Blatche is still out there

[Vermont Green]

The reason I started this post is that I thought the recent article had some statements that were very different and encouraging.

Conditioning was a big issue but the article says he has lost 14 pounds.  That is very encouraging.

The article also quotes him as saying he is humbled and just wants another chance, even if it is the NBDL.

Every other team passed on him prior to him making these statements but I feel like things are going to change based this being out there.  He may just be saying what his agent is telling him to say but it he wants to get another big contract, he is going to have to keep it up for this season.

Now may be the time to act on this guy, get one good year out of him, and then who knows.  Of course it may also not be true that he has lost 14 pounds and he may not back up his talk.  This news should make some team stop and reconsider and I hope the Celtics are doing that.

[Finkelskyhook]

There is a reason Blatche is still out there....

That's gotta be the lamest reason not to pick him up

Really?  Since some idiot GM just signed Jermaine O'Neal....A jerk who tanks and contributes nothing when he does play....I guess you might be right...Blatche would fit right in with the Suns!!  O'Neal could teach Blatche lots.

Ainge spent the first few years desleazing and de-quirking the roster.  He's built a team of pretty much coachable players who buy into a defensive concept. 

Blatche is the antithesis of coachability and defense.  RE: wdleehi's solid post....  Ainge really doesn't need Saunders' input to figure out that his roster doesn't need to sign an O'Nealesque jerk...No matter how talented.  But I'm glad he has Saunders for a sounding board.

[gar]

He did not say he would play in the D league. He was using hyperbole, he was exaggerating. If he does end up in D league might do him some good; but he will likely find a team that does not have the glut at PF. C's need a post defender and rebounder.

[fairweatherfan]

There is a reason Blatche is still out there....

That's gotta be the lamest reason not to pick him up

Really?  Since some idiot GM just signed Jermaine O'Neal....A jerk who tanks and contributes nothing when he does play....I guess you might be right...Blatche would fit right in with the Suns!!  O'Neal could teach Blatche lots.

I'm no JO fan, especially during his time here, but there's no comparison between the two.  Blatche hasn't accomplished 1/10th of what O'Neal has in this league.  And if GMs thought Blatche would peak as high as O'Neal did they'd be tripping over themselves to sign him, jerk or not.

[Finkelskyhook]

There is a reason Blatche is still out there....

That's gotta be the lamest reason not to pick him up

Really?  Since some idiot GM just signed Jermaine O'Neal....A jerk who tanks and contributes nothing when he does play....I guess you might be right...Blatche would fit right in with the Suns!!  O'Neal could teach Blatche lots.

I'm no JO fan, especially during his time here, but there's no comparison between the two.  Blatche hasn't accomplished 1/10th of what O'Neal has in this league.  And if GMs thought Blatche would peak as high as O'Neal did they'd be tripping over themselves to sign him, jerk or not.

I don't know why they wouldn't think that with Blatche's talent.

I wouldn't take either one of them...But if I had to choose....regardless of the stage of their careers.. I'd take Blatche.

Blatche has no history of faking injuries.  No history of coldcocking fans.  No history of Blountesque tanking after signing a maximum multiyear contract.   

[fairweatherfan06]

Spurs, Heat, Nets, or 76ers best fit for Blatche.  Unfortunately 2 of those teams are in our division and 3 in our conference.  But I think he'll land on one of these four teams.

[Finkelskyhook]

Spurs, Heat, Nets, or 76ers best fit for Blatche.  Unfortunately 2 of those teams are in our division and 3 in our conference.  But I think he'll land on one of these four teams.

Teams who consistently put out winners generally don't take chances on players like Blatche....Particularly when they're young.

[fairweatherfan]

Really?  Since some idiot GM just signed Jermaine O'Neal....A jerk who tanks and contributes nothing when he does play....I guess you might be right...Blatche would fit right in with the Suns!!  O'Neal could teach Blatche lots.

I'm no JO fan, especially during his time here, but there's no comparison between the two.  Blatche hasn't accomplished 1/10th of what O'Neal has in this league.  And if GMs thought Blatche would peak as high as O'Neal did they'd be tripping over themselves to sign him, jerk or not.

I don't know why they wouldn't think that with Blatche's talent.

Maybe because Blatche's best year was 16/8 with 44% shooting for a horrible team, and at the same age O'Neal was putting up 21/10 on 48% for an up-and-coming contender?

Like I said, I'm no JO fan, but c'mon now.  Not the same caliber player by a long shot.

[Finkelskyhook]

Really?  Since some idiot GM just signed Jermaine O'Neal....A jerk who tanks and contributes nothing when he does play....I guess you might be right...Blatche would fit right in with the Suns!!  O'Neal could teach Blatche lots.

I'm no JO fan, especially during his time here, but there's no comparison between the two.  Blatche hasn't accomplished 1/10th of what O'Neal has in this league.  And if GMs thought Blatche would peak as high as O'Neal did they'd be tripping over themselves to sign him, jerk or not.

I don't know why they wouldn't think that with Blatche's talent.

Maybe because Blatche's best year was 16/8 with 44% shooting for a horrible team, and at the same age O'Neal was putting up 21/10 on 48% for an up-and-coming contender?

Like I said, I'm no JO fan, but c'mon now.  Not the same caliber player by a long shot.

They careers paralleled through their first 6 years in the NBA.  You could make a cast that Blatche grew faster through those first 6 years.

That's why if you're making your case that if a GM saw the same potential in Blatche as he did O'Neal why wouldn't you jump all over him?

I don't know how a GM couldn't see the same potential.  With the exception of their 7th year, Blatche was better statistically in all but one of those years.  With a bigger body.

[SHAQATTACK]

I say leave him out there...

[kozlodoev]

read the news about him working with John Lucas to get back on track. That's a start. He also went back to his hometown Syracuse and did some charity work, to "get back to his roots" of some sorts.

Yeah, he's done this before, too -- with zero results. Just say no.

[BballTim]

Really?  Since some idiot GM just signed Jermaine O'Neal....A jerk who tanks and contributes nothing when he does play....I guess you might be right...Blatche would fit right in with the Suns!!  O'Neal could teach Blatche lots.

I'm no JO fan, especially during his time here, but there's no comparison between the two.  Blatche hasn't accomplished 1/10th of what O'Neal has in this league.  And if GMs thought Blatche would peak as high as O'Neal did they'd be tripping over themselves to sign him, jerk or not.

I don't know why they wouldn't think that with Blatche's talent.

Maybe because Blatche's best year was 16/8 with 44% shooting for a horrible team, and at the same age O'Neal was putting up 21/10 on 48% for an up-and-coming contender?

Like I said, I'm no JO fan, but c'mon now.  Not the same caliber player by a long shot.

They careers paralleled through their first 6 years in the NBA.  You could make a cast that Blatche grew faster through those first 6 years.

That's why if you're making your case that if a GM saw the same potential in Blatche as he did O'Neal why wouldn't you jump all over him?

I don't know how a GM couldn't see the same potential.  With the exception of their 7th year, Blatche was better statistically in all but one of those years.  With a bigger body.

  JO was a talented young player who couldn't get court time because he was on a contender with very good bigs. That's not the case with Blatche.

[Celtics4ever]

JO for us was hurt, old and a head case not the same player he was as an all star.   Blatche is a head case no thanks to either.

[CelticHooligan3]

Gilbert Arenas pooped in this mans shoe. 'Nough said.

[jarufu]

Gilbert Arenas pooped in this mans shoe. 'Nough said.

Thanks.

The other people on the tram are now all looking at me and whispering after I snorted at this . .