They give no source (which should be a hint this is crap), but the St. Paul Pioneer Press is reporting Latrell Sprewell may be a Laker soon. Because of the (obvious) work needed on this blog today I’m not going to get into details, but this is not a move I would make. This coming season will be Sprewell’s 14th in the NBA, and last year he shot just 45% (eFG%), had a weak 0.98 points per shot attempt, scored 99 points per 100 possessions used and gave up 110 to his opposite number (the league average was 106).
Bottom line, his PER was a career low 12.1 (league average of 15), and at his age it’s not going up, and we have an overload at the two and the three already. Don’t confuse the current version of Spree with the good player of the late 1990s anymore, he still uses a lot of shots (20.5% of his team’s shots when he was on the floor last year) but doesn’t give you much for them anymore. Sprewell (with some help from Cassell) dragged the T-Wolves down last year and would not make the Lakers better next year.
john says
yeah, i’d be wary.
he might be valuable still. he knows how to win. it’s just hard to see how he would fit in. and if he didn’t, look out.
M.A.K. says
Isn’t it reasonable that Spree took a fifth of the shots while on the floor? I’d imagine he was the 2nd or 3rd scoring option when he was playing…
Kurt says
M.A.K., the 20% figure is not in an of itself above average (with five players on the floor 20% is the average), it’s just that his numbers suggest that is more than he should be shooting now (although you are right, they kept using him last year as a key cog even though it was clear he was in decline). His numbers say he should be closer to 15% of the shots, but I’m not sure he could accept that role in an offense. The T-Wolves under utilized Hoiberg and overused Spree last year, in my opinion. Now they are without both.
Renato Afonso says
Hey Kurt, nice changes…
I’m really tied up with my thesis right now, but nevertheless I just NEED to give my opinion about Sprewell… You couldn’t be more right about him: if he was the player he was back in the 90’s… but he ain’t!
So, what would we have with him? A shoot first kind of player who can’t make the difference anymore and can’t guard anyone… The name Isaiah Rider came to my mind right this moment… wonder why? 😉
Darryl says
He comes cheap, I don’t see anything wrong with taking a chance. If they get him for a one year deal player option for next season, I think the Lakers would take that. He is a passionate player that will bring a lot of energy to the game. His teammates at every place he has been likes him. So I think they should take a chance on him. He would even be affordable enough to buy out if he acts up. He can play either wing spot and take McKie’s minutes.