Free agent profile: Nazr Mohammed [Video]
This is the ninth post in a series of profiles analyzing a free agent and how he might fit in with the Lakers.
Type of free agent: Unrestricted
Positives: Oklahoma City made one of the biggest trades last season before the deadline when it acquired Kendrick Perkins from the Boston Celtics, immediately adding a layer of championship experience and toughness that the youthful Thunder lacked, and immediately ending the Laker archrivals' chances of getting another NBA championship. But that deal also included the Thunder acquiring veteran Charlotte center Nazr Mohammed while trading three-point-shooting power forward Jeff Green and backup center Nenad Kristic. Mohammed has fulfilled that NBA journeyman-type role, playing for six teams since the Utah Jazz selected him with the 29th pick in the 1998 draft. But he immediately found his niche on the Thunder roster.
Mohammed averaged seven points and five rebounds on 52.2% shooting, improved the Thunder's interior defense and helped elevate the team's frontline presence in Serge Ibaka and Nick Collison. Surely, Perkins was already credited with these qualities, but Mohammed brought them immediately while Perkins continued to nurse a knee injury. Mohammed's 2005 NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs also suggests that he'll already have familiarity with the Lakers' mindset on how to properly approach the season toward another title.
Negatives: The Lakers have been down this route before, acquiring a veteran backup center in Theo Ratliff. That proved to be of little value. In the Lakers' long-term development, it's better to acquire someone who actually has a definitive future. Mohammed has also shown that his role severely diminishes in the playoffs, including the 2006 postseason where played limited minutes in the Spurs' second-round loss against Dallas and in the 2010 playoffs where he averaged only 2.3 points on 41.2% shooting.
Verdict: Mohammed expressed in a series of tweets, as detailed by the Oklahoman's Darnell Mayberry, that he wants to return to the Thunder. But as reported by Fox Sports West's Brian Smith, there's uncertainty on whether Oklahoma City feels the same way. The Thunder has wanted veterans to guide the youth-oriented team. But OKC has two centers in Cole Aldrich and Byron Mullens, both of whom could assume more minutes.
From the Lakers' end, it would be better if they found a young backup center. But because of L.A.'s strapped finances, acquiring Mohammed would be a decent pickup on a short-term basis. Obviously, the sentiment lies in going for younger talent on the frontline, especially with the Lakers' signing of Ratliff proving to be a poor move last season. But the 34-year-old Mohammad doesn't have an extended injury history and has the capability of being a reliable backup center at a pretty cheap price.
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Free agent profile: Wilson Chandler
Free agent profile: Samuel Dalembert
-- Mark Medina
The last thing the owners want to do is to implement a draconian hard salary cap that would force teams to cut players. They’re smart enough to realize that doing that could cause more ill will with their paying customers than a lockout. Nothing in the new CBA is going to break teams up. That would be contrary to everything we’re seeing right now, which is the owners and players really trying to avoid a lockout, especially with the NFL looking like it will successfully do the same.
…
What the owners are trying to do is get a hard cap installed to limit the current problem from getting out of hand down the road. If they can get the players to buy into a hard cap, the trade off would be that the cap would be set at $95M or $100M to start with so existing teams would not have to be broken up. It’s actually an inspired tactic by the owners to sell a hard cap for the future.
….
Lamar Odom for Anderson Varejao and the #4 pick? I think I would do it in a heartbeat unless there is any health issues with Varejao. While we would get slower and become a poorer 3-point shooting team, we probably would be able to land Kemba Walker, whom I think has great potential to be a star. The more I think about the move the more I like it. It’s offense for defense and a point guard. Or a future star small forward if the Lakers have another game plan in mind to get a new point guard.
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One thing that I think all the trade rumors have probably done is put a fire under Pau Gasol’s butt. As he contemplates finishing his career in places like Minnesota or Cleveland, I’ll bet he finally realizes what tanking the playoffs might ultimately cost him. Who knows. Maybe that’s why the Lakers have been shopping him – to let him know how close he is to blowing his career in purple and gold. So if we don’t trade him, the chances are good that he will be more motivated than he was last year.
……………………….
TOM
Posted by: LakerTom | June 22, 2011 at 03:10 PM
>>>Said DraftExpress' Jonathan Givony via Twitter: NBA sources say San
>>>Antonio has offered George Hill to Milwaukee (#10), Golden State (#11) and
>>>Utah (#12) in exchange for their pick
George Hill. There's a quality young PG. Good speed. Good defender. 38% 3-point shooter. Good passer.
If none of those other teams wants Hill, I wonder if they'd want Lamar Odom?
It would take another player to match salary, but something like...
Milwaukee: Hill and Gooden? Hill and Mbah a Moute?
Golden State: Hill and Biedrins (Lakers would have to throw in Blake or something)
Utah: Hill and Miles? Hill and Bell?
Posted by: LongTimeLakerFan | June 22, 2011 at 03:25 PM
Correct me if I'm wrong,
but a percentage of the luxury tax goes back to other teams which helps their bottom line. With a hard cap at 100 million how would these teams replace that kind of money?
Posted by: Troll Man | June 22, 2011 at 03:35 PM
I think Nazr Mohammed is an underrated defensive center, he could be a very nice addition to the bench. At 33 he's no spring chicken, but he's no Ratliff either.
I called the Celtic/Thunder trade as one that would hurt both teams, and that's the way it played out. But once OKC locked up Perk, they weren't going to stop playing him in the playoffs, even though he was killing them. The worst part was, Perk's minutes was keeping Mohammed off the floor - they could have used him over the underrated center they were using.
- - -
Odom for #2, and I assume other pieces as they'd have to match up the dollars. Jonny Flynn and Beasley? They wouldn't rid of both Beasley and the #2, they are looking for either/or but not both.
Derrick Williams is a local product to L.A.. He was on ESPN radio with Colin Cowherd the other day, he was asked by Colin if he heard that the Lakers might be looking to get the pick and choose him, his eyes lit up. He is probably the best prospect of the draft, and someone who is a great defender and can also spot up and shoot three's. He's a younger, more athletic, better shooting Ron Ron.
L.O. can slide into Pau's spot at the 4.
Anyways, if it means giving up Pau for him, along with 'anyone not named Rubio or Love' then how about Flynn, Darko, another body that could make the numbers work and the pick? Derrick Williams seems to be the real deal.
It just would mean Flynn would be the solution at the point. He could turn out to be very good, but...
- - -
LakerTom: LOL at all this talk lighting a fire under Pau, I hope you're right. Whatever works, too bad some guys lack the internal motivation to 'bring it' every night. Heck, I guess it happens to even the best of them (see: Miami Heat player #6).
On a team led by a certain Kobe Bryant, lack of aggression or hustle or motivation or whatever becomes oh so much more magnified.
Talk of Pau getting shipped off to the hinterland of Minnesota's frozen lakes should motivate him to get his butt into the weight room every day, he just needs to take out any pic of Minneapolis in January and tape it to the barbells, that should do the trick!
AS ALWAYS - AND FOREVER - GO LAKERS!!!!!!
Posted by: CyberCosmiX | June 22, 2011 at 03:44 PM
This is the best time to trade lamar khloe n their stupid reality show.. His ceiling will never be higher.
Damn u kahn!!! Lamar can play the 3 and khloe will probably leave him... Take the deal!
Posted by: Yellofever | June 22, 2011 at 03:49 PM
I'm just wondering, are people feeling a trade is going to happen before or during the draft? I'm starting to think it's a real possibility.
Do others agree?
AS ALWAYS - AND FOREVER - GO LAKERS!!!!!!
Posted by: CyberCosmiX | June 22, 2011 at 03:50 PM
Pau working out?
I remember it mentioned he worked out 2 years ago but you know how it goes, you stop working out and your arms return to their natural form.
And that natural form for Pau is twiggy-esque
Posted by: Troll Man | June 22, 2011 at 03:51 PM
I'm always thinking a blockbuster deal is going to be made but with the exception of the Gasol trade it rarely seems to happen.
Posted by: Troll Man | June 22, 2011 at 03:54 PM
>>>Lamar can play the 3
So can Webster, Johnson, and Beasley.
The TWolves are overflowing at the 3 & 4. It's the 2 and 5 they need (5 the most)
Posted by: LongTimeLakerFan | June 22, 2011 at 03:57 PM
Lamar and Khloe
Khloe and Lamar
Tony and Eva
Eva and Tony
SA is shopping Tony Parker that's food for thought
Posted by: Troll Man | June 22, 2011 at 03:58 PM
It is now less than 24 hours to the NBA draft, and NO TRADES YET?!??!
WTF?
(I'm not talking about Laker trades... I'm talking about ANY trades!)
Posted by: LongTimeLakerFan | June 22, 2011 at 04:02 PM
Damn. Spurs are shopping Tony Parker or George Hill to get into the late lottery range. There's gotta be SOME team there that might want Odom if they don't want Parker or Hill.
Posted by: LongTimeLakerFan | June 22, 2011 at 04:05 PM
How `bout this...
Lakers send Pau and Derrick Caracter to Golden State
Golden State sends David Lee to the Lakers
and Ekpe Udoh and their lottery pick to San Antonio
San Antonio sends Tony Parker to the Lakers
What do you think? Pau worth David Lee and Tony Parker?
Or slightly different parts - Pau for David Lee and George Hill?
Posted by: LongTimeLakerFan | June 22, 2011 at 04:09 PM
Or if you prefer...
Lakers send Pau and Blake to Golden State
Golden State sends Monta Ellis and Andris Biedrins to the Lakers
and their lottery pick to San Antonio
San Antonio sends George Hill to the Lakers.
GS gets a star PF/C to go alongside David Lee in the front court (and dumps off Biedrins contract, which they've been trying to do).
San Antonio gets their draft pick they've been fishing for.
Lakers get Biedrins, Ellis, and George Hill. Two speedy guards who can defend a bit and score, plus a third big body in the front court.
Posted by: LongTimeLakerFan | June 22, 2011 at 04:12 PM
DAMMIT! Why did ESPN take the salaries out of the trade machine!??!?! They still apply, and it's hard to test salary matching of trades quickly without it.
Posted by: LongTimeLakerFan | June 22, 2011 at 04:13 PM
@Cyber.. I don't foresee much movement before the new CBA with so much uncertainty looming
@LTLF... I like the GS deal.. Make west can gift us monta since we know they don't want him n curry together... Worked 3 years ago.. I'd say its worth a try!!
Posted by: Yellofever | June 22, 2011 at 04:25 PM
Or... trade Pau to Utah for Al Jefferson + the #12 pick going to San Antonio for Parker or Hill.
Or Lamar to Utah for Millsap & the # 12 going to San Antonio & Hill to the Lakers.
There's gotta be a way here to get one of those San Antonio PGs on the Lakers (okay, I'm starting to sound rabid).
Posted by: LongTimeLakerFan | June 22, 2011 at 04:26 PM
MM - "Mohammed's 2005 NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs also suggests that he'll already have familiarity with the Lakers' mindset on how to properly approach the season toward another title. From the Lakers' end, it would be better if they found a young backup center. But the 34-year-old Mohammad doesn't have an extended injury history and has the capability of being a reliable backup center at a pretty cheap price."
---
Agreed. Mohammed also has the distinction of maximizing his minutes, however limited, during the postseason. His regular-season career WS/48 of .107 is acceptably average; but his career postseason WS/48 of .138 suggests Mohammed won't shrink under bright lights.
I'm not sure what happened in 2006. His game logs indicate Mohammed attempted zero FGAs over 15 total minutes of playing time spread across 3 x 2nd-round games vs. Dallas -- even though Mohammed had a decent 1st round vs. SAC (12mpg, 5ppg, 4rbg, 6blks, 73%/FG%, .222/WS/48).
Posted by: latopia | June 22, 2011 at 08:05 PM