Joined: 24 Feb 2003 Posts: 6467 Location: Past left field
Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2010 8:47 pm Post subject: We need another C (assuming we do not resign MBenga)
IMO we need another C if as it has been speculated that MBenga will not be resigned. Last year we had a period where both Pau and Bynum were out and MBenga had to start two games. I was really happy we went 2-0 with DJ getting a double double in one of the games.
Looking at our roster so far, if Pau and Bynum were to go out again, we would have to start Caracter or Lamar at C. Not gonna work against a lot of teams (Portland with Oden, Houston with Yao, Clips with Kaman, Dallas with Haywood, etc).
I would rather let DJ come back but if not we need to be looking at someone like Fabrico Oberto. Solid low post defender, good passer, good b-ball IQ. Does not need the ball and does not try and do too much on the offensive end.
Anyone have any other suggestions? _________________ Darvin Ham is an idiot!
Yes. we do need a back up Center. I have heard Kurt Thomas' name mentioned. _________________ Nobody in the NBA can touch the Laker brand, which, like the uniform color, is pure gold.
Let DJ go. We don't use him at all. Also, after all these years Bynum spent in the practice with Mbenga, there's nothing new that Bynum can learn from Mbenga.
Centers are worth premium in the NBA. We can only grab Vet center.
I suggest we grab:
Theo Ratliff
Why? Theo can still block, so he can block Drew in the practice. It will only help Drew to develop a better offensive strategy in order to avoid blocks.
Obviously it would have to be a vet minimum signee.
Juwan Howard: Can give you 20 to 25 minutes of quality play, which is important if Andrew goes down. Though undersized, he was very tough in the paint while playing center for Portland after Oden and Przbilla went down. Decent numbers earned against starters. Very skilled in the high post as a passer, has a nice jumper from the elbow. He can rest both Pau and Andrew, saving their legs and reducing their exposure to injury.
Kwame: Horrible work ethic, too many mental lapses but a decent big body defender. Think Andrew during the last games. He couldn't give us much of anything, but we still needed his minutes. If Andrew is hurt even worse next time, Kwame could give you those minutes, if not better.
Etan Thomas: Worth a look. Used to be a big body and physical defender. For some reason the size-challenged Thunder never really used him. I wonder if he got old early, or something happened after that leaky aorta surgery. _________________ We are stardust
Billion year old carbon
We are golden
Caught in the devil's bargain
And we've got to get ourselves
Back to the garden
I rather have Mbenga than Kurt Thomas _________________ “A story about Kobe is the first time they went to be fitted for their USA uniforms and Kobe starts crying. The equipment person asks him what happened and Kobe was like, man, you don’t understand, I’ve dreamed of playing for my country."
I'm not sure Magliore has anything left. He didn't get much run with the Heat, and I haven't heard of Riley rushing in sign him back.
Kurt Thomas is pretty much at the end of his shelf life. I wanted him for years, going back to when he was a Knick and every Laker fan thought I was crazy as I kept recommending him. I finally think he's about done. _________________ We are stardust
Billion year old carbon
We are golden
Caught in the devil's bargain
And we've got to get ourselves
Back to the garden
Joined: 24 Dec 2007 Posts: 36545 Location: Santa Clarita, CA (Hell) ->>>>>Ithaca, NY -≥≥≥≥≥Berkeley, CA
Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2010 10:04 pm Post subject:
Bring him back... I like his hustle and we're not going to get anyone better who's 7 feet tall. _________________ Damian Lillard shatters Dwight Coward's championship dreams:
Seriously, the best quality big who might sign for the vet minimum is Juwan Howard. There's a reason why Pat Riley has targeted him. _________________ We are stardust
Billion year old carbon
We are golden
Caught in the devil's bargain
And we've got to get ourselves
Back to the garden
Since all available options are more or less scrubs, I'll take the guy that's already been here and familiar with the team: Mbenga.
And when you break it down, he's arguably the biggest, strongest, and best shotblocker of all options.
I don't know why we wouldn't resign him unless another team is offering more than the minimum.
I totally agree. Mbenga is Mservicable.
The problems I have with DJ is that Phil doesn't like him...he won't play him, we need someone like Thomas, Howard, Oberto so that Bynum can be babied a little during the reg season.
Mbenga sounds like he's toast. _________________ We are stardust
Billion year old carbon
We are golden
Caught in the devil's bargain
And we've got to get ourselves
Back to the garden
Here is a list of free agent centers. Some have been signed already.
Centers:
Yao Ming (ETO - owed $17.7 million in 10/11)
Brandan Haywood (Unrestricted)
Luis Scola (Restricted)
Channing Frye (PO - owed $2.1 million in 10/11 – likely Unrestricted)
Louis Amundson (Unrestricted)
Tyson Chandler (ETO - owed $12.8 million in 10/11)
Amir Johnson (Unrestricted)
Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Unrestricted)
Jermaine O'Neal (Unrestricted)
Shaquille O'Neal (Unrestricted)
Brad Miller (Unrestricted)
Rasho Nesterovic (Unrestricted)
Ben Wallace (Unrestricted)
Fabricio Oberto (Unrestricted)
Johan Petro (Unrestricted)
Hilton Armstrong (Unrestricted)
Ian Mahinmi (Unrestricted)
Kwame Brown (Unrestricted)
Tony Battie (Unrestricted)
Sean Williams (Unrestricted)
Theo Ratliff (Unrestricted)
Etan Thomas (Unrestricted)
Joel Przybilla (ETO)
Nazr Mohammed (ETO)
Kyrylo Fesenko (Restricted)
Joel Anthony (Player Option)
Earl Barron (Unrestricted)
Mikki Moore (Unrestricted)
Adonal Foyle (Unrestricted)
Primo Brezec (Unrestricted)
Adonal Foyle (Unrestricted)
Jarron Collins (Unrestricted)
Jamaal Magloire (Unrestricted)
Patrick O'Bryant (Unrestricted)
Mark Blount (Unrestricted)
Pops Mensah-Bonsu (Restricted)
Aaron Gray (Unrestricted)
Steven Hunter (Unrestricted)
DJ Mbenga (Unrestricted)
Darko Milicic (Unrestricted)
Jerome James (Unrestricted) _________________ Nobody in the NBA can touch the Laker brand, which, like the uniform color, is pure gold.
Is there a undrafted rookie center we could offer a rookie contract to.......being that Dr. Buss is looking to save money? Signing a rookie saves about 1 million between salary and luxury tax implications.
If not a rookie, what about Sims of the summer league or lastly just keep Mbenga.
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