mark
Years ago
Deng and Smith are both still on their rookie contracts. I'm not sure about Smith, but Deng is eligable for a contract extension this offseason, so I doubt he will be a bargain for much longer.
Hermann was a great pickup, based on his late season production. However I heard a quote from him that he no longer loves playing basketball and it is just a job, so it remains to be seen how much longer he will be motivated to perform like that.
TR
Years ago
Walter will be candidate for 6th man next year with my Cats. His last 2 months of the season where great.
I read an interview recently about how much he's enjoying basketball since he went from training fodder to starter.
Walter has gone through hell when lost his mother, 2 younger sisters and girlfriend in a car collision. Exactly one year later, his father died of a heart attack.
Here is the link to the interview (in Spanish, rough English translation below):
http://www.ole.com.ar/notas/2007/04/24/01405781.html
- what an end of season! did you expect to play that much after playing little for most of the season?
- I was waiting for a chance, but not playing that much. It was incredible to go from only training to starter. At the beginning I thought the level was too high for me and then, after training and playing, I realized it wasn't. I was ready to play one and a half month before being a starter.
- How do you explain it?
- I took advantage of the few minutes I got at the beginning, thus my confidence increased and the same happened to the coach
- What's your balance?
- Very positive. I even think that I should have done the jump to NBA from Fuenlabrada instead of Unicaja.
- Why?
- I was 3 years under (coach Sergio) Scariolo's system, which was very structured and didn't benefit me. Nowadays, I play in the NBA the way I like.
- then that's the key of your uprising
- Yes, it's conclusive. We have systems in Charlotte, where I start open or I do a cut, but I have the chance to play my game. I'm given freedom to penetrate or take a shoot and nothing happens. At Unicaja I had a lot of inhibitions. I was even fined for taking the ball with one hand when going to the rim. Scariolo thought I was defying him and, as a matter of fact, I'm more confident with one hand than 2. The freedom I have here is a key, it's not a coincidence I started playing that well.
- what do you think the coach valued the most from you?
- The attitude every time I played. He praised my intensity on attack and especially the defense. I try not to let my rival play, being intense and playing physical.
- Too bad Bernie Bickerstaff won't be the coach next season
- Well yes... we knew that since 2 months ago, he told us he's leaving. I think they want me to stay but I don't know which coach will come and which players will they sign.
- But what do you foresee?
- It looks like I'm staying here, but you never know... I'll just know after June 30 th, by law the first day to add players
- and what do you want?
- Staying here. I'm very comfortable, I know the city and I have a good relationship with my teammates. Maybe I'd sign for a little more money somewhere else (note: his option is set at 1,944,000 dollars), but I'm not really interested.
Playoffs started and Charlotte is not there (they ended 11 in the East with a 33-49 record), but Herrmann is happy anyway, eager to start the next season.
- what was the best of the past season?
- first to accomplish my goal, which was play in the NBA. And then to experiment this freedom to play. My style is respected here and I feel as comfortable as in Fuenlabrada. Out of basketball, to know another culture, learning a language. When I came here I was a disaster, they laughed at me... Now I understand and I can have a conversation
There's not only basketball in life. Walter is also comfortable with the group.
- which players do you have a best relation with?
- all of them. there are no stars here, or special treatments. Anyway, at first I was closer to Primoz Brezec, who, since he's european, has a most understandable english. Then Brevin Knight, who sits at my side in the plane and talks a lot to me. Also Gerald Wallace...
- which is your role in the group? are you the funny guy or do they make fun of you?
- they laugh at me because of teh accent and because I don't speak English well. They make fun of me because I listen to "cuarteto" (a popular music style in Argentina), they think it's salsa or merengue... they place behind me and dance... Also because I look like that Fabio, an Italian model-actor who did a lot of soap operas and is very famous here.
- and are you a lookalike?
- Nooo, only the hair. But they also say that I dress like him, more european, not with big ample clothes like here.
- do you have a nickname from the guys?
- no, they asked me if I had any and I told them I didn't have any nickname. I told them Walter but they call me Fabio
- and do they compare you to another player?
- Since I did a couple plays with a single hand, just like Doctor J, they call me like that. Or "Dr H.". Other people, because of the 3pt I made against Miami and Cleveland call me Big Shoot.
eastern lowland gorilla
Years ago
um arent those all rookies/rookie contracts.
The Hamma
Years ago
still on his rookie contract but Josh Howard was on 1.5 mill this year but takes the comfortable raise to 9 next year
olskoolgamer
Years ago
What about Chauncy Billups, on 6 mil per. Will probably max out after this season, though.
Also Steve Nash, close to getting 3 MVPs and only on 10 mil per. Not exaclty cheap, but a bargain nonetheless when compared to guys like Starbury and Jalen Rose.
I think as a team to get a bargain you need a guy to excell AFTER he has finished his rookie contract. If he excels while on his rookie contract, he will get a massive paycheck. So it kinda worked out well for the pistons in that Chauncy was injured/bounced around teams so he signed a low contract.
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