Links to the Present: The Jimmer Hawes Edition
2014-03-03
Spencer Hawes has very efficient finger pistols when playing with Kyrie Irving.
The Jimmer Fredette saga never had a chance to start in Cleveland, but the Spencer Hawes saga has more than made up for that.
“‘We are very excited to add a player like Jimmer to our roster,’ Bulls GM Gary Forman said in a statement. ‘We’ve followed him closely throughout his collegiate and professional career, and believe he’ll be the type of player that will fit in with our group and be an asset to the team.'” [Ben Golliver, sportsillustrated.com]
“He’s a terrific shooter, but he’s undersized and he’s a terrible defender. He wasn’t going to supplant Matthew Dellavedova in the rotation, and with the injured guys coming back soon, the Cavs were honest with him and told him he’d be sitting the bench a lot.” [Jason Lloyd, ohio.com]
The Cavs couldn’t sign the Jimmer who certainly would have helped them spacing wise with his 40 percent career three point shooting. However, he will at least make watching the scoring challenged Chicago Bulls much more enjoyable.
“Nobody rolled up his khakis and dug into the muck quite like Sixers GM Sam Hinkie, who managed to acquire six second-round picks by participating in deals with the Clippers, Pacers, Cavaliers, and a three-team deal with the Nuggets and Wizards.” [Ben Golliver, sportsillustrated.com]
“Consider this for context: an NBA player who averages 25 minutes a night and appears in 70 games will log roughly 1,750 minutes over the course of a season. Of the 180 second-round picks taken between 2004 and 2009, only 55 have played at least 1,750 minutes over their entire careers. In other words, less than one-in-three second-round picks over a six-year period have managed to hang on for what we would consider a single season’s worth of decent playing time.” [Ben Golliver, sportsillustrated.com]
“Sixteen 2013 second-round picks have yet to take the court this season and only seven players from this group have managed to log at least 100 minutes.” [Ben Golliver, sportsillustrated.com]
“Of the 150 second-round picks from 2009 through 2013, just four have so far proven to be strong, dependable starters and/or standout postseason performers: Chandler Parsons, Thomas, Lance Stephenson, and Danny Green.” [Ben Golliver, sportsillustrated.com]
Almost every week Ben Golliver of The Point Forward blog at Sportsillustrated.com does a ten player rotation team revolving a unifying factor. Last week’s team was the all second round picks team. I was surprised to realize that second round picks are almost entirely luck based for results.
When the Cavs traded for Spencer Hawes, I thought it was a terrible idea to give up two second round draft pics, Henry Sims, and Earl Clark. Henry Sims looked like he might be able to run the floor and grab rebounds in the future, possibly even in the present, and we could always ditch Earl Clark next year because his contract of 4.25 million was non guaranteed. The stats mentioned above that Golliver presents make me feel a lot better about the Cavs giving away second round picks for Spencer Hawes. Right now, Hawes is helping the team to build a winning occasionally culture and building team chemistry on a team smothered by anger ball decisions all year.
“The Cavs have really embraced the pick-n-pop game with Hawes, running this for over 25 percent of Hawes’ offensive sets” [Trevor Magnotti, rightdowneuclid.com]
Trevor Magnotti of the Right Down Euclid blog gives a great breakdown of how Spencer Hawes is scoring his points for the Cavs all the way through the last week’s Thunder game. He even analyzes some of the possessions that lead to the beautiful pick and pop that is so common place for Hawes now.
“Since coming to the Cavs on Feb. 20, Hawes has made a big difference in the offense. He’s able to space the floor, which creates driving lanes for Deng, Kyrie Irving and Jarrett Jack. I would try to sign him to a multiyear deal, perhaps in the $8 million to $10 million range.” [Bob Finnan, morningjournal.com]
Hawes has made the Cavs offense look more like a top NBA offense with his ability to set up teammates and demoralize the opposition when he is left open, so it is no surprise people are calling for the Cavs to re-sign him. And, why would Hawes turn down an offer? He is getting the most open shots of his career so far.
“He [Jarret Jack] said he expects shooting guard Dion Waiters and swingman C.J. Miles back in the lineup soon. At that point, he said he might be headed back to the bench.” [Bob Finnan, new-herald.com]
“I spoke to Anderson Varejao after Friday’s win over the Jazz and he expects to be back playing in games in the next few days.” [Jason Lloyd, ohio.com]
The timetable for the injured Cavs is just as vague as always. Hopefully, they come back soon, so if the Cavs do make a playoff run there is a set rotation in place.
No one is quite set up in this draft like the Pheonix suns though, 4 first rounders including their own. All are later picks but the Minnesota one is looking more and more like a late lotto pick.
@Kojo The 76ers gave up two expiring contract in Hawes and Turner, players who were likely to say they didn’t want any part of that mess and leave anyways. They did two things, gave themselves a real shot at winning the #1 pick and giving them that 20% of getting a 2nd round piece or at least cheap guys to help with the tank next season. Plus our 2nd rounder and NO’s second rounder gives them 2 2nd rounders towards the top of the round. And everyone is lauding that this draft is as deep as ever so one would… Read more »
Nice, T says.
But where do we get those guys’ toughness? Is it something that can be sprinkled on them? Or will it come in time?
Love Hawes’ passing ability and IQ even more than his shooting, and surprisingly, he hasn’t been bad defensively either. Most of all, he seems to be the most motivated new addition we’ve had in years. Deng, Jack, Bynum…all those guys look(ed) so unhappy most of the time.
We already had Thomas, Dumars, and baby Rodman, may as well add Laimbeer. I see you Dan.
@Ben I think everyone, including guys like Simmons, look at the NBA draft through the prism of the NFL draft. There is no such thing as a “reach” in the top half of the first round of the NBA draft! That is a NFL term that is ONLY applicable due to positions and a multi-round draft! In a two-round draft, you cannot have a “reach.” Drives me nuts when people say the Cavs “reached” for Dion or Bennett! No they didn’t! They identified the best player on the board for then when they picked. Period. Unfortunately as long as ESPN… Read more »
JHill, So you’re saying the 6ers have a 20% chance of getting a decent piece. That means with all of those second round picks they have an 80% chance of getting nothing and gave up Spencer Hawes and Evan Turner (2 already above decent pieces and young) to do it. . The 76ers are going to be worse than the Cavs in that no one on their entire team is going to be able to de buy alcohol. The Cavs talent is so young which is what Philly is going to be running into on top of that old Peg-leg… Read more »
@jhill that’s a good point for the 76ers case. 2nd rounders are Valuable from a monetary stand point as bench guys to meet minimum player requirements.
@David Wood, I agree, but all I’m saying is that it’s possible to get a decent piece out of the 2nd round, the evidence shows there are at least 1-2 per draft, Philadelphia a 6/30 chance to get one of them. Not bad especially considering the contracts aren’t guaranteed.
I was almost tempted NOT to bring this up—-1 of the best 2nd round picks we left get away was CARLOS BOOZER—–FORGIVE ME CAV FANS FOR BRINGING THIS UP
Good to see the second round explanations. I think it is quite simple. Many people confuse the importance of second rounders in the NBA with second rounders in the NFL. Probably unconsciously.
Andy was the 30th pick of the second round, but he was stashed abroad for years. I don’t think Andy is build a team around status though. He’s too injury prone.
Wasn’t Varejao a second round pick?
Every blog writer and commenter over -rates draft picks and esp over-rates 2nd rd draft picks! ;)
They use anecdotal evidence time and again, when the actual data shows the pure randomness of getting a productive player out of the 2nd rd.
So, glad we settled that argument!