Wilcox to be re-signed

[Jon]

 
Again, you're acting like I'm suggesting something that's absolutely ludicrous (Jeff Green getting 5 more minutes per game).  I'm not quire sure why. 

1. Because we do have several quality PFs who are all better options than Green is at that slot assuming the other team isn't also going small.

2. Because the primary logic isn't that it will help the team, that its the best way to utilize Jeff Green, but rather that Jeff Green is getting paid too much to not play more and the only way to get him those minutes is at PF.

Doc isn't Mike Brown and Wyc isn't Dolan, the C's aren't going to play Green more because of his contract.

First, salary.  I do think it matters.  Doc is a strong coach.  And I think he had a pretty big say in whether to retain Green or not.  I don't think he would've retained Green at that cost if he viewed him as a guy who can only backup the 3 spot. 

Second, let's take out salary.  As I've said multiple times now, there are many more reasons that Green will likely play the 4. 

First, Doc has shown time and again a willingness to go small with wings like Posey and Pietrus at the 4 spots.  Granted, this has usually been for smaller stretches.  However, Green is much more offensively talented than either of these two and has actually played the 4 spot regularly in the NBA game.  I don't think it's a stretch at all that Doc will then play Green there.  He's already talked about doing that over the past two years. 

I think a large reason that Doc's done that is because he sees the value in putting who he perceives to be his five best players on the floor, particularly to close out games.  I think there's a very strong case to be made that Green is one of those players.

Third, I think a large reason that Green's minutes dropped from 37 mpg in OKC to 23 mpg here was due to his failure to fit in right away.  I think with a full training camp to fit in he can certainly look to get at 28 mpg. 

Now I do think that in the absence of Avery Bradley, Green may get more minutes at the 3 with Pierce sliding to the 2 for stretches (depending on the whole Lee/Mayo/SG of the hour situation).  But I think once Bradley comes back, and Terry takes most of the minutes at the backup 1 and 2 spots, Green is going to get 10-12 mpg at the 4 spot. 

[Fafnir]

We're going in circles here so I guess we're done. I have a high opinion of Doc, I don't think he cares what a player is paid when he's working out his rotation.

I also think that Jeff Green's "experience" at PF was largely a disaster. He was a worse defender, offensive player, and rebounder than Bass was for us last year at that spot. Green might get spot minutes there but I don't see him getting 1/4 of the game's minutes at PF.

Jeff Green may get paid 9 million, but I don't think he's among our five best players either. He's either 6th or 7th based on whether or not Bradley can repeat his late season run.

[pearljammer10]

love this

[SHAQATTACK]

WHOOO HOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Yes !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love his game. He brings his hardhat and lunch pail to work every game .  He is always ready to dive on the floor , play the ruffest dudes.  Second effort on the glass.

Pierce & KG LOVE guys like this.  Gives it all up to win every nite comming off the bench. Maybe not the faster or tallest , but 110 % effort  WITH GOOD HANDS .

Fact is , long as we are built around KG & Pierce , with a grind it out type of offense we need guys like Sully and Wilcox .  Willing to mix it up down in the paint.

Williams and especially JJJ are TOO fragile .

   

[Fred Roberts]

I like Wilcox, sure, but he's fragile historically and is a little undersized to be playing C. Nice wingspan and quick hops for the dunks. It would be great if he finally had a breakout season.

[ManUp]

We're going in circles here so I guess we're done. I have a high opinion of Doc, I don't think he cares what a player is paid when he's working out his rotation.

I also think that Jeff Green's "experience" at PF was largely a disaster. He was a worse defender, offensive player, and rebounder than Bass was for us last year at that spot. Green might get spot minutes there but I don't see him getting 1/4 of the game's minutes at PF.

Jeff Green may get paid 9 million, but I don't think he's among our five best players either. He's either 6th or 7th based on whether or not Bradley can repeat his late season run.

Come on fafnir, do you seriously intend to convince us that you don't think Doc Rivers is going to experiment with Green at the 4? Doc Glen Rivers? I agree with you Green has been horrible at the four in the past, but I don't see that stopping Doc. Remember Posey was horrible defending the four, but that never stopped Doc. Luckily for us it finally worked out in the finals. Green at the four is definitely one of those itches that I know Doc can't wait to scratch.

[Cman]

Being reported the deal is for the vet minimum!

Great news. I was thinking he may get more from someone the way money has been thrown around this off-season.

Ditto. Great Deal, happy to have him back. I hope the health issues are in the past.

[SHAQATTACK]

Well, I'm convinced we might not lead the league in rebound by a long shot , but I 'm confident we aren't going to be THE WORST rebounding team in the NBA.   

Not rebounding is slowly driving me looney

[Brendan]

Update: Nevermind.


I am happy to have Wilcox back. Still need Steis...

[317]

i expect that both KG and Pierce will sometimes get one out of two games in a back to back off. then there are the inevitable injuries and foul trouble. worrying because you cant see enough minutes for everyone is about the stupidest thing you can do.

the 4/5 is basketballs equivalent of a starting pitcher, and you know what they say 'you can never have enough starting pitching'

[Interceptor]

Come on fafnir, do you seriously intend to convince us that you don't think Doc Rivers is going to experiment with Green at the 4? Doc Glen Rivers? I agree with you Green has been horrible at the four in the past, but I don't see that stopping Doc. Remember Posey was horrible defending the four, but that never stopped Doc. Luckily for us it finally worked out in the finals. Green at the four is definitely one of those itches that I know Doc can't wait to scratch.

Last year, shortly after finding out about JG's heart problems, Doc publicly lamented about having to throw away his plans for JG at the four. From the horse's mouth:

"Team wise it's obviously a blow to us," Rivers said. "It just tells you all those plans in the summer, I could have played four or five more rounds of golf because we put a lot of time into, we really were going to commit to in some point in every game going to a small group to try to pace of the game with Kevin (Garnett) and Jeff. We wanted to be an effective small team. That's basically going to get tossed."

We will be seeing Jeff playing PF this year. The only thing that's changed about this, is that we lost Ray Allen. AKA, this line-up has gotten even faster.

[Brendan]

I don't mind lineups with PP and Green at the wing spots (SG and SF). I think we will see some. I don't mind lineups when PP and Green are at the forward spots (SF and PF). I think that gets you  some extra minutes besides just SF minutes for the two of them. I'd guess PP averages 32 and Green averages 26 when everyone is healthy. Any stretch of injury will pull up those averages.

If someone wants to argue that Sullinger is a stronger C option than Wilcox, I might be convinced. Bass' defense was very good at PF last year IMO. His jump shooting and free throw shooting were excellent. But there were playoff games when he could kind of disappear.

[jbaerg]

YAY!!!!

[jbaerg]

Honestly having a big body that we can throw against pretty much any 4 or 5 is going to do wonders for this team. We get a huge bonus by him actually being able to contribute on both ends of the floor.

[cman88]

so, re-setting the Center depth chart..

I think we see

Garnett, Wilcox, Sullinger play minutes at the 5...I dont see Melo getting much burn this year. hes more of a project while Sullinger likely can step in and contribute