Originally Posted by
Jabberwalker
I hope we get Lopez but I wouldn't sacrifice more than 2nd rounders or Landry S&T for him. I live in Phoenix and witnessed the ascension and descension of Lopez. Here in AZ he really rose to prominence during the Sun's 09-10 playoff run. His second year in the league he looked to be improving by leaps and bounds. He was dialed in and looked to be on the up and up. He looked like he just needed to turn one more corner to really become a dominant player. He was the silver lining in the Sun's defeat and I heard all about how he was a building block of their future.
Needles to say that didn't happen. He is the backup big to Orlando's backup big. His minutes and efficiency have all gone down. In the draft class where he was taken above the likes of Javale McGee, Marise Speights, and Roy Hibbart, Steve Kerr explained that Lopez looked to be the least of a project and the most ready to contribute immediately. He had a higher floor with a lower ceiling, so to speak. Compared to the others he has certainly shown his floor.
The guy has a horrible demeanor on the court. He gets discouraged and acts out often. I saw him getting destroyed by Bargarni's defense (seriously) one game last season and he responded by getting techs and pulled from the game. He's a baby with an inconsistent motor but has the size and skill set we're looking for (so long as we're looking in the garbage bin). If we can sign him to a 2 year, team option for a third for no more than $4 Million a year then I'm okay with it but if we start dedicating long term salary to sideshow Robin, I'm gonna be disappointed. Maybe a change of scenery will be good for him but I don't want a bad attitude in the locker room with our rooks.
Hakim Warrik is a non-factor. The guy is better than Lance Thomas (though I like Thomas' presence better) but he fades in and out of games. I saw him go crazy during stretches vs the Hornets last season and then make bone headed plays and fail on D. If we end up locked in to 2 years of these two for a combined $8 Mil a year then I'm not happy. We have a lot of flexibility without that on the books at the end of next season to make real FA signings instead of marginal 4th and 5th bigs off the bench.