Another article about useless mentorship

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

By the way, this logic may eventually apply to Shabazz too, depending on how his game evolves this year. I give him a bit more slack than Dieng because he's younger and had less college experience, thus there is theoretically more runway for him to develop his all-around game. But if Shabazz continues to be a score-only player that doesn't improve his defensive chops and passing, does he become more valuable as a trade commodity? Here again, a pure scorer like him could be ripe for an overpay once he hits restricted free agency.

[bleedspeed]

I want this guy.

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bulls/post/_/id/22381/rookie-bobby-portis-making-a-name-for-himself-early

I will trade them Martin and Dieng for him.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I'm with Q on this. We probably have the chance to sell high on Dieng and do so before having to pay him $10M+ a year. If he was a better defensive presence, or a defensive presence at all, I'd be less accepting to the idea of trading him, but that isn't the case.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

By the way, here's an article about Al Horford changing agents. His agent now is... wait for it... Bill Duffy! http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/25346004/hawks-al-horford-switches-agents-to-bill-duffy

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

By the way, here's an article about Al Horford changing agents. His agent now is... wait for it... Bill Duffy! http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/25346004/hawks-al-horford-switches-agents-to-bill-duffy

My God, he would be perfect as our starting PF next to Towns.

I don't see it happening. We're going to win less than 30 games again this year and despite all the hope and promise tied to all the young players we have (add a 2016 lotto pick to the mix too), I'm not sure Horford at 30 is willing to join this group. We'd still be more potential than results and it would be too big of a leap of faith.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

The only way I trade Dieng is with guys like Rubio, Lavine and Bazz to land an all-star or near all-star like the Harden trade. Trading him for a cheaper bench big when we're going to have money from the cap jump seems like a step back. A deal I'd like to see is if Durant leaves OKC, Dieng and pieces (probably Lavine and Bazz) for Ibaka. He's 26, a phenomenal defensive talent and he's stretched his game out to the 3 point line. He's not a top tier guy so I don't think they could reasonably ask for Wiggins or Towns back, but he would be a great fit on our team moving forward. Wiggins, Ibaka and Towns moving forward would be able to anchor some of the best defenses in the league. That's the kind of trade I want Dieng in, not for the next Kosta Kufos.

[Carlos Danger]

I'm with Q on this. We probably have the chance to sell high on Dieng and do so before having to pay him $10M+ a year. If he was a better defensive presence, or a defensive presence at all, I'd be less accepting to the idea of trading him, but that isn't the case.

I have zero faith in this franchise getting an equal or better player back for Dieng. I'd rather keep him. Last year was his first year playing significant minutes. He played fine - arguably our best player based on Win Shares and VORP. He's durable (something we should all appreciate after watching Pek) and I don't think he's nearly as bad defensively as some are trying to make him out to be. I doubt Towns would have done much better last year playing with Thad Young, LaVine, Muhammad and Wiggins. Defense is a team effort and when guys don't stop the ball/allow penetration or don't rotate/help....it's not going to turn out well. I can't put all the blame on Dieng last year anymore than I will put all the blame on Towns this year if our defense sucks again (and it probably will - although Rubio/KG should be upgrades to what Dieng had to work with). Instead of dumping good players, I'd be more in favor of dumping useless players.

[Monster]

Kousta Koufus just got like 10 million a year.

It's sorta sad that we aren't ifficially into these players 3rd year yet and we are talking about moving them. player movement is a good thing for a number of reasons but I also hate the way things are in the league too.

Of course you never know what can come up (see point above) but I think at this point I would like to keep both Bazz and Dieng this season and see what we have or don't have in them. Generally speaking their value probably will stay strong if not improve and they may turn out to be guys we want to keep around.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I'm with Q on this. We probably have the chance to sell high on Dieng and do so before having to pay him $10M+ a year. If he was a better defensive presence, or a defensive presence at all, I'd be less accepting to the idea of trading him, but that isn't the case.

I have zero faith in this franchise getting an equal or better player back for Dieng. I'd rather keep him. Last year was his first year playing significant minutes. He played fine - arguably our best player based on Win Shares and VORP. He's durable (something we should all appreciate after watching Pek) and I don't think he's nearly as bad defensively as some are trying to make him out to be. I doubt Towns would have done much better last year playing with Thad Young, LaVine, Muhammad and Wiggins. Defense is a team effort and when guys don't stop the ball/allow penetration or don't rotate/help....it's not going to turn out well. I can't put all the blame on Dieng last year anymore than I will put all the blame on Towns this year if our defense sucks again (and it probably will - although Rubio/KG should be upgrades to what Dieng had to work with). Instead of dumping good players, I'd be more in favor of dumping useless players.

Carlos, Your first sentence above makes more sense than your last one.

No one is suggesting that we "dump" Dieng, implying that we get nothing in return, similar to similar dumps we've become all too familiar with over the years (some of which has actually cost us additional assets, i.e. Wes Johnson). The very reason his name is being bandied about is because he actually could yield us something of value in return.

Fair point on whether this franchise has the ability to spot something that's a better fit for us. But just keep in mind what happens to his salary after his rookie deal is up. I believe that $10-14M (or however much it ends up being - either way, it will be a LOT of money for someone that will not start for us) could be better spent. Whether Milt and Flip (God willing he's back as POBO) have the moxie to get a better return on that salary slot is a legitimate question.

[Carlos Danger]

I'm with Q on this. We probably have the chance to sell high on Dieng and do so before having to pay him $10M+ a year. If he was a better defensive presence, or a defensive presence at all, I'd be less accepting to the idea of trading him, but that isn't the case.

I have zero faith in this franchise getting an equal or better player back for Dieng. I'd rather keep him. Last year was his first year playing significant minutes. He played fine - arguably our best player based on Win Shares and VORP. He's durable (something we should all appreciate after watching Pek) and I don't think he's nearly as bad defensively as some are trying to make him out to be. I doubt Towns would have done much better last year playing with Thad Young, LaVine, Muhammad and Wiggins. Defense is a team effort and when guys don't stop the ball/allow penetration or don't rotate/help....it's not going to turn out well. I can't put all the blame on Dieng last year anymore than I will put all the blame on Towns this year if our defense sucks again (and it probably will - although Rubio/KG should be upgrades to what Dieng had to work with). Instead of dumping good players, I'd be more in favor of dumping useless players.

Carlos, Your first sentence above makes more sense than your last one.

No one is suggesting that we "dump" Dieng, implying that we get nothing in return, similar to similar dumps we've become all too familiar with over the years (some of which has actually cost us additional assets, i.e. Wes Johnson). The very reason his name is being bandied about is because he actually could yield us something of value in return.

Fair point on whether this franchise has the ability to spot something that's a better fit for us. But just keep in mind what happens to his salary after his rookie deal is up. I believe that $10-14M (or however much it ends up being - either way, it will be a LOT of money for someone that will not start for us) could be better spent. Whether Milt and Flip (God willing he's back as POBO) have the moxie to get a better return on that salary slot is a legitimate question.

Everything I wrote makes sense. If we trade Dieng, it would likely end up as another useless dump i.e. Corey Brewer for Troy Daniels deal. We don't know what Dieng would sign for to stay here. You say $10-$14M. I don't know that. It could be far less if he's a back up to Towns and accepting of that role.

And you talk about money better spent....how much are we paying KG, Prince and Miller this year knowing we are not going to make the playoffs? And what was the Anthony Bennett buyout? How much is Pek going to be paid? Add it up and tell me that Dieng's contract should be our big concern. Nope. If you are worried about cost cutting, I can do a much better job than dumping Dieng.