Value of centers possibly going down?

[greg683x]

I know it seems ridiculous to say that the value of a good center could ever go down, but it seems like so many good young centers are popping up everywhere now and Im wondering if the price of a quality center is going to come down in the next couple years.

One of the reasons we got a very little return for Rondo (outside of his pending free agency and other opinions of him) was that there were so many quality PGs in the NBA, that there wasnt really a demand for him.  We also had a PG trade free for all at the deadline around the league.

Now if you look around the league you have an impressive list of established centers and young and up and coming centers.  Gobert, Whiteside, Howard, Gasol, Horford, Drummond/Monroe, Hibbert, Chandler, Davis, Jordan, Cousins, then you have possible up and coming guys like Noel and Embid, maybe Dieng in Minny. 

You can argue all day about some of those guys belong on different tiers than others, but it's definitely not like it was 10 years ago when you had overpaid big men like Todd McCoullough and Dan Gadzuric running around on about 70% of the teams in the league.

[greg683x]

sorry i just realized I posted this in the draft area. woops

[dreamgreen]

A good player is a good player doesn't matter the position.

When I read "value" I thought it was going to be a post about teams spreading the floor more and a lot less post players. IMO the game is speeding up and jump shooting is a premium right now.

[greg683x]

A good player is a good player doesn't matter the position.

When I read "value" I thought it was going to be a post about teams spreading the floor more and a lot less post players. IMO the game is speeding up and jump shooting is a premium right now.

The position they play makes a big difference.

If 80% of the teams in the league have a good to great SF, it's going to severely devalue the trade return or even free agency value of players at that position.  Kinda like 16 people out of 20 have a Curt Shilling rookie card, its going to be kinda hard to get value for your particular card trying to trade or sell it when just about every one else has one or a similar one of a different brand.

One of the reasons Rondo was so hard to trade outside of the other factors was that just about every other team in the league didnt have a huge need at the PG position, and the ones that did, he didnt wanna go there. 

Only reason I bring this up is that it may look like us finding that coveted 'rim protecting' big man in the middle isnt something we should overvalue when making draft picks.

[Future Celtics Owner]

One BIG reason is there is no more SHAQ to deal with/plan for.

[Ogaju]

and that is why Kobe owes those three ring he first got to Shaq, and at the other two to Bynum and Gasol.

[Ogaju]

By the way Shaq got Miami a ring too, and almost had us one if he had not succumbed to injury.

[SparzWizard]

and that is why Kobe owes those three ring he first got to Shaq, and at the other two to Bynum and Gasol.

And Gasol should have won Finals MVP that one year *ahem* the nba final year that should not even be discussed.

[konkmv]

There are many good players but they do not have the leadership of the old ones...every team had a hall of famer then... bird magic jordan ewing hakeem drexler robinson barkley thomas... the game has changed... it is more a team game... there are not too many differences. Cousins drummond howard are good but not game changing players... maybe some day davis. their value will not fall.... just the gòod coaches value will rise

[csfansince60s]

and that is why Kobe owes those three ring he first got to Shaq, and at the other two to Bynum and Gasol.

And Gasol should have won Finals MVP that one year *ahem* the nba final year that should not even be discussed.

Agree it wasn't Kobe, but a case for Finals MVP could be made for Artest.

With his dirty play on Judas in game 6 when he intentionally kneed him in the thigh and in effect took him out of the series and then him killing us in Game 7. Man I hate the Fakers...old wounds.

[BDeCosta26]

Depends how well this years draft class pans out. Problem now is there just isn't enough good centers out there. Having someone who can really defend the paint is becoming more important as teams go more towards efficiency, and if that someone isn't a total negative on offense you can play him 30 mins a game. But there's only a few of those guys, so even the 2nd and 3rd tier guys are expensive.

A lot of good big men coming into the league next year. If a good majority of them pan out there won't be such high demand.

[Eja117]

I don't know if agree the "value" of a center is going down, but sometimes I think the demand might be.

It almost seems to me like there are no longer centers and power forwards. There are rim protecters and stretch fours and point forwards and whatever Sully is. 

The league has so much talent, but also has so little that they try to get players to be as well rounded as possible, but also there is still a place for role players and the need depends on what you already have.

If you have a ton of outside shooters you want a rim protecter. If you have a ton of tough guys you want a stretch or someone that runs the floor.

Every team is different, but I think we may be seeing the end of the days where a GM said "Oh man I need a center".   I think they think differently now but will often still take the best player.

For example the Nuggs had a ton of bigs and drafted Nurkic anyway.

[greg683x]

Depends how well this years draft class pans out. Problem now is there just isn't enough good centers out there. Having someone who can really defend the paint is becoming more important as teams go more towards efficiency, and if that someone isn't a total negative on offense you can play him 30 mins a game. But there's only a few of those guys, so even the 2nd and 3rd tier guys are expensive.

A lot of good big men coming into the league next year. If a good majority of them pan out there won't be such high demand.

Gasol(s), Howard, Drummond, Whiteside, Gobert, Chandler, Anthony Davis, Gortat (PF/C), Aldridge, Duncan, Jordan, Jefferson.

Possible Up and Comers:  Embid, Noel, Dieng

Thats almost half the teams in the league covered there with good centers.  With most likely three more coming after this years draft.  Theres more good centers now than theres been in the last 20 years. 

[Celtics4ever]

The best centers are still highly coveted folks.  A lot of the good teams have nice bigs too.

[HomerSapien]

You are also forgetting Alex Len, who is a young center I am really liking this season.