Celtics sign O'bryant

[wdleehi]

I saw 2 year, 3 million (I am not looking through this whole thread to see if this is listed somewhere)

[Surferdad]

It's not clear how much is guaranteed in that 1st year, but it could be as low as $752,000.  Pretty small investment for a guy who could turn out to be a reliable backup center.

[ManUp]

From what I gather about POB he has long arms and is a good rebounder and defender.

Isn't that kind of like Perk?  Wouldn't that make him possibly a good back up?

O'Bryant really isn't "good" at anything right now.  If he was a good rebounder and defender, he would have gotten playing time.

,While I feel your almost always spot on. I think your wrong about that one statement. I could be wrong, but I think Don Nelson values scoring a lot more than he values things like rebounding and defense.

At the very least he can't be that bad. he seems to have the warriors fans split 50/50.
http://www.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=821651

[Roy Hobbs]

From what I gather about POB he has long arms and is a good rebounder and defender.

Isn't that kind of like Perk?  Wouldn't that make him possibly a good back up?

O'Bryant really isn't "good" at anything right now.  If he was a good rebounder and defender, he would have gotten playing time.

,While I feel your almost always spot on. I think your wrong about that one statement. I could be wrong, but I think Don Nelson values scoring a lot more than he values things like rebounding and defense.

At the very least he can't be that bad. he seems to have the warriors fans split 50/50.
http://www.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=821651

Andris Biedrins is not a great scorer.  In fact, he has very little offensive game other than dunks.  However, he earned playing time in Nelson's system because he is an excellent rebounder and good defender.  If O'Bryant could do that, he could see time, as well.

Also, I wouldn't use Warriors fans as an indication of how good this kid is.  Remember Boston fans with Gerald?  I'm not sure their assessment was nuanced and objective.

[Vermont Green]

No one knows what kind of improvement we are going to see in POB but if you compare him to  Kandi, Kandi was already 23 when he was drafted, POB is only 22 now I think.  POB is probably better already than Kandi ever was (which I know is not saying much).  I wish I could have seen this workout where one camp says he was so tired he could even cover a couple of stiffs and DA says he had a great workout and his "people" love what they say.  I think the only way you are going to know about his guy (POB that is) is to get him in camp and in shape, make your expectations (his role) very simple and clear, and then see what he can do.  He may crash and burn but I feel it is well worth the risk (and that is based somewhat on fact that I believe DA when he says POB had a good workout).  I am excited and I expect him to contribute at least at the level of BBD or Powe (we aren't asking for a whole lot from him).

[cdif911]

POB is probably better already than Kandi ever was (which I know is not saying much).   I am excited and I expect him to contribute at least at the level of BBD or Powe (we aren't asking for a whole lot from him).

Believe it or not in his first few seasons, though Kandi was a dissapointment, he still put up ok numbers.  He's a career 8 pt, 7 rebound guy.  Best two years he had 11 and 9 and then 12 and 9 (though this one was injury shortened) and hovered around 2 bpg as well - all things considered, dissapointing yes, but not awful

O'Bryant has not gotton past 2 ppg and 1 rpg...His career high is 10 points in a game.  Kandi averaged that 2 seasons.  His career high in rebounds is 5 in a game.  Kandi averaged more than that over his career. O'bryant's career high in blocks is 2.. Kandi averaged 2 in one season.  Perhaps the most telling and saddening stat is O'Bryant's career high in minutes is 16.  That means he never had a game where the coach just had to leave him in because he was doing so well.

So yeah to say O'Bryant is better than Kandi ever was is just plain wrong

And if you think he'll contribute like Powe, lets just say I'd wait before having an O'Bryant Jersey custom made

[CoachBo]

Ah, the temptations that initials acronyn raises for good old O'Blount.

 

As for "expecting" him to contribute as much as Powe, don't hold your breath. He's never spent a minute on a basketball court playing as intensely as Leon Powe, and I frankly doubt he ever will. The folks blaming his crash and burn in GS on Nelson are in for a HUGE shock.

[ManUp]

From what I gather about POB he has long arms and is a good rebounder and defender.

Isn't that kind of like Perk?  Wouldn't that make him possibly a good back up?

O'Bryant really isn't "good" at anything right now.  If he was a good rebounder and defender, he would have gotten playing time.

,While I feel your almost always spot on. I think your wrong about that one statement. I could be wrong, but I think Don Nelson values scoring a lot more than he values things like rebounding and defense.

At the very least he can't be that bad. he seems to have the warriors fans split 50/50.
http://www.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=821651

Andris Biedrins is not a great scorer.  In fact, he has very little offensive game other than dunks.  However, he earned playing time in Nelson's system because he is an excellent rebounder and good defender.  If O'Bryant could do that, he could see time, as well.

Also, I wouldn't use Warriors fans as an indication of how good this kid is.  Remember Boston fans with Gerald?  I'm not sure their assessment was nuanced and objective.

Your right about Biedrins, but he's a lot faster, and more athletic then O'Bryant. He can actually get up and down with those guys and is the better fit compared to O'Bryant. Biedrins is just a better player in General and the fact that he produce. O'Bryant was a project and he's not as good a rebounder or defender as Biedrins. O'Bryant would probably have to wow Nellie to get PT he obviously didn't do that, but it doesn't necessarily mean a horrible player.

We had both sides of the argument for Gerald. Gerald was clearly talented the hopes were that he'd learn the game he was/is a decent prospect. I think the same goes with O'Bryant he's clearly talented, but he was/is a project. I'm not saying that O'Bryant is going to be a player I'm just saying he might not have been given enough of an opportunity.

If he has an entire fan base split on whether he's going to be a player or not he had to show flashes of something.

[Roy Hobbs]

From what I gather about POB he has long arms and is a good rebounder and defender.

Isn't that kind of like Perk?  Wouldn't that make him possibly a good back up?

O'Bryant really isn't "good" at anything right now.  If he was a good rebounder and defender, he would have gotten playing time.

,While I feel your almost always spot on. I think your wrong about that one statement. I could be wrong, but I think Don Nelson values scoring a lot more than he values things like rebounding and defense.

At the very least he can't be that bad. he seems to have the warriors fans split 50/50.
http://www.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=821651

Andris Biedrins is not a great scorer.  In fact, he has very little offensive game other than dunks.  However, he earned playing time in Nelson's system because he is an excellent rebounder and good defender.  If O'Bryant could do that, he could see time, as well.

Also, I wouldn't use Warriors fans as an indication of how good this kid is.  Remember Boston fans with Gerald?  I'm not sure their assessment was nuanced and objective.

Your right about Biedrins, but he's a lot faster, and more athletic then O'Bryant. He can actually get up and down with those guys and is the better fit compared to O'Bryant. Biedrins is just a better player in General and the fact that he produce. O'Bryant was a project and he's not as good a rebounder or defender as Biedrins. O'Bryant would probably have to wow Nellie to get PT he obviously didn't do that, but it doesn't necessarily mean a horrible player.

Well, remember that this all started because Paddy O'Blount (I'm sorry, I just love that nickname) was labeled as a "good rebounder and defender".  My point was, if he was good at those skills *right now* Nelson would have found time for him.  The fact is, as you said, he's a project, and has a long way to go before he can be labeled as "good" at any NBA skill.

[fan33]

Wow, the experts are counting this 21 year old out, much like the national experts counted out the Celtics year long...

I love underdogs

Here's to hoping we're all pleasently suprised with some growth and production from Mr. O'Bryant in our system with some intensive coaching, which shouldn't be so very hard to do, looking at those numbers in Nellies system.

[KJR]

I agree Fan33.  There's plenty of reason for hope.

The kid was 19 and he broke his foot one month before his rookie season.  He couldn't contribute immediately so he was sent to the D-League.  Big deal.  A lot of decent centers did nothing during their first two years.  Dalembert did nothing for two years.  Biedrins did nothing for two years.  Perk also didn't look too impressive his first two years.  Jermaine O'Neill did nothing for four years.  So, it's a little ridiculous to write off a young 7 footer.  He's admitted he was immature.  If anyone can get through to him, the Celtics can.  If not, it's a very low risk signing.

It's no surprise he didn't work out in Nelson's system.  What was his role?  Go out there and make plays?  Dominate?  The Celtics are going to drastically simplify his role on the court.  KG and Thibodeau are going to tell him exactly where to stand.  Rebound, give the ball to Rondo, go up court and set a high pick, and get the heck out of the way.  With enough repetition, in a limited role, he could be effective.

He doesn't come in with the expectations of a high pick as he did in GS.  He's a back-up center.  Five to ten minutes, 3 rebounds, 3 points, 1 block, defense and 3 hard fouls on Howard, Dalembert, Horford or O'Neill.  Keep Perk and KG out of foul trouble.  That's all we need.  In Nelson's system, that would be failure.  In our system, that's success.

Will he succeed?  I have no idea.  But it was a very shrewd signing on Danny's part.  I'd rather have a young guy with upside who might be a washout than a mediocre 30-year old retread.  I'm sure Ainge was well aware of O'Bryant's limitations in GS.  If Ainge didn't believe the Celtics could turn that around, I'm sure he wouldn't have signed him.

[ManUp]

I agree Fan33.  There's plenty of reason for hope.

The kid was 19 and he broke his foot one month before his rookie season.  He couldn't contribute immediately so he was sent to the D-League.  Big deal.  A lot of decent centers did nothing during their first two years.  Dalembert did nothing for two years.  Biedrins did nothing for two years.  Perk also didn't look too impressive his first two years.  Jermaine O'Neill did nothing for four years.  So, it's a little ridiculous to write off a young 7 footer.  He's admitted he was immature.  If anyone can get through to him, the Celtics can.  If not, it's a very low risk signing.

It's no surprise he didn't work out in Nelson's system.  What was his role?  Go out there and make plays?  Dominate?  The Celtics are going to drastically simplify his role on the court.  KG and Thibodeau are going to tell him exactly where to stand.  Rebound, give the ball to Rondo, go up court and set a high pick, and get the heck out of the way.  With enough repetition, in a limited role, he could be effective.

He doesn't come in with the expectations of a high pick as he did in GS.  He's a back-up center.  Five to ten minutes, 3 rebounds, 3 points, 1 block, defense and 3 hard fouls on Howard, Dalembert, Horford or O'Neill.  Keep Perk and KG out of foul trouble.  That's all we need.  In Nelson's system, that would be failure.  In our system, that's success.

Will he succeed?  I have no idea.  But it was a very shrewd signing on Danny's part.  I'd rather have a young guy with upside who might be a washout than a mediocre 30-year old retread.  I'm sure Ainge was well aware of O'Bryant's limitations in GS.  If Ainge didn't believe the Celtics could turn that around, I'm sure he wouldn't have signed him.

TP. Well said KJR.

And your probably right Roy, POB probably isn't "good" at anything right now. O'Byrant just needs to be good enough to see some PT. As we have seen a good team D can hide weak individual defenders. I just hope he's a smart player that catches on to schemes and plays quickly.

[winsomme]

From what I gather about POB he has long arms and is a good rebounder and defender.

Isn't that kind of like Perk?  Wouldn't that make him possibly a good back up?

O'Bryant really isn't "good" at anything right now.  If he was a good rebounder and defender, he would have gotten playing time.

,While I feel your almost always spot on. I think your wrong about that one statement. I could be wrong, but I think Don Nelson values scoring a lot more than he values things like rebounding and defense.

At the very least he can't be that bad. he seems to have the warriors fans split 50/50.
http://www.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=821651

Andris Biedrins is not a great scorer.  In fact, he has very little offensive game other than dunks.  However, he earned playing time in Nelson's system because he is an excellent rebounder and good defender.  If O'Bryant could do that, he could see time, as well.

Also, I wouldn't use Warriors fans as an indication of how good this kid is.  Remember Boston fans with Gerald?  I'm not sure their assessment was nuanced and objective.

Your right about Biedrins, but he's a lot faster, and more athletic then O'Bryant. He can actually get up and down with those guys and is the better fit compared to O'Bryant. Biedrins is just a better player in General and the fact that he produce. O'Bryant was a project and he's not as good a rebounder or defender as Biedrins. O'Bryant would probably have to wow Nellie to get PT he obviously didn't do that, but it doesn't necessarily mean a horrible player.

Well, remember that this all started because Paddy O'Blount (I'm sorry, I just love that nickname) was labeled as a "good rebounder and defender".  My point was, if he was good at those skills *right now* Nelson would have found time for him.  The fact is, as you said, he's a project, and has a long way to go before he can be labeled as "good" at any NBA skill.

i disagree. Nellie has been run and gun in GS - especially of late. POB is more of a half court game type of guy. that was the wrong system for POB and i don't think Nellie looked at him as a good fit for how his team plays.

[Bankshot]

If O'bryant comes in and does the things that The Kandiman did well (rebound and block the occasion shot) we would be getting a steal for that money.

I know I'll get blasted for this, but I'm not sure why we didn't just re-sign Kandi for the vet minimum last year and this.  For a winning team, in a specified role, I can see Kandi filling that role nicely.  (Not so sure of it now after a year off, but I always thought he would've been better than Pollard last year).

I'm not going to bash you, I was actually thinking the same thing... last year.  However, at this point, I'm not as sure.  O'Bryant has upside... we all know that, Kandi doesn't have any.  However, if O'Bryant struggles, I wouldn't mind working out Kandi, although I'd really hope that P.J. would come back for another late season run.

Kandi is not an option because I believe KG can't stand him.  Why would he like Kandi?  He only NEVER helped him out in Minny.  Didn't play hard, didn't rebound, NOTHING.  KG hates slackers and Kandi is one of the worst.

[Who]

Is there some long list of centers that Nellie hasn't used?

That he's ignored and discarded?

How about a list that have improved dramatically once they're out of his grasp?

No? ...... Then let's stop using Nellie as a scapegoat for O Bryant's lack of ability.