Samardo’s Out
2013-01-06
Samardo to the hoop!
The Cleveland Cavaliers have waived Samardo Samuels. Samardo never did much production-wise for the Cavs, and he’s always had a strange reliance on step-back jumpers for a man of his size. Regardless, he did lose a tremendous amount of weight in his drive to become a Cavalier, and has always seemed like a nice guy.
Here’s some early draft speculation, if that’s your fetish. I’m personally hoping for Nerlen Noels. Sure, he would be the only center in the NBA under 100 pounds, but he’s a defensive game-changer.
I know you don’t believe me but the lakers pick is not protected
Lakers need a trade. Look for them to try to move Gasol. There’s not a lot of teams that can absorb his salary without help though…
@Scuzz Yeah, I’m seriously getting concerned that they won’t make the playoffs. JA Adande tweeted that the Lakers are 15-18 with Howard and Nash. In 2004/5 the Lakers were 18-15 after 33 games…Their starting C was Chris Mihm and their PG was Chucky Atkins. GAT DAM!
It’s a mess. Howard and Kobe almost got into a fight in the locker room New Year’s Day. The Howard to Nets rumors are starting. I think they should deal Kobe to the Nets for Deron and Humpfries.
Haven’t seem him play yet this season, but Noel’s scouting reports remind me of a Deandre Jordan type….works for Chris Paul, right?
Certainly we could use a hyper-athletic shot blocker in the middle? Especially since it would leave that gaping hole at SF intact for a certain Akron-born free agent in 2014.
About Samardo…once he realized he could occasionally stroke an 18-footer, his fate was sealed. He fell in love with bad jumpers (wide open, but still bad shots). I imagine he will get picked up by another team, especially considering that even Donald Sloan has already found one.
Yeah I liked Samardo too. I actually think the extra weight allowed him to bang with his back to the basket. This year he didn’t go in the post as much. Last season only 40% of his shots were jump shots. This season that jumped to 70%. Sometimes losing weight doesn’t always pay off. Hope he does well in the future. Got an irrational soft spot for Jamaicans.
A defensive stopper in the middle would be nice. But he’d take several years to develop. I’m hoping for Shabazz. I think he’d have an immediate impact. If I may change the subject for a moment, is anyone else getting a little concerned about the Lakers making the playoffs? A month ago, I wasn’t, but now I’m wondering. They’re not stopping anyone on defense. I’m not sure how that gets better as the season goes on. Howard is hurt, Kobe is complaining about the teams age, and D’Antoni is not a defensive minded coach Also, their schedule over the next… Read more »
Scott only likes to use one PF per game so this has no impact unless TT and Andy are hurt at the same time. Joking…kindof.
The more I watch Anthony Bennett the more I think he could be a better David West. Maybe he won’t be a franchise player, but he looks like a future All-Star. Slightly undersized at 6’8” but a filled out 240. Athletic, face up and back to the basket game. The P&R potential with Irving. He’s an above the rim finisher and can hit a jumper. He’s from Canada too. I’m really intrigued with their pipeline of talent for various reasons.
I’ve been a hoops head since 1992 or so I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen a player quite like Samardo. He was a top 5 recruit in the nation to Louisville and here and there you would see the flashes of what scouts used to see in him. There were many times last year I was convinced that SS was a better player than TT. For whatever reason it didn’t work. Perhaps he fell in to the dog house with Scott or that the umbilical cord was wrapped to tightly around his head as a baby. I dunno. There… Read more »
Sammardo’s issues seemed to be between the ears. He never got to the point where his actions were instinctive or confident…always hesitant, always thinking. Not to say that the way a guy speaks is indicative of intelligence in every case, but Samuals on-court IQ seemed to match his verbal skills….kinda’ slow.
Good luck to the dude.
What Noels under a 100 pounds? Is this a typo?
Idk. I was kinda sad to see him go. He got in Scotts’s doghouse and couldn’t get out. I hope another team does pick him up. I think he will thrive better under a different system and coach.