Mavs sign Diop....FOR $$31MILLION!!!!!

[Jing]

Ah the alt + number keys, I'd forgotten all the symbols you could make with them.

[Emiliano]

Step one: Read this thread.

I'm sure they could have gotten players with the same characteristic as Diop for not only less years but way less money.

Step two: List who exactly these cheaper players with "the same characteristic[s] as Diop" are. Mutombo is three decades older, they already have Dampier. Foster and Chandler already have long term deals at more money. Bynum isn't going anywhere, nor Haywood. Przybilla makes more. Milsap, Powe and Lee don't bring the size or defense and use over twice as many possessions.

Would you give Diop 31 million dollars for what he brings to the team? He is a good defensive player, but if all you are gonna get from him is that, then you can get that in the draft or by trades, saving you money.

[Brave Sir Rubin]

Diop is an extremely underrated player and a great sign. I wouldn't want to loose that guy to any team, especially a West one, if I was the Mavs.

The league doesn't have that many defensively consistent centers with a post presence... especially young ones.

Diop can easily develop into a starter in this league. I would have loved to see the Magic (not that it was possible, but theoretically) give him the mid-level.

[Alejandrov011]

I know that Diop is much more better that James but Jerome in is last year with the Sonics he had a good year (not an awesome one but the best of his carrer) and he showed some light... And then Isiah gave him the ridiculous contract

Diop can become a great defensive player but he need some play time and stop comiting fouls

[benji]

then you can get that in the draft or by trades, saving you money.

And again I ask:

[W]ho exactly these cheaper players with "the same characteristic[s] as Diop" are?

I know that Diop is much more better that James but Jerome in is last year with the Sonics he had a good year (not an awesome one but the best of his carrer) and he showed some light... And then Isiah gave him the ridiculous contract

Let's take a look (this smells like the old "MacCulloch = McIlvaine!!!" comparisons) shall we?
[table][mrow]Player[mcol]TS%[mcol]Orb%[mcol]Drb%[mcol]Blk%[mcol]Tov%[mcol]Usg%[mcol]ORtg
[row]James0304[col].535[col]9.4[col]18.0[col]4.6[col]21.3[col]18.0[col]96
[row]James0405[col].533[col]7.5[col]14.7[col]6.5[col]19.2[col]15.9[col]97
[row]Diop0607[col].503[col]13.8[col]21.6[col]5.8[col]25.0[col]7.9[col]107
[row]Diop0708[col].536[col]14.6[col]20.3[col]5.1[col]21.6[col]9.6[col]111[/table]
Almost wwice as many offensive boards and almost half as much possession usage. Yes, please. Plus James couldn't even run up and down the court.

James was always a loser in his career, while Diop has been a winner the last three years. Isiah didn't sign James because he had a good year. (He didn't.) Isiah signed him because Isiah is an idiot.

[L10]

The only way i would understand this is if they give Diop more minutes. He is a great player but Dampier is the one who is getting important minutes out there, so lets see what can Diop do if they play him as a starter...

[BOSS]

Adonel Foyle all over again.

[shadowgrin]

USA has the first worst members

Pinoys. Checkmate.

Jerome in is last year with the Sonics he had a good year (not an awesome one but the best of his carrer) and he showed some light...

It's that phenomenon in the NBA called "contract year".
Jerome James sucked, sucks, and will suck.

[jonthefon]

Benji, was Big Greg Ostertag better than Jerome James? Just curious.

[The X]

I don't mind this deal as I think the Mavs always underrated what Diop meant to their team....I always felt the Mavs were much more effective with him on the court than Dampier (Benji, perhaps you could prove my assumption with your great stats, no?)....

[Alejandrov011]

In my opinion Greg Ostertag... At least he was starter in Utah and had some defence

[benji]

In my opinion Greg Ostertag... At least he was starter in Utah and had some defence

James started every game he played in his last season with Seattle. Starting doesn't mean you're good.
[table][mrow]Player[mcol]PER[mcol]TS%[mcol]Tov%[mcol]Orb%[mcol]Drb%[mcol]Blk%[mcol]Usg%[mcol]ORtg[mcol]WSAA
[row]Jerome James[col]10.6[col].511[col]21.1[col]9.8[col]17.5[col]6.2[col]18.5[col]92[col]-14.0
[row]Greg Ostertag[col]13.1[col].516[col]16.7[col]12.6[col]21.6[col]7.0[col]12.8[col]105[col]28.0[/table]
Ostertag had some really great years, 1996-97 and 1999 for example. (Contributing quite a bit to the Jazz's second and third place finishes on offense those years...oddly the year they finished first (1997-98) he was probably the teams worst player who logged 1000+ minutes on offense. Although he did well in those playoffs.) He was the best shot blocker in the league twice (2000 and 2002) and is fourth all-time just edging out Mark Eaton. The only time Jerome James ever threatened to lead the league was in fouls or potholes created by his fat ass hitting the floor.

James did average 20/10.5 at Florida A&M if that's something.

[Lamrock]

Ostertag is good? Better call basketbawful and correct half of their jokes.

[benji]

Yeah, but he's big and white and that's all that matters. (see: Miller, Brad...MacCulloch, Todd...Lee, David until recently)