options for back-up centers
by Long John 77 on Oct 11, 2009 6:14 PM MDT
48 comments
While watching the game on TNT last night i heard the announcers say that Steve Kerr was quoted as saying that the suns were actively looking for a back-up center (or something to that effect). Has anyone heard about any guys out there the suns are looking at or any other possible options? Ideally i guess we'll be looking for an athletic guy that can rebound, run the floor, protect the basket, and basically be big, i know not many back-up centers in the league pose all of these qualities or even two or three of these options, but who's out there and is up for grabs?
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Sims
Just hope the Hawks don’t have room to keep Courtney Sims.
Or what about Calvin Booth?
by species8473 on Oct 11, 2009 7:42 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
he's on the mavs
but he would be nice
Libertarianism is just Anarchy for rich people
by Murcy on Oct 12, 2009 4:23 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Mavs haven’t played him for even 1 minute, and that’s the pre-season when they are testing out their depth.
I’m sure they would be open to let him go.
The only issue is his match fitness which, may not quite be up to scratch. Tho you still get a man-mountain that you can throw at Gasol/bynum etc…
by Chucko on Oct 12, 2009 4:30 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dale Davis
I’m not kidding, he is still playing. I think on Detroit’s bench.
April 29, 2008 Total Eclipse of the Sun. Is the sky falling?
by Hawk42 on Oct 12, 2009 9:12 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
PAT BURKE
we could totally use him. He’s probably in Ireland hiding underneath a bridge with his club, waiting for villagers to pass by.
by DIIIPhoenixfan on Oct 12, 2009 10:49 AM MDT reply actions 1 recs
What’s with the Pat Burke mockery? And who knows if he would come back to the Suns after the two-year benching he got here?
by species8473 on Oct 12, 2009 10:52 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pat Burke was not a good player. Maybe he hit a couple shots here and there, but what do you think he would have done with 30mpg, turn into Tim Duncan?
by Wil Cantrell on Oct 12, 2009 5:02 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
hiding underneath a bridge with his club, waiting for villagers to pass by.
that’s funny stuff.
by Wil Cantrell on Oct 12, 2009 4:59 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
if we want to look at some younger, D-League type guys
besides Sims, there’s chris hunter and lance allred who both made the D-League all star teams last year along with Sims. and Steven Hill, who sounds the most like Robin Lopez.
by Suns' Sensei on Oct 12, 2009 5:10 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
I loved Steven Hill
in Vegas two summers ago. The big Arkansas mountain man of a dude w/ scruffy beard and all. No offense to speak of but he’s long and played hard.
I still am intrigued by Sims of course
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
by Phoenix Stan on Oct 12, 2009 6:05 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
ah, i do remember steven hill.
how can you forget that beard?
and, i’ll always be intrigued by sims.
by iamtrevorpaxton on Oct 12, 2009 9:40 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kerr
Kerr is going to go with the cheapest available option. If we are lucky maybe he can find a “dirt worker” diamond in the rough like Lightning Lou Amundson.
Then again the cheapest available option is to not sign anyone.
by eagleheart on Oct 13, 2009 12:19 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Too bad
Chuck Nevitt is not still pklaying
April 29, 2008 Total Eclipse of the Sun. Is the sky falling?
by Hawk42 on Oct 13, 2009 2:09 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ha, funny thing is I remember that big white shadow. Not playing, but sitting on the bench. Which brings up an odd memory. I remember watching a game, may have been in person. He was on the Pistons and as they were standing, listening to the coach at a timeout, Nevitt was massaging another bench player’s neck, slowly. It was weird then when I was 10 or so, and it still seems weird.
by Wil Cantrell on Oct 13, 2009 2:11 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I admit that I don’t know these players (Chris Hunter, Lance Allred, Steven Hill), but I’m sure any of them would do a better job than Griffin.
by matrix7 on Oct 13, 2009 2:36 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Yes
True indeed, any of them is a better option at the 5 than Griffin.
These 5 guys should get minutes at the 3 before Griffin ever gets off the bench.
Grant Hill
Jared Dudley
Earl Clark
Alando Tucker
Jason Richardson
by eagleheart on Oct 13, 2009 6:02 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
That’s the idea, he has no option to play as a small forward, and it’s better to fill the 13th spot with a center.
by matrix7 on Oct 13, 2009 8:11 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Steve Kerr should tell him: "happy to meet you and good luck"
by matrix7 on Oct 13, 2009 2:43 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Pretty certain Griffin is going to D-League, especially with Lopez’s injury.
by Wil Cantrell on Oct 13, 2009 7:37 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
actually
I am thinking that Clark might get more time at the 5 which would open up some space for Griffin in the rotation behind Hill and Dudley.
Bottom line is they can dress 11 guys for a game and w/o Lopez they have 12 but chances are someone else will get injured at some point and besides, the Energy’s season doesn’t start until late November
Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @phoenixstan
by Phoenix Stan on Oct 13, 2009 12:18 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
When you say “space” do you mean playing time? That would mean we go 11 deep?
1st-Nash, Rich, Stat, Frye, Hill
2nd-Barbosa, Amundson, Dragic, Dudley, Clark, Griffin?
That would be awful deep. If Hill plays 30-35 minutes per game, that leaves 13-18 for his backup(s). I don’t thik Griffin has the game to take time away from Dudley.
by Wil Cantrell on Oct 13, 2009 2:07 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
hill won't play 30-35 minutes per night.
i’m thinking somewhere in the 22-25 range. i think gentry would be smarter than to wear out the oldest (and most historically fragile) member of the team.
by iamtrevorpaxton on Oct 13, 2009 7:40 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
OK, neither of us can predict what’s going to happen. But I don’t believe in “saving” Grant Hill for the stretch run or playoffs or whatever. For all we know, Hill may be integral in keeping us in the top 8. My point is, Hill will play as much as he wants to. If he’s feeling good, he’ll play, period. If he needs a break Dudley is an able bodied backup. My point was that Griffin has no business being on the court unless it’s for 30 seconds at garbage time.
by Wil Cantrell on Oct 14, 2009 9:39 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Honestly
I dont see Kerr playing Griffin at all and Clark MAYBE 10-12 junk mins. They are going to play Amare at the 4 with the starting line up and switch him to the 5 when Amundson Barbs Dragic and dudley come in. I will be willing to bet that Amare plays somewhere upwards of 40 minutes a game.
Go read a book!
by N8lol on Oct 16, 2009 7:43 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Clark
Is going to be in there foe important minutes. Not just junk time.
April 29, 2008 Total Eclipse of the Sun. Is the sky falling?
by Hawk42 on Oct 16, 2009 10:20 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
and Kerr is
not the coach (Thank God)
April 29, 2008 Total Eclipse of the Sun. Is the sky falling?
by Hawk42 on Oct 16, 2009 10:21 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
eh
so i misspoke. I still think Clark is in for junk time at least after Lopez makes it back into the lineup. Its not that he isn;t good or doesn’t have potential, its because gentry himself seems to think that the lineup will be not greater than 10. With Amare playing 40 mintues (which I think he will play) that doens’t leave much for the 10th man.
Go read a book!
by N8lol on Oct 16, 2009 10:06 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Coro Insight -
I Tweeted Paul Coro yesterday before the game:
Eutychus12: @paulcoro Hey Paul any talk around the team about how @tgriff32 has played? His athleticism and hustle has been pretty impressive to me
He shot back:
paulcoro: @Eutychus12 They love his work ethic but no visions of rotation time. His time may be in Iowa. At home in OKC, he could get more PT tonight.
Sure enough he started – and it didn’t sound good. The butterflies must have metamorphosed into caterpillars in his stomach. The few times he’s come off the bench late in games he looks comfortable and shows his potential as a productive 12 – 13th man with some monster rebounds and a lot of heart on defense… but thrust into the spotlight last night he didn’t handle it too well. D-League time will probably be a very good thing for TGriff.
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
by Eutychus on Oct 13, 2009 3:55 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I saw that my shoelace was untied, and said, “It’s Griffin’s fault!”
by species8473 on Oct 13, 2009 10:32 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
That’s the idea, he has no option to play as a small forward, so it’s better to fill the 13th spot with a center.
by matrix7 on Oct 13, 2009 8:11 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
I swear by Snoopy I’m always trying to answer the comment in the right place, but ….. there are ghosts in my computer, sure :)
by matrix7 on Oct 13, 2009 8:17 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
The Police were right
April 29, 2008 Total Eclipse of the Sun. Is the sky falling?
by Hawk42 on Oct 13, 2009 2:10 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
What about
Remember when we had Bell and Diaw and Matrix….We use to run Stat at the C and Diaw and Matrix would play the SF/PF spot…What’s wrong with doing that again?…I don’t know how long Lopez is supposed to be out…I’ll look in a minute…But isn’t Frye tall and long?…Taller and longer that Diaw or Matrix….I would have to say this is the most complete team we have had in years…That was the only bad thing I ever thought about D’Antoni…He never had/used his bench….I know Stat didn’t like playing center though…So can Frye play and bang at all down low?…
Starters:
Nash
Richardson
Hill
Stoudemire
Frye
2nd Unit:
Dragic
Barbosa
Dudley
Amundson
Lopez
That leaves the rookies, Clark and Griffin, to be rookies…Playing in garbage time and if someone is injured…The real need I see on this team is the same need it has had for years…Backup PG….I’ve seen NOTHING from this Dragic kid….Talk about someone that seems to clam up under the bright lights….Anyone remember who drafted that nice young PG in Boston?…Oh yeah, we did and then sold him….That’s a whole other blog…
Don’t get down on this Griffin kid though…I’ve seen you all stick with Dragic, so you can definitely stick with Griffin…I live in OKC and saw plenty of Sooner games…This kid will work harder than anyone…He will make up for whatever talent he is lacking with hard work….Again, if you like Dragic and Amundson, you will love Griffin….
If we did have to get another big though, what about that Iranian center in Memphis…He isn’t seeing the floor on that roster…He was all the rage after the Olympics, so what about him?…Can’t get him or really not worth it?…
by NSU Stud on Oct 15, 2009 11:06 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Dragon Whisperer
It’s too bad you’re a Dragic hater. I don’t think anything I say will change your mind… but whatever, I’ll at least humor myself.
In the NBA the PG is one of the most difficult positions and development is ordinarily slow especially for players who come up and fill a back-up position for their first few years. Just ask that one guy with 2 MVP trophies, who came into the league as a 3rd option behind two hall of fame point-guards in KJ and Jason Kidd… Now keep that fresh and check it:
- It’s tough for rookies in the NBA – let alone for foreign 20-something year old rookies to come to a far away land and have to adapt to the change in culture both on and off the court. Add to that the roller-coaster season the Suns had and it can easily be said that his rookie year was abnormally chalked full of adversity.
- Dragic was Jekyll & Hyde-like under the two coaches last year. In 51 games under T.P., Dragic only stepped on the court in 26 of them, averaging around 12 MPG… yet when A.G. took the reigns Dragic played in 29 of the 31 games he coached as the Suns head coach and averaged nearly 14.5 MPG… Not only did T.P. bury Dragic on the bench – but under A.G. Dragic’s numbers improved in every category. His PPG went from 2.92 to 5.86 – he averaged an assist more p/g and nearly doubled both his FG and 3PG percentages from 28.7 and 18.2 to 41.3 and 40.2% respectively.
- Comparing Dragic to Rondo doesn’t quite make sense to make your point… given Rondo entered the league playing a lot of minutes and in more games – if you take Dragic’s per minute stats and give him as many minutes as Rondo, the numbers would be VERY close… OH except for the fact that Rondo can’t shoot free throws and Tim Duncan probably could beat him in a 3 point shooting contest. With that – Rajon didn’t even have a supposedly ‘break-out’ season until last year.. after he was a starter for a whole season (with numbers that aren’t exactly eye-popping) on the NBA Championship team. Dragic is taller – stronger – maybe not as athletic (though Dragic has some sick crossovers and iso/fastbreak moves) – but definitely a better defender that Rondo in my opinion.
- If you want to compare… compare him to Jarryd Bayless who was a lottery pick (11th overall) last year in the same draft (Dragic the 45th pick) and played about as much as Dragic did last year. I’ll make it easy for you – here is a chart.
- Just for fun you should check out Nash’s numbers for his first two seasons (random fact: both Nash and Dragic came into the league at age 22). I’ll say it again, point guards who come into the league as back-ups (especially behind big minute hall of famers) take longer to develop.
Dragic is one of the hard workers on the team like you mentioned, and he wants to learn. He came back to Phoenix this offseason with 15 more pounds of muscle and has shown a lot of improvement through his Summer and Euro-League stints. I think in the near future we will see all the hype about the Dragon materialize and produce beautiful fruit for Phoenix – BUT in the meantime… we just signed our 2 (will be 3 after this year)-time MVP to a contract extension so Goran Dragic will have plenty of time to develop into the PG we need him to be.
P.s. – I know it might be overkill – but I like this kid. At planetorange.net my SN is Magic_Dragic so go figure I would jump on you… you especially lit me up with the whole
I’ve seen NOTHING from this Dragic kid….Talk about someone that seems to clam up under the bright lights…
That’s like blood in the water for me!! haha ;)
They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...
by Eutychus on Oct 16, 2009 2:01 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
This would help
I think would actually help both teams…The Grizz have nothing at SF behing Gay…I think Taylor would fit into our offense better than Dragic…I don’t know….Seems like it would be a good trade…Opinions?
by NSU Stud on Oct 15, 2009 11:41 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
"I think this would actually help both teams"
Not according to Hollinger, he projects -6 wins for the Grizz….
That being said, i think Hollinger is a stats fool.
by Chucko on Oct 16, 2009 12:02 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's right on this one
You have Iverson, Randolph, Gay, and Mayo – four guys who are ball hogs always looking at their stats, not to mention low percentage shooters who show minimal interest in defense. Grizz should have kept Kevin Love.
April 29, 2008 Total Eclipse of the Sun. Is the sky falling?
by Hawk42 on Oct 16, 2009 10:24 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
oops
the link to the trade might help huh
by NSU Stud on Oct 15, 2009 11:41 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
I didnt mean to
I wasn’t trying to be a Dragic hater…I just havent seen anything close to what he was hyped up to be…Granted I live in OK and dont get to see as many Suns games as I’d like…I just havent seen it…Also the point of the trade was Haddadi for Tucker with the PGs thrown in to make the numbers match…The Grizz are stacked at C just like we are at SF…The Grizz are also thin at SF as we are at C….just thought it was a trade that made sense from that standpoint…
I also wasnt trying to compare Dragic to Rondo….That was mostly a comment made from my frustration after looking at a website showing the Suns recent drafts….We have drafted well…Well we did when it was Colangelo….But then we trade them or sell them….Rajon Rondo, Rudy Fernandez, Luol Deng to name just a few….I’m sorry if I’m in the minority, but its my personal opinion that Dragic and Tucker are our most expendable pieces that might also have some value….Meaning that losing them would impact the team less while still possibly getting a contributing piece in return…I just dont see where two perimeter guys with no perimeter game have a place on this team…I wish for the best for both of them but you can always improve…
by NSU Stud on Oct 17, 2009 3:26 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
+1
I agree that Dragic hasn’t shown anything near what he was hyped up to be, but i disagree that he has any value whatsoever as trade bait. :)
by Chucko on Oct 18, 2009 4:31 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
We could trade him
to the Spurs for DeHuan Blair. Oh. Forget it. We did that.
April 29, 2008 Total Eclipse of the Sun. Is the sky falling?
by Hawk42 on Oct 19, 2009 10:44 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hawk42
Everytime I see that I get pissed off I just wrote about that..I wish we could get a “do-over” we should’ve just bought a 1st round pick like Dever draft Clark Lawson and Blair..that would’ve been a good draft..Instead we’re stuck with the poor man version of the Lopez Sisters..we get one half of the Collins sisters..
by marques m on Oct 24, 2009 9:07 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
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