Tjarks: Big Man Scarcity

"So if there isn’t a large gap in talent between two players, late first-round teams are almost always better off selecting the bigger one. There aren’t many men in the world with the height needed to play in the NBA; there are even fewer that also have the necessary athleticism, skill-set and desire. Only 5% of American males are taller than 6’3, while the CDC’s statistics on height suggest there are only 70 native-born seven-footers between the ages of 20 and 40 in the entire US."

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"Now Portland has to enter the shallow pool of free-agent big men whenever the CBA is resolved, possibly without any kind of salary-cap exceptions. The sure things (Tyson Chandler, Nene, Marc Gasol) will want contracts upwards of $10 million a year, and with playoff teams like Atlanta and New York desperate for size, even guys like Sam Dalembert and Kris Humphries will be looking for at least $5 million."

10 months ago dpnim 6 comments 0 recs |

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The article brings up a very important point about basketball. Bigs matter.

Adding quality depth at C and PF ought to have been the #1 priority for the Blazers. With a healthy Oden, LA is going to dominate. We don’t know that Oden will be healthy so I’m surprised Nate made PG priority over a adding a big in the draft. In hindsight I believe adding Donatas Motiejunas would have been a very interesting move to help LA in the long run. Houston landed him just a couple picks prior to the Nolan pick. He is young and needs to fill out to play NBA but he has range, is a skilled passer, rebounds with effort and is what a 7footer?
Thinking long term Motiejunas is a guy who could be an impact player for the Blazers for the next 10 years. Short term he adds immediate and cheap rotation minutes at 4-5.
Nate obviously did some deal with the devil and promised ferret face he’s draft Nolan.

by 1977 Blazer fan on Jul 21, 2011 12:12 PM PDT reply actions

Donatas Motiejunas is a soft, short-armed 7-footer who plays like a wimpy small forward.

At best, Motiejunas is the next Andrea Bargnani and at worst he’s the next Nikoloz Tskitishvili.

"I Am Mine"

by AK1984 on Jul 21, 2011 2:58 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't think we need any of those guys listed

"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'

by sammymohawk on Jul 21, 2011 2:01 PM PDT reply actions

Chris Johnson is a better option than thse listed above

Sure he’s skinny but hes play’s solid D and boards well.

by NWfan on Jul 21, 2011 6:04 PM PDT reply actions

If Dalembert were available

I would grab him. The guy gives LA fits on defense. I want that on my team any day.

" I'm coaching here " ...... Nate McMillan

by FrenchieFan on Jul 21, 2011 7:08 PM PDT reply actions

The problem is that markets (including the NBA draft) are generally efficient

Every team knows big men are scarce, so it’s very rare that you’ll find yourself drafting and have two players, one big and one small, with equivalent talent available. Why would the first 20 teams selecting in the draft leave you a quality big man when they also know that quality big men are scarce? The answer – they won’t if they can at all help it.

The Blazers need a quality big, and there are a bunch on the market this summer. We just need a GM to go get one for us…

by sanjait on Jul 21, 2011 11:05 PM PDT reply actions