Kings waive Gooden; Spurs next?

[1Parker1]

^Exactly...if the Gooden deal were to happen, I figure, he can't be that much worse off than Nazr (is he even playing in the league anymore??...3 years after winning a championship).

[xtremesteven33]

Gooden will be our garbage man with good minutes.

Putbacks,Offensive/Defensive rebounds,Pick n rolls.....I still think this could be a blessing in disguise though.

[Spursmania]

For a guy like Gooden, who was starting for a Cleveland team that had just won the East in '07 and was on its way to taking the Celtics to 7 in '08, a trade to a non-contending Chicago team had to be deflating and the business end of the NBA had to be appealing.



I would hope that a chance to find himself back with a contender and a chance to play well (not just be a stat hound) deep into the playoffs again would be enticing in his quest to get a new deal. Putting up good numbers in Chicago is one thing when it comes to contract time; playing a significant role for a true contender for several rounds of playoffs in April, May, and June is very much a different thing.

At this point, we can't look a gift horse in the mouth. While it's scary hearing about how supposedly "not very bright" he is, he truly is the best option for the Spurs right now. The guy gave up his Bird rights-that could cost him money in the future- thus showing his desire to play for a contending team. This may speak volumes about him.

His rebound numbers are significantly higher -like 38th?- in the league versus Oberto's and Thomas. Yes, we do need to to take into consideration he comes off as a starter and therefore has more minutes to produce. However, this guy WILL help REBOUND and is more mobile than our Kurt and Fab. We have to be thrilled with this addition. I think this would be a phenomenal pick-up considering all the pieces that were left.

[urunobili]

Yeah, gotta give props to Gooden for likely giving up money to join a contender. Even though the Kings weren't going to re-sign him, he could have stayed in Sacramento and had more options in the offseason.

Hopefully he can get and stay healthy and earn himself a big contract this summer. If he's matured, takes the game more seriously and plays well next to Duncan, there are worse ways for the Spurs to spend the MLE.

So we can officially declare you like Gooden on the team? and saying he matured and use present tense to say he "plays well next to Duncan"

I dunno why i think i read harder comments about him from you yesterday... Specially about his D...

[Marcus Bryant]

One would think that at some point the Spurs will/have ask their contacts in Cleveland about the guy.

[whottt]

So we can officially declare you like Gooden on the team? and saying he matured and use present tense to say he "plays well next to Duncan"

I dunno why i think i read harder comments about him from you yesterday... Specially about his D...

No you can't officially do that...what you can do is officially put him on the fence.

[whottt]

One would think that at some point the Spurs will/have ask their contacts in Cleveland about the guy.

No doubt...the same way they asked their contacts in New York about Jackie Butler...


What a stick you are.

[K-State Spur]

To be brutally honest, I hate the guy's game. I really do. All of the people who say he "isn't the best defender, but he can play" need to realize that he may not be the best defender; he may be the worst.

He is capable of putting up good numbers, but does so outside of the flow of the game. He is a "me-first" player, never looks to pass and is too stupid to understand the team game offensively and defensively.

Well, Amare & Boozer prevent him from being the worst defensive big in the league, but I agree with most of your post.

I'd say that he has a terrible basketball IQ, but that implies that he might be smarter off the court, which isn't really the case.

That said, he's far better than anything the Spurs could find off the street or the D-League. He has the capability of being better than a couple of guys already on the roster.

It can also be noted that if Pop can get Finley & Glen Robinson to put forth effort on D, there's hope with anybody.

[FromWayDowntown]

One would think that at some point the Spurs will/have ask their contacts in Cleveland about the guy.

I tried that argument to explain, at least in part, the Spurs decision to pass on Chalmers and Arthur in last year's draft, noting that Buford and Bill Self are close and that both Chalmers and Arthur had played for several years under Self.

I'm not sure most believe that the Spurs actually do such due diligence. For instance:

No doubt...the same way they asked their contacts in New York about Jackie Butler...


What a stick you are.

[Marcus Bryant]

No doubt...the same way they asked their contacts in New York about Jackie Butler...


What a stick you are.

My, my. Someone's a bit grumpy today.

[Marcus Bryant]

I tried that argument to explain, at least in part, the Spurs decision to pass on Chalmers and Arthur in last year's draft, noting that Buford and Bill Self are close and that both Chalmers and Arthur had played for several years under Self.

I'm not sure most believe that the Spurs actually do such due diligence. For instance:

Oh you know they do. It was definitely telling that despite Buford and Self being buds that the Spurs passed on his guys in the draft.

[K-State Spur]

I think Sheed is a relatively sure thing, especially if he feels the same after the POs as he did when he made his famous quote. The only good thing about not geting #5 would be Sheed seeing he is what the Spurs need to get over the top, and a refresher on how great Timmy is. Dice might also be an option, if the Spurs somehow got both, I would be amazed.

I don't think Sheed will care whether he's the last piece to somebody's puzzle or not. He seems to just want to win.

That said, he's hardly a sure thing. He'll be 35 next year, is already showing signs of declining defensively, and has never quite been the shooter that he gets credit for. Not to mention that it doesn't take 10 technicals to draw Pop's ire.

All that said...I'd love to use the MLE on him next year.

[timvp]

So we can officially declare you like Gooden on the team?

No. I still don't like Gooden. And I doubt Pop will like Gooden. But I agree with the fact that if he's willing to sign for peanuts, you gotta do it.

There is almost no risk to the transaction. He sucks? Pop just won't play him. If he becomes a distraction, the Spurs can waive him. The only real risk is that Pop leans on him too much ... but Pop tends to err to the ol' reliables and not the new players.

Basically, I don't think Gooden will work out. I see him having a Glenn Robinson type role in which Pop breaks him out when things aren't going well and the team needs a spark. But if it comes down to Wilt Mensah-Bonsu or Drew Gooden, that's an obvious decision.

[Spurs Brazil]

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_ar...sports_hernia/

Reports: Gooden Has Sports Hernia

The Spurs and Cavaliers have interest in Drew Gooden, who was bought out by the Kings on Sunday night, but there are reports of a possible injury.

The reports claim that Gooden is suffering from a sports hernia that could require surgery.

Cleveland is rumored to be deciding between Gooden and Joe Smith, who was bought out by the Thunder on Sunday night.

"Either guy helps them," said a general manager. "But Joe Smith is a solid vet who is good in the locker room who would understand his role. Gooden is a good player looking for his next contract."

[whottt]

No. I still don't like Gooden. And I doubt Pop will like Gooden. But I agree with the fact that if he's willing to sign for peanuts, you gotta do it.

There is almost no risk to the transaction. He sucks? Pop just won't play him. If he becomes a distraction, the Spurs can waive him. The only real risk is that Pop leans on him too much ... but Pop tends to err to the ol' reliables and not the new players.

Basically, I don't think Gooden will work out. I see him having a Glenn Robinson type role in which Pop breaks him out when things aren't going well and the team needs a spark. But if it comes down to Wilt Mensah-Bonsu or Drew Gooden, that's an obvious decision.

Dude...I can't believe you think Glenn Robinson and Drew Gooden are similar players. Glenn Robinson was a very intelligent player and was gifted with the probably the best J to hit the NBA in last 30 years and he had about as polished a skill set in all aspects of the game as you could get...Glenn Robinson could always play D, intelligent D, when he wanted, he could do just about anything when he wanted.....he just didn't want to do it all very often.

Drew Gooden is an asshat that couldn't play at the level an inattentive Robinson could play at even if he was trying...the fact that he doesn't try may speak poorly of his at ude, but get serious...he doesn't have the pure basketball IQ or skillset that Robinson had, and he never will.

[Marcus Bryant]

Glenn Robinson was an asshat who beat his wife and who otherwise would have been a useful role player for the Spurs beyond 2005 at the age of 32 had he not been.

[Mugen]

realGM reporting that Drew Gooden has a sports hernia that could require surgery.

that might complicate things.

[EricB]

If it's true it'll show up on the physical

[Marcus Bryant]

That's not true! Glenn Robinson went to war. He won the Congressional Medal of Honor. He saved the lives of every boy on that transport!

[SenorSpur]

The only reason to sign Gooden is to see if he can MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Can he provide the added-value that his stats indicate? Yes, it's a low risk signing, but if Pop isn't going to play him and take advantage of his mobility and rebounding prowess, there's no sense doing it at all.

[EricB]

I didn't realize whottt held that trash bag up in such high regard

[duncan228]

I'm trying to keep up with the Gooden stuff here, I don't think this was posted.

Contenders think big in an effort to shore up their rosters for playoffs
Steve Aschburner

Drew Gooden
Likely team: San Antonio Spurs

Vital stats: 6-10, 250, 27 years old, seven NBA seasons

Recent work: 13.1 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 29.5 mpg in 32 appearances with Chicago (31) and Sacramento (1)

At his best: 14.4 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 30.8 mpg for Cleveland in 2004-05 as a Carlos Boozer replacement

Void to fill: Matt Bonner, a key contributor this season, still is more valuable at the offensive end, so Gooden could provide most of his help with rebounding and defense in a frontcourt that also includes the aging Kurt Thomas and Fabricio Oberto.

Likely scenario: Gooden will be joining his sixth team and has been traded during the season in three of his seven years. But he helped Cleveland reach the Finals in 2007, and if Cavs coach Mike Brown can vouch for him to former boss Gregg Popovich, then Gooden will have that -- and familiarity with a Spurs-like defense -- on his side.

Quote: "Now it gives them a bigger, better rebounder and a physical guy, so they can mix and match based on who they're playing a little bit better, for sure,'' Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy told the San Antonio Express-News about the possibility of the Spurs' adding Gooden.

[duncan228]

The same Aschburner article has breakdowns on the following too.

Mikki Moore
New team: Boston Celtics

Joe Smith
Likely team: Cleveland Cavaliers

Stromile Swift
Likely team: Phoenix Suns

Adonal Foyle
Possible team: Orlando Magic?

[Spursmania]

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_ar...sports_hernia/

Reports: Gooden Has Sports Hernia

The Spurs and Cavaliers have interest in Drew Gooden, who was bought out by the Kings on Sunday night, but there are reports of a possible injury.

The reports claim that Gooden is suffering from a sports hernia that could require surgery.

Cleveland is rumored to be deciding between Gooden and Joe Smith, who was bought out by the Thunder on Sunday night.

"Either guy helps them," said a general manager. "But Joe Smith is a solid vet who is good in the locker room who would understand his role. Gooden is a good player looking for his next contract."

WTF! There is more than one report commenting about Gooden having a sports hernia that may require surgery. If so, this is not good news.

[whottt]

Glenn Robinson was an asshat who beat his wife

Big deal...so was Jason Kidd, didn't stop you from virtually whoring youself out for him.


Glenn Robinson was a very skilled player...

And I stopped worrying about the character of the players the Spurs goes after when David Robinson retired.

After seeing the Spurs going after Webber, the dogfighter, Kidd, Malone...you realized the character era of this team was due to David Robinson, and not Gregg Poppovich, who has shown a hard-on for and willingness to go after any available s b bag with an ounce of talent...

I don't think twice about it anymore...it's a lost cause with the players Pop has shown a willingness to go after.

If the Spurs go after Jayson Williams the only thing I waste time worrying about is if he will actually improve the team.

The high character thing? That was David Robinson's influence on the franchise, and as far as I am concerned that era ended when he walked off the court for the final time.

and who otherwise would have been a useful role player for the Spurs beyond 2005 at the age of 32 had he not been.

Whatever...skill setwise and on the court Robinson was a high IQ player, more on the offensive side of the ball than the defensive, but he whipped our asses enough for about a 10 year period to where no Spur fan should question his effectiveness as a player...he just had a bad at ude. Gooden is a player with a low IQ AND a bad at ude.