...and as much as you might think Mihm is as good as or
better than Howard, it's obvious Ainge doesn't feel the same way. Blount
and Perkins are the centers of the future. Not Mihm. I like Mihm, too,
but Ainge sees him as expendable.
Mark, you've said this a couple of times. Can I ask why you think this?
Perkins as center of the future is obvious. And BTW, Josh, if you're
reading this, will you please stop harping on the idea that the only thing
stopping him was Obie and now Carroll refusing to play him - DANNY has said
he isn't ready and won't get significant PT this year, although he's
improving, most recently that I heard myself on the season ticket holder
conference call.
But Blount? He gets more PT now for a couple of reasons - Mihm's tendency
to draw fouls and coach/teammate comfort level on the court with Blount
having a better understanding of the defensive system/being more familiar
to the few remaining teammates with any tenure. That matters with the
disrupted mess we are right now. His league leading shooting % doesn't hurt
either, especially since it's mostly on short to midrange jumpers as an
outlet option and that's how the Cs are most likely to use a center right
now. Those aren't exactly Mihm's specialty.
Mihm isn't as good as or better than Howard right now, but he's going to
come a lot cheaper without a long term commitment and he still potentially
offers something we don't have, with better rebounding and more of a
dunking inside game than Blount. A natural finisher as the trailer if we
ever do become the breaking team Danny supposedly wants (although Blount
would probably make the better outlet passes). Blount's own slightly more
aggressive efforts on the boards and with blocks seem to have pretty
clearly been inspired by having Mihm for competition, since that's when
they became noticeable, something you have to think Danny sees. Blount is
much improved, but I don't think he improves significantly beyond what is
is now, while Mihm has much more upside potential because of the
athleticism he hasn't learned how to control.
And I think Blount's gone at the end of the season on his own choice,
opting out of his option year and leaving as a FA for more money and less
disruption (dunno how much the supposedly his being specified as one of
Obie's guys might factor in, but it's been in the papers as another reason
he might want to get out of here) now that he's shown he has enough value
to get some offers. I don't see Danny throwing the bank at him and you have
to figure he sees the likelihood of losing him too..