rvwink wrote:Fishmike,You are consistently one of my favorite posters at this forum. Despite that I don't understand the upside of the trade that you did. Because Mike's system is so different, paying people what they are worth based on their current stats, can be a very dangerous thing to do.
1) MDA is not interested in a center trained to play traditional basketball. There are simply too many changes that need to be made berfore that player is able to function properly in MDA's system. Why pay top dollar for production that may not show up when Oka4 has difficulty adjusting to how MDA wants him to play. Its very hard to project what centers will fit Mike's system well. Thats why MDA generally doesn't want to bring in an established center with a high price tag.
2) I also don't see the attraction of Ariza for the Knicks over Fields. Mike's offense can't spread the floor without high percentage shooting. Ariza's unattractive 3 point and free throw shooting percentages are indications that he doesn't fit MDA's priorities for the shooting guard. His being good defensively is positive but that alone is simply not enough. Fields in one of those guys who will keep figuring out new ways to contribute. He reminds me of Hondo. You talk about his athleticism not being outstanding. But his endurance is outstanding. Thats how he manages to get so many rebounds by crashing the boards.
When you have a player who plays as well as Landry did in his first year, it may be very foolish to trade him now for a player like Ariza who doesn't have much upside from here. Do you really know what Landry's upside is in 2 or 3 years? What have I missed?
Fields, on this team, is arguably better than Ariza, or at least on the same level already. Trading him for Ariza would be suicidal.
4/16/2011 9:00 PM