None of my opinions this summer got more heat than the ones I had about Bismack Biyombo. But I stand by them 100% and believe that they were mostly taken out of context.
Here was my point...
Willie Cauley Stein was the player half this forum wanted. We knew he was going higher than #16 and everyone was ready to go all-in and trade multiple picks to get him as our "center of the future".
We know that we attempted to trade 6 draft picks (four of which were 1st rounders... one of which was a Brooklyn pick) just to trade up to #9 and it wasn't enough. WCS went #6... it would have taken at least 7 draft picks to move up that high to take him. It seemed like a waste of assets to me...
Instead of wasting assets to get WCS, why not just sign Bismack Biyombo. Basically the same player and he was available for dirt cheap. Why give up 7+ draft picks for WCS when you could just get 80% of WCS for basically nothing. That was my point. I fully stand by it. Will WCS eventually surpass Biyombo? Maybe. But maybe Biyombo surpasses WCS. Basically the same age. Biyombo has a few years of NBA experience. WCS has a few years of College experience. Who knows how either will develop. What we do know is that so far:
Biyombo: 4.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.2 blocks in 21mpg PRICE: Basically free
WCS: 4.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.1 blocks in 18.9mpg - PRICE: 7+ draft picks
Basically the same player. One was free... one would have cost tons of assets.
We went with option 3... Amir Johnson for 12 million a year: 7.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.2 blocks in 23mpg. No problem.
Anytime you can get an older rich man's Biyombo/WCS for 12 million per year, you gotta do it.
As far as I recall, there is zero evidence Ainge was targeting WCS in the draft. He was going after Winslow, so I don't know what this 7 draft picks stuff is about. Ainge wasn't offering that. No one who wanted WCS was suggesting giving up anything even remotely close to that. Stop with the straw men.
Johnson is also, by virtually every advanced statistical measure, a MUCH better player than Biyombo. Your boy is a dumpster fire on offense and isn't close to good enough in any other facet of the game to make up for it. Johnson's larger and essentially expiring deal is also a more useful trading piece.
Biyombo is close to a bust given where he was drafted. WCS may not be any better but stop beating this dead horse.
Mike
I stand by it... Would have much rather signed Biyombo for nothing than give up half our assets to trade up for Willie Cauley Stein. Basically the same player. Rebound a little, defend a little, suck on offense.
I was fine with blowing 12 mil on Amir though, because I understand the real value of that contract. I doubt Amir is making 12 mil here next year.
And I'd rather date Kate Hudson that the hunchbacked girl who lives down the block. So what? Who was suggesting we give up half our assets for WCS?
Mike
Pre-draft, majority of this forum seemed hellbent on trading up to get WCS. I suspect that your response suggests you were in the minority with me... you would have rather signed BIyombo for nothing than give up #16 + #28 + additional assets to get WCS.
You don't see any difference between giving up "#16 + #28 + additional assets" and "7+ draft picks for WCS"?
I do... and I always saw the sizable difference between what folks around here thought it would take to get WCS (#16 + #28 + additional assets) and what it would have taken (7+ draft picks)... Hence why I felt it wasn't worth it and suggested we just sign Biyombo if we were hell-bent on getting a decent rim protector with no offense. Biyombo would likely give you 80-110% of what WCS at a significant less cost.
Now we have two threads suggesting we trade for WCS at a considerable cost. No thanks... we could have just signed Biyombo for nothing. Pass.
