Sean Marks Returns
by atthehive on Aug 27, 2009 8:36 PM CDT
in Analysis
9 comments
Apparently, the Hornets have decided to go ahead and fill their 14th (and "last") roster spot by bringing back Marks.
Perspicacity or buffoonery?
I'd preface any analysis by mentioning that this (obviously) won't make too much of a difference. This is the fourth or maybe fifth big spot we're talking about here. Injuries do happen, but no team is counting on its fourth big to play meaningful minutes if a starter goes down.
That said, the first assumption is that the Hornets were never going to exceed the minimum for the 14th player. That doesn't take much explaining. The second is that the Hornets needed to get a big. Done and done.
Some of the decision probably came down to Marks "knowing the system." I generally consider that one of the most overused terms in basketball, but it might have some meaning here. I don't mean that in statistical terms or any other useful way. Even the stupidest player in the league is probably going to pick up a decent understanding of the "system" within the first month. Essentially, I hate seeing guys botch awesome passes from Chris Paul, and that's the only reason I like this. Marks may not jump the highest or spring the fastest, but he knows when to roll, when to cut, and so forth. He should preserve a few more clips for the end of the season CP highlight reel.
Defensively, Marks will provide some value as well. He did a decent job against taller post players last year. More importantly, he really evolved as a fouler as the year went on. I do mean that slightly tongue-in-cheek, but I also don't. His fouls were often hard ones that prevented opponents from scoring easy layups. There were a few stupid three point plays he ceded, but in general, he did a good job of wrapping guys up. A lot of people will say that the 4th big just has to be a tall dude that can provide 6 fouls... but the quality of those fouls can vary greatly. We know what we're getting from The Kiwi there.
The overall numbers- PER, true shooting, foul rates- are certainly not pretty. There's no upside, especially not the kind that would accompany a Richard Hendrix type D-Leaguer. But we know what he'll produce, and there's nothing terribly wrong with paying the league minimum to get that.
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Totally agree.
Other than Hendrix, there weren’t a whole lot of options here (other than not signing someone I guess).
But Marks truly has progressed as you described. He went from being cringe inducing to decent (but never close to good or great) backup. Plus, if we were going to add someone who “knew the system,” Marks beats the tar out of Melvin Ely (mostly cringe inducing as a Hornet) and Ryan Bowen (rarely cringe inducing, but usually just kind of a novelty).
by hldomingue on Aug 28, 2009 9:04 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Sean Marks
Sean Marks resigning with the hornets is great news which will no doubt be booed by the ignorant bloggers and commentators ( and I use the latter term very, very loosely) who have never given him the respect he deserves. Byron Scott and all those other coaches who have selected Marks over the last ten seasons have seen in him what his detractors have not – and one must ask who is the more qualified of the two. Marks may not be a super star but he is a solid player and has shown when healthy he can pay back the faith shown in him by his coaches and team mates – be it in the NBA or on the international stage where he has represented his native “Tall Blacks”. I for one am looking forward to seeing a great season for Marks and the Hornets !
by Benchpower on Aug 28, 2009 11:10 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Somewhat surprised to say: Glad to hear it
Though Sims and/or Hendrix would have be interesting and potentially superior pickups (and I hope both get an invite to training camp), Marks is a hustle player who improved last season and got a taste of serious playing time, which will hopefully inspire a powerful lust for more, forcing both he and Hilton (and hell, maybe Emeka and Ike too) to amp up their games.
Also, resigning Marks makes the Hornets three deep at nearly every position. Unfortunately, this probably means we’ll have to trade Daniels for nothing, in order to get under the cap threshold. Adding Marks and (later) Sims/Hendrix might allow for a Daniels/Armstrong/Brown trade (combined expiring contract value: approx. $10 million), but I’m not sure what team has a suitable shooting guard for $5 million or less.
by Mr. Diamond on Aug 28, 2009 5:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Newbie Response
Only get to see the Hornets a few times a year but I was impressed with Sean Marks in the playoffs. I imagine he’ll be backing up Ike Diagou (spelling).
Would have been awesome if the Hornets could have pursued David Lee. With the Knicks saving for 2010 I wonder if the midlevel would have been enough. Probably not but nice to dream.
by mmwas on Aug 29, 2009 9:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Definitely wouldn't be enough
The MLE is low enough for Walsh to match, and still a ton of enough cap space if he moves Jeffries or Curry in the coming year (and still a decent amount if he can’t move either). You also have to wonder whether Lee would sign a MLE offer sheet in the first place considering his agent was once going after a $12 million contract.
Honestly, at this point, best thing for Lee is to take the QO and be a free agent in 2010 when over half the league can at least pay him a couple million over the MLE.
To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.
by Ben R on Sep 1, 2009 12:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks for the welcome!
Take my last post and this post as a fandream lol.
Figure Lee could go the Ron Artest route (without all the strangeness). Sign one year, have Houdini make his stats miraculously grow (ala Kidd/Miki Moore) and get a huge payday in 2010.
Don’t think it is out of the realm of possibility. Back in 07/08 the talkin heads were sayin all the free agents would come down to the Big Easy to play with Robin Hood.
Too bad in reality all that happens is we sign Posey and sell off draft picks. Hornets will be real contenders once those big contracts come off the books but that’ll take time.
Apologize if I went too off topic.
by umdwas88 on Sep 4, 2009 3:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No worries
I agree, once those contracts come off the books, we’ll have a fresh start.
As far as attracting free agents, I think money is the one superseding factor no matter how much guys talk about how they wanted to play with Player X or loved City Y so much. I feel those are just things they use to explain away the fact that oh by the way, they also got 20 million more than anywhere else.
by atthehive on Sep 5, 2009 1:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yea I agree about the money. Just baffles me that we are in Sept. and guys like Lee, Felton, and Nate Robinson don’t have a home yet. Wish some teams would just offer a 5 year mid-level with options to opt out and see if the other team matches.
As far as Sean Marks, hope he gets some decent playing time. Seems to me that the Hornet starters just played too many minutes and were worn out at the end. That’s way finding that Pargo replacement is key. Hopefully the rookies can finally fill that void and the lame duck coach status is settled. In any event here’s to a successful season for 2009-2010, and hopefully an even better one in 2011.
by umdwas88 on Sep 5, 2009 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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