Shot Blockers. We need one.

Chupacabra

Chupacabra

Starter
#1
#1
Here is a place to discuss our hopes and dreams of one day adding a shot blocker to pair next to Cousins. The point of this is for us to figure out who the most ideal and/or attainable players are and how to get them. Feel free to add any college or overseas shotblocking Prospects to the list. I've compiled a brief list of shot blockers on current NBA rosters. I've only discriminated against Dwight Howard. 1-Because I don't associate myself with 7aker toilet scum. 2-Because I don't want my rim protector to be a whiny teenage girl that complains about touches.
Here goes:
Jarvis Varnado-Miami
Chris Anderson-Miami
Marcus Camby-New York
Tyson Chandler-New York
Kenyon Martin-New York
Taj Gibson-Chicago
Ryan Hollins-LAC
Deandre Jordan-LAC
Greg Stiemsma-Minn
Serge Ibaka-OKC
Andre Drummond-Detroit
Javale McGee-Denver
Emeka Okafor-Washington
Josh Smith-Atlanta
Derrick Favors-Utah
Anthony Davis-N.O.
Ed Davis-Memphis
Larry Sanders-Milwaukee
Ekpe Udoh-Milwaukee
John Henson-Milwaukee
Bismack Biyombo-Charlotte
Tyrus Thomas-Charlotte

Personally I would prefer to add one of the less relevant or less talented players to fill our void. I can envision a guy like Stiemsma, Biyombo or Varnado coming in and doing nothing other than trying to block every shot around the rim, grab every rebound and that's it. With the type of roster we have I think the one dimensional, non scoring rim protector is the best fit. Discuss!
 
Mass

Mass

Starter
#2
#2
Among the players that could be available, i put Udoh, Davis and Hanson on my list. Other players could be available, like Thomas, Okafor and maybe McGee, but they have big contracts and then I don't really like them.

Udoh and Hanson could be available because the Bucks have 200 shotblockers, so maybe they could trade one for a shooter (MT?). I don't know about Davis, maybe they really like him in Memphis, but I don't think he's untouchable. Those 3 players are still young, and they have never had the chance to really prove themselves. I'd take a gamble on one of them.
I would add Dalembert to the list, maybe you forgot. He is a free agent and I'd give him a call even if I'm pretty sure he'll join a contender.

I really don't know much about Stiemsma and Varnado, but it looks to me that they are just bench filler, not ready or able to play big minutes.
 
LPKingsFan

LPKingsFan

All-Star
#3
#3
Udoh makes sense since he's the third shotblocker in MIL behind Sanders (untouchable) and Henson (probly hard to get), plus apparently Malone was excited to work with Udoh back on the Warriors before he was part of the Bogut trade. I'm not sure what the Bucks would want for him in a deal, but given their backcourt uncertainty with Jennings, Ellis, and Reddick all free agents they may be interested in someone like Jimmer.

McGee could be an interesting possibility now that we have D'Alessandro running the show, and the turmoil now in Denver. Karl never seemed to trust JaVale, and they have Koufos waiting in the wings, but maybe their new coach and leadership would rather play JaVale instead. He is a serious knucklehead, though, and I'm not sure I want him anywhere near Cousins. Also have no idea what Denver would want for him, but given that he was a big part of what they got for Nene, it may be more than my "willing to give up for a shotblocker" grouping of Thornton/JT/Jimmer/IT (not ALL of course, just some combination).

Davis I think will be hard to get from Memphis, especially if they decide they need to also trade ZBo to keep costs down.

There's a Bulls fan on realgm that would trade Gibson (who I think would fit well with Cousins) for Thornton, but I doubt the Chicago front office feels the same way ;)

I'd add Anderson Varejao to the list. He's not exactly a shotblocker, but a very good big man defender and someone I think would fit well next to Cousins. If Cleveland takes Noel, I'm not sure how they imagine AV's fit there long term (I know they're both currently injured).

As for free agents: there's always Dalembert, potentially AK47 if he opts out, and Josh Smith, but I'm not sure I'd pay Smith what it'd take to get him here.
 
twslam07

twslam07

Starter
#4
#4
These are the qualities I want from my shotblocker:

  • Athletic enough to guard quicker big men
  • At least 6'9" (no more small ball)
  • Solid rebounder
  • Good mid-range jumper
  • Youth is still on his side
  • Role player mentality
  • Is on a cheap deal or will come cheap (6 mil per year max)

Now as you can probably tell, there aren't many players that fulfill all of those requirements, but this is my shortlist on who would be the best candidates that are realistic options for us:

  • Ekpe Udoh
  • Ed Davis
  • Jordan Hill
  • Samuel Dalembert
 
LPKingsFan

LPKingsFan

All-Star
#5
#5
twslam07 said:
These are the qualities I want from my shotblocker:

  • Athletic enough to guard quicker big men
  • At least 6'9" (no more small ball)
  • Solid rebounder
  • Good mid-range jumper
  • Youth is still on his side
  • Role player mentality
  • Is on a cheap deal or will come cheap (6 mil per year max)

Now as you can probably tell, there aren't many players that fulfill all of those requirements, but this is my shortlist on who would be the best candidates that are realistic options for us:

  • Ekpe Udoh
  • Ed Davis
  • Jordan Hill
  • Samuel Dalembert
Click to expand...
Dalembert's 32. What's your cut off for youth?
 
Glenn

Glenn

Hall of Famer
#7
#7
Draft Steven Adams. He's 7 ft. and 255 pounds of muscle. He is very raw but can block shots right now. He grew up in a country that worships rugby so has had no decent coaching until he spent a year at Pitt. Not saying the coach at Pitt is great but even playing there his game improved. He is quite intelligent and a good guy. Give him a couple years of learning the fundamentals and he could be a steal. There is also the chance he won't make it but I think that would be the best use of the #7 pick. He is a great athlete.

I just noticed there were qualifications. I think he fits and is far cheaper than $6 mil.
 
RichieInRocklin

RichieInRocklin

G-League
#9
#9
Well, folks, it's not going to happen in one or two years (getting deep into the playoffs). But a shot blocking, rebounding big to pair with Cousins in the back court would be a good start. My choices would be:
Epke Udoh
John Henson
Ed Davis
Steven Adams with #7 draftl
Any of these could work out for us given a couple years with our new defensive scheme. Also, we need a tall, good shooting, good defensive SF to give our team some better balance. Someone like Dorell Wright would come much cheaper that Iggy. I would trade for Udoh, Henson or Davis and still draft Adams with #7 and give him several years to learn. This year or probably next year, pick up a good defensive and great shooting SG to pair with Evans in the backcourt. Third year, pick up fillers for what's not working very well.

I feel comfortable in both Malone and d'A to make some good decisions, do some good teaching and good coaching. By the time the new arena is ready, so should the team be ready for a deep run into the playoffs. Go Kings!!!
 
Tetsujin

Tetsujin

The Game Thread Dude
#10
#10
I've (semi-seriously) been on the Jeff Withey bandwagon for years. Built like a twig and not all that talented but the dude alters shots at a ridiculous rate.
 
twslam07

twslam07

Starter
#11
#11
Glenn said:
Draft Steven Adams. He's 7 ft. and 255 pounds of muscle. He is very raw but can block shots right now. He grew up in a country that worships rugby so has had no decent coaching until he spent a year at Pitt. Not saying the coach at Pitt is great but even playing there his game improved. He is quite intelligent and a good guy. Give him a couple years of learning the fundamentals and he could be a steal. There is also the chance he won't make it but I think that would be the best use of the #7 pick. He is a great athlete.

I just noticed there were qualifications. I think he fits and is far cheaper than $6 mil.
Click to expand...
I like Adams a lot. He is a good rebounder and shotblocker. He has size, youth, and a roleplayer's mentality, and he would obviously come cheap on a rookie contract. The only question marks I have about Adams is if he is athletic enough to guard quicker big men and his jump shot. I haven't had a chance to watch him in many games, but the games I have seen, his lateral quickness looks good enough to guard more athletic big men. He never flashed a very effective jump shot and his atrocious free throw shooting didn't back that up (44%). However, he supposedly showed a jumpshot in pre-draft workouts.

I would be happy if we went with Adams with the 7th pick. I think he has a lot of skills that we can utilize right away. I think with his work ethic he is capable of becoming everything we need next to Cousins.
 
Chupacabra

Chupacabra

Starter
#12
#12
The only qualifications I have is at least 6'10 and mobile. I make an exception for Gibson. I want a guy that can play big minutes next to Cousins. I'm more intrigued with finding one of the more raw players, defining his role and giving him a shot. I'm really interested in Stiemsma right now as he seems to fit the mold of the player I want; goes after every shot, plays hard, can legitimately defend PF's and C's, doesn't need the ball, and fairly cheap.
 
twslam07

twslam07

Starter
#13
#13
cuad said:
He'll have to be the clear starter over Jason Thompson and Patterson.
Click to expand...
I think it can be someone we develop through the draft that will become better than Thompson and Patterson. We're not winning a championship next year so why do we need to have an immediate shotblocker that is better than Thompson and Patterson? Don't get me wrong it would be great to have, but it is not a necessity in my eyes.
 
twslam07

twslam07

Starter
#18
#18
RichieInRocklin said:
Well, folks, it's not going to happen in one or two years (getting deep into the playoffs). But a shot blocking, rebounding big to pair with Cousins in the back court would be a good start. My choices would be:
Epke Udoh
John Henson
Ed Davis
Steven Adams with #7 draftl
Any of these could work out for us given a couple years with our new defensive scheme. Also, we need a tall, good shooting, good defensive SF to give our team some better balance. Someone like Dorell Wright would come much cheaper that Iggy. I would trade for Udoh, Henson or Davis and still draft Adams with #7 and give him several years to learn. This year or probably next year, pick up a good defensive and great shooting SG to pair with Evans in the backcourt. Third year, pick up fillers for what's not working very well.

I feel comfortable in both Malone and d'A to make some good decisions, do some good teaching and good coaching. By the time the new arena is ready, so should the team be ready for a deep run into the playoffs. Go Kings!!!
Click to expand...
I'm not as high on Henson as most people are. I don't think he is going to ever be a guy who can hold his ground on the block. Other than that, he does bring a lot of things we need. However, I think the Bucks are high on him, and if I were the Bucks, I would rather have Henson as a backup over Udoh because he's on a cheaper rookie contract and Udoh is going to be a restricted free agent next offseason which will probably make his contract even more expensive.
 
twslam07

twslam07

Starter
#19
#19
Tetsujin said:
I've (semi-seriously) been on the Jeff Withey bandwagon for years. Built like a twig and not all that talented but the dude alters shots at a ridiculous rate.
Click to expand...
I would be very satisfied with Withey as a 4th big off the bench. He would be a nice player who could give Cousins a break for a few minutes each game.
 
K

kpm308

G-League
#22
#22
Taj Gibson is really the best fit out there for what we are looking for. He is an actual Pf so it wouldn't be a case of shifting cuz out of position to fit him, or adding a guy who will only see backup minutes at C. Averages over 2 BPG for his career per 36. Plus he has the pedigree of having played under Thibodeau, who it sounds like our new coach is trying to emulate. And while he is primarily a shot blocking, rebounding defensive role player, he isn't totally useless offensively, and is a strong all around defender, not just a weak side shot blocker who plays poor defense otherwise like a deandre Jordan type.

The best thing about Taj, is that he may actually be attainable. The Bulls are going into next season with about 78 million committed to just 8 players. They are too close to contending to blow it up, but they have also been against paying the luxury tax, even though they were above the line last year, they will surely be looking to get back down below the tax line this year. If you are the bulls, the easiest thing would just be to amnesty Boozer, but theres just not enough offense from a Noah/Taj front court, especially with a lack of firepower from the wings. Luckily we have a defensive big man with a cheaper contract in Hayes, a scoring Pf in Patterson, and a perimeter bench scorer in Thornton that could help the, replaced the high priced guys while still staying competitive. There might be something that could be done there.
 
M

mac

All-Star
#23
#23
The_Jamal said:
Has better size and is a better defender than anyone on that list. By far. Also adds as sophisticated offensive game

Well, people who are reasonable to acquire anyway.
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I'm still waiting to see this sophisticated offensive game you speak of rear its head in the finals. I love Splitter and think he's a good player but if he was as gifted as you make him out to be the Spurs would be up 3-1.
 
K

kpm308

G-League
#25
#25
Just for fun, here's an idea that works on the trade checker:

Kings outgoing

Marcus Thornton
Isaiah Thomas
Pat Patterson
Chuck Hayes
Jason Thompson
John Salmons

Kings incoming

Taj Gibson
Danny Grainger
Carlos Boozer

Burke or McCollum/Douglas
Tyreke/Jimmer
Granger/Outlaw
Boozer/Taj
Cousins/Aldrich

Looks like a sure fire playoff team, under 60 million in salary, with Granger expiring this year and Boozer next. Puts some actual vets around Tyreke and Cuz, creates a winning atmosphere, and allow for financial flexibility in the future. Could probably use some depth on the wings, but that should be easy with the MLE or vet signings.

Chicago outgoing

Taj Gibson
Carlos Boozer

Chicago incoming

Marcus Thornton
Pat Patterson
Chuck Hayes

Rose/Teague
Butler/Thornton/Heinrich
Deng
Patterson/Hayes
Noah

Chicago saves about 8 million in salary, finds a cheaper, although marginally worse replacement for Gibson, gets rid of Boozers contract and adds a much needed perimeter scorer off the bench, while also giving them financial flexibility to fill out their roster.

Indiana outgoing

Danny Granger

Indiana incoming

Isaiah Thomas
Jason Thompson
John Salmons

Hill/Thomas
Stephenson/Green
George/Salmons
West?/Thompson
Hibbert/Mahinmi

Indiana had three big holes in their roster this year- a backup pg/combo guard who could light it up off the bench (Isaiah) Another wing who could play d and score in iso situations (salmons) and a legit back up big (Thompson) they get all three with this trade and the way the contracts they are getting are structured they should have plenty of money available to keep all these guys together in the future.
 
Tetsujin

Tetsujin

The Game Thread Dude
#26
#26
kpm308 said:
Just for fun, here's an idea that works on the trade checker:

Kings outgoing

Marcus Thornton
Isaiah Thomas
Pat Patterson
Chuck Hayes
Jason Thompson
John Salmons

Kings incoming

Taj Gibson
Danny Grainger
Carlos Boozer

Burke or McCollum/Douglas
Tyreke/Jimmer
Granger/Outlaw
Boozer/Taj
Cousins/Aldrich

Looks like a sure fire playoff team, under 60 million in salary, with Granger expiring this year and Boozer next. Puts some actual vets around Tyreke and Cuz, creates a winning atmosphere, and allow for financial flexibility in the future. Could probably use some depth on the wings, but that should be easy with the MLE or vet signings.

Chicago outgoing

Taj Gibson
Carlos Boozer

Chicago incoming

Marcus Thornton
Pat Patterson
Chuck Hayes

Rose/Teague
Butler/Thornton/Heinrich
Deng
Patterson/Hayes
Noah

Chicago saves about 8 million in salary, finds a cheaper, although marginally worse replacement for Gibson, gets rid of Boozers contract and adds a much needed perimeter scorer off the bench, while also giving them financial flexibility to fill out their roster.

Indiana outgoing

Danny Granger

Indiana incoming

Isaiah Thomas
Jason Thompson
John Salmons

Hill/Thomas
Stephenson/Green
George/Salmons
West?/Thompson
Hibbert/Mahinmi

Indiana had three big holes in their roster this year- a backup pg/combo guard who could light it up off the bench (Isaiah) Another wing who could play d and score in iso situations (salmons) and a legit back up big (Thompson) they get all three with this trade and the way the contracts they are getting are structured they should have plenty of money available to keep all these guys together in the future.
Click to expand...
You do realize we're only allowed to use one ball at a time right?
 
Nikolizzle

Nikolizzle

G-League
#27
#27
I honestly think Boozer would be a great pickup if he got amnestied.

Big body, aggressive, good offensive touch... A Cousins/Boozer frontcourt would make most teams wet themselves.
 
K

kpm308

G-League
#28
#28
Well lineups can change, start Douglas, Tyreke, Granger, Taj and Cousins- 3 scorers and 2 defensive specialists who aren't liabilities on offense, then you bring the other guys off the bench. What it does it gets rid of logjams of marginal players who have never won anything and gives you two former all star veterans and a a shot blocking fit next to Cuz in the front court. The guys going out require as many or more touches as the guys coming in
 
T

The_Jamal

Hall of Famer
#30
#30
mac said:
I'm still waiting to see this sophisticated offensive game you speak of rear its head in the finals. I love Splitter and think he's a good player but if he was as gifted as you make him out to be the Spurs would be up 3-1.
Click to expand...
Oh right. I forgot 4 game sample sizes determine a player's skill set.

Right
 
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