Warriors Interested in Smush?

by pree on Jan 2, 2008 10:52 PM PST

About a week ago, I wrote a column about the four most likely players to be moved, and I mentioned the Warriors possibly being a destination for one of the three backup point guards listed. Smush was one of them (LINK).

It appears the Warriors are in the hunt for Smush Parker ..

Source: Miami Herald

There appears to be no shortage of potential destinations for Parker, who Riley confirmed has been shopped in trades in recent weeks.

Cleveland, Boston, Houston and Golden State are believed to be among the teams the Heat has talked with regarding a deal. Parker has missed the past 18 games since his Nov. 27 altercation with a female valet attendant at a Miami condo.

Frankly, if he's all you can get as far as a backup point guard goes .. I guess it's okay. But he'll be around for two years - next year is a wonderful player's option.

He's a bigger guard and he can penetrate and shoot, but he isn't the most reliable ball-handler. The stats may not show it, but after watching him extensively in LA for two years, I can tell you that he plays erratic at times.

He's athletic as hell, which is what frustrated most Laker fans about his defense. He has long arms and footspeed, but for some reason, was a matador on defense. Made Chucky Atkins look like a solid defender .. and that's saying something.

As an aside, I apologize for not being around as much as I'd like to - I've been busy with a lot of non-Warriors stuff. Refocusing for the New Year!

This FanPost is a submission from a member of the mighty Golden State of Mind community. While we're all here to throw up that W, these words do not necessarily reflect the views of the GSoM Crew. Still, chances are the preceding post is Unstoppable Baby!

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Comments

rockets

are interested in smush? with their 4878237 points already?

by ellibeans on Dec 30, 2007 8:51 AM PST reply actions

no

god no

by AJC3317 on Dec 30, 2007 12:01 PM PST reply actions

Also see

Rumor: Warriors and Heat Talked about Smush Parker Deal
http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/story/2007/12/30/133639/08

by Atma Brother ONE on Dec 30, 2007 12:22 PM PST reply actions

Smush

On the RealGm Miami Heat Forums, at least one "insider" is claiming Pietrus for Parker is inevitable as soon as the deal can be made on January 1...so there is further support for this.

His $2M-ish option isn't great, but it's not killer either. He can shoot the 3P at a solid clip and has good size, but he's not a legit PG by any stretch and not the best perimeter defender. His length will help in our scramble D, but what we really need is someone who can stay in front.

Kinda of a "bleh" move. Would be a nice pickup if he were on a minimum deal, but the money takes some of the appeal away.

A Golden state of mind Indeed.

AIM: Jetforze

by OptionZero @ Golden State Of Mind on Dec 30, 2007 12:53 PM PST reply actions

re

Pietrus for Parker?

Hell, I'd do it.

by jtoj on Dec 30, 2007 1:14 PM PST up reply actions

Smush

can create on offense which is exactly what we need when baron is out. MP is always camped out in the corner and is not a penetrator like smush. Id take him over Pietrius for sure.

by highflya on Dec 30, 2007 1:44 PM PST reply actions

I'd rather have Pietrus

People here hate him more than he deserves. If we can get Smush for a 2nd round pick or something I'd love it though. He's not even playing for the Heat so it shouldn't cost us a rotation player.

It's almost like the Warriors have 6 guys out there... they always have a guy open! - Jon Barry commentating game 3 last year

by gsw4life on Dec 30, 2007 2:09 PM PST reply actions

Parker,

Smush would be fine to replace Troy Hudson, but there's no way we should trade Pietrus for him. I can't even fathom the possibility.

JohnSpartan: Hold it. The Schwartzenegger Library?

by 61st Amendment on Dec 30, 2007 2:53 PM PST reply actions

ditto

for Hudson, yea, but I'd rather keep Pietrus, save the $$$, and go after a for real backup point guard.

by centerre on Dec 30, 2007 5:12 PM PST up reply actions

Pietrus

Pietrus' negatives aren't immediately obvious- his PPG/RPG and percentages seem ok, not horrible.

His foul rate, however, is atrocious. Given that Nelson seems prone to letting him play in the 2q and occasianally use him as a "stopper" to rest Jackson or Baron, letting him guard opposing scorers just means opponents hit the bonus earlier and earlier AND our offense loses rhythm thanks to the stoppages.

Offensively, he's taking horrible shots- who taught him that stupid stepback J that never hits?

Parker's not great, I'm not enamored by the move- but not because we're giving up Pietrus.

He might be a useful expiring next year, who knows.

I'd much rather try to sign Telfair in the offseason, but Parker shouldn't affect that too much either way, so no biggie.

A Golden state of mind Indeed.

AIM: Jetforze

by OptionZero @ Golden State Of Mind on Dec 30, 2007 3:03 PM PST reply actions

I'd pass on Smush

And to the Telfair comment all I have to say is Oh God no!! Bassie is garbage in the NBA and I can't see him becoming a quality NBA point.

Loved seeing Baron block his shots a few games ago!!

by goldenstatefan on Dec 31, 2007 9:30 PM PST up reply actions

Fail

Check out what he's doing this year- more than solid for a backup PG.

If we could get him for about half the MLE ($3M tops), 3 years, that'd be a solid move.

A Golden state of mind Indeed.

AIM: Jetforze

by OptionZero @ Golden State Of Mind on Dec 31, 2007 9:40 PM PST up reply actions

Smush on D

He's a matador because he's a gambler. He grabs nearly 2 steals a game. That, with his size and range should make him a good fit. Valets beware.

by eshock @ Golden State Of Mind on Dec 30, 2007 10:17 PM PST reply actions

Note

Pietrus for Smush doesn't work straight up; Miami fans were commenting on this as well.

The Heat do have some random scrubs we could take and immediately cut, so its not a big deal.

A Golden state of mind Indeed.

AIM: Jetforze

by OptionZero @ Golden State Of Mind on Dec 31, 2007 12:10 AM PST reply actions

No to Smush

As someone who watched Smush play quite a bit last year (I go to college in SoCal), I say it would be a disaster for us. He is not the backup PG we want behind Baron. He's unreliable, not a good passer, not a good defender, and his shooting is erratic. Laker fans were happy to see him go (even at his salary), and that's generally a good indication to how good a player is.

by Yoyo on Dec 31, 2007 12:39 PM PST reply actions

SMUSH KILLS

The WARRIORS, but could it be said the same while being a W?

I think I'd rather have J-DUB for his ball-handling and random 3-point shooting. He'd fit right in!

What's up w/ that one PREE?

"S.C. gooooo hooooome!!!"

by scottiepimppen on Dec 31, 2007 12:39 PM PST reply actions

Chocolate

He's one of the four I think will be moved, but I don't think the Warriors have what the Heat want. The Heat are willing to take a long-term contract, but what can the Warriors realistically give the Heat?

They're not looking for cap relief. So not even the TPE is useful to them.

by pree on Dec 31, 2007 2:46 PM PST up reply actions

INTERESTING

Thanks for the info PREE!

J-DUB is an interesting player, but I guess it still doesn't matter who we want, but who the other teams want from us.

"S.C. gooooo hooooome!!!"

by scottiepimppen on Jan 1, 2008 12:12 PM PST up reply actions

please no smush

Smush is horrible and cant ball. I'd rather keep Pietrus, who is much more multidimensional than Smush.

by ThunderSesh on Dec 31, 2007 2:39 PM PST reply actions

PG options

are well decribed in Marcus Thompson's article:

http://www.contracostatimes.com/warriors/ci_7848879?nclick_check=1

most he suggests could be had for MP and change either way thrown in ... he also mentioned Boykins and the +/- of each of the possibilities

by hardcore on Dec 31, 2007 4:51 PM PST reply actions

Parker = Belinelli?

According to Marcus Thompson of the CCTimes:

Rookie guard Marco Belinelli said he would welcome minutes at the point, but acknowledged the team would be best if it were just a handful at a time.

"About 10 minutes," Belinelli said. "Coming up, playing in Italy, I always played point guard. But I need work."

He said the coaches have told him they like him at point because he has their desired size. At 6-foot-5, 192 pounds, Belinelli can see and shoot over most opposing point guards.

There is one problem: Belinelli isn't too comfortable against tight pressure. Such defenses force him to put his body between the man and the ball, as fundamentals dictate and view the court over his shoulder.

"I don't like when they get up on me," Belinelli said. "I can't (face them) when they play me like that."

Belinelli at the point is interesting, but that article pretty much sums up the problem- he's not quite good enough to handle the pressure of quicker defenders as he's likely to see.

My point, however, is that Belinelli is pretty much Smush Parker. The best things Parker brings are size (6'4), solid 3p shooting (35% ish), and steals (1.9 per 40mpg). He doesn't play fundamental defense, he can't quite guard SGs, and he's not a true point.

Gee, that sounds alot like Belinelli...

A Golden state of mind Indeed.

AIM: Jetforze

by OptionZero @ Golden State Of Mind on Dec 31, 2007 8:58 PM PST reply actions

OH PLEASE NO!

I go to college in so cal, so i watched smush all the time with the lakers... he's absolute garbage. it felt like every time he touched the ball, something bad happened. My Fakers fan room mate had a party the day he got traded cuz he was so happy. A BIG Thumbs down to smush

by jammajuice on Jan 2, 2008 12:22 PM PST reply actions