Free Agent: Drew Gooden

[tav1]

Long-winded let Gooden go blog post.

[Spursmania]

Concentration-Focus?

When I was at the first 2 home games in the playoff series, Pop would be in the huddle with the rest of the guys going over plays, and Gooden would be looking at the Coyote, the jumbotron or whatever else was going on. The bench players at the time like Hill or Mason, would be in the huddle too, trying to listen to what Pop was going over whether or not they were going to play. Just an observation, but I couldn't help but always think about his achilles heel, not enough focus or concentration, not smart enough, etc...

After 19 games and a couple of playoff games, do we really know how Gooden fits with the Spurs? The guys definitely athletic--I really liked some of the moves I saw from him. I just don't know if he's a good fit.

Plus, Gooden's agent is Fegan who is known as hard nosed and gets top dollar for his clients. If all he wants his money, I don't think the Spurs have enough to give him even if they wanted him.

[EricB]

Adios Gooden.

McDeyss FTW.

[angelbelow]

i think we should resign this guy at the right price. its true that his bball iq isnt great and his defense is poor but no one is perfect. the pros to his games are pros that i think this team desperately needs. if drew gooden was a great offensive player, great rebounder, great b-ball iq and a great defender, than ofcourse i would be happy. but realistically, how many of those players are out there?

[ElNono]

You know this thread is coming...

Anyways, has any team offered anything for this guy?

[z0sa]

I was just contemplating this situation. How long before he gets scooped up and option F is Oberto starting at center?

[Marcus Bryant]

If the Spurs land a starting center via trade, then perhaps retaining Gooden to be the first off the bench bigman isn't that bad an option. He can shoot the J and rebound. He can give you post offense when TD rests. Gooden could help keep TD's minutes down during the regular season.

[timvp]

Is anyone holding out hope that Gooden could be brought back as the starting big? A lot of Spurs fans thought that a full training camp and preseason could do Gooden a world of good. Now Gooden is an afterthought by just about everyone on the board.

I don't love him as a starter but I'd probably take him as the starter over Bass at the MLE.

[timtonymanu]

Is anyone holding out hope that Gooden could be brought back as the starting big? A lot of Spurs fans thought that a full training camp and preseason could do Gooden a world of good. Now Gooden is an afterthought by just about everyone on the board.

I don't love him as a starter but I'd probably take him as the starter over Bass at the MLE.

If we lose out on Sheed, Dice, or Zaza then yes i would love Gooden to come back.

[benefactor]

If we completely run out of options then perhaps he would take a one year deal at the MLE so he could try his luck elsewhere in 2010. A trade for Collison or Foster would be necessary if we signed him though.

[tav1]

Is anyone holding out hope that Gooden could be brought back as the starting big? A lot of Spurs fans thought that a full training camp and preseason could do Gooden a world of good. Now Gooden is an afterthought by just about everyone on the board.

I don't love him as a starter but I'd probably take him as the starter over Bass at the MLE.

+1. I don't under the Bass-lust. Gooden is much better than Bass.

[Marcus Bryant]

He's not a bad option.

[tav1]

If we completely run out of options then perhaps he would take a one year deal at the MLE so he could try his luck elsewhere in 2010. A trade for Collison or Foster would be necessary if we signed him though.

MLE is as much as Gooden can get, imo. Maybe more than he can get in this market.

[benefactor]

Is anyone holding out hope that Gooden could be brought back as the starting big? A lot of Spurs fans thought that a full training camp and preseason could do Gooden a world of good. Now Gooden is an afterthought by just about everyone on the board.

I don't love him as a starter but I'd probably take him as the starter over Bass at the MLE.

Definitely. If he could come in and show some sort of integrity within our system next season he might have a shot at a 2010 contract with us.

[timvp]

My guess is that Gooden gets about three years and $12M somewhere ... unless someone gets really desperate.

[ElNono]

When you see free agents like Dice and Sheed out there, Gooden simply pales in comparison. That said, there's no question I would take him above Bass.
But that's a last resort option. Neither of them can play defense, and what I was hoping is to get a big to help Timmy D up the paint.

[tav1]

He's not a bad option.

MB, who isn't a bad option? Gooden or Bass? Neither is a bad option, imo. Gooden is just a better player.

[benefactor]

When you see free agents like Dice and Sheed out there, Gooden simply pales in comparison. That said, there's no question I would take him above Bass.
But that's a last resort option. Neither of them can play defense, and what I was hoping is to get a big to help Timmy D up the paint.

...which is why we would probably need to move Bonner/Finley for a defensive big. Gooden takes the place of Bonner as the shooting big.

[Marcus Bryant]

MB, who isn't a bad option? Gooden or Bass? Neither is a bad option, imo. Gooden is just a better player.

I'd prefer Gooden.

[barbacoataco]

Maybe I'm just way off but I think that Gooden, at this stage in his career, is not that far off from McDyess. What is it about Dice that makes him a better player? Gooden is
in his prime and less of an injury risk than 35 yr old players. I think the Spurs should sign Rasho as the defensive 5, and Gooden for the scoring 4.

[timvp]

If the Spurs strikeout on Sheed and McDyess, one option is to give Gooden a one year deal worth the MLE. Next summer, the Spurs would have the option of re-signing Gooden, bringing in Splitter or perhaps going after a big such as Camby.

Not the greatest of outcomes but it's probably a better idea than overpaying someone like Bass.

[SenorSpur]

With a rapidly dwindling market on "bigs", the Spurs had better hedge themselves. Gooden isn't a bad hedge, at this point.

[Vic Petro]

Maybe I'm just way off but I think that Gooden, at this stage in his career, is not that far off from McDyess. What is it about Dice that makes him a better player? Gooden is
in his prime and less of an injury risk than 35 yr old players. I think the Spurs should sign Rasho as the defensive 5, and Gooden for the scoring 4.

I think there's a fairly big dropoff from McDyess to Gooden, especially for this team. McDyess' baketball IQ is much greater than Gooden's. He's also a system player unlike Gooden who is more of an isolation player. McDyess is also better defensively.

[MarHill]

With a rapidly dwindling market on "bigs", the Spurs had better hedge themselves. Gooden isn't a bad hedge, at this point.

I forgot about him.....

He may be the fall back guy for the Spurs!!

[ivanfromwestwood]

i like em Gooden- e