Daily Babble: Why Renaldo Balkman Is Worth Acquiring

by Steve Weinman on Jan 4, 2008 2:01 AM EST in NBA Comment 30 comments

With rumors beginning to circulate that the Knicks are offering Renaldo Balkman in trade discussions, the opportunity has arrived to clarify that neither the Knicks' putrid record nor Balkman's per game productivity is a fair indicator of what he would bring to the table in a new environment.

That said, the first thing to do in any appraisal of Balkman is to take the Knicks' current 8-22 mark and Balkman's 2.5 points and 2.8 boards per game and forget them. Because this is a guy who could either be a nice young part to add on a rebuilding team or a potentially capable role player and energy guy to add to a decent squad.

On a Knicks team where the scapegoats change daily and the lineups change with only slightly more regularity, Balkman hasn't been able to get consistent minutes from Isiah Thomas. He hasn't gotten the chance to establish a rhythm or a niche for himself this season, and in some regards, it has appeared that he may have regressed from his progress at the tail end of last season. That said, there is still plenty to work with here.

Comments

Congratulations. You just described Leon Powe with fewer offensive skills.

by Steve from Milford on Jan 4, 2008 4:19 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Congratulations. You just described Leon Powe with fewer offensive skills.

Well if that line doesn’t kill Renaldo’s trade value, I don’t know what will.

I don’t think you gave Renaldo enough credit for his offense Steve. He’s a solid passer. He can lead the fastbreak after a rebound and has good handle. He makes good cuts off the ball when teams double off of him, he puts his hands up in the air and runs straight to the rim – why don’t more guys do this?

His lack of understanding of skill set worries me.
His lack of improvement on a post game worries me. He’s physically stronger than a lot of wings that guard him, he should be taking advantage of that, especially with his passing skills.
His lack of outside shot worries me too. With the way the league has gone, it’s just very difficult for a wing not to be able to shoot.

Balkman is an interesting prospect but his lack of development has likely shot his trade value a cruel blow. I can’t see much value being brought back in a trade for Balkman.

Renaldo needs to watch endless tapes of Kirilenko and other wings who can’t shoot. Or even wings who can but have a post game, guys like Harpring (notice how I said two Jazz players, perfect system for Balkman but that spot is already covered).

by Who on Jan 4, 2008 4:41 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed Who, to summarize my point Balkman simply needs to work on a go-to move. A post move would be phenomenal because he has the length, quickness and grit to play inside. He is for sure a project, but much more athletic than our beloved Leon Powe. 8)

by billysan on Jan 4, 2008 6:41 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

we need a backup pg or a bigman. tony a should not be our backup pg, but he is tons better than rb as a wingman.

by nazzbo on Jan 4, 2008 7:14 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I believe Steve is talking about Renaldo’s value in general, not necessarily his value to the Celtics specifically. I agree with you Steve that he would probably fare much better elsewhere than with the current Knicks. Then again, I think that could be said for several of their guys right now.

by webmaster on Jan 4, 2008 8:51 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Clearly in the Knicks case the sum of the parts exceeds the whole and Balkman is a prime example. But if he can’t shoot then I’d rather have Gerald Green or Ryan Gomes back. Someday the story will come out why that idiot owner can’t fire his idiot GM/coach. I don’t remember a larger pro franchise disgrace than today’s Knicks.
nazzbo, I don’t think we need anything (since Pollard has shown some life)and should keep the slots open in case of injury.

by Wildblu1 on Jan 4, 2008 9:14 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

The Knicks are so bad that I can’t believe the league isn’t going to get involved. Back in the early 1980s, when the Giants had embarassed the NFL, the league basically told them who to hire as GM and coach. The NFL just couldn’t have the lead franchise in the biggest market stinking every year. As a lifetime Celtics fan, I loath the Knicks. But I think any honest basketball fan has to respect the tradition and the importance of New York to basketball. The Knicks are certainly not the Celtics or the Yankees in terms of tradition and wins, but they are still important and regardless of how many banners they have, pro basketball matters a lot in New York. I would say the Knicks are to the NBA what the Red Sox, minus all of the curse nonsense, are to baseball; an historic franchise with moderate levels of success but with a huge fanbase, one of the most historic places in the game as a home court, and a team that will always attract national interest. I don’t want the Knicks to win a title anytime soon but it is not good for basketball for them to stink this bad.

It would be one thing if they were just an ordinary bad team that has made a serious of dumb moves like the Celtics were before this year. That is fixable. But, the Knicks may be the worst franchise in the history of the league right now. This is worse than the Clevland owner trading all of his 1st rounders, at least he was trying to win. This is worse than Donald Sterling refusing to try all of those years, at least he kept out of the headlines and owned a team no one cared about. I have never seen in any sport such a high profile team owned by such a buffoon who not only embarasses himself but embarasses the league like this. At some point you have to feel sorry for Isiah. Any other great player turned incompetent GM would have been fired by now. No Isiah, he just keeps going. Three years ago, Isiah’s mediocre coaching and terrible GM career was a footnote to his great playing career. Now, I am begining to think that his great playing career is becoming a footnote to his monumentally bad GM career. The NBA is a private club. They determine who gets to buy a team. At some point, can’t they just kick Dolan out of the league and make him sell the team? Is there any behavior on the part of an owner that can justify that? If there is, I think Dolan has done it.

by JohnCK on Jan 4, 2008 9:34 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

What I read is that the Knicks offered Balkman and filler for Ron Artest and the Kings hung up the phone laughing. I did not hear that Balkman is being generally shopped.

Balkman is a good energy guy but he has no offensive skills. The player everyone wants is David Lee, not Renaldo Balkman.

by Brickowski on Jan 4, 2008 10:36 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Steve from Milford,

Can’t agree with you there. Powe and Balkman are completely different players, and assessing Balkman in that manner completely devalues his athleticism and defensive ability. This is a guy who can play anyone from a two through four on defense — and possibly even the occasional point guard. He has the capability to become a top-notch defender, and he needs to improve his offensive game. In many regards, he may well be a better prospect than Powe.

-sw

by Steve Weinman on Jan 4, 2008 11:05 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Just to clarify, as Bob mentioned in his comment, this column was intended to be an assessment of Balkman and his value in general rather than his value to the Celtics. Wholly agreed with the readers who wrote in that Balkman does not fit the Celtics’ needs. There is no reason for our beloved team to be looking for him, but I do think he make a nice fit in a variety of places.

-sw

by Steve Weinman on Jan 4, 2008 11:08 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Who,

Very good points about Renaldo offensively. Again, I think that’s what makes him more of a “little things” guy than just an energy guy. He can come in and fly up and down the floor, but it certainly seems that he could add something as a back-of-the-rotation player on a decent team with other not-miserably-underachieving players around him, rather than what he has in New York.

I’m not sure how much it is fair to kill him for ‘lack of development’ yet because it is worth remembering that we are less than halfway through his second season in the league, and Balkman is only 23. There is a long way to go here, and I think a change of scenery to a place where he was perhaps around more coaching and better influences could do him wonders. He has the physical tools, and he seems to have the right attitude.

-sw

by Steve Weinman on Jan 4, 2008 11:12 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Brick,

I definitely heard the same rumor you did about Balkman, and I think I have heard his name in a couple of other rumored deals as late. I’m right with you with regard to David Lee being the hot commodity on the Knicks — plays hard on both ends of the floor, adds size on the frontcourt, rebounds very well, can finish around the basket (though that needs some work), and he has really put in a ton of time working on his midrange game, although he still has a way to go there. However, as trade talks heat up in the next couple of months, it seemed worth pointing out that while Lee is the guy to get from the Knicks, Balkman could be a very nice prospect to grab as well. As I said to Who, with less than a year and a half in the league, it seems fair to give the guy some time on the offensive skills. As an eighth or ninth man with the potential to be a shutdown defender — and without the I-need-to-score-or-nothing-else-matters ’tude — I think he could be a very nice addition for teams around the league, especially a couple of seasons down the road.

As I wrote earlier, optimally, Balkman probably isn’t going to a major contender right now. But if he gets onto a young building team and gets some added run on the floor and is forced to work on his offensive game more, we could see him develop into a lot more than he is right now. Just my theory on him.

Thanks as always for writing in.

-sw

by Steve Weinman on Jan 4, 2008 11:17 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I’m not sure how much it is fair to kill him for ‘lack of development’ yet because it is worth remembering that we are less than halfway through his second season in the league, and Balkman is only 23.

I’m disappointed in his lack of development. I don’t think it changes his future too much, I’m not killing him over it …. but it does kill his trade value. That’s different. I’m still happy enough with him as a prospect and with his intriguing skill set.

Balkman’s a developing player that isn’t considered anywhere near the finished article … and when those guys start to fall off track, big red flags start flying. Just the way it is.

When we look at Balkman, what has he really added to his game since early on his rookie season? What skill? Every GM in the league will be looking at that. The improvement hasn’t really been there. GM’s get nervous when that happens.

There was a lot more reported interest in Balkman 6 months ago when teams saw nice upside and a growing role in the team … but with his stagnation that interest hasn’t really been seen since the start of the season.

by Who on Jan 4, 2008 11:22 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Who,

Fair enough. When I said “killing him,” I was speaking more in regards to your “trade value” comment than any dislike of him as a prospect.

You’re right about the fact that it appears he has regressed, but on this particular Knicks team, I’m really not sure how clear a picture we can get of what some the young kids can and can’t do, especially the way the minutes distributions swerve around.

I would hold out hope that a change of scenery could help him a lot, but your comments about GMs getting nervous and his value declining over the past six months are dead on. I wouldn’t say it is dead, but I can’t argue with you that he was more attractive at the end of last season. Well put.

-sw

by Steve Weinman on Jan 4, 2008 11:27 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Congratulations. You just described Leon Powe with fewer offensive skills.

Leon Powe has offensive skills? News to me.

Plus, last time I checked, he wasn’t exactly able to guard three or four position. For crying out loud, he struggles guarding a single one.

by kozlodoev on Jan 4, 2008 11:42 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

“tony a should not be our backup pg, but he is tons better than rb as a wingman”

Tony Allen should not be playing basketball. The guys has more turnovers than McDonald’s line cook.

by Pashm on Jan 4, 2008 11:52 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

kozlodoev said:

Congratulations. You just described Leon Powe with fewer offensive skills.

Leon Powe has offensive skills? News to me.

Plus, last time I checked, he wasn’t exactly able to guard three or four position. For crying out loud, he struggles guarding a single one.

Well played.

-sw

by Steve Weinman on Jan 4, 2008 12:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Pashm,

I’m in agreement that I don’t sit comfortably with Tony as someone to be counted on with any regularity at the point guard spot (although he performed admirably against the Lakers). He is turnover-prone and his ball-handling simply doesn’t suit him all that well for the position.

That said, the length you go to seems a bit extreme. Despite his leg injury from last season, TA is still gifted with superb athleticism and has shown the capability to be both a very competent defender and an explosive player around the rim. Some of that explosion has been lost with regard to last year’s injury, but he can still attack the rim very well, and as he gets farther away from the injury, the jumping ability may well come back. Definitely a nice still-youngster to have at the back of this rotation, and someone that I would like to see around this team in the future.

-sw

by Steve Weinman on Jan 4, 2008 12:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Not even gonna bother to respond extensively to Pashm who clearly missed the west coast trip or TA’s play in the middle of the season last year, pre-injury. TA is NOT a PG, but he is a superior bench wing-player when his head is in the game ….

As to Balkman, I watch a lot of Knicks games as I live in NY. I think GMs might be making a mistake to too quickly judge his purported lack of development in the midst of the Knicks Titanic-like cruise. Mardy Collins is another Knicks players I would put in this situation i.e. players who play unselfishly, good and improving D and could bring real value to another team’s bench and whose development has been retarded by Isiah Thomas. Balkman also brings fantastic energy to the floor and I dont understand why Jared Jeffries (talk about offensive deficencies) gets minutes over him (other than having a couple inches more height). As an example, Balkman could have value in a place like Golden State or Phoenix; places where his willingness to run would allow him to get bunches of lay-ups from great PGs and where his defensive toughness would be a welcome addition.

by Rick Robeys Return on Jan 4, 2008 12:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

There are plenty of nice players out there who might be available, starting with Mickael Pietrus, who is better than Balkman. Thabo Sefolosha is another pretty good player who seems to be in the doghouse these days and probably could be had for the right price.

by Brickowski on Jan 4, 2008 12:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Rick Robeys Return,

Wholly agreed. I’ve long maintained that Balkman could be in double-digit points per game on fast break baskets alone on a running team, such as the ones you mentioned, or even if he just went across the Hudson and played in Jersey with Jason Kidd. As a New Yorker who ends up watching this Knicks team quite a bit as well, I stand right with you about judging some of the youngsters and even moreso with regard to my simply being baffled about the minutes distribution. With Jeffries inept and Q-Rich clearly still injured for much of the early portion of the season, Balkman really should have had more of an opportunity throughout so far. Not as big a Collins booster myself, but I can understand the sentiment on your end.

Thanks for writing in.

-sw

by Steve Weinman on Jan 4, 2008 12:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Brick,

With you about Pietrus, who I wrote about a couple of days back as a nice piece becoming available from Golden State. He is a better player than Balkman and has a far higher ceiling in my estimation. That said, I’d like to think Balkman would be available for more of a bargain price.

Ultimately, I happen to watch Balkman on a regular basis — or at least his team, even when he can’t get on the floor — and I think this is a guy who deserves more of a look. No question that there are other similarly nice players out there around the league.

Is Thabo rumored to be headed out of town? I know there have been plenty of issues in Hicag this season, but I haven’t heard any rumblings as to whether or not he remains part of their long-term plan.

-sw

by Steve Weinman on Jan 4, 2008 12:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

So, the real question in my mind has become this: How many people here on this board would trade Leon Powe for Renaldo Balkman and how many wouldnt? To continue, would you trade a second round Pick for him?

My answer to both is yes and I would trade both together if needed. 8)

by billysan on Jan 4, 2008 12:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Good question, billysan. I would agree that I’d move LoPo for Balkman straight up, although my only reservation is that Powe is a legit big man (a greater commodity if he becomes something) while Balkman still falls into more of a swing mold. That said, I think Balkman’s likelihood to hit his ceiling is higher, and there is a reason — besides Isiah being Isiah — why Balkman went nearly 30 slots higher in the ’06 draft.

-sw

by Steve Weinman on Jan 4, 2008 1:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Brickowski is right on about David Lee. I would offer a package of two of these players for him – BigBaby, Tony Allen, Leon Powe.

by scndtony on Jan 4, 2008 1:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

p.s No way the Knicks do it – But hey Thomas is calling the shots so maybe there is a chance.

by scndtony on Jan 4, 2008 1:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Stepping back from the Knicks players, how does Glen Davis rank now as far as rookie talent? He was picked 34 (I think). Can he be better than Jeff Green? I would guess he’s top 15 but maybe top 10 too high?

by Wildblu1 on Jan 4, 2008 1:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Steve Weinman said:

Is Thabo rumored to be headed out of town? I know there have been plenty of issues in Hicag this season, but I haven’t heard any rumblings as to whether or not he remains part of their long-term plan.

I don’t know. But players who get one DNP-CD after another tend to be available. Thabo is shooting poorly (just over 30%) and hasn’t played more than 5 minutes since Dec. 21. He never got on the floor last night against Portland.

by Brickowski on Jan 4, 2008 5:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Thabo should have played against Brandon Roy, Bulls need his size and defense. Paxson still likes him I wouldn’t expect him to be available …. yet

by Who on Jan 4, 2008 8:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I have never seen in any sport such a high profile team owned by such a buffoon who not only embarasses himself but embarasses the league like this.

JohnCK, please allow me to introduce you to Jeremy Jacobs, owner of the Boston Bruins. You know the Bruins, right? Former home of Bobby Orr, Ray Bourque, and Cam Neely? Used to be a fairly popular and consistent team that captured the city’s attention? For a time, arguably the most popular Boston team? I’ll let you two sit and talk for a while ;-)

Joking aside, your point makes sense. However, I wouldn’t go so far as to say the league needs to intervene. There’s a difference between an incompetent GM and an almost cavalier destruction of your team’s future. Stepien gave away 1st round picks like they were candy; at least Thomas is making a concentrated effort to improve the team. I dare say that with the mess the Knicks were in when Thomas took over as GM, NOBODY could have cleared that payroll in this period of time without standing pat and thus being accused of tanking. At least now they have a shot of having cap room by the 2010 season, when you have a class headlined by Wade, LeBron, and Carmelo (or is it Bosh? I never remember which signed the 3 year and which the 5 year.)

By the way, though, and not to get too off-topic: If Stepien encouraged the NBA to make the “Stepien Rule”, how is it possible that Robert Sarver gets away with selling his first-round picks year after year? I mean, it’s one thing for a team to make a lopsided deal that is at least reasonable, but Thomas for second-round picks was lop-sided enough without Sarver also giving the Sonics two first-rounders. How is this not being investigated by the league?

by BUTerrier on Jan 6, 2008 6:24 AM EST reply actions 0 recs