Several teams have commented to HOOPSWORLD that Marcin Gortat is on the top of their free agent board including the Sacramento Kings and Houston Rockets.
over 2 years ago
Tom Ziller
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Listening to the game last night on ESPN radio...
I was disappointed to hear Hubie Brown break down a previous play that involved Gortat in the high post. He criticized Gortat for not having a good grasp of the position/concept- Howard had already worked to gain position in the post when Gortat received the ball, instead of either shooting or quickly entering the ball to Howard, he dribble a couple of times and blew the play up. Certainly this is not an indictment on Gortat as a talent but if he doesn’t have a rudimentary understanding of the high post offense, he might not be a great fit. With the Kings searching for a new coach, this point might be null and void because someone new might not utilize this type of scheme but I thought it was interesting. As long as coach Carrill is around, he is going to demand that the bigs can pass. Hopefully this is on SVG as a coach and not an issue with Gortat but the whole “Polish Hammer” moniker leaves me with question.
Looking forward, 21 of 31 players listed in the DX 2010 mock draft are listed as SF/PF, PF, PF/C or C and with the Kings most likely landing in the lottery again next year, it might be a wiser move to keep the money in the bank for next year.
"Or, as Randy Jackson would say: Not feelin’ it, dawg."
-bench-blob- posting virgin.
FWIW
People have said (and the on-court evidence backs it up) that Gortat is among the best pick-and-roll bigs in the league, in terms of his footwork.
It’s worth noting he rarely plays alongside a second big. The high post will be completely foreign to him.
I agree, I'm just pointing to a possible issue.
He might pick it up on day one but he is going to have to play a lot with either Hawes or Thompson depending on the line-up so it’s a concern if he has a major limitation. I like what he brings, I’m just not sold that he isn’t another MLE mistake.
"Or, as Randy Jackson would say: Not feelin’ it, dawg."
-bench-blob- posting virgin.
Agreed
How many more games would Gortat really allow you to win? I like him fine but not sure about giving him the full MLE. If Morley is willing to pay him more to backup Yao, then more power to him. Save cash and invest in a cheaper and younger prospect like Fesenko and possibly re-upping Diogu.
"geez its like this site is so serious i jus wanna git mai opinyons on tha Kings out there ok" - TZ
True enough
But if he’s playing with either Hawes or Thompson, he’s the low-post man by default, right? Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to see each of them develop a strong low-post game. But for the foreseeable future, it’s hard to imagine a Gortat/Thompson or Gortat/Hawes front line in which Gortat needs to be the high-post player. And I’m encouraged by TZ’s mention of his pick-and-roll game, though I’m not sure when I last saw the Kings run that particular play.
Gortat
is a great post defender, with great positioning in the paint. He knows quite well how to grab rebounds, and has quite developed skills.
If OKC couldn’t afford Thabeet I’m quite sure they’ll try to sign him as a starting center for the Thunder.
Sure, I don’t agree on overpaying him, but he can sure contribute in every team that will sign him
"Even when I’m old and grey, I won’t be able to play it, but I’ll still love the game." — Michael Jordan
Go Kings!
I remember being glad when we first signed Mikki Moore...
Does this possible signing remind anyone else of that blunder? They are very different players but it seems that big men are at such a high premium that even mediocre players get extremely overvalued in the free agent market. I just don’t think that signing him makes sense for this rebuilding squad unless it is at a very reasonable price. We will see if the economic struggles have truly changed the way teams spend for players or if another underrated young player magically transforms into an overpaid and aging underachiever.
I like Gortat, but his price might be too high
Is it even possible to acquire a decent free agent without overpaying anymore?
MLE for Gortat ok with me
The buzz I have heard on him is he does not have what it takes to be a lead center. Bad decision making and endurance makes him a good boost off the bench for defensive reasons. Anything more than MLE is the Mikki Moore deal we got as Nick points out.
Petrie + MLE = ????
There now I've met the 75 word count. -pookeyguru
Udrih, Moore, Cisco
Reef’…
The jury is out on Cisco and Udrih. ’Reef was solid pre-injury and Moore was a mistake.
Blessings.Love.Peace
by lifestyleforthesellout on Jun 8, 2009 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions
Salmos played better than his contract,
its a real mixed bag hence the ??’s.
There now I've met the 75 word count. -pookeyguru
The jury is no longer out on Udrih
and I think Cisco is definitely overpaid for what he does, but he’ll be solid for the remainder of his contract
www.mancancook.net
Unfortunately....
Beno has four more years to prove you wrong.
"Or, as Randy Jackson would say: Not feelin’ it, dawg."
-bench-blob- posting virgin.
Gortat!
I think he’d be an awesome addition to the team. Unfortunately he will be pricey because this playoff push for the magic has given him a lot of publicity. I also hear the Knicks are after him as well.
Doubt it will happen, but I would be very excited if he did play for the kings next year. Just look at any game he played where he logged starter minutes. Dude can play and can rebound at an extremely high rate.
He competes tremendously on the O & D Glass
Would be wonderful to see him and J.T Smashing the boards for missed shots.
He is a very good Defender vs other bigs. Seems unafraid to really get physical and has a nice touch finishing around the hoop.
He is a cut above the standard big in my opinion. I can’t see how you place him in the same zone as Mikki though. He plays on a fantastic team and does all the little things they ask of him without being ball dominant in limited minutes.
Mikki played on a terrible team and got saturated with minutes accordingly, before selling inflated stats to the marketplace. Gortat is the exact opposite. Way better than mikki ever was or will be.
Moore couldn’t get off the bench for Boston with Powe & KG out, while Gortat has filled in very ably on a championship contender whenever Howard has been sidelined or just getting a breather.
" Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes, that way when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes. "
I like Gortat's game
His game reminds me of a Vlade/Ostertag mix. I’m thinking GP wants to rebuild the Kings in the mold of the 2002 model, bringing up JT as a Webber type, Gortat as the Vlade guy, Hawes is already like Miller…all we need now is our Jason Williams or Bibby and we’re set. ….So, I think…Jennings, perhaps?
It's over man
Face it and move on. This team will be different.
If GP was trying to recreate 2002 (which he's not)
boy, we’d really be screwed.
“JT as a Chris Webber type”?
The main problem with that pipe dream is that Chris Webber was one of the four or five most gifted basketball players of his generation and Jason Thompson, well, he is not.
C’mon Cloudy, let’s be fair to JT and stay away from those kinds of comparisons. Webber was the National High School Basketball Player of the Year. He was the #1 overall pick in the NBA, the NBA Rookie of the Year, and he was a five time NBA All-Star. JT is not as athletic as C-Webb, not as strong, not anywhere near as good a shooter or a passer… etc; etc; etc.
Now, if Shock keeps busting ass and developing his game, well, he maybe might possibly get named to an All Star team one day. Meanwhile, a more realistic dream is that he could grow into becoming one of the better young Power Forwards in the Western Conference. That would really be an accomplishment for the kid!
Chris Webber on the other hand was one of the top dozen or so big men in the NBA within a few months of joining the league.
And Gortat has a loooong way to go to be compared to Vlade Divacs.
"When the going gets Weird, the Weird turn professional."
(Hunter Thompson)
by Mucho Moss on Jun 9, 2009 12:42 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Intersting comparison...
I see Matt Geiger. I think Gortat will be productive, I just don’t know if he is a great fit. I may be way off.
"Or, as Randy Jackson would say: Not feelin’ it, dawg."
-bench-blob- posting virgin.
I want to agree with you
Because I hate overpaying role players, for reasons that I probably don’t need to get into.
But if he is as good of a defender as some have said here, then I could handle MLE (especially if it was only for 3-4 years, which he might go for since he’s still young and his value could go up from there).
I like Spencer and I think he’s got a lot of improvement left in him, but if he ever becomes the center that you want to put on the other team’s best big, it won’t be for many years. I think he’ll continue to get a nice block here and there, but I don’t ever see him becoming a defender who imposes his will in the paint. If Gortat has that in him, then I’m on his bandwagon.
He'll def be productive given playing time
Just look at his numbers he’s putting up at 12 mins per game. 4.5 boards, 3.8 PPG, 0.8 Blocks and 56% FG%. At 36, we’d probably expect to see around 10 boards, about 9 points, and 2 blocks.
I don't which is scarier
this: 
or this:
Polish Hammer
by betweentheeyes on Jun 9, 2009 1:23 AM PDT up reply actions
That's exactly what Gortat is.
And although we lose Samurai hair, we gain the nickname “Polish Hammer”. And that’s good enough for me.
Father of the "Natt this!" movement.
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