Empty the Bench

“Barry Good Things Come to Those That Wait” read a sign that one San Antonio Spurs fan proudly held high during Thursday’s big win over the Dallas Mavericks. It was, of course, referencing Brent Barry, who after being traded to the Seattle SuperSonics as part of the Kurt Thomas deal, then waived, indicated that he would resign with his former team after the mandatory 30-day waiting period had expired.

Jason Kidd and Sam Cassell Doing the Mambo Photo Credit: Icon SMI

Barry had apparently considered joining up with a host of other teams after being granted his walking papers by Seattle, but I have a feeling he fully intended to rejoin San Antonio and was simply smart enough not to pull a Jerry Stackhouse.

Barry isn’t the only grizzled veteran who’s been on the move lately. Some have come out of faux-retirement, while others have been waived by their non-contending teams and signed on with one that’s headed for the playoffs. They all have one thing in mind, and that’s winning an NBA championship.

Mercenaries for hire? You bet.

But for all the hoopla surrounding some of these moves, it remains to be seen how much impact each of these vets will actually have. More than anything, these once-proud players are now simply well-paid insurance policies in case a regular rotation player gets hurt, or in case the coach needs some extra fouls to give.

It makes sense and these GMs are only being prudent by shoring up the fringes of their respective rosters, but will P.J. Brown, Theo Ratliff, et al really make a difference? For this piece, I’m only looking at the recent free-agent signings; please click these respective links for ETB’s thoughts on the Jason Kidd trade, Mike Bibby trade, Shaquille O’Neal trade, and Ben Wallace trade.

Sam Cassell, PG, Joins the Boston Celtics

It’s no coincidence that incumbent PG starter Rajon Rondo dispersed a career-best 16 assists against the Charlotte Bobcats Friday night, a day after Cassell was bought out by the LA Clippers and purchased a one-way ticket to Boston. Rondo is well aware that aside from starting center Kendrick Perkins, he’s the lone young gun on a team leaning heavily on veterans to guide them through the Eastern Conference waters. With Cassell joining the fray, his minutes figure to be negatively affected, though I’m not so sure that head coach Doc Rivers should be too eager to heavily cut into Rondo’s time.

Cassell will certainly lend this squad his unflappable veteran savvy and might be more reliable in crunchtime situations, but in his second season the 22-year-old Rondo has made great strides in his game, improving in just about every major statistical category compared to his rookie year. He’s been up to the challenge of starting alongside three All-Stars, and now is not the time to shake his growing confidence by immediately handing over late-game duties to the incoming Cassell.

The Celtics are going to need Rondo in the postseason, and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson showed the world last year that young players can step up and make a big impact in crucial playoff games. For more, Mr. Andrew Thell does a great job of breaking down Cassell’s possible impact and role with the Celtics here.

A look at five other veterans with new homes after the break…

Chris Webber, F/C, Joins the Golden State Warriors

C-Webb was the first broken-down vet to resume his playing career after sitting out the season’s early stages, signing with the Warriors in late January in what has to be considered a somewhat befuddling move for both parties. Last year with the Pistons, Webber publicly howled about his lack of playing time in the postseason, yet chose to join a Warriors team led by Don Nelson, whose rotation changes with the breeze and who never guarantees any of his frontcourt players consistent minutes. On the other side, run-and-gun Golden State signed a guy whose speed getting up and down the court these days could generously be described as “plodding.”

Since his debut on February 7, the creaky-kneed 35-year-old has averaged 4.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in about 15 minutes of action a night. He’s clearly not in game shape yet, as evidenced by that pudgy bulge protruding from his midsection, and really hasn’t made much of an impact, even with the absence of Andris Biedrins (appendicitis). In fact, it’s been little-used rookie Brandan Wright who’s stepped up over the past week, averaging 7 points, 6 boards, 2 blocks, and flashing some impressive ups.

Webber’s value won’t properly be measured until the postseason, but I can’t see him doing much against the likes of Andrew Bynum/Pau Gasol, Amare Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler, etc. In fact, I think that pissing off Mark Cuban and his Mavs by stealing Webber away had as much to do with this signing as it did adding a veteran presence in the frontcourt.

Theo Ratliff, C, Joins the Detroit Pistons

After Ratliff was bought out by the Minnesota Timberwolves (hey, look, Kevin McHale does yet another team a favor!) and indicated that after clearing waivers he’d sign with the team that originally drafted him, Dale Davis was made to look like a groom jilted at the altar by his bride-to-be. It was widely speculated that Davis would be the extra big GM Joe Dumars sign as the team’s frontcourt Plan C, but Davis will now have to look elsewhere for someone in need of a big bruiser who can still rebound and block a few shots, but not much else.

Ratliff, otherwise known as He of the Valuable Expiring Contract this past year, doesn’t do much more than rebound and block shots either, but he’s in much better game shape, a few years younger, and actually has a decent shot around the basket. Before running into yet another knee problem in November, the Pistons’ first-round pick back in ‘95 was making modest contributions to the T’Wolves cause, averaging 8.2 points, 4.5 boards, and 2.8 blocks/per in six games. Ratliff will be the last big man in line with Detroit, but will get a few minutes here and there in the regular season in case he’s needed in the postseason. That said, if God forbid Antonio McDyess or Rasheed Wallace misses any time with injury, it’s feasible that Ratliff could move into the starting lineup at center (though Jason Maxiell and Amir Johnson would still play more minutes overall).

P.J. Brown, F/C, Joins the Boston Celtics

Signing 38-year-old Brown, who played with the Chicago Bulls last season and averaged 6.1 points and 4.8 rebounds/per, is more due diligence than anything else (like most of these moves). He’ll spend most of the next month and a half working his way back into shape with Boston’s training staff after chillin’ on the couch and watching The Price is Right every morning since the Bulls were eliminated by Detroit in the playoffs. Like many players nearing the end of their professional sports career, Brown is coming back because he’s had “a dream to always want to touch that Larry O’Brien trophy.” We understand, P.J.

While Brown may not play much initially, he could very well leapfrog Boston’s stable of unproven frontcourt youngsters (Leon Powe, Glen Davis) in the postseason. At the very least, his presence allows Doc Rivers an escape clause from having to play Brian Scalabrine and Scot Pollard if push came to shove.

Jamaal Magloire, C, Joins the Dallas Mavericks

What happened to this guy? (Theory: He realized he doesn’t have to work hard to stick around in the league and get handsomely paid.) An All-Star in 2003 with the then-Charlotte Hornets, “Big Cat” has basically amounted to a “Big Stiff” these past few seasons, bouncing around between Milwaukee, Portland, New Jersey, and now Dallas. During his recent tenure with the Nets, the 29-year-old was so bad that he couldn’t beat out Jason “Yuck” Collins or rookie Sean Williams for a spot in the rotation, averaging a mere 1.8 points and 3.4 rebounds in about 11 minutes/per over 24 games. It’s hard to believe he’s only a few seasons removed from averaging 13.7 points, 10.3 boards, and 1.2 blocks with the Hornets.

Jamaal Magloire Photo Credit: Icon SMI

With Desagna Diop now in New Jersey, Magloire was brought on as a last-resort fallback in case starting center Erick Dampier gets hurt (as he often does) and/or 6-8 Brandon Bass proves incapable of sliding over to the middle. Honestly, I think Avery Johnson would rather take his lumps with the smaller Bass than opt for Big Cat, who seems happy to simply collect paychecks these days. We don’t expect much from Magloire this season or ever again.

Brent Barry, G/F, Rejoins the San Antonio Spurs

Barry was coming back to San Antonio all along, but at least he had the smarts to make it seem like he might not. The 13-year-veteran has been used sparingly this season and battled various injuries, but this extended rest should do his aging body good. He’ll be ready to chip in spot minutes come playoff time and fulfill his exclusive role with the Spurs: shoot three-pointers and sink ‘em at a 40%+ rate. It’s still hard to believe Barry won the Slam Dunk Competition once upon a time. Nice haircut, Brent.

Tags: Sam Cassell, Chris Webber, Jamaal Magloire, Theo Ratliff