C's Back In The Mix For Batista

How garnett-esque. I think the next step is for Wilbon to come out and say “Boston is racially a tough place for Uruguayians to play”…

This would be a great pickup. If so, does that mean we cut 2 guys or don’t go after Saras for a backup point? I would rather see us add to our depth at the big than someone who will bring the ball up a bit a few minutes a game if we only choose one. Cutting Jackie Manuel will give us one spot. Who is the other? Wallace? I think we will end up with only one of the signings if we get any at all.

Ainges is confusing me with one ! He’s a small center who’s not good enough to play that position no more than a couple of minutes, he’s the right size for a power forward but when he played with Alanta he did nothing to impress me whatsoever

Guess the C’s called Cornstein’s bluff. Pass on this guy.

it’s the scalabrine factor. what does this guy bring to the table that signore scalabrine does not? you need fouls to waste from the biggies and rebounds and blocked shots and good outlet passes wouldn’t hurt.

I understand that Jackie Manuel has “Camp Fodder” written on his forehead, but I am not sure Batista is much better as far as replacements are concerned.

Not much to get excited about here. We are talking about signing a guy who won’t dress most nights to a minimum salary contract. He is regular season insurance to Pollard going down to give us some depth at the big. If he can keep his temper intact he brings more to the table than Jackie Manuel especially now that Posey has solidified the previous depth problem at the wing.

All these comments are interesting, but what do we know about this guy? Was the Vegas thing against real competition?
Links! Links, darn it!

Bigs take time to develop and they also take time to acclimate to the NBA game. Most Bigs never quite make the grade but their rarity as contributors doesn’t lessen their need.

Our starting roster presently has the veteran presence it has lacked and because of their advancing age and concern about injury, the bench needs to be ready to supply help as required.

That help is expected to come from the top 7 back-ups, as in the game-day 12 man roster. The remaining 3 players (from the league mandated 15) are usually young players in development.

 How does one identify an emerging star? A player can apparently languish in mediocrity and suddenly have break-out performances that warrant a second look. Such is the case of Esteban Batista, an underperformer with Atlanta who suddenly shines as an all-around skilled BIG player.

The 15th spot on the roster is designed for such players, especially BIGS with high energy motors who can score, defend and rebound at lower levels of competition (in hopes that their skills will translate into similar NBA skills).

He’s worth the gamble…while the present looks secure, we also need to look to the future.

I say get him if we can, he just turned 23 yrs old with Atlanta
last yr and now is growing into his own. he rebounds and is a big center at 270lbs.I guess he scores well to if 21ppg in fiba tournament is any indication. Pollard and scali should be scared, not manuel.Pollard and scali avg 1 rpg for all the minutes they play, their respective teams that they played for took a serious beating on the boards (possessions)
when they were in. I would cut pollard, and yes i did like his game , but that was 6 or 7 yrs ago, which in nba yrs is way past his prime and far into his declining yrs.
We havent seen much of Batista and manuel, but their young and up in coming, one dominated the pre-rookie league and the other dominated fiba tournament games. I like seeing a player dominate something,anything its nice seeing them stand out, it usually means success is around the corner. Have you noticed that when a player dominates summer league which is no big deal up front, they usually are the ones that are going to be successful and advance. the guys that just hold their own in summer league just dont make the cut at the next level. ex with someone we all know.. leon powe dominates summer league which leads to being nba reasdy.
if powe looked like 4 or 5 pick up players for summer league from waltham or worchester, he would not be nba ready. like that big pf from wvu who could knock down the trey like a guard, he just didnt dominate in the summer league and coppenwrath couldnt dominate were are these two guys now.. anyways scali and pollard just dont dominate anything.
i would take manuel and batista over scali and pollard. plus there youth and potential to carry the torch in 3 yrs weighs into my choice.

the guy is only 24 years old and he got skills. if the level of competition at the American cup was really that bad, how come other NBA bigs who are reguler starters such as Nene or Delembert didn’t dominate the competition ? and I’m sure you wouldn’t mind those guys on your roster for about 1 mil’ a year. the fact of the metter is, the guy can score and he can rebound, and he did that while being the star of the team, the guy that all the other teams takes notice of and try to contain.
with us no one will pay attention to him, he’ll find himeself wide open on a reguler basis. if he can score and rebound against players who are making an effort to stop him and box him out ( and those players were no practice chairs ), he can defenitly do that for us.
I even see a bit of Dino Radja in him, that will bring back memories…

yeah! people are incredulous that Atlanta didnt see the talent
in this kid and feel since they didnt than he isnt going to be good.
if i had a dollar for every time that has happened to any of the nba teams, i would own a team.

He has some upside,As well as being young.Though there games are not similar.Brad Miller was not on any ones radar until he played in some tournaments where he came alive.Could be the same kind of wakeup call for Batista.

never heard of this guy…is he for now maybe or NBDL/down the road??

He’s useless

Absolutely useless

Offers no value whatsoever

Manuel will give us more and I don’t like Manuel at all

How garnett-esque. I think the next step is for Wilbon to come out and say “Boston is racially a tough place for Uruguayians to play”…

you funny

kozlodev,
Agree with you in principle… but Manuel is another wing player on a team with plenty of wings but not a lot of size. I’d say that’s the major difference.

wdleehl,
Interesting theory!

When he did play he did well. He seems to be able to pass as well as rebound and score. Defense would be my main concern; however I would feel better with another Center on this roster – no question. If Bbaby beats him out for that role than so be it. But at least it will not be by default. Do not think we can rely on Perk and Pollard alone and playing KG at center only cuts down his effectiveness and boasts his minutes beyond what they should be.

We need another big body anyways and in Ainge’s eye for talent we have learned to trust. Clearly he is a piece of meat for the most part this season and a development project in the long run. Maybe realizing who he is, the boy has no dreams. He sees KG and he sees Clifford Ray here, so he figures for him it’s a good fit.He can develop his game.

Esteban Batista will have five fouls to give while giving Perk some needed rest. He will also take up some space in the piant making rebound posible for him and his teammates he too might get some put backs and layup on the back end of some assist from the big three and Rajon. I would give him a try at the minimium sal allowed. that is prolly where the discussion is at the present along with the # of years. I would not be upset either way that is with or without him. I would prefer to have him however.

Hmmm…Manuel or a 24 year old, 270 pound big man? I’ll take the big man thank you. Who’s Manuel anyway? We’re trying to win a CHAMPIONSHIP people, and are no longer trying to waste time developing youth. We need some insurance up front.