Pietrus worked out for a team that didn't want to be named a few days ago...
Back to the thread. I completely whiffed on this guy. Usually, I can remember the first rounders from the last 8-10 drafts, and when I heard they worked him out, I said "who?".
He doesn't finish well in the paint, and shoots sub 30% from mid range. It wouldn't shock me if they were looking for Toros talent. He's a HUGE project, and 26 already.
Would be a good body to throw at KD and Lebron/Wade.
Do it I have liked this dude for a long time..Believe he could play SF ?..Think they have him listed as a PF?..
5'3 SF? Seems legit.
It will be a D league prospect that they sign for 3 days.. and then cut. Repeat that 20 times throughout the season with some being the same player and others being different players and you have the next Spur signing. Count it!
Yup, that's why that 15th roster spot is still open!
I played with Muggs, and he's not even 5'3" -- he's 5'2" on a good day. Good dude, though. Will get you the ball when and where you need it. Always.
Even though he can defend SF's, I can't imagine the Spurs viewing a player who's the size of a PF, with virtually no perimeter skills, as an SF (this is what doomed Brown last year). In theory, it sounds great to have someone with his physical tools as an insurance Durant/James defender, but Pop would never play him in a series against either and given how short they are on viable options to defend them, that should be a prime factor in whoever get's this spot.
This is why, one way or another, we're ultimately headed for some uninspiring, hanging by a thread veteran, such as Pietrus, Howard, etc., being signed. But unless they're one of the three teams at Pietrus' workout next month, are reasonably impressed and he's ready to accept a non guaranteed contract, they probably hold off on this until after they inevitably strike out at the trade deadline/buy out period and with the young players they try leading up to that point.
There is also some kind of consistency with Spurs being interested in Johnson. Over the years, they have looked for a mobile shotblocking PF. They tried to sign Amir Johnson and Andrei Kirilenko, were rumored to be interested in Tyrus Thomas and Josh Smith, take a look at Andray Blatche, signed Marcus Haislip, Pops Mensah-Bonsu and Malcolm Thomas...
Spurs have unsuccessfully looked for a long time at that weakside shotblocker.
I'm from Canada so I watch the Raptors regularly and I saw him play a lot. I can tell you that this guy is good. He's big, athletic and pretty quick for his size and is good offensively. He could definitely become an excellent player. He's not the interior banger/defender that most people want but he's got a well rounded game.
Last edited by G-Dawgg; 08-23-2013 at 02:02 AM.
did he play more SF or PF? and how did he look defending the perimeter vs. quicker wing player?
If that were all true, why is he still hanging out waiting for a minimum deal in late August?
He was the worst player in the bad Kings team last year. He seems to have some tools and is a hustle player. If he impresses the Spurs in workouts, maybe they will invite him to training camp a la Eddy Curry/ Brown last year. Lets see. I don't have too many hopes though.
I don't blame any player to have played bad on a bad team. there is a reason why the bad teams are bad. and if it even wasn't your choice to go there, your motivation to not play bad might have been quite small. that said, yes, this was a really disappointing show and likely the reason why he is still on the market.
well, I'm still more and more intrigued. it's not that we are searching for a starter. we look for a say #10 or 11 in the rotation. JJ definitely has the size and talent to fill such a role. looking at this guy, he seems very influenced by the environment. and he won't find a better than in SA. I would give this a chance.
Rotation? He's likely a training camp body if they sign him at all.
People here just get too over the top crazy over any snippet relating to the Spurs. Some dude signed in late August or September won't be in the rotation, and probably won't make the 15.
common, take your time to read what you quote. Spurs have a few minutes to fill at backup SF and PF. that sums up to 10-15 minutes. and that will be a borderline rotation slot. the player you need for that slot is a combo forward like JJ. he has the talent for that role. (as I said, we don't talk starter or higher rotation spot here) he just didn't get his stuff together yet.
and I would give it another try. that's a bit different from going crazy.
When he was in Toronto he took over the the starting position from a smaller Sonny Weems and he played defense well. He mostly played the 3, but he was a really big 3. He's not as slow as people say but by no means is he an athletic specimen. He is just a good 2 way player with good size for a 3. I don't know what happened to him after Toronto, I didn't follow him after that, but I can honestly say that he played well when he was on the Raptors. He was ok at rebounding, he had some range on his jumper and could even hit some 3's and a pretty good defender. He is pretty well rounded on offense and defense from what I remember. I really don't know why Toronto didn't keep him around...
"I really don't know why Toronto didn't keep him around..."
One simple answer is that teams usually don't keep players around after a season or two is if they think he's not good enough for their team and someone else might be better. I think that's the way it works.
They let him go because he was goofy and immature. Couple that with the fact that he's a virtual non shooter and it's safe to say, this is more than likely due diligence than anything.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote