| Grading The Deal: Nazr To Charlotte For Hermann And Brezec Authored by Quinten Farmer - December 17, 2007 - 6:17 pm
In a swap of frontline players, the Charlotte Bobcats sent Center Primoz Brezec and Forward Walter Hermann to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Center Nazr Mohammed. While this deal is by no means a blockbuster, it could have interesting implications on the Eastern Conference playoff picture, and on both teams' future salary cap situations.
- Detroit’s Perspective
While the trade may not have earth shattering implications on Detroit’s overall situation, the deal is easily a win-win for veteran GM Joe Dumars.
The first piece in the deal, Primoz Brezec is not exactly the most inspiring of acquisitions. Statistically he has been one of the leagues worst starting centers this year (1.9 PPG and 2.2 RPG) and will more than likely be riding the pine in Detroit. The intriguing piece is 6’10” forward Walter Hermann.
Although Hermann has seen little playing time under new coach Sam Vincent, a strong stretch towards the end of last season showed the league what Hermann is capable of with consistent minutes. Joe Dumars coveted Hermann for his ability to step out and hit a three, a useful skill alongside his infectious energy and hustle. If Hermann is able to step up his play to the level he exhibited last year, He could be a valuable asset for Detroit’s already talented frontcourt rotation.
Beyond the talent acquired in the trade, Dumars has also made a shrewd move in regard to his team’s salary cap situation. Although Nazr Mohammed’s deal was for a reasonable $6 million a year, its biggest handicap was that it does not expire until after the 2010/11 season. In exchange for that moderately cap restricting deal, Dumars was able to acquire two expiring deals. This will not only afford the team slightly greater flexibility, but will also help the Pistons avoid the luxury tax in the coming seasons.
Grade for Pistons: B+
This deal contained nothing but positives for Detroit, as Joe Dumars obviously has pulled off a steal. The only thing keeping this deal from being a solid A is the fact that no big time impact player was acquired. Still, a solid role player and the promise of cap relief, at the cost of an end of the bench cap liability is a good move for any team to make.
- Charlotte’s Perspective
After missing out on signing free agent forward Anderson Varejao, the Bobcats were left with a desperately thin frontcourt and a glaring need for a competent big to play alongside Emeka Okafor. Hamstrung by this desperate need, the Bobcats appear to have reached a bit in the acquisition of Mohammed.
Granted, neither Hermann nor Brezec were contributing much to the Bobcats this season, and Brezec was the only one even receiving consistent minutes. In Hermann’s case, this lack of production was more than likely due to coach Sam Vincent’s rotation strategies, which kept him glued to the bench night after night. For whatever reason, Vincent was not interested in playing Hermann despite the fact that his hustle and shooting range would have been valuable alongside the bruising Okafor. Despite the rather inexplicable nature of Hermann’s lack of playing time, it appears the organization simply supported the rookie coach by finding an alternative player.
Despite the fact that little was given up to acquire him, Nazr Mohammed is still a questionable addition for this Bobcats team. To be fair, Mohammed brings traits that any team in the league could use: a hardworking, hustling mentality. He is a strong rebounder, decent defender, and could even be considered passable on the offensive end, when compared to the player he is replacing (Brezec). His biggest liabilities are a lack of a go to post move, or a decent 15 foot jump shot. He is a tad undersized to play the C position, but not quite mobile enough to man the PF slot.
Unfortunately for Charlotte, what makes this deal all the more suspect is that those traits also describe another member of the Bobcats team: Emeka Okafor, exactly the player that Mohammed will be expected to coexist with. While Vincent’s strategy for the team is known only to himself, an outside observer must question the acquisition of a player almost completely redundant with the team’s stud big man.
While the merits of the acquisition of Nazr Mohammed the player are debatable, the trade certainly negatively impacts the Bobcat’s salary cap situation. In the same way that the Pistons were wise to acquire two expiring contracts in exchange for a long term one, the Bobcats have erred in adding such a long term deal to their cap figures. As previously mentioned, the size of the contract (at about 6 million a year) is not the issue. Instead, the problem lies in the fact that the contract extends until the 2010/11 season. By the time the deal concludes, Mohammed will be 34 years old and likely will have suffered a decline in production. If in three years an aging Mohammed is no longer earning playing time, his 6 million dollar salary will make this deal look like a major blunder.
Grade for Bobcats: C
As with the Pistons, the only thing keeping this trade in the middle range of grades was that all in all it is a relatively low impact deal. An MLE level contract is hardly a cap killer, however long it may be. Additionally, Nazr could potentially fit in well with this squad (depending on how Vincent decides to utilize him) and prove the doubters wrong. Still, even if Mohammed surprises everyone, his age dictates that he still will not develop into any kind of a high impact player. In a deal where the best case scenario is simply mediocrity, it cannot be said that the Bobcats came out on top. In that case, it can be said without any doubt that the acquisition of Nazr Mohammed was a poor move for a team struggling to stay in the playoff hunt. |
