Peanuts Classic: A Kwame Brown Christmas

Fellow blogger David P. called the Detroit Pistons' signing of Kwame Brown a bad move. The Wizards drafting Kwame Brown #1 in 2001 is universally mocked, and when Brown was traded (along with J. Crit & a couple of draft picks) for Pau Gasol, Stephen A. Smith said...well, I'll just let you watch for yourself.

Kwame Brown is probably the most universally mocked and derided player in the NBA, and yet, he continually finds people willing to take a chance on him, starting with tricking MJ into drafting him #1, the Lakers trading Caron Butler for him, and finally the Detroit Pistons signing him to what seems like an absurd contract.

Why does this man get so much love from the NBA brain trust while the sports pundits and common fans look down upon him so?

It starts with, in my opinion, the "bust" label. While Kwame Brown will never be putting up 15+ ppg, and will never turn any heads with his play, he CAN be counted on to play hard interior defense and is an athletic big man, in a world where athletic big men are quite rare...

Statistically speaking, Brown has a career PER of 13.0, which is just under the NBA average of 15. Over his career, he has pulled down 13.8% of all available rebounds. Statistically speaking, Kwame Brown should be regarded in the same light players of similar production (ie Mikki Moore, Chuck Hayes*) are. That is, as serviceable big men worthy of backup minutes.

Unfortunately (for Kwame), people tend not to examine the true worth of a player in statistics alone, but in their story. Mikki Moore and Chuck Hayes were overlooked by the NBA GMs and front offices, while Kwame was touted as the next big thing. And really, it is anyone's fault BUT Kwame's that he was drafted #1 - it's not like he was going to tell anyone, "Hey, you guys shouldn't draft me #1, I think you might be overrating me." Hell no!

In short, Kwame Brown is a decent player. He might get overpaid, and he surely was overhyped, but don't hate the man for what the system said he'd be.

Plus, the Lakers could have used Kwame's interior defense in the finals. Hate him or not, it's undeniable that he plays solid post d and is the antithesis of the finesse style the Lakers were crucified for in the media.

*I realize Chuck Hayes' has a better PER and is far younger than Kwame for a career analysis to be accurate, but I couldn't think of Kwame's statistical peers off the top of my head and found Hayes to be sufficiently close for the point I was making.

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Good Move. Bad Move.

Good Move: Golden State Warriors resigned Andris Biedrins to a six year $62 million contract (just $4 million less than Monta Ellis). Is $10 million a year for a ten-ten guy worth it? No. But in the final 11 games, Biedrins averaged 30 minutes, 14.5 points, 14 boards, 1.5 blocks and less than a turnover per game. Worth it.

Good Move: Charlotte Bobcats re-sign Emeka Okafor for six-years $72 million. Locking down the potential 20/10 defensive anchor was a big move for Charlotte. He only averaged 14 points a contest but he's a double-double lock. Hopefully Gerald(45% FG), Jason(44%), and Raymond (41%) stop jacking up 45 shots a game and throw it to Okafor(53.5%) more.

Good Move: Clippers sign swing-man Ricky Davis to a two-year deal worth $4.7 million. With Cuttino Mobley slowing down and a lack of experience with Al Thornton and Eric Gordon, Ricky Davis will undoubtedly make a big impact for the Clippers at the two and three positions.

Good Move: NY Knicks traded Renaldo Balkman to the Denver Nuggets for Bobby Jones and Taurean Green. Not a blockbuster move, but the trade for Isiah’s 20th pick will benefit both teams. The Knicks will drop Jones and Green to clear $2 million dollars while the Nuggets pick up an excellent young talent.

Bad Move: Detroit Pistons signed Kwame Brown to a two year $8 million dollar contract. Kwame Brown should be playing for the league minimum if at all. With free agents such as Juwan Howard, Francisco Elson, and Alonzo Mourning still available, Detroit could have done a lot better with $4 million a year.

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