by Kent Sterling
Drew Gooden has reason to laugh today. Sure, he got fired, but he still has $13.4M coming to him.
Drew Gooden has been a hell of a good power forward for a significant part of his career. The Indiana Pacers need one of those.
When healthy, Gooden can score and rebound, and as a back-up to David West, he makes all kinds of sense for the Pacers.
He’ll be 32 by the time the season starts, but he’s a well-rested 32, after playing sparingly for the Milwaukee Bucks who released him today under the amnesty clause of the latest collective bargaining agreement.
Because of the amnesty situation, Gooden is guaranteed $6.7 million for each of the next two years, but the Pacers would only have to pay the amount of their bid. The Bucks cover the rest. That could lead to a bargain as few other teams are likely in the market for a four without a lot of tread left on the tire, who hasn’t played more than 56 games only once since the 2007-2008 season.
In the 2011-2012 season, Gooden showed he had recovered from plantar fasciitis as he filled in for injured Andrew Bogut, and was quite respectable, averaging 13.7 points per game for the season.
Given his age and declining minutes, Gooden would appear to be a longshot to help the Pacers over the hump, but if the price is right, he’s a pro who can play a role behind David West that would give them a better rounded game than the backup power forward he would replace.
- Talented – check
- Veteran – check
- Healthy – (currently) check
- Bargain – maybe
Messages left for Gooden’s agent have not been returned. Messages for the Pacers would be pointless to leave because they will not confirm or deny anything until the deal is done.
Pacers have no more $. They’d have to trade Granger/Green to be able to take back any $. They’re right up against the luxury tax and have said multiple times they will not go over. Although I do like the Gooden idea. Better than… Miles Plumlee.
They are roughly $3.5 million under the tax level, but close to the budget Herb Simon allowed. That can all be cleared up during the season with a trade or two.
Wish they could trade Green. Really thought he was going to be a contributor. I do, however, think they are a better team with Granger. They’ll definitely IMO need somebody to backup West. I just don’t think Plumlee will cut it… And Cope will be better at the 3 but who knows? Somebody could surprise us I suppose.
I don’t know. I watched Plumlee in summer games. He looked a lot better than I thought he would be. I think we need a backup for Hibbert. I wished we could trade Green for about anyone.