Article speculating on Aldridge to the Rockets

[Rhal]

The pick and 'pop' is considered a part of the pick and roll. Interesting to me was that both LMA and Nic were in the Top 30 in the NBA in TS% (30th and 16th, respectively).

LA's great at pick and popping, if he could just get more aggressive and start pick and rolling then its going to be a DAMN fun season to watch.

and for all this about trading for LMA the lowest i'd go with Houston is Toronto's pick (it has weird protection so its a guaranteed top 10 pick) Houston own lottery pick (unprotected), Lamb, Motiejunas, Jones. If we give LMA up for anything less then that, i'd be quiet pissed.
If we got a deal like that then three chances at a top 3 pick next year sound nice

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I do agree that this year is the time to deal LMA. We're a few years away from being a playoff team and we'd be wasting his prime years. IMO, this is the right thing to do for both sides. Though, I'd wait until draft night to deal him for the chance to grab Cody Zeller. Grabbing Lamb/Zeller and future picks would be a decent package.

 

[ironcrotch]

I do agree that this year is the time to deal LMA. We're a few years away from being a playoff team and we'd be wasting his prime years. IMO, this is the right thing to do for both sides. Though, I'd wait until draft night to deal him for the chance to grab Cody Zeller. Grabbing Lamb/Zeller and future picks would be a decent package.

Is it still the right time if Lillard is who we think he's gonna be? Let's say he's on track to be ROY, do you still think its the time to deal LMA?

 

[dviss1]

I do agree that this year is the time to deal LMA. We're a few years away from being a playoff team and we'd be wasting his prime years. IMO, this is the right thing to do for both sides. Though, I'd wait until draft night to deal him for the chance to grab Cody Zeller. Grabbing Lamb/Zeller and future picks would be a decent package.

You gotta give me Donatas Motiejunas and Lamb too. DM has a Long SMALL contract too.

1,361,400
1,422,720
1,483,920
2,288,205

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Motijunas is a well-known headcase. You will not want him once you've seen him play a few games. Give me an overpaid Asik over him any day - Asik is a key player for Turkey and Motiejunas is not even invited on the Lithuanian team because he is so hated.

 

[dviss1]

Motijunas is a well-known headcase. You will not want him once you've seen him play a few games. Give me an overpaid Asik over him any day - Asik is a key player for Turkey and Motiejunas is not even invited on the Lithuanian team because he is so hated.

Asik's contract is just stupid. It makes no sense. I'd rather have LA than him in a package. Also, I've never heard this about DM. Do you have a link to such info?

 

[PapaG]

Trade LMA, Lillard, and Batum for mid-round rookies and draft picks.

A championship will be right around the corner.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Here's some of the negatives about Motiejunas from DraftExpress:

Motiejunas unfortunately still struggles with the two very important areas that were pinpointed early on in his career as being major weaknesses: defense and rebounding. His defensive rebounding numbers have actually gotten worse this season, now down to a paltry 3.2 per-40 minutes, which ranks him dead last in the entire Italian league amongst both power forwards and centers.

While Motiejunas' average efforts boxing out and lackluster hustle could get better with age and coaching, he just doesn't have very good instincts for rebounding, making it tough to see just how much he can improve down the road in this area. He doesn't play with very much intensity, looking lackadaisical in his approach, rarely going out of his area for rebounds, and often going after loose balls with one hand. It's here where the Andrea Bargnani comparisons appear the most accurate.

Donatas Motiejunas put on his own, more surprising brick show, in a very uninspired workout.

Known as a lackadaisical shooter who can't rebound, Monteijunas negated his only strength today, being unable to make anything from almost anywhere on the floor. Granted, it's one workout and his record throughout his career speaks for itself, but still. This was ugly.

At one point he shot 4/17 when moving around the 3-point line for uncontested jumpers.

What's worse is he looked somewhat disinterested in the workout and showed bad body language.

For a player who's stock wasn't exactly on the uptick going into today, and the format of the workout was less than ideal, Motiejunas surely didn't help himself, even though its highly questionable how much of a part this extremely limited setting should play in the evaluation process.

There's a reason the Lithuanian team is building round the year-younger Valanciunas and bypassing Motiejunas.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

The guy I'd target is Zeller. Obviously we'd have to wait for the draft but if you're going to replace LMA you have to bring in a player you can build around and in time I think Cody will be that guy. Maybe use the HOU assets to move into the top-3.

Hey, we may suck enough to land him on our own!

 

[Mediocre Man]

The guy I'd target is Zeller. Obviously we'd have to wait for the draft but if you're going to replace LMA you have to bring in a player you can build around and in time I think Cody will be that guy. Maybe use the HOU assets to move into the top-3.

Hey, we may suck enough to land him on our own!

WHAT THE FUCK IS THE FASCINATION WITH AMERICAN WHITE CENTERS IN THE DAMN LOTTERY WITH SOME OF YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

WHAT THE FUCK IS THE FASCINATION WITH AMERICAN WHITE CENTERS IN THE DAMN LOTTERY WITH SOME OF YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

Find one in the last ten years that comes close to his footwork and feel for the game. This Zeller is a rare breed.

 

[PapaG]

WHAT THE FUCK IS THE FASCINATION WITH AMERICAN WHITE CENTERS IN THE DAMN LOTTERY WITH SOME OF YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

Which black American centers drafted in the lottery have been the lead player on a title team since Duncan and Shaq?

Weird how you view everything through the prism of race. I don't get it.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Weird how you view everything through the prism of race. I don't get it.

It's like all homophobic Republicans turning out to be closeted gays: HCP is a closet honky.

 

[jlprk]

It's true that people here fix upon Zeller and never mention anyone else in the next draft. Probably because he stands out due to his chrome-colored nose or something. Just a coincidence that he's the only white guy within a light year of being picked #1.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Which black American centers drafted in the lottery have been the lead player on a title team since Duncan and Shaq?

Weird how you view everything through the prism of race. I don't get it.

The game has actually changed so much that "centers" aren't really important anymore. Interior scoring and defending is a must, but if players like Lebron can destroy people in the low post, and guys like Faried can rebound and defend then why do you need a center? As for the lottery, Hakeem the year before the lottery, Ewing, Daugherty, Robinson, Shaq, Mourning, KG (7' PF/C), Camby, Duncan, Chandler, Howard, Bynum. All of those players were very important to their conference and NBA finals appearance teams. During that same period of time, the American white center has produced zero centers that played important roles throughout the year and in the playoffs for their teams that had finals appearances.


Things certainly change. Pitchers today are far more athletic than in years past, so we are seeing a lot more no hitters and perfect games. The American white center could also be getting better? But up to this point, over the last 30 years or so, that has not really been the case.

Either way, as I said, it's more or a wing league now anyway, so it doesn't really matter

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Zeller is going to have a monster year -- Their teams trainer said Zeller is benching 300+ lbs. and has increased his vertical by 3" to 39", also a "legit 7-foot" and 240 lbs.

He's putting in major work this summer.

TANK!

 

[kronicase]

I agree those three would be worth it. White is a monster, and so are the other two.

 

[kronicase]

I would do that in a minute.

 

[dviss1]

Zeller is going to have a monster year -- Their teams trainer said Zeller is benching 300+ lbs. and has increased his vertical by 3" to 39", also a "legit 7-foot" and 240 lbs.

He's putting in major work this summer.

TANK!

This would mean he has a higher vertical than most guards/small forwards. I'll have to see that in writing to believe it...

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

6'11" Plumlee (Pacers) measured a 41" vert this summer at the combine -- it wouldn't surprise me of Zeller really does have a near 40" vert. Factor that with his insane footwork, I think he goes #1 over Shabazz and Noel.

Kinda funny that the guy I want to replace LMA as the PFOTF, NBAdraft.net just updated his profile and his player comparison: LaMarcus Aldridge.

 

[dviss1]

6'11" Plumlee (Pacers) measured a 41" vert this summer at the combine -- it wouldn't surprise me of Zeller really does have a near 40" vert. Factor that with his insane footwork, I think he goes #1 over Shabazz and Noel.

Kinda funny that the guy I want to replace LMA as the PFOTF, NBAdraft.net just updated his profile and his player comparison: LaMarcus Aldridge.

I've seen cody play quite a bit. There's no WAY he has near as high a vert as Plumlee. I will need to see combine numbers.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

bump.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Huh?