Can somebody tell me why Taj Gibson has stock value?

[Timbaland7]

Latest report is that Chicago is offering Taj Gibson, Tony Snell, #16 and #19 for Love.  I don't get the whole Taj Gibson has stock value thing.  I've seen his name thrown around like he's the next big thing.

How is Taj Gibson more valuable than Jared Sullinger?  Last year, they had nearly equal stats, with Sully actually rebounding better.  They are both 6'9" guys that can play the PF/C spot with high energy and good defense.  Taj may be a little better at this stage, but not by that much.  He plays in a much better defensive system.

All-in-all, last year, they were the same guy.  Now we get to money and age.  Taj just signed a 4/$38m deal, and he's 28 years old!  Sully is on his rookie deal for 3 more seasons, and he's just 22. 

If you are the T'Wolves, or any other team for that matter, are you not projecting that Sully will be a lot better at 28 than Gibson is now?  It took Gibson 5 season to put up those numbers.  It took Sully 2. 

I know that the most published Celtics offer doesn't have Sully in it.  I just keep hearing Gibson's name thrown around like he's worth something.  He's not!  He's just another high-energy, slightly undersized PF.  Except now, he's getting paid too much.  He's already reached his ceiling, while Sully is another 4-5 years away from reaching his. 

[GreenWarrior]

because the T Wolves are stupid.

[celticsfan8591]

First of all, it's just an initial offer, no one's saying the Wolves are going to accept it.  The Wolves have a preference for established young players that will help them stay competitive.  Gibson may be 28, but he's a relatively "young" 28 since he entered the league at 24 and hasn't played tons of minutes.  It's fair to question why the Wolves wouldn't blow it up and rebuild from scratch, but the fact is they don't seem all that interested in doing it.  You're also drastically underestimating the difference between Gibson and Sullinger defensively.  Gibson's one of the best defensive players in the entire league and Sullinger is average at best.  You might be right that Sullinger has more long term potential, but they were absolutely not "the same guy" last year.  If you're trying to win this year, Gibson's hands down the better player.  They also might be wary of Sullinger's injury/conditioning issues.

[jambr380]

First of all, it's just an initial offer, no one's saying the Wolves are going to accept it.  The Wolves have a preference for established young players that will help them stay competitive.  Gibson may be 28, but he's a relatively "young" 28 since he entered the league at 24 and hasn't played tons of minutes.  It's fair to question why the Wolves wouldn't blow it up and rebuild from scratch, but the fact is they don't seem all that interested in doing it.  You're also drastically underestimating the difference between Gibson and Sullinger defensively.  Gibson's one of the best defensive players in the entire league and Sullinger is average at best.  You might be right that Sullinger has more long term potential, but they were absolutely not "the same guy" last year.  If you're trying to win this year, Gibson's hands down the better player.  They also might be wary of Sullinger's injury/conditioning issues.

I agree that right now Taj Gibson is a better defensive player than Sullinger, but he also had the privilege of playing with DPOY Joakim Noah. I imagine Sully's defensive rating would have greatly improved with somebody like Noah backing him up.

[Fafnir]

He has been the 6th man for multiple playoff runs with the Bulls. Teams and the media really value that.

[cman88]

we actually dont know what the wolves are looking for either. supposedly they have told some teams they want "established players" and other teams that they want "young players on rookie contracts"

Gibson is what he is at this point. While he may be a better defender at this point than sullinger he has no upside IMO

[Fafnir]

First of all, it's just an initial offer, no one's saying the Wolves are going to accept it.  The Wolves have a preference for established young players that will help them stay competitive.  Gibson may be 28, but he's a relatively "young" 28 since he entered the league at 24 and hasn't played tons of minutes.  It's fair to question why the Wolves wouldn't blow it up and rebuild from scratch, but the fact is they don't seem all that interested in doing it.  You're also drastically underestimating the difference between Gibson and Sullinger defensively.  Gibson's one of the best defensive players in the entire league and Sullinger is average at best.  You might be right that Sullinger has more long term potential, but they were absolutely not "the same guy" last year.  If you're trying to win this year, Gibson's hands down the better player.  They also might be wary of Sullinger's injury/conditioning issues.

I agree that right now Taj Gibson is a better defensive player than Sullinger, but he also had the privilege of playing with DPOY Joakim Noah. I imagine Sully's defensive rating would have greatly improved with somebody like Noah backing him up.

Gibson is also a quickness based PF, Sullinger is more of a plodder/bruiser and the former is valued more in the NBA today.

[Rakulp]

Given their age difference, no team should be ranking Taj over Sully...this is why I don't want to lose him in a trade.  He's the perfect compliment to whatever team we make...either a team of drafted rookies, or one that has sent out most of it's draft picks to bring back a couple of stars to try to win now.

And he's only going to get better.

Rak

[AB_Celtic]

Big Taj fan here.

As a starter last season (small sample size, but expect to see it more often when Chicago gets rid of Boozer), Taj averaged 19 pts on 49% shooting, 10 reb, 3 ast, and 2 blk. He's a stellar defender - both intelligent and athletically gifted with explosiveness and a huge wingspan - and his offensive game is still developing. Where he used to only score at the basket, he's added a nice little baseline jumper which really opens up his game on that side of the floor.

Sully has more potential. I won't deny that. But Taj is the better player right now, and for some reason Minny seems intent on getting players that can produce now. They are nowhere near contending, so if I were them I would be going after young guys, but there's a reason Minny hasn't made the playoffs in so long. They don't make the best decisions.

[Who]

I think Taj Gibson has been undervalued for most of his career but over the last 5-6 months the pendulum has swung too far the other way. Some folks getting too excited about points per game numbers posted on one of the weakest offensive teams in the league. Taj Gibson is a role player. He is a 10-14ppg guy on a team with quality offensive options.

[LooseCannon]

I would project Gibson to be a better player than Sullinger over the next three seasons. 

Gibson comes off the bench, but he's basically a starter-caliber player who has been forced into a sub role because the inferior Carlos Boozer has a big contract.

[Donoghus]

Because he's a solid role player/rotation guy.  I think you're seeing his ceiling right now but he's been a solid player for the Bulls over the years. 

That being said, that proposed Bulls/Wolves trade is garbage.  If you're centering your return package around Gibson when you're giving up Love, you're a moron.

[danglertx]

For Chicago's deal to be better than Boston's, the 16th and 19th picks would have to be equal in value to the 6th pick, they aren't.  Taj Gibson and Snell would have to be better than Sully and filler plus two first round draft picks.  I can't say I particularly like Gibson, but no way should anyone trade two unprotected first round picks for him and Snell even if Sully were considered a net zero gain, which he isn't.

Oh and btw, that filler would probably be close to $6mil is straight up waivable contracts which would be worth more than Snell.

[pokeKingCurtis]

Because he's a solid role player/rotation guy.  I think you're seeing his ceiling right now but he's been a solid player for the Bulls over the years. 

That being said, that proposed Bulls/Wolves trade is garbage.  If you're centering your return package around Gibson when you're giving up Love, you're a moron.

Some of the offers, I feel, if the Wolves accepted, they're just biting the nose off to spite the face.

Like they don't want to be Boston's farm again. But we do have one of the better offers.

[LooseCannon]

Some of the offers, I feel, if the Wolves accepted, they're just biting the nose off to spite the face.

Like they don't want to be Boston's farm again. But we do have one of the better offers.

I think they are legitimately unenthusiastic about draft picks.  The Celtics don't have an enticing package if Minnesota prefers to maximize wins for next season.  I don't think they are crazy if that is their goal.