I'm thinking C's are thinking Rasheed Wallace (merged)

[paintitgreen]

I hear what you're saying, though, I think it really depends on each player. While a problem last year was that we went too young, it was also a problem that we relied on midseason veteran pickups (Marbury and Moore) that fell completely flat. I'd rather be in the position where we pick them up in the offseason to see if it will work out and have the ability to correct our mistakes if need be.

For example, we had Scot Pollard along with House and Posey come in at the start of 07-08. When it was apparent Pollard wouldn't work as the backup center, we were able to go after PJ Brown. This year, since we took a huge flier on a young guy (O'Bryant) preseason, we didn't make a veteran choice until the middle of the season and saddled ourselves with Moore who did as little as POB did.

I guess I don't really care whether guys are young or veteran (though based on Doc's comments, I'd lean toward adding at least one good vet this summer, whether it's Sheed, McDyess, Hill or somebody else), I just want us to get the best players for this season. We have a window that will close - to me, we can worry about picking up athletes with plenty of upside for the future after we win another title. For now, I want the best player period, young or old.

[BrickJames]

Rasheed's outside shooting ratio is strictly him, IMHO. I don't see that he has much left in the tank.

Dice, on the other hand, seems to have a couple of years at least. I prefer a back to the basket guy like Dice, who can step out and hit the 15 footer, to Sheed.

I concur with CoachBo's analysis.  I'd rather have McDyess, if the money was even.  Considering that Rasheed will probably want the full MLE, and McDyess should be available for less than that, it makes the decision even easier.

If Sheed is not an inside player, and he's also not a back-to-the-back player with a mid-to-long range jumper, what is he?

[Roy Hobbs]

Rasheed's outside shooting ratio is strictly him, IMHO. I don't see that he has much left in the tank.

Dice, on the other hand, seems to have a couple of years at least. I prefer a back to the basket guy like Dice, who can step out and hit the 15 footer, to Sheed.

I concur with CoachBo's analysis.  I'd rather have McDyess, if the money was even.  Considering that Rasheed will probably want the full MLE, and McDyess should be available for less than that, it makes the decision even easier.

If Sheed is not an inside player, and he's also not a back-to-the-back player with a mid-to-long range jumper, what is he?

Huh?  How are those two mutually exclusive?  "Back to the basket" means a player who posts up.  Thus, his back is to the basket.

Rasheed is a jump-shooting big man.  He's not an inside player, and he doesn't post up.

[cornbreadsmart]

i'd pass on rasheed. i just think he dogs it a lot. i want guys in the locker room that really WANT it. guys that get after it. rasheed does what he wants when he wants to. he used to be great on the block but he just refuses to play there. no thanks.

[paintitgreen]

i'd pass on rasheed. i just think he dogs it a lot. i want guys in the locker room that really WANT it. guys that get after it. rasheed does what he wants when he wants to. he used to be great on the block but he just refuses to play there. no thanks.

I think the 82 games information from Roy shows he was never an on the block player, at least offensively. He always loved that jumper. Of course, I don't see that being a major problem. As far as dogging it, I somehow doubt that would happen here. If he were to take the MLE and accept a bench role, then he'd only be coming because he wants to play here. Under those circumstances, I think you get motivated Sheed, particularly in the playoffs, and there aren't a lot better than motivated Sheed. Unless he's just washed up. Which is distinctly possible. He is up there in years and miles. Maybe McDyess, by virtue of less minutes and more mid-career injuries, actually has a lot more left in the tank (I tend to agree with Roy's thought that if we can get McDyess for less than we could get Sheed, I'd be happier with McDyess).

[BrickJames]

Rasheed's outside shooting ratio is strictly him, IMHO. I don't see that he has much left in the tank.

Dice, on the other hand, seems to have a couple of years at least. I prefer a back to the basket guy like Dice, who can step out and hit the 15 footer, to Sheed.

I concur with CoachBo's analysis.  I'd rather have McDyess, if the money was even.  Considering that Rasheed will probably want the full MLE, and McDyess should be available for less than that, it makes the decision even easier.

If Sheed is not an inside player, and he's also not a back-to-the-back player with a mid-to-long range jumper, what is he?

Huh?  How are those two mutually exclusive?  "Back to the basket" means a player who posts up.  Thus, his back is to the basket.

Rasheed is a jump-shooting big man.  He's not an inside player, and he doesn't post up.

False sir.  I've watched him play his whole career back to UNC.  I don't care what statistic you present to me - it simply isn't true.

Sheed has great footwork and a nice touch around the basket.  He has the turnaround fadeaway a la Dice or KG but he's much stronger in the lower body than either of them and actually has good close to the basket pivot work.

[Roy Hobbs]

Rasheed's outside shooting ratio is strictly him, IMHO. I don't see that he has much left in the tank.

Dice, on the other hand, seems to have a couple of years at least. I prefer a back to the basket guy like Dice, who can step out and hit the 15 footer, to Sheed.

I concur with CoachBo's analysis.  I'd rather have McDyess, if the money was even.  Considering that Rasheed will probably want the full MLE, and McDyess should be available for less than that, it makes the decision even easier.

If Sheed is not an inside player, and he's also not a back-to-the-back player with a mid-to-long range jumper, what is he?

Huh?  How are those two mutually exclusive?  "Back to the basket" means a player who posts up.  Thus, his back is to the basket.

Rasheed is a jump-shooting big man.  He's not an inside player, and he doesn't post up.

False sir.  I've watched him play his whole career back to UNC.  I don't care what statistic you present to me - it simply isn't true.

Sheed has great footwork and a nice touch around the basket.  He has the turnaround fadeaway a la Dice or KG but he's much stronger in the lower body than either of them and actually has good close to the basket pivot work.

You observations are what they are.   8 out of every 9 of his shots were still jumpers.  According to http://nba.com/hotspots, he only had 90 layups all season.  That's pretty atrocious.

[snively]

I like Dice better.  He doesn't have the unblockable fadeaway, or the 3-pt shot or the shot-blocking, but he's far more consistent, a better rebounder, a good-to-great mid-range shooter and competent in all other aspects of the game.  I also think he's a bit hungrier than Sheed. 

I'd still be ecstatic if Sheed signed.  He'd really help Rondo on offense and he's far superior to Baby, Scal and Moore on D.  He'd be a great pairing with Powe.

Either one of these guys would so dramatically upgrade our bench that we could go budget on the rest of the bench.  While back-up 3 is a big need, it becomes less of a need if our bench isn't bereft of talent.  Paul's heavy minutes were as much a result of a talent-less bench as the lack of a true 3. Adding a starter-equivalent like Dice allows you to extend KG and Perk's minutes with bench, making it easier for Doc to leave a marginal talent like Ime Udoka in the game.