Desmond Mason, the perfect Tony Allen replacement (vet min)

[rondohondo]

Sorry if it has been mentioned already, haven't been on in about a week.

I think Desomd Mason would be a perfect, cheap replacement for TA. From what I remember of his play,he is an elite level defender. He missed almost all of last season with any injury( knee I think). Heis 32 years old so he isn't going to be making more than the vet min.

His game is almost identical to TA, great defender who can finish at the rim , but not much else on offense. Would also be good insurnce for Bradley in case he is not ready to play at this level.

What do you guys think?

[EmilioBonilla]

I remember he used to a very explosive player, but I think we need someone who can hit the occasional 3 pt shot and play some good defense. I dont know if Mason can shoot well beyond the arc, if he can shoot well and come back healthy, i dont see why not.

[misha]

He looked awful last season.

[rondohondo]

He looked awful last season.

He played 5 games for sacramento because of injuries....

He would be like an 11th or 12th man on the roster and a defensive speacialist (if healthy) just like TA was last year. We still need a shooter on the wing , but Mason could at least provide some D off the bench and give ray rest for 10-15 mins a game

[misha]

He looked awful last season.

He played 5 games for sacramento because of injuries....

He would be like an 11th or 12th man on the roster and a defensive speacialist (if healthy) just like TA was last year. We still need a shooter on the wing , but Mason could at least provide some D off the bench and give ray rest for 10-15 mins a game

Yes, I saw those games (we get almost all of Kings games live because of Casspi) and he looked finished. He doesn't have the athletic ability anymore to be a good defender. Mason played just 44 games in the last two seasons and it's very questionable if he can be useful anymore in NBA with his injury history.

[pearljammer10]

In his prime (which was like 6 years ago) he was a great athletic player that I would have loved to have in Boston... Now he seems to be washed up even though he isnt that old. I dont think he would solve any defensive problems and he really wouldnt spark us on offense either. I put many wings ahead of him including Larry Hughes.

[LooseCannon]

He played 5 games for sacramento because of injuries....

Actually, he played five games and started four of them, then was waived to make room for the signing of Ime Udoka and because the team wanted to save money on his un-guaranteed one-year contract.  And no other team signed him after he was waived in November.

At any point last season, did anyone on this board say, "Hey, that Desmond Mason guy would be a good pick-up to help with depth at the wing positions?"

[Who]

I don't think I saw Mason play at all last season ... but in the few years prior to that, Mason was a good defender rather than an elite defender. He was also a good rebounder. And a horrific offensive player.

No longer rotation worthy. Borderline NBA player. Might not make it onto a team's roster.

[blake]

I think he might be worth the vet min.  He is retired right now and just moved back to Oklahoma.  It might be worth a try to see if he can still defend.  If his only job is to replace Tony Allen, then he doesn't need to shoot the 3 ball.  He just needs to stay in front of his defender.  If he can't do that, then let him go before the trade deadline.

[WeMadeIt17]

I think we dont have enough to trade for Corey Brewer who would be my number 1 guy to go after but i feel we should go after Bobby Simmons. Guy can shoot big body to help on rebounds as well.

[Chris]

Desmond Mason is no longer an elite defender (was he ever really one?), and brings some of the same weaknesses Tony brought offensively.  No thanks.  

If they are not getting a premier defender, then they need to get someone who can at least knock down the open J to keep defenses honest.

[Roy H.]

I don't think I saw Mason play at all last season ... but in the few years prior to that, Mason was a good defender rather than an elite defender. He was also a good rebounder. And a horrific offensive player.

No longer rotation worthy. Borderline NBA player. Might not make it onto a team's roster.

Ditto.

[the_Bird]

Interesting fact on Des Mason.  Since the end of the '03 - '04 season, he's hit exactly TWO three point shots (on seventeen attempts).  

Even PERKINS has taken eleven shots (I'd assume all end-of-quarter attempts)!

What happened with Mason?  Budding young star in Milwaukee, then fell completely off the face of the planet.  Dude also only his 55% of his free-throws in '08 - '09 (throwing out last year, as he only played 66 minutes all season).  Dude used to be a 75% - 80% FT shooter.  Was it just injuries that derailed him?

[Snakehead]

Interesting fact on Des Mason.  Since the end of the '03 - '04 season, he's hit exactly TWO three point shots (on seventeen attempts). 

Even PERKINS has taken eleven shots (I'd assume all end-of-quarter attempts)!

Well in that respect he'd be better than TA, who should never of taken 3's.  Nothing wrong with not taking 3's if you aren't going to hit them.  Josh Smith learned this and it made him go from a very good player to a great one.

Still an interesting fact.  But Perk always seems to love that last second half court heave, I remember him taking quite a few

[the_Bird]

Interesting fact on Des Mason.  Since the end of the '03 - '04 season, he's hit exactly TWO three point shots (on seventeen attempts). 

Even PERKINS has taken eleven shots (I'd assume all end-of-quarter attempts)!

Well in that respect he'd be better than TA, who should never of taken 3's.  Nothing wrong with not taking 3's if you aren't going to hit them.  Josh Smith learned this and it made him go from a very good player to a great one.

You still want your small forward to be able to stretch the floor, particularly when playing alongside slashers like Rondo.  I agree, better to not take a shot you can't make...  but far better would be to work on your longball so that you're a better contributor.