Ezeli to the Blazers. Interesting addition.
Any word on how much they paid? Thats what interests me.
Marc J. Spears @MarcJSpearsESPN 3m3 minutes ago
Festus Ezeli's Blazers deal is actually $7.4 million the first year with a team option of $7.33 million in the second year, a source said.
Great deal with the rising cap. That's chump change for a shotblocker like Ezeli.
Great signing. Cs could have done that.
Why we didn't jump on that is beyond me. If we waived rights to Sully and Zeller, I think we would've been close to being able to do this deal while keeping Amir and JJ.
Not that I'm a fan of Zeller, Sully, Amir, or Swedish meatballs, but Ezeli blows, imo. Dude doesn't know how to play basketball, lol
. We would have been better off just signing Daniel Ochefu, imo. Ugh.
Who the hell is Daniel Ochefu?
EDIT: Oh yeah. The guy from Villanova. He went undrafted. He doesn't have what it takes to play in the league nevermind be better than Ezeli.
Why do you say that? The only thing Ezeli has on Ochefu is athleticism.
I think Ezeli also has the proof that he can actually make a team in the NBA, play for an NBA team and excel in a role as a player in the NBA. Ochefu just signed a contract for a guaranteed $50,000. That and the little I saw of him in the tournament gives me no confidence he will be an NBA player.
I still don't see how any of that should have precluded us from signing him. Do we not need size? Do we not still struggle to rebound? Wouldn't you like a team-first center who can defend, play in the post, and pass? Ezeli can do none of that. All he has, offensively, outside of dunks, is a right handed jump hook with which he is only mildly successful. He's an energy player - not one with skill, imo. Did you miss the finals, lol?
Do we need a guy who can defend, play in the post, rebound and pass? Sure.
Do I want a guy who has proven the ability to do that at the NBA level? Absolutely. Considering no one has even sniffed at Sully, I'd offer him 7-9 M this year with a team option for 10 next year knowing that's probably the best he's gonna get, and knowing he offers you exactly what you just asked for, except he's proven the ability to do that at the NBA level and he's only 24.
Much rather have Sully on a reasonable short deal than some undrafted rookie you expect to make an impact on a team with like 10 recent draftees.
I think people are forgetting that at one time, every player in the NBA was an unproven commodity, and besides, I really don't view guys like Jekiri and Ochefu as bigger risks than Sully, who has proven that he cannot stay in shape, is a poor defender which is only exasperated by the weight problems, no longer scores inside, and is a slow, undersized, and nonathletic power forward. I wouldn't waste another dime on him, myself, because as you said, you know what you're getting with Sully, and Zeller, as well, and we can and should do better than those two guys, not to mention the fact that Jekiri and Ochefu, combined, likely wouldn't have cost you half of what you'd resign Sullinger, for, alone, so I don't see any risk at all with either undrafted guy. Obviously we can't get them, now, but say that we did. Look, if they bust, they bust, but at least it won't cost the team nearly as much on the court or in terms of payroll as opposed to a guy like Sullinger, but I guess that I should stop thinking outside of the box, because clearly, no one wants to hear any of that, lol. Sigh.