Niche Players in the NBA and how that relates to Derrick Williams...

[AbeVigodaLive]

There are different types of players in the NBA. You have the superstars, obviously. The guys who teams build around. Guys who put fans in the seats or get to buy jerseys and shoes. Then, you have the guys who are good, but not quite great. But they have nice games and are critical on every team. Then, you get to the next two tiers:

1. Niche players. Steve Novak. DeShawn Stevenson. Reggie Evans. Et al. In the NBA, very few guys can do everything well. So, how does somebody make a career? Do ONE thing better than average, or very good. All over the league, there are three point specialists that bounce around. Heck, just check out the list of 6'10" and taller guys who keep getting jobs because they can shoot from distance... a little bit. Byron Mullens? Channing Frye. Et al.

Every team needs a three point guy. Or a rebounding guy. Or a defense guy. Or a irrational confidence scorer (different from shooter). Most rosters have various types of these guys.

2. Talented guys who don't excel at any one thing. In a vacuum, should Steve Novak get more run than Derrick Williams? In a vacuum, should Luc Mbah a Moute be the best the Wolves could get for Derrick Williams? But it's the reality of today's NBA. In a league where every team has an elite player at almost every NBA "skill"... what good is it to have a guy who is no better than average at any of them? Imagine a video game where players are ranked on a scale of 1 - 10. Williams would be a bunch of 3s, 4s and 5s across the board.

So teams often just say screw it... give me the guy who ranks at an 8 at one thing and then have him do that one thing.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Well said Abe. I think it was a decent deal because, to your point, we got someone who historically has been an elite defender in exchange for a guy that was.....just meh. Hopefully Luc's knee holds up and he can return to that elite level once again.

The problem is that our roster is now imbalanced with inefficient offensive players that can't space the floor. Barea, Rubio, Brewer, Cunningham, and Luc are all below average career shooters and extremely inefficient as a group. We basically have three guys that are efficient: Love, Martin, and Pek.

Similar to last season, I think we end the year as a better defensive team than offensive team, which is paradoxical to what folks expected headed into the season. A healthy Budinger could change the equation somewhat, but I suspect he'll be rusty and could even make the situation worse for a while.

Ugh! It's tough to build an elite team. But the good news is that those 3-point specialists are out there every year and they don't always cost a ton of money. I think that will be a priority next offseason. Although with Brewer, Barea, Luc, and Budinger all under contract for next year, there is no room in the wing or guard rotation, so what do we do?

Matt Bonner my friends. He fits Abe's criteria as a niche player - career 42% 3 pt shooter - and that's pretty much all he shoots, thus making him extremely efficient. He's an unrestricted free agent after this season and plays PF. Dante Cunningham also happens to be in his last year. He also only shoots one kind of shot. Unfortunately, it's worth 33% less than the type of shot Matt Bonner specializes in.

[AbeVigodaLive]

1. I noted it elsewhere... It's easier to hide one or two guys on defense in today's NBA... than two guys who can't shoot on offense. I don't dig this trade even if Mbah a Moute was healthy. Because I don't think a defensive SF is what is going to get this team into the playoffs.

2. Matt Bonner gave me my most memorable NBA moment. Halftime of a game vs. the Spurs. He just walked around shooting 3 pointers. And making them.

ALL OF THEM! I was cheering by the end of it. (By the way, since this was Kahn-era Wolves vs. Spurs... I was desperate to cheer for anything at that point.)

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Abe, Memphis has done a pretty good job trotting out a starting wing combination over the past couple of years that can't really shoot and they have been fine.

Funny story on Bonner....

[AbeVigodaLive]

Q, I don't know if I'm willing to look at an anomaly as the model to emulate...

And the lack of offensive spacing remains the Grizzlies' vice.

[Monster]

Abe you make good points but Luc is a guy thats played meaningful minutes on some decent teams and played defense under Skiles thats no joke right there. Look maybe he can't score but nobody on the wolves bench other than Dante can anyway and I'll take a guy that does his thing and doesn't screw up and plays meaningful minutes we really need a guy like that at least based on the games I have seen. We can find a way to add a shooter or offensive chucker if thats the route needed.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I just don't like having to write Mbah a Moute every time I mention him. I'm not a first name or nickname guy so MaM is out.

This makes me bitter. My time is valuable dammit!

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

I remember a similar thread on the BSPN board. I stand by what I said at that time: I believe your 6 thru 15 should be the best rebounders (for their positions) that you can find and/or afford. In a league where half the shot are missed, grabbing the ball and going the other way is paramount.

[60WinTim]

For what it's worth, Luc is not only every bit as efficient as D-Will on offense (he just doesn't take as many shots per minute), but he does other things well, too, such as assists and steals. I think Luc will fit in very well in Adelman's system, and I am going to like him even more so that Cunningham! (of course, that's not a very high bar, is it?)

[markkbu [enjin:6588958]]

I just don't like having to write Mbah a Moute every time I mention him. I'm not a first name or nickname guy so MaM is out.

This makes me bitter. My time is valuable dammit!

LOL...so true.... :lol: