What am I missing with this guy? He made the AS team and it seems like everyone is making a big deal about the Celtics picking him up. But the last two seasons against Cleveland, it was pretty obvious he couldn't wait to go home. I understand he may be a decent regular season player, but I think he's only average, if that.
He's solid at everything, not really elite at anything. Some of the praise of him is a little overboard. Probably just because the Celts have never really had a big free agent signing before. He is a top 10 center though.
As far as his contract, the Celtics whole team is on bargain deals so slightly overpaying someone doesn't really hurt them much. The rest of their starting lineup will make about what he makes combined, which is kinda bizarre but indicative of the escalating salary cap.
And their biggest weakness was at PF/C with giving big minutes to Zeller and Sullinger last year. So they turned a weakness into a strength.
As far as his contract, the Celtics whole team is on bargain deals so slightly overpaying someone doesn't really hurt them much. The rest of their starting lineup will make about what he makes combined, which is kinda bizarre but indicative of the escalating salary cap.
And their biggest weakness was at PF/C with giving big minutes to Zeller and Sullinger last year. So they turned a weakness into a strength.
Also besides those fluke pectoral muscle injuries, he really hasn't had much injury history in the NBA at all. Very durable.
That is important for a center these days. Those guys can die out fast.
I would've rather seen the Celts gamble on Dwight Howard, even if it wasn't likely to workout because he has physically declined, at least it is a gamble on a guy getting back to dominant elite level. Howard hasn't had a good coach since Van Gundy in Orlando and has never played with a point guard as good as Thomas. But it is easier for me be pro-risk taking like that since I'm not the one signing the checks.
Also if there is any chance the Celts were gonna get Durant, it would've been with Horford being in the fold. Wojnarowski (sp) reported that Durant/Donovan tried to sell him on going to OKC with them but he didn't want to since there were no assurances Durant/Westbrook would stay long-term.
That is important for a center these days. Those guys can die out fast.
I would've rather seen the Celts gamble on Dwight Howard, even if it wasn't likely to workout because he has physically declined, at least it is a gamble on a guy getting back to dominant elite level. Howard hasn't had a good coach since Van Gundy in Orlando and has never played with a point guard as good as Thomas. But it is easier for me be pro-risk taking like that since I'm not the one signing the checks.
Also if there is any chance the Celts were gonna get Durant, it would've been with Horford being in the fold. Wojnarowski (sp) reported that Durant/Donovan tried to sell him on going to OKC with them but he didn't want to since there were no assurances Durant/Westbrook would stay long-term.
re: Dwight. He's had some back and knee injuries but besides this year he had been pretty good when on the court the previous few years. Houston made the conference finals just 13 months ago, keep that in mind.
Put it this way, I think Atlanta was smart to breakup the monotony of having the same type of team every year and bring him in. They had maxed out with their core group. Even if it doesn't workout it is only a 3 year deal. Being in his hometown, playing for a good coach and a relatively calm fan base with not all that high of expectations could help him. Again, I acknowledge it is easier for me to sit on the internet and advocate for these teams to play Russian roulette since I'm not the one signing the checks.
When athletes decline people often like to peg it to personality or "heart" or whatever, and I'm not defending him, he is a bit of a clown but the main reason he has fallen off is because he can't physically dominate like he used to. He got beatup pretty bad over the years, teams were fouling him like 10 times a game.
Put it this way, I think Atlanta was smart to breakup the monotony of having the same type of team every year and bring him in. They had maxed out with their core group. Even if it doesn't workout it is only a 3 year deal. Being in his hometown, playing for a good coach and a relatively calm fan base with not all that high of expectations could help him. Again, I acknowledge it is easier for me to sit on the internet and advocate for these teams to play Russian roulette since I'm not the one signing the checks.
When athletes decline people often like to peg it to personality or "heart" or whatever, and I'm not defending him, he is a bit of a clown but the main reason he has fallen off is because he can't physically dominate like he used to. He got beatup pretty bad over the years, teams were fouling him like 10 times a game.
Dwight Howard worked with arguably two of the best post players ever in dream and mchale and still never attained a post game. He is not physically capable of dominating the paint as he did briefly in Orlando. A clown to boot. Good job Atlanta.
But he ll get what he always wanted, the chance to be on real housewives of Atl....
To be clear I think there is like a 20% chance the Hawks markedly improve with Dwight Howard. They're getting old, they got rid of Teague this year, Carroll last year.
But they were going to decline anyway, I'd rather gamble on upside than have more or less the same caliber of team that I've had the last 8-9 years.
And Howard's deal is only 3yrs, not much of a commitment.
But they were going to decline anyway, I'd rather gamble on upside than have more or less the same caliber of team that I've had the last 8-9 years.
And Howard's deal is only 3yrs, not much of a commitment.
