Dr. Trade: Musings on Miller, Gooden, Rasho, & Ratliff

Let's officially end the three-day hiatus of the Dr. Trade column with an in-depth look at the most recent NBA transactions.  It's a little feature I like to call, "Musings", and it's the sort of expert-level analysis that you can always find with your good buddy, Dr. Trade.

Moving to a new home means that one is usually separated from the Internet.  Having experienced this for myself over the long weekend, I came back to find that a number of important moves were made during my sabbatical.

 

Completed Signing: G Andre Miller to Portland

Did the Blazers really want Andre Miller?  I mean, did they REALLY want him?  The answer, when put through the spin cycle, would be, "Yes, but only after Hedo Turkoglu, Paul Millsap, and Kirk Hinrich."

Did the Blazers have to settle?  Well, they legitimately could have put those aforementioned players to work.  However, I don't think that Andre or the Blazers should, (or do), feel bad about the way this worked out. 

While many have been quick to point out the fact that Miller absolutely does not stretch the floor (a required skill in Portland's offense), likes to push the tempo (not exactly a hallmark of last year's Blazers team), and looks to post up in the half-court (in a lane already used by Aldridge, Oden, etc.), let's focus on the ways that he can work in the Rose City.

First of all, Portland needed to do something in the wake of the ongoing Western Conference arms race.  Yet, do not mistake this as just the acquisition of a name.  This was not a season ticket signing. 

I like Steve Blake a lot as a point guard.  I think that he works efficiently to get all of his teammates involved; it helps that he can knock down the long jumper from time to time as well.  On the other hand, bigger point guards easily overpower him.  What's more, he does not demand constant defensive attention.

Andre Miller has made a career out of being a tough point guard.  What's more, he's an extremely smart player who makes the most out of what he has. 

Opposing defenses will now have to concentrate on his desire for transition outletting to Roy, Batum, Outlaw, and anybody else who's running the floor.

Opposing defenses now have to worry about a guy who is not afraid to go to the basket, who is not afraid to physically wear down smaller guards in the paint, and who will not be intimidated by the moment.  Is that not the exact same attitude possessed by his fellow guard, Brandon Roy?  This is not going to be a backcourt to mess around with.

Andre Miller has made a successful career out of using what he has.  People know and respect that around the league.  This talented group now has an experienced leader to stabilize their youth and direct their energies towards playoff success.

Acquiring all that for the price tag that they did marks yet another wise move by Portland.  They will have to tweak their schemes a little bit to compensate for Miller's strengths and weaknesses, but Nate McMillan should have no problem maximizing his team's talents yet again.

 

Completed Signing: PF Drew Gooden to Dallas 

I'm not going to lie.  I think that Drew Gooden's career would have been better served had he stayed with San Antonio's coaching staff.  That being said, it doesn't sound as if the Spurs made a huge push to re-sign him now that they have added McDyess, Blair, Ratliff, and Hairston to their front line.

Can Gooden succeed in Dallas?  I think so, but he's yet again going to have to play out of position. 

Drew Gooden is not a Center, yet he's been asked to play that spot in more than half of his seven (count them) NBA stops.  Playing out of position, along with the reputation of being a little bit of a knucklehead, has stunted the growth of this talented big man.

Gooden will bring some size and scoring to the Dallas low post.  Does he make up for the loss of Brandon Bass and the miss on Marcin Gortat?  Will he help them enough in the toughness department?

When Drew came into the league as a rookie with Orlando and Memphis, he was an absolute beast on both ends of the floor.  He just had a fire that nobody seemed to mess with.  I haven't seen that from him since as he's journeyed around the League.

His lack of a steady home and steady concentration seem to be increasingly interconnected with each stop that he makes.

When it's all said and done though, this signing gives Dallas yet another proven option on its front line.  Whether Gooden starts at Center, or backs up Dirk and Dampier from the bench, he's another weapon in a growing Maverick arsenal.

Completed Signing: C Rasho Nesterovic to Toronto

We TimberWolves fans, (all five of us), had a nickname for Rasho when he came into the league with Minnesota: "Casper the Friendly Center."  This of course was referring to the frequency with which Nesterovic disappeared. 

That being said, Rasho was just barely talented enough to hang around with the teams that just needed someone to man the middle in a halfway competent manner.  In returning to the Raptors following his Indiana sojourn, Nesterovic brings back a known commodity.

What is it?  What does he actually bring to the table?

He won't score much, but he'll also knock down the open jumper.  He won't rebound at a noticeably high rate, but he'll also keep his man from doing the same.  He won't block a lot of shots, but he'll also play consistently reliable defense.

Rasho is the definition of an average Center.  The fact that he will neither help nor hurt a lineup in a big way means that he's overmatched as a starter, but not a bad asset as a sub.  This time around, Toronto is in a position where they won't be asking more of Nesterovic than he can realistically provide.

 

Completed Signing: C Theo Ratliff to San Antonio

Theo Ratliff is still in the NBA even though his "expiring contract" status is done?  While Ratliff has made more stops than a school bus, he is still a capable enough defender to make yet another new roster. 

Barring a rash of injuries, you will not see Theo on the floor for the Spurs much at all during the regular season.  However, come playoff time, when there's that one moment where McDyess is too small, Bonnor's too immobile, and Blair/Hairston are too young, Ratliff's defense will come in handy alongside Timmy-D. 

R.C. Buford and the Spurs are one of the only teams in the league that plan this far ahead for the possibility of that one little moment.  That's one of the reasons why Greg Popovich always seems to be so ready when that moment presents itself.

Trust me on this one.  After all, I am a Doctor.

- "Doctor Trade"