Forget Sheed, MLE for Gortat

[Fan from VT]

In the offseason before the '06-'07 season, I posted an idea of trying to trade Delonte straight up for Beidrins. i got laughed off the forum with comments like "Beidrins is a stiff, Delonte is a Baller," etc.

Of course, Beidrins is one of the better all-round centers by now.

This time, if 'Sheed is demanding close to the full MLE, I say go for Gortat instead. Take a look at this:

Beidrins, first 2 seasons.
Gm: 30 Mn: 12.8 FG: .537 FT: .475 Bk: .8 R: 4.0 As: .4 Pt: 3.6 PER: 14.8
Gm: 68 Mn: 14.7 FG: .638 FT: .306 Bk: .7 R: 4.1 As: .4 Pt: 3.8 PER: 13.7


Gortat, first 2 seasons.
Gm: 06 Mn: 06.8 FG: .471 FT: .667 Bk: .2 R: 2.6 As: .3 Pt: 3.0 PER: 20.0
Gm: 63 Mn: 12.6 FG: .567 FT: .578 Bk: .8 R: 4.5 As: .2 Pt: 3.8 PER: 17.4


In Beidrins 3rd season, he went to:
Gm: 82 Mn: 29 FG: .599 FT: .521 Bk: 1.7 R: 9.3 As: 1.1 Pt: 9.5 PER: 16.2

That sounds close to what Gortat could do.

Now, a few points. When Beidrins got more minutes, his per minute production went up. Probably, this is because he was very young and still rapidly improving. Thus his pure numbers and his PER increased. Gortat is older, so I wouldn't expect his per minute production to go up like Beidrins. However, his per minute production/PER is already very high, so just playing more minutes he should be very productive. We could certainly offer him about 30 minutes a night between center and PF, then address the 2/3 backup position with the LLE/Vet contracts/trading our expiring deals (Nocioni?)

Anyway, that's my two cents. Get Gortat with the MLE if possible. 'Sheed can be option 2. Of course, good luck convincing the players of that. Veterans like to stick together.

[SCBirdman]

I would be just as happy with Gortat as an MLE signee this year with the C's.

[Bankshot]

I like him, but he doesn't spread the floor like Sheed.

[vagrantwade]

Sheed brings a lot more to the table.

Teams are afraid of the Celtics getting Sheed.

This is a fact.

[Who]

Marcin Gortat is a vastly superior player to Rasheed Wallace.

I'd rather see him getting a starter's job somewhere though. Not wild about spending the full MLE, on a long contract, for someone to be Perk's backup either. I'd be happier with it if Gortat could play some power forward, but he's a poor fit there.

[WeMadeIt17]

No.... Just no

[Drucci]

Gortat would be great as a backup center even though I agree with Who, he should be getting a starting spot somewhere in the league. Plus it seems like he is going to sign with the Rockets for the full MLE.

He is a good rebounder and a good scorer but he can't spread the floor like Sheed, and it's a huge asset that we must get if we have the chance to (and it seems like we do).

[Chief Macho]

I'm not sure about Gortat but I thought Rasheed was terrible last year. Just not the same player.  

[KungPoweChicken]

I am of the opinion that whoever signs Gortat with the MLE will be in for a huge disappointment. The guy has become ridiculously overrated. Sign Sheed and sign Oberto for the minimum. And if Swift has a nice showing in summer league, I wouldn't be opposed to giving him a spot with the minimum too. You can never have enough bigs, right?

[RayRay4MVP]

I'd rather Sheed who can spread the floor. Gortat will probably go to the Rockets anyway.

[Drucci]

I am of the opinion that whoever signs Gortat with the MLE will be in for a huge disappointment. The guy has become ridiculously overrated.

Seriously? Personnally, I felt that Orlando was much better when Gortat was on the floor, replacing Howard, especially in the series against us.

[MVP]

Rather get Sheed. Sheed brings much more versatility being able to play either pf or center positions and also able to play on the perimeter or in the post. You can play Sheed with either KG or Perk. You can't play Gortat + Perk together.

Gortat is better in the long term, but we have Perk who is younger. So why sign Gortat for a full MLE 5 year deal and then lose Perk in 2 years because of it? I would rather have Sheed as the 3rd big in the short term and Perk in the longer term.

[Who]

I am of the opinion that whoever signs Gortat with the MLE will be in for a huge disappointment. The guy has become ridiculously overrated.

Seriously? Personnally, I felt that Orlando was much better when Gortat was on the floor, replacing Howard, especially in the series against us.

That's because they ran more pick and rolls when Gortat was in the game. Oddly enough, time and time again, they went away from their bread and butter when Howard came back in. 

Bad execution and bad coaching.

[rondohondo]

I'm not sure about Gortat but I thought Rasheed was terrible last year. Just not the same player.  

This is just an untrue statement. He has been extremely consistent the past 3 years

06-07
12.3 PPG , 7.2 RPG,  43% FG'S , 35% 3PT

07-08
12.7 PPG , 6.6  RPG,  43% FG'S, 35% 3PT

08-09
12 PPG   , 7.4 RPG  ,  42% FG'S , 35% 3PT

He is not an all star anymore , but a very solid role player off the bench for 25-30 Mins a game

[Who]

I'm not sure about Gortat but I thought Rasheed was terrible last year. Just not the same player.  

Rasheed has lost his legs, doesn't have the same mobility and it's killing his defense. He's an absolute liability defensively when he's taken away from the rim. Pick and rolls kill him. When he's allowed stick in the paint, his intelligence allows him to still have a good impact defensively.