Free Agent: Andres Nocioni

[picnroll]

Just to mention, Chapu guarded Lebron well, the kid got mad because of his phisical game

That probably adds considerable value to the Bulls in keeping him. Every Eastern team is going to be looking for that guy to bang on LeBron.

[Spurs Brazil]

Nocioni in San Antonio would be perfect

[Big P]

Nice find Bruno! Thanks for the translation. I hope Noc heals %100 & is able to come back at full strength, no matter what team he's on. That being said, I hope he seriously considers SA & possibly force Chicago to let him go.

[clubalien]

What makes you believe that Butler's a bust? Pop ALWAYS makes new players, especially youngsters, learn the system for a year before they play. (look at Oberto - useless last year, very useful this year) He's dropped 30-40lbs, looks svelt and strong, has breat hands around the basket, legit moves, and a nice leap for someone his size. If he has any bball IQ at all he should stick here... the only question is his bball IQ as far as I can see. Do you know something I don't? If so, do tell.

I think next year Butler will be the backup centre, Oberto will start and Fran will play when matchups suit (ie. not much! ).

or dominate post player of the futre is IAN
david>tim>ian

[AnotherArgie]

[AnotherArgie]

And, of course, The Ballad of Nocioni:

http://espn-mp3-od.andomedia.com/sta...mjhnocioni.mp3

EDIT: there's also a video

[Bruno]

The fact that Bulls tells Nocioni "we won't maybe re-sign you because we need a PF who can score in the paint", can give Spurs some hope to get Nocioni this summer.

A Nocioni S&T should be with a team :
- With a PF who can score in the paint.
- Bulls must like this PF.
- The PF can't be too expensive because Spurs must match salaries during the S&T and because of the luxury tax.
- The other team must need a player like Nocioni and must be ready to take his contract.
- Nocioni must agree to play with the other team.

If Bulls like Scola and if they are serious about not re-signing Nocioni, Spurs have a good chance to get Nocioni this summer if they want him.

[Big P]

I guess the biggest question may be, are the Spurs ready to pay Noc a contract totalling $20-25+ million. I would think that Nocioni would be looking for at least a 4 or 5 year deal. With that said, IMO the Spurs would add that type of salary for a player like Nocioni, he seems like the perfect fit for the type of SF we need. Plus him being able to play some PF when the Spurs need to go small is a huge plus.

[timvp]

The fact that Bulls tells Nocioni "we won't maybe re-sign you because we need a PF who can score in the paint", can give Spurs some hope to get Nocioni this summer.

A Nocioni S&T should be with a team :
- With a PF who can score in the paint.
- Bulls must like this PF.
- The PF can't be too expensive because Spurs must match salaries during the S&T and because of the luxury tax.
- The other team must need a player like Nocioni and must be ready to take his contract.
- Nocioni must agree to play with the other team.

If Bulls like Scola and if they are serious about not re-signing Nocioni, Spurs have a good chance to get Nocioni this summer if they want him.

Yeah it comes down to whether the Bulls like Scola or not. Scoring power forwards are pretty rare but if there is one thing Scola can do it's score. Or at least that's his reputation

When I look at the Bulls roster, I still contend that they don't need Nocioni as much as some in this thread think. Deng is their small forward of the future. He's going to eat up 35-40 minutes a game for the next decade. Then you have Thabo Sefolosha who can slide between small forward and shooting guard. Then there is Tyrus Thomas who can slide between small forward and power forward.

If you have those three players and you bring in the scoring power forward that they want, where are the minutes going to come from for Nocioni? They play Nocioni at small forward and power forward. But that's exactly what Thomas is and Thomas has more potential and is a player in the future who will get big minutes.

I don't really see where Nocioni fits in their long-term plans.

[Spurs Dynasty 21]

Scola>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Nocioni

[Big P]

Scola>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Nocioni

How do you know that? Scola has never played in the NBA, while I agree that Scola is a very good player, I would need to see how Scolas game translates to the NBA before declaring that Scola is that much better than Nocioni. Also I think that the SF position is a bigger need for the Spurs than PF.

[Spurs Dynasty 21]

How do you know that? Scola has never played in the NBA, while I agree that Scola is a very good player, I would need to see how Scolas game translates to the NBA before declaring that Scola is that much better than Nocioni. Also I think that the SF position is a bigger need for the Spurs than PF.

Duncan usually moves to the center anyway during games, Scola could play the PF



we can't rely on 32 year old Oberto and his one FLUKE great series to be a C for the Spurs future

[ChumpDumper]

Duncan usually moves to the center anyway during games, Scola could play the PF

Where would each set up on offense?

we can't rely on 32 year old Oberto and his one FLUKE great series to be a C for the Spurs future

Actually, for what is asked of a big man playing alongside Duncan, Oberto is a better fit. It would be nice if he had a jumper but you can't have everything.

Scola would be nice off the bench when Duncan sits, mostly.

[Spurs Dynasty 21]

Where would each set up on offense?Actually, for what is asked of a big man playing alongside Duncan, Oberto is a better fit. It would be nice if he had a jumper but you can't have everything.

Scola would be nice off the bench when Duncan sits, mostly.

When TD sits, Spurs have NO low post game



so why would the Spurs rather Moc over Scola, makes no sense

[ChumpDumper]

When TD sits, Spurs have NO low post game

Implied in my post.

so why would the Spurs rather Moc over Scola, makes no sense

Alot of it comes down to what this team is willing to pay for a guy that is only going to be effective that 10-15 minutes when Duncan sits, especially when there are other more pressing needs.

[Bruno]

Skiles isn't a big fan of his backcourt because they are too small and they sucks against SG like Carter or Hamilton. Duhon has been crappy in this playoffs too. I think Bulls want to use Sefolosha mainly at SG.

To me, Bulls rotation next year if they re-sign nocioni could be :
PG : Hinrich/Gordon
SG : Gordon/Sefolosha
SF : Deng/Nocioni
PF : Thomas/Nocioni
C : Wallace/?

Nocioni should have enough playtime as backup SF/PF but tehy still have their low post scoring trouble.
They can draft a backup C like Spencer Hawes or sign a FA with a post game but it won't be enough to solve their low post scoring troubles.
But you're right, if they want a scoring PF, they won't keep Nocioni.

[Mr. Body]

Chicago drafts Hawes, IMO. Slight chance for Yi or Noah, but Hawes drops to them.

If they think they can run Tyrus Thomas as PF and be successful, they're in trouble. Right now he's an energy guy off the bench who is terribly erratic and has few fundamental skills.

[Bruno]

one thing Scola can do it's score. Or at least that's his reputation

He scored 22 points (10/17 from the field) today against Barcelona.

Let's hope bulls haven't realized that he hasn't scored a single point in the last 8 minutes of the game.
After 32 minutes, Tau was up 61-60 and they lost the game 83-76 with Scola being 0/4 from the field in the last 8 minutes.

[mountainballer]

if it takes Scola to get Nocioni it's a no-brainer of course.
(I would like both, but you can't have everything)
even if Scola would somehow manage to get used to NBA quickly and play well, the impact of Nocioni would be more significant, considering the needs at SF and PF (and the rebounding he would provide, something no Spurs SG/SF does right now).
Spurs with Scola= better team
Spurs with Nocioni= much better team

[Mr. Body]

Bulls don't necessarily need Scola to be a crunch time scorer. That's ostensibly what Ben Gordon does.

[timvp]

He scored 22 points (10/17 from the field) today against Barcelona.

Let's hope bulls haven't realized that he hasn't scored a single point in the last 8 minutes of the game.
After 32 minutes, Tau was up 61-60 and they lost the game 83-76 with Scola being 0/4 from the field in the last 8 minutes.

Are we sure Scola isn't from Turkey?

[mountainballer]

Chicago drafts Hawes, IMO. Slight chance for Yi or Noah, but Hawes drops to them.

If they think they can run Tyrus Thomas as PF and be successful, they're in trouble. Right now he's an energy guy off the bench who is terribly erratic and has few fundamental skills.

not to forget, that Thomas isn't exactly the most beloved player in Chicago (thanks to a very arrogant behavior).
of course the Bulls can find a nice player in this draft, but they also know that this team won't wait another 2 years till this player makes them a championship contender.
IMO Bulls will try to work out a trade this summer and the pick + TT will be the cornerstones of the package. maybe Nocioni S&T will be the third piece (especially to make the numbers work)

[ChumpDumper]

I know I constantly bring this up, but Marcus Fizer has popped up in some private workouts.

In between sessions a workout was held for NBA and International Teams sponsored by Chicago based sports agency Priority Sports (headed by Mark Bartelstein). This featured names such as Marcus Fizer, Michael Bradley, Keith Langford, Desmon Farmer, Matt Freije, Awvee Storey, Brandon Hunter, Theron Smith, Eric Williams, Drake Diener, Brian Bracey and many others, mostly through five on five games rotating established European-based players in and out.

In the workout, Marcus Fizer showed off many of the dominating skills that made the Chicago Bulls decide to draft him with the #5 pick in the 2000 draft, as well as the #1 scorer in the ACB League this year. He created his own shot at will, both from the perimeter or inside the post, showing incredibly quick feet and a terrific knack for finding his way to the basket despite still looking very much out of shape. His turnaround jumper looked virtually unstoppable, elevating decently off the ground and displaying fantastic touch. Fizer was just a load in the post who anyone who tried to guard him, putting his rear-end into his man and clearing him out of the way at will to get to virtually wherever he wanted on the floor. Defensively, he was just average.

A number of NBA teams were here to watch Fizer in particular, including Chicago, Indiana, Miami, the LA Lakers, New Jersey, Portland, the LA Clippers, and Charlotte just from the people we were able to recognize from our vantage point. Fizer looks like he could play in the NBA for at least the minimum if that’s what he really wanted to do, but losing 15-20 pounds could really make an intriguing prospect out of him.

http://draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=2091

I'm not advocating the signing of Fizer, though his range would probably make him a better offensive fit with Duncan. I also know that he was playing on a team in its first year in Spain's top league, but still -- the stats are very close to Scola's. So how does the interest in an again-fat Marcus Fizer affect Scola's trade stock?

Question.

[Bruno]

I also know that he was playing on a team in its first year in Spain's top league, but still -- the stats are very close to Scola's. So how does the interest in an again-fat Marcus Fizer affect Scola's trade stock?

Last year, Mike James stats were better than Tony Parker's ones.
IMO, the fact that Scola plays in a top euro team and has to play twice more games because of the euroleague makes a big difference.

And I'm not sure that being fat hurt Fizer scoring ability.

[ChumpDumper]

Last year Mike James stats were better than Tony Parker's ones.

But Tony wasn't a free agent at the same time James was.

I wouldn't have brought this up without evidence of actual interest in Fizer.

Does it drive Scola's trade stock down because there is a guy out there who scored more he did in the same league, and happens to have and NBA track record (not a great one, btw), and can probably be signed for the minimum without giving anything up?

Or does the number of teams interested in Fizer actually drive up Scola's value since, outside the range issue, their games are similar and Fizer's performance provides a standard by which a historically more durable Scola's NBA performance could be estimated ?