AV, Cavs agree to deal - 6yrs, $42.5 million

[Lee]

Noah is a pretty damn good player and he does pretty much the same thing Varejao does just with more minutes and more statistics that show up in the box score.

I wouldn't say the Noah comparison is so far off. That kid is a good player and I'm not so sure the Bulls would trade him for Andy.

Noah is a great comparison imo. They get simular minutes and put up simular numbers. Andy is shooting 58% while noah is at 48%...so thats why Noah scores more, not as efficient. Also, andy has to compete with teamates for rebounds. Noah is a better shot blocker, but andy is better at every other apsect of defense.

I really like Noah though and have for years so I dont want to put him down, but andy is a bit better player overall. But with rose at pg and noah doing the dirty work at center, if chicago adds a piece the summer (wade?) they could become contenders again. Not resigning Gordon was the smartest move a Paxson has ever done.

 

[Jon]

Noah is a pretty damn good player and he does pretty much the same thing Varejao does just with more minutes and more statistics that show up in the box score.

I wouldn't say the Noah comparison is so far off. That kid is a good player and I'm not so sure the Bulls would trade him for Andy.

Noah gets more rebounds, but still does not seem to be the difference maker that Andy is in other respects and unlike Andy he plays with smaller guys and Brad Miller who was never a good rebounder but is averaging only 4.7 per game this year.

The Bulls have generally been more effective pairing Taj Gibson with Brad Miller than Noah with with either. They're probably best moving Deng over to PF and going real small with Noah, like we will do with Andy but even that's been pretty much a wash for them. Maybe things will change for them if they can find a more offensively talented PF?

On a side note, Andy's production at C this year has been much better than his production at PF as evidenced by +7.0 net per at C and a -1.2 net per at PF. He's paired really well with Antawn so far.

 

[Damage]

Someone point out any valid points Oasis made? I'm, being serious. Not a homer, but it doesn't take one to see that comparing Andy and Birdman is like comparing a Sega Genesis to a Xbox 360: One sucks, the other's awesome.

 

[Jon]

Someone point out any valid points Oasis made? I'm, being serious. Not a homer, but it doesn't take one to see that comparing Andy and Birdman is like comparing a Sega Genesis to a Xbox 360: One sucks, the other's awesome.

Oh, he made just a few:

1. Varejao does look better due to the lack of someone with similar defensive abilities on the squad this season (aka Ben).

2. Andy is certainly improving.

3. The salary situation in the NBA is changing.

4. Hickson wasn't an NBA player, this also makes Andy look better.

5. The starting lineup did struggle.

6. The team really did fit together well last season: Ben complimented Mo, etc.

7. Having so many offensive players does open a hole for guys like Andy who don't need the ball.

8. We could use someone else who can do what Andy does.

Those points were all spot-on, IMO.

 

[oasis05]

The difference between Denver and Cleveland defensively comes at center. The cavs are going to put Z and shaq out there. The nuggets are going to be masquerading power forwards at center. Size matters, and that's why teams like the nuggets are going home early.

The cavs have the option of playing varejao at power forward. The nuggets are going to be using their andersen to protect the paint. There's a big drop off between putting Chris Andersen on Bynum, and us having shaq/Z to throw at Bynum and allowing varejao to slide down and take pau and odom.