Links for an Offseason Monday
by David A. Arnott on Jun 29, 2009 10:28 AM EDT
13 comments
Hardwood Paroxysm " The State Of Minnesota Is Now The Edge Of Madness
The Timberwolves did not look themselves in the mirror before they walked into that draft room Thursday night. Ricky Rubio has a rare concotion of elements that make him unique unto himself out of this draft class. He has star power, fan hype, professional employment, and capable handlers. This formula results in the one thing that can strike fear into the hearts of drafting small market teams. Leverage.
HP goes in depth on the reality of fielding a small market NBA team. Essentially, the point is that small market teams (except San Antonio, I suppose) can't just expect that being an NBA team and providing NBA competition is attractive enough for every single player. If Ricky Rubio thinks you play in the US equivalent of Siberia, there's a reason for that. If Allen Iverson thinks Charlotte is a town apathetic to pro sports and won't come here because of it, there's a reason for that. Not to get all Michael Jackson on you, but HP has it right that we've got to start with looking in the mirror and acknowledging what everyone else thinks about us before we begin to think about who we can convince to play here.
Houston Rockets Take Control of RGV Vipers - Ridiculous Upside
Breaking down the announcement that the Houston Rockets will control the basketball operations of the D-League's Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
Smart NBA teams are snapping up D-League teams. The Lakers, Zombie Sonics, Spurs, and now the Rockets (am I missing a team?) all have direct control over their own minor league teams, and the development that goes with them. The Bobcats are losing cash, but it's a relatively small investment to have a D-League team at their disposal. Greensboro, anyone? Rock Hill? Wilmington?
Brazil rallies past U.S. for Confed Cup championship | Sporting News
Brazil's "Beautiful Game" came alive in the second half Sunday with three comeback goals in a 3-2 win over the United States in the Confederations Cup final.
I blame Giuseppe Rossi. (/lame soccer joke)
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Wasn't there a Fayetteville D-League team that folded?
Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.
by MichaelProcton on Jun 29, 2009 11:02 AM EDT reply actions
There used to be one in Asheville
but it packed it’s bags and moved west. It would be nice to have one in-state. And Charlotte could use one.
Is there a snowball’s chance in hell that a team comes back to this area?
by David A. Arnott on Jun 29, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions
Thanks and...
I’d be surprised if the state of NC got another D-League team, unless it was somehow bankrolled by the ‘Cats. The Spurs and OKC understand the advantage of having an in-state D affiliate, but until Charlotte bites the bullet and snags one of their own I don’t see another D-League team nearby. It’s pretty well understood that most D-League teams are essentially a loss of 1 million dollars a year, but if used correctly that million is a small price to pay for player development and scouting. And the top teams in the NBA are starting to figure this out.
Blogging at RidiculousUpside, where my terrible writing meets people's eyes.
As a bit of additional info...
I just FanShotted an article about our new D-League affiliate in Portland, ME.
Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.
Marquis Daniels....
Would he be a good fit for the bobcats?? the pacers allowed him to become a free agent today.
Eh...
He could theoretically be a fit if Felton had been let go (or if he’s eventually signed away by another team), but I don’t think his cost will merit his place on our roster as it stands. He also could have been a (relatively) young SG backup to be more of a complete scorer behind Bell, but with Henderson now in the fold, I think he’d cut into his development.
Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.
by MichaelProcton on Jun 29, 2009 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Ramon Sessions?
Not sure how the payroll would work, but he could fit, especially next to Raja/Henderson.
Blogging at RidiculousUpside, where my terrible writing meets people's eyes.
Maybe...
But again, it’d be tough to sign him without taking minutes away from our current top 4 guards. Is that worthwhile with the money we’re paying Bell and Felton and the PT Augustin and Henderson need to develop? I’d say the only way we should consider spending big money in FA is on a PF or C.
Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.
by MichaelProcton on Jun 29, 2009 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Please no more big money on Centers
The Bobcats are spending quite enough on centers, and I hope they just leave that position alone. I’d love to see Sessions sign here, but I really doubt he leaves Milwaukee. My dream scenario would be to sign Sessions and then pull off a S&T with Felton and David Lee as the priciples, but that is dreaming.
Anyway, I doubt the Cats want to break the bank while the team is for sale. Hopefully they can find a decent PF without making a long term commitment. A couple years of McDyess might work. Gooden or Villanueva could be options, too. Just like last year, the possibilities do seem limited so hopefully they catch someone frozen out of the market by the economy.
Big money wouldn't be so bad...
If it was actually used properly. Yes, we took on the contracts, but we didn’t give those ridiculous deals out to Nazr and Diop that pay them at least twice as much as they’re worth.
Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.
by MichaelProcton on Jun 30, 2009 9:27 AM EDT up reply actions
Not many strong options at Center
True the Bobcats traded rather than signed Nazr and Diop, but those trades sucked up cap space the same as if they were signings. These two are likely to stick with the Bobcats until they at least become expiring contracts. Neither is skilled enough to be an effective starter, and IMO the Cats can’t afford to bury them both on the end of the bench without leaving the team thin at other positions.
So we’re effectively left with Nazr and Diop taking up the backup minutes at center. If another center is signed, he must not only serve as an effective starter but also pair up well with Okafor playing PF, a position he’s not ideally suited to play. Also, the Bobcats options are very limited this off-season. With virtually no cap space to speak of (even if Felton signs elsewhere), they’re limited to cap exceptions or trades.
With those restrictive conditions, this year’s weak crop of FA Centers does not look attractive. The Center who best matches the Bobcats needs would be Mehmet Okur, but he is only a free agent if he exercises his ETO. I really don’t see him leaving Utah, and he would certainly cost more than the MLE if he did hit the open market. Option #2 would be Rasheed Wallace, but Sheed is far removed from his prime. I don’t see him as a difference maker who should push Diaw to the bench and Okafor to PF. The rest of the FA Centers (guys like ZaZa Pachulia, Marcin Gortat, the Birdman, Rasho, Ratliff, etc.) would not pair up effectively with Okafor or just aren’t good enough to be counted on as NBA starters. Instead, the Bobcats should focus on finding another PF to complement Diaw.
I’m way in the minority but I’m completely fine with Diop getting consistent back-up minutes. He’s not worth the value of his contract but I think that he’s a good solid defensive center.
I want a PF to put with Okafor. I don’t want another hybrid like Diaw but rather a scoring PF. It’s not going to happen but I think that is our biggest need right now. We won’t fill it unless we sign an undervalued PF.
Case of the beet bandit. Missing beets from all over the farm, no footprints. Inside job. Mose in socks. Boom. Case closed. -Dwight Schrute
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