New Orleans Offseason: Part I

[Sun Scorched]

New Orleans Offseason: Part I

Why DeAndre Jordan Makes New Orleans a Playoff Team


No Longer Opponents, Davis and Jordan Look Forward to Anchoring the Low Post Together

There are only seven players in the entire league that sport ORB, DRB, DEF and BLK ratings north of 70. Of those seven, DeAndre ranks second in terms of points per shot attempt – a simple metric to be sure, but one that puts offensive usage in context of the points that player produces.

Player – Points Per Shot Attempt (PPSA)
Dwight Howard – 1.56
DeAndre Jordan – 1.30
Anthony Davis – 1.25
Andre Drummond – 1.25
Larry Sanders – 1.15
Roy Hibbert – 1.11
Gorgui Dieng – 1.00

Interestingly, Anthony Davis ties for 3rd with fellow rookie scale phenom Andre Drummond. It’s also worth noting that Howard’s 1.56 PPSA is absolutely ridiculous. The Clippers and Pelicans roster 4 of the 7 players on this list.

But what of that contract? Without question, $21 million in his first year is a massive raise for the 26 year old. We’ll turn to New Orleans GM Sun Scorched:

Yeah, everyone has an opinion, that’s for sure. This league is interesting. General Managers simultaneously overvalue and undervalue cap space, draft picks and every player in this league. That being said, and specific to cap space, it’s not worth anything if you don’t use it. We specifically put ourselves into the position to offer DeAndre a max contract this offseason. We had attempted to trade several times for DeAndre throughout the season to no avail. What’s great about this eventuality is that the only thing we had to give up to acquire DeAndre was cap space.

Indeed, the New Orleans’ roster remains largely intact. DeAndre joins Anthony Davis to create one of the best front courts in the entire league. Returning for their sophomore campaign, Bryce Cotton and Okaro White reprise their starting roles and, while there is a question about who will fill the starting shooting guard, the team seems positioned for a definite playoff run.

Listen, the ownership group knew when they hired me what kind of person I was. I’m incredibly competitive. Sure, we could try to suck in order to grab a higher draft pick, but that really isn’t my style. This league has been through two drafts and, had we shipped off everyone outside of Anthony it’s possible he would be paired with a high draft pick at this point. That being said, I felt we were a playoff team this past season and, if not for injuries to both Anthony and Dwayne, we definitely would have been fighting through May.

It's hard to imagine DeAndre's scoring keeping pace with his increased minutes per game, but Per36 holds that DeAndre would post 17 very efficient points per game, 11 rebounds and over 2 blocks per contest. Paired with Davis' stellar production, the Pelicans looked poised to make some noise in the crowded West.

We definitely see the value in the offensive efficiency this team will benefit from. Our two goals this off-season were to find players who could both rebound and post high-percentage offense. We struck gold with Jordan. And I will say that, in the context of other contracts handed out this offseason, we are thrilled to have landed a difference maker. I don't know that every GM who handed out a max contract can say that with a straight face.

[Jestor]

PPSA doesn't measure production for big men, though. It measures efficiency for those who don't shoot 3s.

Per36 can't be taken seriously with players who don't have great DI/IQ, which DeAndre falls into. He's simply going to be too foul-prone to reach those scoring numbers. To me he's a lot like most of the other players who got max contracts - a legitimate talent and a great player if optimized in the right setup, but nowhere near worth the max. He should make a great pairing with AD though. No question about that.

[Sun Scorched]

PPSA doesn't measure production for big men, though. It measures efficiency for those who don't shoot 3s.

Don't know that's true. A 33% three point shooter is just as valuable as a 50% 2pt shooter in PPSA.

1 shot attempt * 33.3% 3pt shooter = 1 point
1 shot attempt * 50% 2pt shooter = 1 point

The difference between good and bad PPSA is typically poor 2pt FG% (bad) and a players ability to draw fouls at a high rate (good), since foul shots aren't taken into account (on purpose, as the player isn't wasting an in-game shot attempt to generate those points).

[Jestor]

But a 33.3% 3 point shooter is a mediocre at best 3 point shooter. 50% for a big is decent. I get what you're saying, though.

BTW I wonder how many teams will play Hack-A-DeAndre.

[Sun Scorched]

But a 33.3% 3 point shooter is a mediocre at best 3 point shooter. 50% for a big is decent. I get what you're saying, though.

BTW I wonder how many teams will play Hack-A-DeAndre.

You know, I've always considered high DRFL valuable for two reasons:

1. The ability to generate points in excess of those generated through shot attempts, and

2. The ability to get opposing front court players into foul trouble.

So the fact that DeAndre is absolutely terrible at FT% doesn't bother me that much - they're still free points - but I love the fact that he's a foul magnet.

[Jestor]

We're in agreement on that. Hence why Robin was one of our most important FA targets.

[WillyJakkz]

Finally an article so I can comment on your FA prize.

I feel like you have the most defensively incredible frontcourt dynamic woth Jordan and Davis... gonna be hell to score on those guys and I absolutely love your team with Cotton Wade White Davis Jordan, that is a championship caliber team imo in the West no two ways about it.

Well worth the max and good luck I really love that lineup.

[GreenBear]

I personally think a $21 million (plus 4.5% raises) for Jordan is too much imho. I don't think he'll be able to stay on the court enough to justify that contract. That being said, I can certainly see why you did it, and you certainly have put together a quality team. You'll be a fun team to watch next year.

[Marcos_Beck]

I personally think a $21 million (plus 4.5% raises) for Jordan is too much imho. I don't think he'll be able to stay on the court enough to justify that contract. That being said, I can certainly see why you did it, and you certainly have put together a quality team. You'll be a fun team to watch next year.

Agree. He won't last enough to play 30MPG because of foul trouble. But your team is young, has some good pieces surrounding Davis and Wade.. So why not go for the player you felt most that he could be a high level producer?

And BTW I don't look that much at PPSA (even if it helps).. I value TS% way more as it accounts for FTs too (because you use a possession to drive and get to the line, it's not coming "for free").. I mean a player instructed to drive, when his drive is denied, he'll either pass the ball or take a contested jumper, which normally results in a miss. So he'll have low PPSA production, because he's not a spot up shooter or an "opportunity" scorer. But if he can generate contact and get to the line often? He will have higher PPSA but much much higher TS% (if you compare by raise's percentages). That's exactly what I'm trying to do with Kevin Love to turn him into a more efficient player.

I'm sorry because I can't explain myself better than that, my english level does not allows me.

All in all, good acquisition, even if very very expensive. I hope you can make it work!

[andrei]

Good read. I think its definitly a playoff team and now with Durant in the division the battles we're going to have for a playoff spot are going to be unreal. DeAndre is a great C to have next to Davis even if he will foul out quickly every time you play Memphis

[emplep7]

Definitely improved with that signing and although its a bit pricey for me, you are going for it. The only thing that can hold you back at this point is the youth factor for your team. DDS rewards veteran teams for sure, but once Cotton is developed more you will be a dangerous team.

[bt]

Echo the above but the improvement from this team is killing the draft last year with Cotton and White.

[Dennis]

Echo the above but the improvement from this team is killing the draft last year with Cotton and White.

Yeah Okaro and Cotton will be the steals of the century.

[Sun Scorched]

Echo the above but the improvement from this team is killing the draft last year with Cotton and White.

Yeah Okaro and Cotton will be the steals of the century.

They are both 23, were already old for rookies and have one, maybe two more off-seasons to improve. I don't know if they reach their potentials.

I think people take for granted potentials. I mean, it's not a sure thing a player reaches them.

Look at Gobert, for example, no way he reaches his full potential at this point. A function of lack of playing time, development, etc. He would need to increase by 15 points in DRB and 12 points in BLK - he's 23. Not gonna happen.

[Dennis]

Echo the above but the improvement from this team is killing the draft last year with Cotton and White.

Yeah Okaro and Cotton will be the steals of the century.

They are both 23, were already old for rookies and have one, maybe two more off-seasons to improve. I don't know if they reach their potentials.

I think people take for granted potentials. I mean, it's not a sure thing a player reaches them.

Look at Gobert, for example, no way he reaches his full potential at this point. A function of lack of playing time, development, etc. He would need to increase by 15 points in DRB and 12 points in BLK - he's 23. Not gonna happen.

Not sure how DDS3 works.. But DDS2 age doesnt matter. Only the seasons in the league. For example NLL West joined the league at the age of 29. He's now 33 and in his fifth season, he still developes.

[Sun Scorched]

Yeah Okaro and Cotton will be the steals of the century.

They are both 23, were already old for rookies and have one, maybe two more off-seasons to improve. I don't know if they reach their potentials.

I think people take for granted potentials. I mean, it's not a sure thing a player reaches them.

Look at Gobert, for example, no way he reaches his full potential at this point. A function of lack of playing time, development, etc. He would need to increase by 15 points in DRB and 12 points in BLK - he's 23. Not gonna happen.

Not sure how DDS3 works.. But DDS2 age doesnt matter. Only the seasons in the league. For example NLL West joined the league at the age of 29. He's now 33 and in his fifth season, he still developes.

Haha - that's awesome - you had a 29 year old join?

I'd be curious to know what everyone's experience in DDS3 is. I've noticed 24 seems to be the cut off.

[Dennis]

The only thing Ive noticed for DDS3 is that raw rooks can become very developed in one training camp. Saw 10-15 points jumps. No idea why some rooks improve their shootings by 2% or 10+ points per TC and some improve by 1-2 points. Makes it very difficult to create rookie classes.

[Jestor]

Yeah it's based on years of experience in league, not age.

[Chilikonkarne]

Yeah it's based on years of experience in league, not age.

And for how many year that development window is open? 4 or 5?

[Jestor]

Yeah it's based on years of experience in league, not age.

And for how many year that development window is open? 4 or 5?

I can't remember exactly. It's one of the two, though.