He still McCants shoot

Nor'easter drops McCants for Kyle Lowry

We've discussed McCants here, and Lowry here.

Both McCants and Lowry have been promoted to the starting lineups of their terrible teams lately. McCants had a couple double-digit games last week, but it's hard to get excited about 12/3. Lowry hasn't exactly been super-hot, but had nice 17/2/4 line (which got him into the lineup) and his minutes are in the mid-twenties.

Judgment: We like this move - Lowry, when effective, is an all-round player - he'll get 4 to 6 REBs and AST and some STL, while McCants is really just a scorer.

Batum of the Barrel

Nor'easter drops Batum, picks up McCants

Nicolas Batum is getting a bit annoyed - picked up twice, dropped twice, only getting to play twice. He's been discussed a few times, and while his situation hasn't changed, he's put up two goose eggs in a row (after his two double-digit games), making it difficult to justify rostering him. We still think Portland is too deep, and Batum too raw, for him to be particularly valuable this year.

McCants was dropped by thenopp after suffering a back injury, as discussed here. But his fortunes have changed rather markedly in the last week - Corey 'C-Brizzle' Brewer is out for the season with a torn AC-Lizzle, and Mike Miller sprained his knee yesterday (it looks like Miller will be OK). If McCants is healthy, he'll get around 25 mpg, and he'll certainly shoot a lot of 3s. Whether any of them go in is another matter.

Judgment: A nice pickup, We like McCants' opportunity, and while he doesn't contribute in an 'all-around' way, and he's not a very good basketball, he will score and hit some 3s. We love Batum, but we'll have to wait at least a year for his breakout.

McCants Hoot

Thenopp drops McCants, picks up Mike Conley Jr.

 

The 2004-5 UNC Tarheels won the NCAA tournament, and had 4 of its players selected in the first round of the NBA draft. All 4 have thus far been disappointing (Marvin Williams #2, Felton #5, May #13, McCants #14). McCants missed a great deal of time due to injury but is finally healthy. However, he has not shown himself to be 'good'. He's averaging only 18 mpg, shooting 37%, with 10 PPG/1.3 RPG/1.3 APG, and that's been decreasing of late. In his last three games he's only gotten 10 minutes and 6 points per. Moreover, he's suffering from back spasms, and did not play tonight. He too, is something of a poet.

Well, we were wrong; we thought Aaron Brooks would be the first '3-Team' player this season, but it is instead highly touted Mike Conley Jr. Drafted by Les Digits, then waived, picked up by the Later Hosens, then dropped, and now on thenopp's roster. We confess we still don't see the appeal, though his production has increased ever so slightly in the last few games.

Judgment: We're no fans of Conley, but he certainly provides more than an injured McCants. Even when Conley isn't producing on offense, he contributes in REBs and ASTs, which McCants does not. A good move for thenopp.