's nose. So he starts KT the rest of the series and all of a sudden we are playing great and are right back in the series (until STAT and Diaw get suspended).

This offseason they trade the only guy that gave them a shot against the spurs. All anyone from the Suns is talking about is how we have to play "even faster". To me, this is the definition of stupidity. It hasn't worked in the past, why would it work this year???

I thinks most of this is Sarver's fault, although I do think D'antoni deserves a good portion of the blame. He is so damn stubborn with his rotation and with "his type of players." If Popovich can squeeze 12 mins out of Jacque Vaughn, why can't he squeeze 10-15 mins out of Marcus Banks, Jumaine Jones, Jalen Rose, etc...

Anyways, I didn't mean to change the topic of the thread. I was just venting.

 

[elindholm]

"Yeah, but now we have Grant Hill!"

 

[sly fly]

"Yeah, but now we have Grant Hill!"

Yes. And, you know what? There are going to be a lot of jock sniffers on this board when they see exactly what he can contribute.