Rumor on Amir Johnson interest by Spurs

[objective]

Can Johnson stay in good shape?

If so, that's a plus over Butler.

[lotr1trekkie]

Elson isn't going anywhere to be replaced by someone who will spend the season on the IL. Our FO likes mature Euros who KNOW how to play team ball . I like White but he can't shoot from outside, he is almost 25 and can't be sent to the Toros. As far as the Pistons being a better evaluator of talent. Didn't they give Nazr about 20 mill to sit on the bench and sign CWebb. Maybe they will take Butler off our hands!

[Marcus Bryant]

Elson knows how to play team defense?

[timvp]

Last year in the NBA Amir played 8 games:
MPG - 15.5
PPG - 5.9
FG% - .545
FT% - .786
RPG - 4.6
BPG - 1.6

Now translate that into 25 MPG or even 30. And this is a 20 year old.

Something tells me the Spurs wouldn't have to "baby him for three or four more years". If he were a Spur now fans here would be creaming themselves and calling Pop an idiot for not playing him more.

Supposedly, at least one report has it, one hang up in the Pistons signing him is that he only wants a three year deal and they want to lock him up for five.

Butler is never going to be agile. He's never going to be even an average defender. He's never going to have elevation. Christ he makes Rasho look like a dunking machine. Highly questionable he'll be motivated and God forbid what he's like if he ever lands a solid long term contract.

Research more on Amir. There are people within the Pistons organization who say he'll never be more than a bit player because he's too dumb and his basketball IQ is too low to ever amount to anything. Does that sound like someone who would work on the Spurs?

Butler might be slow and out of shape but he at least has decent to good basketball IQ. Some Pistons staffers say Amir is a lost cause.

[Mr. Body]

A player who puts up good stats like that but can't find more playing time - there must be something wrong either with his at ude or his basketball knowledge.

[picnroll]

Research more on Amir. There are people within the Pistons organization who say he'll never be more than a bit player because he's too dumb and his basketball IQ is too low to ever amount to anything. Does that sound like someone who would work on the Spurs?

Butler might be slow and out of shape but he at least has decent to good basketball IQ. Some Pistons staffers say Amir is a lost cause.

Dumars has publicly commented a number of times that after signing Billups resigning Johnson is the next priority. They are foregoing using their MLE this year and if they didn't target resigning Johnson that money could be used. Doesn't sound like a guy that the Pistons don't want around.

A player who puts up good stats like that but can't find more playing time - there must be something wrong either with his at ude or his basketball knowledge.

Tough to break into a lineup with Wallace, Webber, McDyess, Maxiell. Even Maxiell wasn't getting a lot of playing time. Then you have Nazr taking up another big man roster spot.

[timvp]

Dumars has publicly commented a number of times that after signing Billups resigning Johnson is the next priority. They are foregoing using their MLE this year and if they didn't target resigning Johnson that money could be used. Doesn't sound like a guy that the Pistons don't want around.


Tough to break into a lineup with Wallace, Webber, McDyess, Maxiell. Even Maxiell wasn't getting a lot of playing time. Then you have Nazr taking up another big man roster spot.

Okay, I'll do your research for you then:

And I am telling you, there is a major division within the organization about Johnson's future. Joe Dumars and John Hammond believe the kid could be something very special. Some on the coaching staff believe he will never be more than an end of the bench reserve. Coach Flip Saunders has steadfastly refused to make any final determination, giving the 20-year-old ample time to mature. But Johnson has to get stronger. He has to get tougher and he has to start showing some court judgment. He still relies on his inate athleticism to get him through. He forgets plays and assignments. He has enough physical tools to make an impact. But he has to learn how to play the game -- otherwise, he could end up like Rodney White.


http://info.detnews.com/pistonsblog/index.cfm

If you think Butler's bad, I can't imagine what you'd be saying if the Spurs have $10M+ invested in Rodney White, Jr.

[timvp]

And you do you trust, Joe Dumars who thought Darko was the white David Robinson, or Dave Cowens who actually knows what it takes to be a bigman in the NBA and thinks Amir Johnson is an end of the bench scrub?

[Marcus Bryant]

I'd much rather see the Spurs give 3 years and $10 million to a player like Ime Udoka. At least you know he can perform well over the course of an entire season.

[timvp]

Let's get rid of Jackie Butler's fat ass because he gets tired and pay 5 times more for a guy who forgets plays on team that got swept in six games by a team the Spurs swept.

[objective]

Let's get rid of Jackie Butler's fat ass because he gets tired and pay 5 times more for a guy who forgets plays on team that got swept in six games by a team the Spurs swept.

somebody wants to pay Amir Johson 12.5 million a year?

that's madness!

[timvp]

somebody wants to pay Amir Johson 12.5 million a year?

that's madness!

Would you sign Rodney White to a three-year, $12.5M contract?

[picnroll]

Okay, I'll do your research for you then:



If you think Butler's bad, I can't imagine what you'd be saying if the Spurs have $10M+ invested in Rodney White, Jr.

At the very worst that makes him an Elson with much more upside. Did Dumars and Hammond blow it on Maxiell, Prince, or Stuckey or Afflalo, even Samb as it appears? I'll take the Pistons' talent assessment over the Spurs of late every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

[objective]

Would you sign Rodney White to a three-year, $12.5M contract?

hmmmmmmm.

maybe. That's only paying less than 2 times what Butler is getting, not 5. So that seems reasonable. He wasn't on the team that was swept in six games was he?



Regardless, anyone who has actually heard the Dumars radio interview where he gushed uncontrollably over Amir Johnson, as I have, should be fairly certain that the Pistons would match anything up to the MLE.

[timvp]

At the very worst that makes him an Elson with much more upside. Did Dumars and Hammond blow it on Maxiell, Prince, or Stuckey or Afflalo, even Samb as it appears? I'll take the Pistons' talent assessment over the Spurs of late every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

If the Pistons don't match the Spurs offer for Amir Johnson, you'd be going with the Spurs talent assessment over the Pistons.

[timvp]

That's only paying less than 2 times what Butler is getting, not 5.

If Butler sucks, the Spurs lose $2.3M. If Amir Johnson sucks, the Spurs would lose $12-15M.

Let me know how much more the Spurs would lose with Butler compared to Amir.

Thanks

[picnroll]

If the Pistons don't match the Spurs offer for Amir Johnson, you'd be going with the Spurs talent assessment over the Pistons.

Pistons will match an offer it appears unless the Spurs would make an offer that causes pain which is about as likely as Marcus Williams making the all star team next year.

[Kori Ellis]

Regardless, anyone who has actually heard the Dumars radio interview where he gushed uncontrollably over Amir Johnson, as I have, should be fairly certain that the Pistons would match anything up to the MLE.

Yeah Dumars has man love for Amir. So I think they'll match. But there were some grumblings about the luxury tax, Johnson's inability to remember the basics, etc. that might hold them back.

By the way, I completely disagree with timvp. I'd sign Amir for 3 years/$10M with an option on the third year. I think he's talented enough to overcome any low basketball IQ But hey, I'm not a GM.

[timvp]

Pistons will match an offer it appears unless the Spurs would make an offer that causes pain which is about as likely as Marcus Williams making the all star team next year.

Then what are we debating about?

Amir Johnson isn't coming to the Spurs because he would cost too much for a player who could be Francisco Elson with a bad at ude. Agreed?

[timvp]

Yeah Dumars has man love for Amir. So I think they'll match. But there were some grumblings about the luxury tax, Johnson's inability to remember the basics, etc. that might hold them back.

By the way, I completely disagree with timvp. I'd sign Amir for 3 years/$10M with an option on the third year. I think he's talented enough to overcome any low basketball IQ But hey, I'm not a GM.

I'd sign him for that amount, too. I think he has a chance to be good.

I'm just pointing out the double standard. Butler is still learning how to play and isn't there yet so the Spurs want to ship him off. In his place, Spurs fans want to get a guy who makes twice as much per year (or five times as much total) for a guy who is even further away from contributing with Elson-like characteristics.

The same Spurs fans would be wanting to trade Amir Johnson away for a second rounder by this time next year after he fails to live up to expectations while rotting on the bench for a year.

[picnroll]

Then what are we debating about?

Beats watching replays of the Spurs SL team.

[Kori Ellis]

I'd sign him for that amount, too. I think he has a chance to be good.

I'm just pointing out the double standard. Butler is still learning how to play and isn't there yet so the Spurs want to ship him off. In his place, Spurs fans want to get a guy who makes twice as much per year (or five times as much total) for a guy who is even further away from contributing with Elson-like characteristics.

The same Spurs fans would be wanting to trade Amir Johnson away for a second rounder by this time next year after he fails to live up to expectations while rotting on the bench for a year.

Some people see Butler as more of a throw away because the Spurs have other centers. The reason I'd want Amir is because the Spurs don't have an athletic power forward who could sometimes play the 3.

That's a huge difference to me.

[timvp]

Beats watching replays of the Spurs SL team.

Amen.

[Marcus Bryant]

Butler needs to change his name to Jacques Butliér. Then maybe Spurs fans would love him.

[Spurs Brazil]

Sources: Pistons, forward Johnson agree to 3-year deal
ESPN.com news services

Updated: July 12, 2007, 4:53 PM ET
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Restricted free-agent forward Amir Johnson has agreed to re-sign with the Detroit Pistons for an estimated $12 million over three years, NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com on Thursday.




Johnson

The Pistons have now realized their top two offseason priorities by retaining the promising young Johnson and keeping 2004 NBA Finals MVP Chauncey Billups.

The Pistons have hardly used Johnson since taking him with the 56th pick in the 2005 NBA draft. In two seasons with Detroit, Johnson has played in just 11 games.

He posted a career-high 20 points on 10-for-14 shooting in this season's finale against the Celtics.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2934290