Project Center: Brian Zoubek

[jchamorro]

After watching the finals, it became pretty apparent we need some more size upfront. 

Why not take a flier on Brian Zoubek. He went undrafted, he's 7'1", 250.  A solid rebounder. He's playing for New Jersey in the summer league. Maybe the russian billionaire knows something?

He comes from a winning organization.  Granted he's had 2 foot surgeries over 3 years,  but 7 footers don't grow on trees.  He could show dividends in a year or 2.

[action781]

I'm on board, as stated previously.  I see serious Marcin Gortat potential in him.  Not that Gortat is a stud or anything, but for a summer camp player, making $1M or less per year... seems like a no brainer to me.  Others here are generally not though.

http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=36649.msg723462#msg723462

[rav123]

I'm on board, as stated previously.  I see serious Marcin Gortat potential in him.  Not that Gortat is a stud or anything, but for a summer camp player, making $1M or less per year... seems like a no brainer to me.  Others here are generally not though.

http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=36649.msg723462#msg723462

Though he doesn't look it, Gortat is actually pretty mobile/athletic (for his size). Zoubek is a true stiff.

[Fred Roberts]

I only watched the one final four game where they won ... but I think Zoubek showed a good deal of toughness, and I'd definitely take a flier on him.

Haven't we seen much bigger stiffs than this guy? He's somewhat mobile, pretty well built / in shape ... and tough on the boards and on D. What's wrong with that, especially for $0.00 or whatever he'd be paid?

[EJPLAYA]

Zoubek is going to have a short injury prone career unfortunately. He couldn't stay healthy out on the floor most of his Duke time. Too bad though. He is a tough guy who plays with a lot of heart. Not that skilled though.

[ChampKind]

Zoubek's going to be playing Summer League with the Nets, and given their big man situation, he'll have a legit shot to catch on as a 3rd option. He's a stiff that won't produce more than a big practice body - a la Aaron Gray, but without the gaudy stats in college.

[Jon]

Unfortunately, with Perk down, we may not have a lot of room for projects. 

[Who]

I don't think of Zoubek as a project. A project implies he can improve, that he has potential, that you can develop him over time.

Zoubek is the finished article. He is already very close to his peak as a player and at his peak he is only borderline NBA player.

His lack of quickness + mobility are the biggest negative for him because it'll adversely effect his ability to play defense at this level (and offense but he has no offensive game to speak of anyway). That lack of basic athleticism and his rudimentary skill-set project him to be a very poor NBA player.