The Sixers have released Royce White

[Fan from VT]

Question:

What ratio of Talent to Money with a strict "player conduct code" would you need to sign a guy like Royce White, if, going into the deal, you all knew that regular season away games that were too far to drive were just going to be DNP's?

The "player conduct code" being "there is no way you can get caught doing anything other than watching the game and tweeting support about it while a game that you are not attending is going on."

Obvious example: Say you had a Lebron level player. You are Boston. 41 regular season games at home, plus games in NYC, Brooklyn, Philly are all easy drives, and C's have 6 away games there. Now we're up to 47 games, and i'm not even taking the time to look at schedule stretches like how C's are home March 30 vs chicago, then fly to chicago for @ bulls on 31st, then are @ wizards on April 2 then home Arpil 4 vs Philly. So very easy for a guy who can't fly to play March 30, drive to DC (not that long a drive) for the 2nd and back to Boston for the 4th. All told, let's conservatively say 50 games easy, plus most playoff games (off days for travel in playoffs, more spaced out in general).

So, considering Lebron on a decent team buys you about a 70% winning percentage, 0.7 x 50 = 35 wins at least with 32 games without that player. If you're a bit above .500 without this player, then say you go 18-14 the rest of the way, getting to 53 wins, comfortably in the playoffs, with this player likely to play >85% of playoff games if not all, depending on scheduling.

So what's he worth? If it's Lebron level, probably still close to the max.

But if it's a valuable, 10 million dollar "David West" level player, what, would you give 5 mil knowing you're going to greatly increase your chances of winning in ~60% of your games, if you knew all this ahead of time? I don't know. I think prior expectations would greatly change your appreciation of any outcome.

[SHAQATTACK]

No thanks

Tanking nicely ...thank you.      Don't née no crazy s on dis team

[Fafnir]

Refuses to report to work right out of the gate, is out of shape, and has shown he can't be relied upon.

Not worth the trouble.

[More Banners]

Question:

What ratio of Talent to Money with a strict "player conduct code" would you need to sign a guy like Royce White, if, going into the deal, you all knew that regular season away games that were too far to drive were just going to be DNP's?

The "player conduct code" being "there is no way you can get caught doing anything other than watching the game and tweeting support about it while a game that you are not attending is going on."

Obvious example: Say you had a Lebron level player. You are Boston. 41 regular season games at home, plus games in NYC, Brooklyn, Philly are all easy drives, and C's have 6 away games there. Now we're up to 47 games, and i'm not even taking the time to look at schedule stretches like how C's are home March 30 vs chicago, then fly to chicago for @ bulls on 31st, then are @ wizards on April 2 then home Arpil 4 vs Philly. So very easy for a guy who can't fly to play March 30, drive to DC (not that long a drive) for the 2nd and back to Boston for the 4th. All told, let's conservatively say 50 games easy, plus most playoff games (off days for travel in playoffs, more spaced out in general).

So, considering Lebron on a decent team buys you about a 70% winning percentage, 0.7 x 50 = 35 wins at least with 32 games without that player. If you're a bit above .500 without this player, then say you go 18-14 the rest of the way, getting to 53 wins, comfortably in the playoffs, with this player likely to play >85% of playoff games if not all, depending on scheduling.

So what's he worth? If it's Lebron level, probably still close to the max.

But if it's a valuable, 10 million dollar "David West" level player, what, would you give 5 mil knowing you're going to greatly increase your chances of winning in ~60% of your games, if you knew all this ahead of time? I don't know. I think prior expectations would greatly change your appreciation of any outcome.

Had to give this one some thought.  Good post.

I reject the premise, though.  Eventually, just like choosing a partner, looks/talent can only overcome a bad attitude etc. for so long.

[Interceptor]

Question:

What ratio of Talent to Money with a strict "player conduct code" would you need to sign a guy like Royce White, if, going into the deal, you all knew that regular season away games that were too far to drive were just going to be DNP's?

It would have to be proportional to the expected effect on win percentage, and he can't be a starter: 6th man or worse, at best. Wouldn't want to mess with the chemistry of the starting unit.

[Fan from VT]

Question:

What ratio of Talent to Money with a strict "player conduct code" would you need to sign a guy like Royce White, if, going into the deal, you all knew that regular season away games that were too far to drive were just going to be DNP's?

The "player conduct code" being "there is no way you can get caught doing anything other than watching the game and tweeting support about it while a game that you are not attending is going on."

Obvious example: Say you had a Lebron level player. You are Boston. 41 regular season games at home, plus games in NYC, Brooklyn, Philly are all easy drives, and C's have 6 away games there. Now we're up to 47 games, and i'm not even taking the time to look at schedule stretches like how C's are home March 30 vs chicago, then fly to chicago for @ bulls on 31st, then are @ wizards on April 2 then home Arpil 4 vs Philly. So very easy for a guy who can't fly to play March 30, drive to DC (not that long a drive) for the 2nd and back to Boston for the 4th. All told, let's conservatively say 50 games easy, plus most playoff games (off days for travel in playoffs, more spaced out in general).

So, considering Lebron on a decent team buys you about a 70% winning percentage, 0.7 x 50 = 35 wins at least with 32 games without that player. If you're a bit above .500 without this player, then say you go 18-14 the rest of the way, getting to 53 wins, comfortably in the playoffs, with this player likely to play >85% of playoff games if not all, depending on scheduling.

So what's he worth? If it's Lebron level, probably still close to the max.

But if it's a valuable, 10 million dollar "David West" level player, what, would you give 5 mil knowing you're going to greatly increase your chances of winning in ~60% of your games, if you knew all this ahead of time? I don't know. I think prior expectations would greatly change your appreciation of any outcome.

Had to give this one some thought.  Good post.

I reject the premise, though.  Eventually, just like choosing a partner, looks/talent can only overcome a bad attitude etc. for so long.

Well, let's leave White out of it (who I think has a specific phobia and a bad attitude). What if you have a player with a great attitude and a specific phobia of flying? (Phobias are conditions unrelated to motivation, personality, etc.) So let's say you have a great teammate, takes all meds, sees a team and player agreed upon psychotherapist and is doing all the work, and still just can't get on a place unless he's unconsciously transported onto one. Let's say he's Paul Milsap level - flaws, but top 30 PER, always playing hard, hustles, etc. I mean, for 50 games of Paul Milsap plus playoffs you'd pay the vet min, no question. He's signed for 2 years 17 mil I believe, and it's considered a bargain. So would you offer 3 million per year for 3-4 years? 5 million ofr 3-4 years and hope his treatment starts working?

[vjcsmoke]

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/1950/royce-white

From 1st round pick to cut by the Sixers.  Is he worth a look for the Celtics or is he a lost cause?  I remember predraft there was talk about how talented he was as a prospect but also he seemed to have a phobia about riding airplanes??

[D.o.s.]

We have some discussion going on here about him:

forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=67856.msg1561493

I don't see the harm in signing him to a deal that keeps us under the tax line... but it's also not my money.

[Greenback]

No thanks to R White...

Celtics screwed up and should of signed Daniel Orton - who signed with Philly.

Fav had an MRI on his back yesterday...don't know the outcome but Celtics need a CENTER.

[LooseCannon]

I think White is one of those guys who might benefit from having to go overseas.  Some players gain perspective and maturity from being forced to do that if they want to keep playing.

[Fan from VT]

I think White is one of those guys who might benefit from having to go overseas.  Some players gain perspective and maturity from being forced to do that if they want to keep playing.

He might need maturation...or successful prep for the transatlantic flight would then negate the need for a euro stint in the first place!

[Lucky17]

I think White is one of those guys who might benefit from having to go overseas.  Some players gain perspective and maturity from being forced to do that if they want to keep playing.

Perhaps. But adding the potential for culture shock/language barriers could raise more problems than a steady gig might solve.

To Fan from VT: I can't help but think of Delonte West when you pose your hypothetical question.

[bdm860]

Kind of ironic since this article was printed in USA Today yesterday:

Royce White appears to secure 76ers roster spot

Talking about how the 76ers had 20 guys on the roster before their final pre-seasn game on Wednesday:

Ten players are locks to make the team, leaving 10 players competing for five roster spots. And the 76ers entered their preseason finale with their minds all but made up.

"Realistically, you know where you're at," coach Brett Brown said before the game, later adding that roster cuts will likely be made before Monday's deadline. "There are a few positions — maybe as few as one — that you're uncertain about. And we'll try to learn more about that tonight."

Of particular note, Brown seemed to indicate that Royce White may have secured a roster spot, saying the 76ers "genuinely hope" it works out with him here. White (6-8, 260) was the 16th overall selection in the 2012 draft by the Houston Rockets, but has a sometimes-debilitating anxiety disorder and prefers to travel by personal bus rather than plane because air travel has triggered panic attacks.

Also of note, the 76ers GM Sam Hinkie was the Assistant GM with Houston last year, so he had some experience already dealing with White, so he's had a good look at him and knew what he was getting into bringing him to camp, has one of the worst rosters in the league, and still White couldn't make the team.  Not looking good for White.

[hpantazo]

On the other hand, as much as I think White is worth the risk for someone, we already have a rift in our locker room and a rookie coach who is also very young, I think the last thing Stevens needs right now is to add a distraction like White to his list

[LooseCannon]

I think White is one of those guys who might benefit from having to go overseas.  Some players gain perspective and maturity from being forced to do that if they want to keep playing.

He might need maturation...or successful prep for the transatlantic flight would then negate the need for a euro stint in the first place!

If you don't understand the difference between dealing with a single flight that you can schedule at your convenience and dealing with a more rigorous schedule where you may be trying to deal with his problems while also dealing with possible mental fatigue and physical pain, then you really don't understand the nature of his mental illness.