~--~Official 2012 NBA Draft/Offseason Thread~--~
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Why u re up homie
Why u re up homie
you know he still pissed that the Wolves didnt extend him as a max player cause they saving some loot for Rubio.
@gdatruth 
Miami ain't playing
Miami ain't playing
Why u re up homie
Wouldn't you call Rubio, Roy, possibly Batum, and trying to get Crawford changes for him?
he remembers what KG told him and as Gdatruth saw they basically told him they are saving money for Rubio not him.
No one forced him to sign it. Hell, even Durant didn't take the max deal so the Thunder had room to give Westbrook a new contract. Players kill me with this when they all of a sudden feel like they've been cheated.
That's big. I wonder who the Cavs would give up?
@gdatruth
Miami ain't playing
Why?
two picks to Orlando
Damn. Their front line would be mean:
SF: Thompson
PF: Humpries
C: Lopez
with Varejao off the bench..
we will see
Same thing I'm sayin? They better not be trying to get rid of Cole or Chalmers
people getting mad
when different writers are saying the same thing you know something is near. still anything could happen
He's 6'-9" and played all 3 spots at one point, IIRC.
Side note - I didn't know they were thinking of including Marshon Brooks:
EDIT: Nevermind - I read that wrong about Lopez.
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@gdatruth
Miami ain't playing
Why they need Lucas? they already have Chalmers and Cole
Wednesday is gonna be a mofo. Cause thats when players can actually sign. Mofo will be matching......and players might not move. so that means the FA's that havent been looked at will start to come into play.
I know one thing...If I hear that the Bulls waste more money/match that bs Houston offer for Asik..and Asik agrees to stay with the Bulls...im done.
BTW..i find it strange that after the Cavs lost LBJ...all of a sudden they getting all these nice trades, draft picks ,etc etc. Im just saying.....lol
BTW...I know Killa and a few others are excited about the soon to be Howard trade...and yall should be...but like I stated before....it would be some bs. Hands were forced in order to stack another team.
I know one thing...If I hear that the Bulls waste more money/match that bs Houston offer for Asik..and Asik agrees to stay with the Bulls...im done.
BTW..i find it strange that after the Cavs lost LBJ...all of a sudden they getting all these nice trades, draft picks ,etc etc. Im just saying.....lol
BTW...I know Killa and a few others are excited about the soon to be Howard trade...and yall should be...but like I stated before....it would be some bs. Hands were forced in order to stack another team.
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whoever the GM is who said that minus whale shut his bitch ass up
NBA has always been the haves and have nots and no CBA is going to change that
Big city + owner willing to spend $$$ = good team and players wanted to go there and not a bullshit ass team and city, CBA be damned
Stop crying bitch, you was happen when Rodman signed with the bulls right? Chicago had their own big 3..
MJ, Pippen and Rodman... you had your run..
Rodman? Only a clown ass nigga like yourself would call that stackin.
Rodman was way past his prime after he left Detroit.
Anyways....I bet once Howard goes to the Nets I bet there wil be a HBO Real Sports or ESPN special about exactly what Im typing about. The age of NBA players being egotistical & taking the easy route....lol
Yeah a nigga way past his prime yet was one of the top rebounders the seasons he played in Chicago
We still gotta gel. Getting Howard just guarantees more press and a bigger draw not necessarily wins and championships.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk 2
If Howard comes back playing like he did before his surgery i.e. like the top Center in the league...you all will have 3 players that could actually be compared to Miami's 3 players. Despite the positions played...Howard was on LBJ's level as far as a dominate player that really couldnt be contained. Thats why both of them are always getting fouled. Bosh and Joe Johnson play similar roles as third wheel..difference makers...but are up and down a lot. Nets have a upper hand with Daron (he's a sick ass combo guard). Wade just aint the same...and he subliminally admitted to that in the past. Now I know that they stil gotta mesh...but if yall get Howard yall will instantly be a playoff team in the east. In the Top 4 imho.
next years top 4 in the East. Celtics, Heat, Nets (if yall get Howard) and the Bulls or Pacers for the 4th spot; And yes Im stil picking the Bulls to be one of the top teams in the East...despite the cluster fuck that we have going on. For one or two years we'll probably just play the roll that the Hawks usually played. i.e. a team that was stuck in the middle but just couldnt get out. But our time wil come soon. I had patience during the Jordan era..gotta have patience now as well.
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Yeah a nigga way past his prime yet was one of the top rebounders the seasons he played in Chicago
shit that niggas was THE top rebounder
but nobody really wanted Rodman like that when he signed with the Bulls his antics had him with one foot out the door of the league
Patience is a virtue. I just don't wanna speak on the possibilties on this all happening until after the 11th but sky's the limit. This upcoming season should be historic with so many teams built to win championships now.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk 2
Shit's always been like that...3-4 teams basically dominate the league at any given time. In the 80's, it was the star filled Celtics, Lakers, 6ers and Pistons. In the 90's, if Jordan didn't retire the damn Bulls would have won 8 championships in a row. In the 90's it was Shaq and Kobe's Lakers, the Spurs, Pistons and Celtics.
Nothing new with only a few teams in it and the teams that win being dominated by stars. The Miami situation was new and unique as guys didn't team up as UFA's, but star players also have been forcing trades in the NBA since the beginning of time. Who can forget Kobe being recorded bashing Bynum? Shaq demanding to get out of LA. Barkley shitting on the 6ers. Magic making trade requests when the Lakers had Paul Westhead as coach. Kareem...the history of the league is littered with spoiled players demanding trades until they get what they want.
Marc Stein @ESPNSteinLine
Doc Rivers leading Celtics' pursuit of free-agent guard Courtney Lee
The Boston Celtics have emerged as a serious suitor for Courtney Lee after coach Doc Rivers met with the free-agent guard Saturday night, according to sources familiar with Boston's thinking.
Sources told ESPN.com that the Celtics, in the wake of losing sharpshooter Ray Allen to the Miami Heat, have ratcheted up their pursuit of Lee as a possible replacement.
Lee averaged 11.4 points per game for the Houston Rockets last season and hit 40 percent of his 3-point attempts.
The Celtics don't have the salary-cap space to sign Lee outright, but sources say the Rockets have let it be known that they're willing to participate in sign-and-trade deals with both Marcus Camby and Lee amid the increasing likelihood that neither of those coveted free agents will be returning to Houston.
Allen, who spent the past five seasons in Boston, agreed to sign with the reigning champion Heat on Friday, leaving the Celtics thin at shooting guard.
Boston has added veteran guard Jason Terry this offseason but may need to offset the absence of Avery Bradley, who needs right shoulder surgery and could miss the start of next season.
The Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers, Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns, sources said, are the other teams in pursuit of Lee. The Chicago Bulls have long been interested in Lee, as well, but the Bulls' limited financial flexibility means they'd also need a sign-and-trade deal to land the swingman.
Doc Rivers leading Celtics' pursuit of free-agent guard Courtney Lee
The Boston Celtics have emerged as a serious suitor for Courtney Lee after coach Doc Rivers met with the free-agent guard Saturday night, according to sources familiar with Boston's thinking.
Sources told ESPN.com that the Celtics, in the wake of losing sharpshooter Ray Allen to the Miami Heat, have ratcheted up their pursuit of Lee as a possible replacement.
Lee averaged 11.4 points per game for the Houston Rockets last season and hit 40 percent of his 3-point attempts.
The Celtics don't have the salary-cap space to sign Lee outright, but sources say the Rockets have let it be known that they're willing to participate in sign-and-trade deals with both Marcus Camby and Lee amid the increasing likelihood that neither of those coveted free agents will be returning to Houston.
Allen, who spent the past five seasons in Boston, agreed to sign with the reigning champion Heat on Friday, leaving the Celtics thin at shooting guard.
Boston has added veteran guard Jason Terry this offseason but may need to offset the absence of Avery Bradley, who needs right shoulder surgery and could miss the start of next season.
The Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers, Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns, sources said, are the other teams in pursuit of Lee. The Chicago Bulls have long been interested in Lee, as well, but the Bulls' limited financial flexibility means they'd also need a sign-and-trade deal to land the swingman.
Probasketballdraft
Cavaliers Cleveland's willingness to absorb Kris Humphries in a sign and trade with Brooklyn that would facilitate the Nets trading for Dwight Howard has been well documented. Cavs want to get a 1st round pick but would be willing to take Marshon Brooks from Net if Brooklyn cannot trade him for additional draft pick from a different team.
Cavaliers Cleveland's willingness to absorb Kris Humphries in a sign and trade with Brooklyn that would facilitate the Nets trading for Dwight Howard has been well documented. Cavs want to get a 1st round pick but would be willing to take Marshon Brooks from Net if Brooklyn cannot trade him for additional draft pick from a different team.
ASK IRA: Do Heat have trade chips to put into play?
Q: Ira, I know we got Ray Allen, and that's great, but Marcus Camby already canceled on us and it doesn't look like anyone besides Rashard Lewis, who is trying to rebuild his career, is interested in our minimum. Can the Heat do anything else this summer? -- Charles, Cooper City.
A: You bet, and anyone who thinks Pat Riley is calling it a summer the second week of July is deluding himself. Foremost, beyond Lewis, the minimum-scale market hasn't even opened, with many free agents still deluding themselves about larger contracts. So plenty of names will become available, similar to the types of moves the Heat routinely have made late in the free-agency period, the Gary Payton-type moves, if you will. Beyond that, Riley was almost too giddy when he acquired the 76ers' 2013 lottery-protected first-round pick on draft night, as if a kid in a candy story. So you can bet that could be in play. Pair that, or perhaps Norris Cole, with Joel Anthony's $3.8 million 2012-13 salary, and you're back in the game for a mid-level type of addition. So do the Heat have more to put into play? You bet.
Q: It seems Carmelo Anthony forced his way out of Denver, Chris Paul out of New Orleans, Deron Williams out of Utah and now Dwight Howard out of Orlando. Where is the media outrage, similar to what was directed toward LeBron, even though he left Cleveland as a free agent? -- Rob, Palm Beach.
A: The counter would be that at least those players allowed their team to get something tangible in return, by making their intentions clear in advance. The outrage with LeBron had plenty to do with the hometown angle, something the aforementioned others never had to address. But fear not, Ray Allen now finds himself in the first.
Q: Why can't Tim Duncan see what is going on out West and give it one last run with a "real" contender? He will have to deal with Lakers (fastbreak), Clippers (lightning-quick team) and Thunder (ditto). Duncan would fit perfect with Miami, a big that can score from the perimeter and inside as well. -- Julio, Miami.
A: Because in some places loyalty still counts for plenty.
Q: Ira, I know we got Ray Allen, and that's great, but Marcus Camby already canceled on us and it doesn't look like anyone besides Rashard Lewis, who is trying to rebuild his career, is interested in our minimum. Can the Heat do anything else this summer? -- Charles, Cooper City.
A: You bet, and anyone who thinks Pat Riley is calling it a summer the second week of July is deluding himself. Foremost, beyond Lewis, the minimum-scale market hasn't even opened, with many free agents still deluding themselves about larger contracts. So plenty of names will become available, similar to the types of moves the Heat routinely have made late in the free-agency period, the Gary Payton-type moves, if you will. Beyond that, Riley was almost too giddy when he acquired the 76ers' 2013 lottery-protected first-round pick on draft night, as if a kid in a candy story. So you can bet that could be in play. Pair that, or perhaps Norris Cole, with Joel Anthony's $3.8 million 2012-13 salary, and you're back in the game for a mid-level type of addition. So do the Heat have more to put into play? You bet.
Q: It seems Carmelo Anthony forced his way out of Denver, Chris Paul out of New Orleans, Deron Williams out of Utah and now Dwight Howard out of Orlando. Where is the media outrage, similar to what was directed toward LeBron, even though he left Cleveland as a free agent? -- Rob, Palm Beach.
A: The counter would be that at least those players allowed their team to get something tangible in return, by making their intentions clear in advance. The outrage with LeBron had plenty to do with the hometown angle, something the aforementioned others never had to address. But fear not, Ray Allen now finds himself in the first.
Q: Why can't Tim Duncan see what is going on out West and give it one last run with a "real" contender? He will have to deal with Lakers (fastbreak), Clippers (lightning-quick team) and Thunder (ditto). Duncan would fit perfect with Miami, a big that can score from the perimeter and inside as well. -- Julio, Miami.
A: Because in some places loyalty still counts for plenty.
Celtics Town
Also in Boston Celtics Doc Rivers said Avery Bradley could return anywhere from the beginning of the season until the middle of December: “I’ve heard from the beginning of the (season) he’ll be back (to) mid-December, so we’ll see,” Rivers said during yesterday’s summer-league practice at Rollins College. “Obviously, somewhere in between.” (source: http://bostonherald.co...)
Also in Boston Celtics Doc Rivers said Avery Bradley could return anywhere from the beginning of the season until the middle of December: “I’ve heard from the beginning of the (season) he’ll be back (to) mid-December, so we’ll see,” Rivers said during yesterday’s summer-league practice at Rollins College. “Obviously, somewhere in between.” (source: http://bostonherald.co...)
@gdatruth
Miami ain't playing
Same thing I'm sayin? They better not be trying to get rid of Cole or Chalmers
Might have to trade Cole to get Camby
Lucas is a nice PG, might be a little better than Cole(didnt play close attention to him)
Seems like this might be his chance to sure up his teams weakness.
Other teams are gunning for them....
Dave Hyde
Also in Miami If Nets pull off Dwight Howard deal, they're the Eastern rival for the Heat over the next few years. They'd have the league's best PG in Deron WIlliams and best center in Dwight Howard at the two positions the Heat are most suspect. They'd have a perimeter scorer in Joe Johnson and another perimeter talent in Gerald Wallace. It would have the makings of a good rivalry.
camby cancelled on the heat so i doubt that is the reason
Cole is young and has upside. He can benefit from a full training camp and a season. He gave them good spot minutes in the playoffs.
Na they need to keep Cole imo
Options on the Wing: Mayo, Lee, Delfino, and Green
by Jeremy Comstock(A Paceer guy) on July 9, 2012 at 8:42 am · 1 comment
http://www.eightpointsnineseconds.com/2012/07/options-on-the-wing-mayo-lee-delfino-and-green/
Let’s take some time off from talking about Roy Hibbert and discuss four wing players that the Pacers are reported to be interested in: O.J. Mayo, Courtney Lee, Carlos Delfino, and Gerald Green. With Jamal Crawford and Nick Young signing with teams in the past couple of days, it seems like the free agent wing the Pacers have been wanting to sign will be one of these four players. I want to talk a little about their games and how they’d fit with the Pacers. The profiles are done in descending order of how much it would cost to sign each player.
O.J. Mayo – SG – 6’4″, 210 lb., 24 years old
His Game: There are a lot of misperceptions floating around about O.J. Mayo and the way he plays basketball. Because of his high-profile high school career, high draft position, and flirtation with the point guard position, many people assume that Mayo is a ball-dominant, creative two-guard in the mold of Dwayne Wade and Kobe Bryant. This is not true. As Chris Herrington points out in this fantastic overview of Mayo’s game, his playing style and career numbers are far more in line with sweet-shooting scorers like Ray Allen, Ben Gordon, and Kevin Martin. The main take away from this comparison is that while Mayo is pretty good at creating his own shot – he was assisted on 51.3% of his baskets last year, 16th among SG’s – he’s not very good at creating for others. He’s been given plenty of opportunities as a creator, and he gives it a decent effort, but it’s worth noting that while he has decent looking assist numbers (3.4/36min), he also turns the ball over fairly frequently. Mayo is also not a great player going to the basket. He takes about 21% of his shots at the rim and does not finish particularly well (56.6%). Defensively Mayo struggles, though it’s not for a lack of effort. Mayo simply lacks the size, length, and elite athleticism to be more than an average defender. His defensive struggles are the primary reason he’s been coming off the bench in favor of Tony Allen for the last 2 seasons. There are 2 other factors worth noting: 1. Mayo has struggled coming off the bench the past 2 seasons. 2. He seems to have a rocky relationship with his coach, Lionel Hollins.
The Fit: The Pacers are looking for a player who can create their own shot against good defense and carry the load offensively off the bench. Mayo fits the bill in both instances. He also represents a significant talent increase over any player he’d be replacing. He would fit well into the Pacers egalitarian approach where any of 6 or 7 players could be the best guy on any given night. However, I would find it hard to spend big money on a guy who’s spent 2 years struggling in the role you’re paying him to fulfill. One thing to consider is that Lionel Hollins is considered to be a fairly old-school, hard-nosed coach. We’ve seen players who wilted under this type of coach (but remember, we’re not talking about Roy Hibbert today) thrive under the uber-positivism of Frank Vogel.
Overall Take: Mayo is an expensive proposition (He’s reportedly not returning any phone calls from teams not willing to offer more than the full mid-level exception which starts at $5 million), but I would classify him as medium risk and high reward. The worst thing you’re going to get if you sign Mayo is an overpaid, slightly above average basketball player. There’s potential, however, for much more. Neil Paine of Basketball reference recently pegged Mayo as one of 6 free agents who are statistically poised for a breakout season. There’s a chance that a change of scenery, coaching voices, and teammates would propel Mayo toward the stardom he seemed destined for after his first couple years in the league.
Note: Mayo also had a famous ABCD camp battle with Lance Stephenson back in ’05.
Courtney Lee – SG – 6’5″, 200 lb., 26 years old
His Game: Lee has a very well-rounded game. To begin, he’s a very good shooter. He’s shot above 40% from the 3 point line 3 out his 4 seasons in the NBA while shooting 2.9 3′s a game over the course of his career. In addition to his outside game, Lee is pretty effective going to the basket. He gets to the rim at the same rate as Mayo (21%) but he finishes more effectively (62%). One thing to note is that Lee is assisted on about 10% more of his rim baskets than Mayo. This gives us the portrait of Lee as someone who gets to the basket by cutting off the ball in addition to taking his man off the dribble. Lee does not create shots for other players, but he also does not stop the ball offensively. He generally plays within the context of the offense and is known as a guy with a high basketball IQ. Defensively, Lee is a very good player. He is known as a player with a passion for the defensive end of the floor. He is quick enough to guard PG’s, but has also had success guarding bigger players: he made Kobe Bryant work very hard while guarding him in the 2009 finals.
The Fit: While Lee is a very good basketball player, he is not the high-volume scorer the Pacers are reportedly looking for off the bench. Like Mayo, however, he definitely represents a talent upgrade over whomever he replaces. Lee reminds me quite a bit of George Hill – a consistently above-average player who works hard on both ends, takes what’s given to him, and makes relatively few mistakes.
Overall Take: Lee is a good basketball player. He’s a low-risk, medium-reward signing. He doesn’t have the breakout potential of OJ Mayo, but he’s also likely not quite as expensive. He is a guy you will never regret having on your team. He’s also an Indiana native and a proven playoff contributor.
Note: There is a definite drop-off in price, role, and expectations between Mayo and Lee and Delfino and Green. Mayo and Lee are going to need 25+ minutes each night and $5+ million a year. These next two guys won’t.
Carlos Delfino – SG/SF – 6’6″, 230 lb., 29 years old
His Game: Delfino is, in many ways, the perfect wing for “smashmouth” basketball. He’s a big, physical player who likes to play defense and rebounds incredibly well. Offensively, he doesn’t give you much, but he doesn’t hurt you at all either. For Pacer fans, it would be good to think of him as a more jump-shot oriented, less ball-stopping version of Dahntay Jones. Pretty much all Delfino does on offense is shoot 3 pointers. In fact, last year 52% of his shots were from behind the arc. He has very little game inside the arc and is a poor finisher at the rim (56.6%). He does handle the ball well for a big 2 guard, but he lacks the explosiveness to use this ability to do much other than bring the ball up the court occasionally. He is a good passer who makes good decisions and few mistakes, but no one would mistake him for a great creator or a guy who could initiate the offense. Defensively, Delfino is solid. He uses his big body and strength well to make up for his lack of great athleticism.
The Fit: Like I said, Delfino basically gives you much of the same things Dahntay Jones does, just at a slightly higher level. Delfino’s sweet spot is the corner 3 point shot, and that seems to be one that is available frequently in the Pacers’ offense.
Overall Take: Delfino is not the scorer that the Pacers are looking for, has almost no upside, and only provides a slight upgrade over the incumbent wing players. He is, however, a tough guy who plays good, solid basketball. However, I don’t know that I see the point in signing Delfino to take away valuable developmental minutes from guys like Stephenson and Johnson, especially if Dahntay Jones remains on the roster.
Gerald Green – SF – 6’8″, 200lb, 26 years old
His Game: Before I tell you about Gerald Green, you should read this. If you followed instructions, then you know that Gerald Green is an uber-talented former first-round pick and slam dunk champion who’s had a rough path through the nether-regions of professional basketball while trying to resurrect his dream of playing in the NBA. Looking at Green’s stats and game, two things become readily apparent: 1. He’s not afraid to shoot, and 2. He doesn’t create his own shot. This is not usually a good combination. Last season, Green put up close to 15 shots each 36 minutes he played. While that doesn’t sound like a lot, that’s nearly the same rate at which OJ Mayo shoots the ball. He has a similar usage rate to Mayo also. The major difference between the two players is that Green was assisted on 67.5% of his buckets last year, while Mayo was only assisted on 51%. While Green cannot create his own shot, he is a good shooter when a shot is created for him. He had the highest true shooting percentage (57.4) and effective field goal percentage (54.8) of all four players. Green also is a fantastic finisher at the rim (70.7%), but, again, he doesn’t get there on his own – he was assisted on 70% of his makes at the rim. Defensively, he’s just figuring things out. Avery Johnson, his coach with the Nets last season, had this to say about his defense, “He’ll make a mistake every now and then, but he competes on defense.” Green has Paul George level length and athleticism, so the ceiling is pretty high defensively.
The Fit: At first glance, grabbing a guy like Green who resurrected his career by making open shots created by Deron Williams (Green played over half his minutes with Williams last season) wouldn’t seem to make a ton of since for the Pacers. However, I actually feel like he’s a pretty good fit with the second unit, especially if that unit is going to feature Lance Stephenson. Stephenson, though he’s an unfinished product, is a guy who seems focused on creating shots for his teammates. Green is a guy who would thrive taking advantage of these shots. The Pacers’ second unit also needs another player who’s not bashful about shooting as only Tyler Hansbrough seems to really look to score when the second unit is together. Also, Green’s high school coach believes that Green thrives when the people around him believe in him, and Frank Vogel is still the coach of the Pacers.
Overall Take: Assuming Green can be gotten for a reasonable price, he’d be a very low-risk, high-reward acquisition. The potential that made him a top 20 pick coming out of high school is still there, and he seems to be developing the maturity to harness it. If Green can reach his considerable ceiling, he has starter level talent.
Ranking the Deals/Players:
Upside: Mayo, Green, Lee, Delfino
Risk Level (from high to low): Green, Mayo, Lee, Delfino
Current Talent: Mayo, Lee, Delfino, Green
I’d be happy with any of these players on the Pacers, though I’d be less excited about Delfino than the others. All four guys have skills that would help the Pacers and are likely to come at different prices. This is a situation where beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and it really depends upon how much Pritchard and Walsh want to spend and gamble.
by Jeremy Comstock(A Paceer guy) on July 9, 2012 at 8:42 am · 1 comment
http://www.eightpointsnineseconds.com/2012/07/options-on-the-wing-mayo-lee-delfino-and-green/
Let’s take some time off from talking about Roy Hibbert and discuss four wing players that the Pacers are reported to be interested in: O.J. Mayo, Courtney Lee, Carlos Delfino, and Gerald Green. With Jamal Crawford and Nick Young signing with teams in the past couple of days, it seems like the free agent wing the Pacers have been wanting to sign will be one of these four players. I want to talk a little about their games and how they’d fit with the Pacers. The profiles are done in descending order of how much it would cost to sign each player.
O.J. Mayo – SG – 6’4″, 210 lb., 24 years old
His Game: There are a lot of misperceptions floating around about O.J. Mayo and the way he plays basketball. Because of his high-profile high school career, high draft position, and flirtation with the point guard position, many people assume that Mayo is a ball-dominant, creative two-guard in the mold of Dwayne Wade and Kobe Bryant. This is not true. As Chris Herrington points out in this fantastic overview of Mayo’s game, his playing style and career numbers are far more in line with sweet-shooting scorers like Ray Allen, Ben Gordon, and Kevin Martin. The main take away from this comparison is that while Mayo is pretty good at creating his own shot – he was assisted on 51.3% of his baskets last year, 16th among SG’s – he’s not very good at creating for others. He’s been given plenty of opportunities as a creator, and he gives it a decent effort, but it’s worth noting that while he has decent looking assist numbers (3.4/36min), he also turns the ball over fairly frequently. Mayo is also not a great player going to the basket. He takes about 21% of his shots at the rim and does not finish particularly well (56.6%). Defensively Mayo struggles, though it’s not for a lack of effort. Mayo simply lacks the size, length, and elite athleticism to be more than an average defender. His defensive struggles are the primary reason he’s been coming off the bench in favor of Tony Allen for the last 2 seasons. There are 2 other factors worth noting: 1. Mayo has struggled coming off the bench the past 2 seasons. 2. He seems to have a rocky relationship with his coach, Lionel Hollins.
The Fit: The Pacers are looking for a player who can create their own shot against good defense and carry the load offensively off the bench. Mayo fits the bill in both instances. He also represents a significant talent increase over any player he’d be replacing. He would fit well into the Pacers egalitarian approach where any of 6 or 7 players could be the best guy on any given night. However, I would find it hard to spend big money on a guy who’s spent 2 years struggling in the role you’re paying him to fulfill. One thing to consider is that Lionel Hollins is considered to be a fairly old-school, hard-nosed coach. We’ve seen players who wilted under this type of coach (but remember, we’re not talking about Roy Hibbert today) thrive under the uber-positivism of Frank Vogel.
Overall Take: Mayo is an expensive proposition (He’s reportedly not returning any phone calls from teams not willing to offer more than the full mid-level exception which starts at $5 million), but I would classify him as medium risk and high reward. The worst thing you’re going to get if you sign Mayo is an overpaid, slightly above average basketball player. There’s potential, however, for much more. Neil Paine of Basketball reference recently pegged Mayo as one of 6 free agents who are statistically poised for a breakout season. There’s a chance that a change of scenery, coaching voices, and teammates would propel Mayo toward the stardom he seemed destined for after his first couple years in the league.
Note: Mayo also had a famous ABCD camp battle with Lance Stephenson back in ’05.
Courtney Lee – SG – 6’5″, 200 lb., 26 years old
His Game: Lee has a very well-rounded game. To begin, he’s a very good shooter. He’s shot above 40% from the 3 point line 3 out his 4 seasons in the NBA while shooting 2.9 3′s a game over the course of his career. In addition to his outside game, Lee is pretty effective going to the basket. He gets to the rim at the same rate as Mayo (21%) but he finishes more effectively (62%). One thing to note is that Lee is assisted on about 10% more of his rim baskets than Mayo. This gives us the portrait of Lee as someone who gets to the basket by cutting off the ball in addition to taking his man off the dribble. Lee does not create shots for other players, but he also does not stop the ball offensively. He generally plays within the context of the offense and is known as a guy with a high basketball IQ. Defensively, Lee is a very good player. He is known as a player with a passion for the defensive end of the floor. He is quick enough to guard PG’s, but has also had success guarding bigger players: he made Kobe Bryant work very hard while guarding him in the 2009 finals.
The Fit: While Lee is a very good basketball player, he is not the high-volume scorer the Pacers are reportedly looking for off the bench. Like Mayo, however, he definitely represents a talent upgrade over whomever he replaces. Lee reminds me quite a bit of George Hill – a consistently above-average player who works hard on both ends, takes what’s given to him, and makes relatively few mistakes.
Overall Take: Lee is a good basketball player. He’s a low-risk, medium-reward signing. He doesn’t have the breakout potential of OJ Mayo, but he’s also likely not quite as expensive. He is a guy you will never regret having on your team. He’s also an Indiana native and a proven playoff contributor.
Note: There is a definite drop-off in price, role, and expectations between Mayo and Lee and Delfino and Green. Mayo and Lee are going to need 25+ minutes each night and $5+ million a year. These next two guys won’t.
Carlos Delfino – SG/SF – 6’6″, 230 lb., 29 years old
His Game: Delfino is, in many ways, the perfect wing for “smashmouth” basketball. He’s a big, physical player who likes to play defense and rebounds incredibly well. Offensively, he doesn’t give you much, but he doesn’t hurt you at all either. For Pacer fans, it would be good to think of him as a more jump-shot oriented, less ball-stopping version of Dahntay Jones. Pretty much all Delfino does on offense is shoot 3 pointers. In fact, last year 52% of his shots were from behind the arc. He has very little game inside the arc and is a poor finisher at the rim (56.6%). He does handle the ball well for a big 2 guard, but he lacks the explosiveness to use this ability to do much other than bring the ball up the court occasionally. He is a good passer who makes good decisions and few mistakes, but no one would mistake him for a great creator or a guy who could initiate the offense. Defensively, Delfino is solid. He uses his big body and strength well to make up for his lack of great athleticism.
The Fit: Like I said, Delfino basically gives you much of the same things Dahntay Jones does, just at a slightly higher level. Delfino’s sweet spot is the corner 3 point shot, and that seems to be one that is available frequently in the Pacers’ offense.
Overall Take: Delfino is not the scorer that the Pacers are looking for, has almost no upside, and only provides a slight upgrade over the incumbent wing players. He is, however, a tough guy who plays good, solid basketball. However, I don’t know that I see the point in signing Delfino to take away valuable developmental minutes from guys like Stephenson and Johnson, especially if Dahntay Jones remains on the roster.
Gerald Green – SF – 6’8″, 200lb, 26 years old
His Game: Before I tell you about Gerald Green, you should read this. If you followed instructions, then you know that Gerald Green is an uber-talented former first-round pick and slam dunk champion who’s had a rough path through the nether-regions of professional basketball while trying to resurrect his dream of playing in the NBA. Looking at Green’s stats and game, two things become readily apparent: 1. He’s not afraid to shoot, and 2. He doesn’t create his own shot. This is not usually a good combination. Last season, Green put up close to 15 shots each 36 minutes he played. While that doesn’t sound like a lot, that’s nearly the same rate at which OJ Mayo shoots the ball. He has a similar usage rate to Mayo also. The major difference between the two players is that Green was assisted on 67.5% of his buckets last year, while Mayo was only assisted on 51%. While Green cannot create his own shot, he is a good shooter when a shot is created for him. He had the highest true shooting percentage (57.4) and effective field goal percentage (54.8) of all four players. Green also is a fantastic finisher at the rim (70.7%), but, again, he doesn’t get there on his own – he was assisted on 70% of his makes at the rim. Defensively, he’s just figuring things out. Avery Johnson, his coach with the Nets last season, had this to say about his defense, “He’ll make a mistake every now and then, but he competes on defense.” Green has Paul George level length and athleticism, so the ceiling is pretty high defensively.
The Fit: At first glance, grabbing a guy like Green who resurrected his career by making open shots created by Deron Williams (Green played over half his minutes with Williams last season) wouldn’t seem to make a ton of since for the Pacers. However, I actually feel like he’s a pretty good fit with the second unit, especially if that unit is going to feature Lance Stephenson. Stephenson, though he’s an unfinished product, is a guy who seems focused on creating shots for his teammates. Green is a guy who would thrive taking advantage of these shots. The Pacers’ second unit also needs another player who’s not bashful about shooting as only Tyler Hansbrough seems to really look to score when the second unit is together. Also, Green’s high school coach believes that Green thrives when the people around him believe in him, and Frank Vogel is still the coach of the Pacers.
Overall Take: Assuming Green can be gotten for a reasonable price, he’d be a very low-risk, high-reward acquisition. The potential that made him a top 20 pick coming out of high school is still there, and he seems to be developing the maturity to harness it. If Green can reach his considerable ceiling, he has starter level talent.
Ranking the Deals/Players:
Upside: Mayo, Green, Lee, Delfino
Risk Level (from high to low): Green, Mayo, Lee, Delfino
Current Talent: Mayo, Lee, Delfino, Green
I’d be happy with any of these players on the Pacers, though I’d be less excited about Delfino than the others. All four guys have skills that would help the Pacers and are likely to come at different prices. This is a situation where beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and it really depends upon how much Pritchard and Walsh want to spend and gamble.
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