What's the latest on Festus Ezeli?

[illmatic99]

Ezeli could guard most centers one on one. Davis strength is more as a help defender. Davis is overmatched physically against most centers.

What opponent has 2 physical, offensive-oriented, post-centric big men? I just think spending 8-12 mil on a backup big just for his post defense is a waste of $ and a roster space.

 

[Scalma]

What opponent has 2 physical, offensive-oriented, post-centric big men? I just think spending 8-12 mil on a backup big just for his post defense is a waste of $ and a roster space.

Well, we could've signed Edy Tavares for almost nothing....so maybe we can find another guy like him somewhere else. And I disagree, a backup post defender would be so valuable.

 

[Boob-No-More]

We have one. Ed Davis.

We had one, the 2015-16 version of Ed Davis.

And his significantly lower production was not just because of an injury. Something was wrong from day one. He came into camp out of shape and seemed completely disengaged and lacking in the energy and emotion that made him so good in 2015-16. Personally, I think he was a bit disenchanted, felt slighted, underpaid and undervalued after seeing how much money was handed out to lesser players last summer.

Well, 2017-18 is a contract year for him, so he needs to get back to playing his ass off if he wants some of that Monopoly money. Honestly, I think we've seen the best Ed Davis has to offer and hope we find a bigger, better replacement.

I've said it a hundred times, but I hope Neil goes hard for Kyle O'Quinn. He's bigger than Davis, just as good on the boards, better offensively (including a very solid midrange game that would compliment Nurk and Volneh better) and elite rim protection. He's basically a combination of what Ed Davis gave us in 2015-16 and what Festus Ezeli was supposed to give us in 2016-17, plus better offensively and in a healthy body.

BNM

 

[illmatic99]

We had one, the 2015-16 version of Ed Davis.

And his significantly lower production was not just because of an injury. Something was wrong from day one. He came into camp out of shape and seemed completely disengaged and lacking in the energy and emotion that made him so good in 2015-16. Personally, I think he was a bit disenchanted, felt slighted, underpaid and undervalued after seeing how much money was handed out to lesser players last summer.

Well, 2017-18 is a contract year for him, so he needs to get back to playing his ass off if he wants some of that Monopoly money. Honestly, I think we've seen the best Ed Davis has to offer and hope we find a bigger, better replacement.

I've said it a hundred times, but I hope Neil goes hard for Kyle O'Quinn. He's bigger than Davis, just as good on the boards, better offensively (including a very solid midrange game that would compliment Nurk and Volneh better) and elite rim protection. He's basically a combination of what Ed Davis gave us in 2015-16 and what Festus Ezeli was supposed to give us in 2016-17, plus better offensively and in a healthy body.

BNM

You've been on that O'Quinn bandwagon for a while. So I paid extra attention to his game in POR this season. Dude, he's trash. Maybe it was an off night, but I think you seriously overrate the guy. Reminds me of a Vonleh type but 5 yrs older. And Ed was solid as a backup every year before this one, so it's not like 15-16 was such a statistical anomaly.

If we want an energy dude who goes all out, Faried should be a target. 15 mpg of him running out with his dreads on fire will be amazing value.

 

[Boob-No-More]

What opponent has 2 physical, offensive-oriented, post-centric big men? I just think spending 8-12 mil on a backup big just for his post defense is a waste of $ and a roster space.

It's not just about post-oriented. You saw how much better our perimeter defense became with a legitimate rim protector backing them up.

Again, Kyle O'Quinn: $4.1 million, elite rebounder, super elite rim protector, solid midrange game, available, healthy and can back up both the center and PF positions. Like Nurkic, he doesn't fit into his teams future plans, is underutilized and available on the cheap. I think Ezeli's partially guaranteed contract + the CLE pick for O'Quinn + filler is doable. Might as well get something out of Ezeli.

BNM

 

[Scalma]

I think oquinn is solid, especially as a backup. Not sure I'd give up the 23rd pick in the draft for him, but I'd at least think about it.

 

[Boob-No-More]

You've been on that O'Quinn bandwagon for a while. So I paid extra attention to his game in POR this season. Dude, he's trash. Maybe it was an off night, but I think you seriously overrate the guy. Reminds me of a Vonleh type but 4 yrs older. And Ed was solid as a backup every year before this one, so it's not like 15-16 was such a statistical anomaly.

One game sample size, REALLY? I think Kingspeed just hacked your account. Nikola Jokic has also had some pretty unimpressive games against us. Is he trash, too?

So, one game isn't a statistical anomaly, but an entire season is?

Ed is also older and on the downswing.

O'Qinn just an older Vonleh? Really? Vonleh will never be nearly the rim protector O'Quinn is. That 6.9 BLK % is fucking elite, and he's a MUCH better passer than either Davis or Vonleh will ever be. Seriously, you're basing this on one game. At least look at a season or two worth of performance before you dismiss him out of hand.

Here's how O'Quinn compares to Vonleh and Davis, and I've been extremely generous and used Ed Davis' MUCH better 2015-16 stats. If we use his 2016-17 stats, it's a no brainer, O'Quinn crushes him in every conceivable way.



Here's the same comparison using the current incarnation of Ed Davis:



Still think O'Quinn is trash? He's bigger, younger, cheaper and better than Davis.

BNM

 

[Scalma]

I'm pretty sure Oquinn is also best friends with Harkless...so that can't hurt.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I think oquinn is solid, especially as a backup. Not sure I'd give up the 23rd pick in the draft for him, but I'd at least think about it.

I like the fact that he can back up both Nurk and Vonleh. One player, at $4.1 million, that can back up both front court positions. He'll make a more immediate impact than anyone we could draft at 23 and he's the same age as Dame. So it's not like he's outside of our age window.

BNM

 

[illmatic99]

One game sample size, REALLY? I think Kingspeed just hacked your account. Nikola Jokic has also had some pretty unimpressive games against us. Is he trash, too?

So, one game isn't a statistical anomaly, but an entire season is?

Ed is also older and on the downswing.

O'Qinn just an older Vonleh? Really? Vonleh will never be nearly the rim protector O'Quinn is. That 6.9 BLK % is fucking elite, and he's a MUCH better passer than either Davis or Vonleh will ever be. Seriously, you're basing this on one game. At least look at a season or two worth of performance before you dismiss him out of hand.

Here's how O'Quinn compares to Vonleh and Davis, and I've been extremely generous and used Ed Davis' MUCH better 2015-16 stats. If we use his 2016-17 stats, it's a no brainer, O'Quinn crushes him in every conceivable way.

View attachment 13711

Here's the same comparison using the current incarnation of Ed Davis:

View attachment 13712

Still think O'Quinn is trash? He's bigger, younger, cheaper and better than Davis.

BNM

Can you blame me for not watching the Knicks more than when they play us? I'll take your word for him. I like his contract-- that's for sure, but his instincts looked Vonleh esque in that game anyway. Ya I know, one game. But it left an impression. Might be worth a look if Jackson feels like going away from him.

I don't want to get rid of any of those picks for a backup, though. I want to see if we can put em all together to move into the lottery for a starter SF or PF.

 

[stampedehero]

One thing for sure....He has good bench manners. If he played and at the same level as GS days,I would drink warm beer for a night.

 

[Scalma]

I like the fact that he can back up both Nurk and Vonleh. One player, at $4.1 million, that can back up both front court positions. He'll make a more immediate impact than anyone we could draft at 23 and he's the same age as Dame. So it's not like he's outside of our age window.

BNM

I don't doubt that at all, but O'Quinn is what he is, a backup. There's not much upside with him. I get that he'll help us win more than any rookie at 23, but we'd also be passing on an opportunity to take a swing at a young, cheap, potential starter, no matter the odds.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Can you blame me for not watching the Knicks more than when they play us? I'll take your word for him. I like his contract-- that's for sure, but his instincts looked Vonleh esque in that game anyway. Ya I know, one game. But it left an impression. Might be worth a look if Jackson feels like going away from him.

I don't want to get rid of any of those picks for a backup, though. I want to see if we can put em all together to move into the lottery for a starter SF or PF.

He's only available because he's buried behind Porzingas and Hernangomez (and to a lesser extent Joakim Noah). He was available at the trade deadline and will be available again this summer.

He is truly an elite level rim protector. He runs the floor well and has good instincts. He had 104 BLKs in spite of playing only 1229 minutes. That's good for 12th in the entire league in BLKs in spite of being 238th in minutes played. That level of rim protection alone makes him the perfect back up to Nurk. We would see no drop off in interior defense when Nurk sits. Throw in the fact that he's also an elite level rebounder, a surprisingly capable passer and can either play on the low block or step out and knock down a mid range jumper makes him a good fit next to either Nurk or Vonleh.

He doesn't have 3-point range, but after watching Meyers, is that what we really want from our back up PF? He has good range on his jumper out to nearly the 3-point line and that, combined with his passing, should be enough to create space for Nurk and Vonleh to operate down low.

Plus, he's cheap - for now.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

I don't doubt that at all, but O'Quinn is what he is, a backup. There's not much upside with him. I get that he'll help us win more than any rookie at 23, but we'd also be passing on an opportunity to take a swing at a young, cheap, potential starter, no matter the odds.

Assuming we can get a rookie that's a potential starter (big assumption - it's also an assumption that the CLE pick will be at 23), will that rookie be ready to contribute before Dame turns 30?

It's not like O'Quinn is old. He's less than 4 months older than Dame

BNM