Cavs acquire Sam Dekker (Official)

[Lee]

Is that true, though? It's not like Dekker was some random undrafted guy who worked hard and hustled and carved out a rotation spot. He was a really good player in college who got drafted 18th overall and looked reasonably promising once he started getting regular rotation minutes as a sophomore in Houston. Then he was traded to the Clippers in the CP3 trade, didn't have a consistent rotation role at all, and his production absolutely cratered. Different skillset than Hood, but similar in that he really struggled to adapt to a changing role and in that he didn't make a good effort to expand and modernize his game.

Dekkar is a tweener that cannot shoot and isn't overly athletic. He is very limited and was over drafted imo.

Tweener forwards who cant shoot have no place in the modern NBA. I hope he proves me wrong.

 

[Nathan S]

Dekkar is a tweener that cannot shoot and isn't overly athletic. He is very limited and was over drafted imo.

Tweener forwards who cant shoot have no place in the modern NBA. I hope he proves me wrong.

You're free to have your own opinion, I'm just saying that if you compared him and Hood as prospects there would be no consensus either way about who's more promising. Hood has had more opportunities and shown more promise in his brief NBA career, but right now they're in similar situations where they both need to carve out a rotation spot somewhere and prove that they can play winning basketball in a hurry in order to earn long-term contracts next summer.

 

[KilgoreTrout]

Rodney isn't great, but honestly is a much better player than what Dekkar will ever be. Not mad at the trade for him, worth a shot for free, but I think we are under rating Hood because he is asking for too much money.

Are anti-anxiety drugs ok, in the NBA? Do people get suspended for benzos, or Buspar? I bet if we get Love and Hood some anxiolytics, we double their production. And no, JR, I don’t mean weed.

 

[Lee]

Are anti-anxiety drugs ok, in the NBA? Do people get suspended for benzos, or Buspar? I bet if we get Love and Hood some anxiolytics, we double their production. And no, JR, I don’t mean weed.

Sadly weed is a very good anti-anxiety drug and should be legal, but that is a debate for a different day.

I think Hood needs it more than Love. Yes Love had an issue, but he does pretty good with it while Hood couldn't even get into a playoff game.

 

[Los216]

Umm???

View: https://twitter.com/dekker/status/1026573513681850369

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

Why is he mocking his former teammate?

 

[TitleTown]

Why is he mocking his former teammate?

Because they're still friends? Friends mock each other all the time.

 

[PIP]

That highlight reel worked for me, didn't know much about him really. Good touch and awareness near the basket. Looks kind of quick too.

Would be the perfect 1960’s Celtics small forward... Would give Elgin Baylor fits and be a matchup nightmare for Bob Pettit... Those St. Louis Hawks could switch everything on the defensive end..

 

[Douglar]

So what I’m getting from this thread is that he was a reach in the draft and has under performed much of his career and is not likely to be a drop in replacement for Lebron James. Did I get that right?

But is he worth the price that the Cavs are paying in the trade? I guess we have to see more details. As long as the Cavs are not giving up anything to get him, he’s probably better than the average dleague signing, no?

 

[Jordan]

You're free to have your own opinion, I'm just saying that if you compared him and Hood as prospects there would be no consensus either way about who's more promising. Hood has had more opportunities and shown more promise in his brief NBA career, but right now they're in similar situations where they both need to carve out a rotation spot somewhere and prove that they can play winning basketball in a hurry in order to earn long-term contracts next summer.

Yeah, I agree with this.

From a "street ball" perspective, sure, Hood is a better player. I also understand why Hood is viewed as a really strong prospect.

But Dekker defends and excels in transition. Hood does not defend and has a mixed record as a transition player (he is outstanding when he acts as a floor space in transition, but is awful when he tries to make plays). In regards to skills that have a meaningful impact, I think the two are eerily close, and both have similar stories.

Currently, Dekker is a positive/neutral impact player and Hood is negative. I think Dekker is better right now. I also just do not believe this is a team built for Hood's success. He needs to go somewhere that will make him the second or third offense option or a sixth man.

 

[weepinwillow]

Why is he mocking his former teammate?

This has me warming up to Sam! Honestly, last time I thought about this guy he was hitting a step back 3 vs Kentucky.

Low risk, medium reward here. Worst case scenario: Cavs looking for more options at the 3/4 in next years draft/free agency.

 

[Nathan S]

Yeah, I agree with this.

From a "street ball" perspective, sure, Hood is a better player. I also understand why Hood is viewed as a really strong prospect.

But Dekker defends and excels in transition. Hood does not defend and has a mixed record as a transition player (he is outstanding when he acts as a floor space in transition, but is awful when he tries to make plays). In regards to skills that have a meaningful impact, I think the two are eerily close, and both have similar stories.

Currently, Dekker is a positive/neutral impact player and Hood is negative. I think Dekker is better right now. I also just do not believe this is a team built for Hood's success. He needs to go somewhere that will make him the second or third offense option or a sixth man.

Not sure I'd call Dekker a positive/neutral impact player right now...the Clippers certainly wouldn't be dumping him off for free if that was the case. But he does seem like a guy who can genuinely switch 2-4, which is nice, and he seems like a guy who'll be at home playing off the ball, which fits well with a bench unit that will presumably be running most of its offense through Clarkson, Nwaba, and Zizic. Could be this year's Jeff Green if he goes back to shooting low 30's from 3.

 

[MoFlo]

View: https://twitter.com/cavs/status/1026862036838506496?s=19

 

[Turnipwagon]

I think most are underrating Dekker's athletic ability. I haven't seen much of him since his college days, but I think he has more upside than some might guess. He obviously hasn't put it together yet at the NBA level.

 

[Lee]

I think most are underrating Dekker's athletic ability. I haven't seen much of him since his college days, but I think he has more upside than some might guess. He obviously hasn't put it together yet at the NBA level.

Slightly above average quickness for position with a 34.5 inch vert.

Sure he isn't unathletic, but he isn't overly athletic either. Considering he cant shoot, you would want a bit more athletic ability.

But I will agree, just because he is white, doesn't mean he is unathletic. I just hate the lack of shooting since he is such a tweener. I hope I am wrong on him, but right now I don't see him as a rotational player when healthy.