The Magic could come to regret not offering 22-year-old Aaron Gordon a contract extension prior to the 2017/18 season, Frank Urbina of HoopsHype writes. Now the forward will hit restricted free agency on the heels of what has, so far, been a career year in Orlando.
In 13 games with the Magic this season, Gordon has averaged 17.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, both considerably higher marks than his career 10.1 and 5.4 rates.
Urbina cautions that the Magic would be wise to ink their forward to a lofty deal of their own design next summer rather than let him test the waters as a restricted free agent. The Jazz let Gordon Hayward do just that in 2014 and it came back to haunt them three summers later.
There’s more from the Southeast Division:
- The Hawks picked up Dewayne Dedmon for a relative bargain this offseason and the big man has started to come into his own with Atlanta. Buddy Grizzard of Basketball Insiders writes that, in addition to his 10.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, the 28-year-old brings energy to the team’s locker room.
- Make no mistake, Hornets coach Steve Clifford is more concerned about winning than developing youth, Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer writes. The bench boss values transparency with his players and isn’t afraid to commit to the guys that give the team the best chance of competing in the short-term.
- The Heat aren’t rushing out to replace Okaro White just yet, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel writes. Head coach Erik Spoelstra says that he feels the roster currently has enough on board.
3-2-1%s of two FAs Spurs let go:
J.Simmons 39-54-77
D.Dedmon 42-65-80; 3rd yr of ORtg-DRtg=~+15;
tuff D; high rebs, energy; 2yr/$12-14mil
The Spurs spun their wheels in mgmt, foiled by low demand for Aldridge. Fortunately they kept Murray & Anderson. No word if an offer for Irving was made.
Hawks pretty much hit every move.
The Hawks are 3-12, last in the east.
They hit on you every move to pursue tanking. They hit on every move to get marginal guys that couldn’t start on other teams, But are go-to guys on the Hawks.
When you’re up on the Hawks 101- 72 it doesn’t matter if dedman gets his “10 point” average. Scrub material. And his eight rebounds a game that leads the team? Not tough to do when you’re the only 7-footer out there and you don’t have teammate Rebounders 2 contend with. The next guy averages 7. And Two Guys average 6. Dedmon should average at least 11 boards a game as a starter, if he was a legitimate NBA player.
Maybe you did not get my notations. That’s 42% from 3pt range, 65% from 2, and 80% on FTs. These are rare numbers, even for a player known for shooting. But he was signed as a tuff interior defender w/intangibles!
Playing on a bad team is good for volume numbers but those I mentioned are efficiencies, which are generally hindered on bad teams. I don’t care so much about per-game numbers as a measure of quality, as those rely on coach’s decisions and, yes, other options available.
Atlanta is under no pressure to put the most talent on the floor. Dedmon plays 24′ p/gm so he misses your rebounding target, but per 36′ he gets 12.4.
All his numbers across the board get better every year, which rules out fluking. Top15 center for $6-7mil.
Tanking was Atl’s best option after the offers for Milsap, Howard, Hardaway. After that what’s the point with Sefalosia, other vets. Where’s the offseason error?
link to hoopsrumors.com
No error at all. You have a great post. I just don’t think Dedmon is an NBA quality player. That’s all.
But if you put him on a bad team sure he’s the only guy that can play center, so sure throw him out there. Plus I think the guy who plays 4 minutes and averages four points could say if I played 36 minutes I’d average 35 points….I should be playing more !!
Dedman only plays 24 minutes because that’s all he’s worth playing. There’s guys that average 3 rebounds in their 5 minutes a game. So if they play 40 minutes they’ll average 24 rebounds? I don’t think so.
Your facts and numbers are all excellent. Yes Atlanta had really no choice but to tank. I guess when I read what you said “they hit on every move” that they were looking for success and they hit the target on all their decisions. I didn’t think you meant 3 – 12 was their target.
Yes, I predicted them to have the worst record, because UN-like some other low-talent teams, their player mix has to start from scratch. But steady good decisions will pay off eventually.
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So far you’ve been more right about about Miami, “goldfish”(?). The Heat could still finish strong like they did last year but I thought they would just continue hot, maybe hit a snag then look forward to the playoffs. But the snag came early– seemingly too much confidence!
Spurs decided to reward Patty mills to not change their status quo, which was a very big mistake at the time, in my opinion
Yes I agree, and what happened to dejan Dejuante Murray? I thought he was going to take off this year.
Murray’s defense and rebounding have been outstanding (7′ wingspan, same as Brogdon, BSimmons & GianA). Not really the priorities for a PG though!