The MVP debate is a great one this season, and as I mentioned in my most recent edition of my MVP rankings: This is one season when things could truly go down to the wire. As in Game No. 82.
But what about the other end of the spectrum?
Who have been the Least Valuable Players? The guys you may never have heard of, or guys whose weaknesses are well-chronicled but particularly acute this season. Those players’ lack of production should not go unreported as we head into the final couple weeks of the NBA season. There are so many viable candidates, it merits a special column. So let’s have at it.
In order to qualify, you must have played at least one minute of one game for an NBA franchise at some point during the regular season. And, yes, we are including the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers as official NBA franchises.
Let’s have at it:
THE SCORELESS
1. Clint Capela, C, Houston Rockets. The third-string center has appeared in six games for the Houston Rockets, missing all 10 of his field goal attempts and all eight of his free throw attempts. He has grabbed eight rebounds, committed three turnovers and was whistled for three personal fouls. The 25th overall pick of the 2014 draft, Capela is a member of the Swiss National Team, and he spent three seasons playing for Elan Chalon of the French League. Currently tied with Frederic Weis for fewest career points by a player drafted in the first round out of the French League.
2. Ronny Turiaf, C, Minnesota-Philadelphia. Merits special attention in this No. 2 spot because of the number of minutes he logged — 20 — without scoring a single point … or doing much of anything else. He played in only two games for the T-Wolves before being involved in the three-team Corey Brewer trade, and his lack of production in those two appearances was astounding. On Nov. 10 against Houston, he had one rebound and one assist and no other stats. On Nov. 14 in a 48-point loss to New Orleans, he had one assist in 10 minutes and no other stats. He was waived by Philadelphia on Dec. 23 and underwent hip surgery. For his efforts, he is being paid $1.5 million.
3. Kalin Lucas, Memphis Grizzlies; Malcolm Lee, Philadelphia 76ers; Seth Curry, Phoenix Suns; Jerrelle Benimon, Utah Jazz. All four of these D-League call-ups failed to score a single point during their brief NBA stints. Benimon and Curry each played in two games, while Lee and Lucas appeared in only one apiece. Benimon did manage to grab 3 rebounds in 2 minutes in a game against the Knicks, tripling the rebounding total put up by Knicks starting power forward Lou Amundson last Wednesday night in 15 minutes vs. the Clippers.
HACK-A-CANDIDATES
1. Joey Dorsey, PF, Houston Rockets. He is no Capela, but he has appeared in 59 of 72 games, which makes him a rotation player, and his free throw percentage of 26.4 (39 misses in 53 attempts) is less than half of his field goal percentage of 54.8. Memo to Daryl Morey: Stop hiring experts in analytics. Hire a free throw shooting coach. It is unfathomable that the Rockets have three guys (Josh Smith is the third, behind Capela and Dorsey) who shoot a lot worse than Dwight Howard (52.7) from the line.
2. Rajon Rondo, PG, Boston/Dallas. A prediction: When the Mavericks are eliminated from the playoffs, either Mark Cuban or Rick Carlisle will fess up that trading for this guy was a mistake. Ten words: “Don’t let the door hit you in the ass, Rajon.” With a little patience, they could have gotten Brandon Knight, Isaiah Thomas, Goran Dragic or Michael-Carter Williams. Instead, they acquired a head case who has a problem with male authority figures — not a good quality for an NBA player. He has taken only 68 foul shots in 60 games, making 24. Read that sentence again, please.
3. Ian Mahinmi, C, Indiana Pacers. Only merits mention in this column because the Pacers might actually need to rely on him in a playoff game. If Roy Hibbert plays postseason ball the same way he did a year ago, Frank Vogel may have no better choice. Mahinmi is 29-for-84, which is .345. That is still better than Rondo’s .343.
4. Andre Drummond, C, Detroit Pistons. A beast on the boards, but one day he is going to be raked so hard across the arms after grabbing an offensive rebound that he will have two broken ulna bones. My guess is that the perpetrator will be Tyler Hansbrough, who is the rare white guy with “Thug Life” tattooed across his chest (OK, that is not true.) He is 121-for-311 (.390). Haven’t seen an average like that in Detroit since Ty Cobb was playing baseball.
5. DeAndre Jordan, C. L.A. Clippers. Everyone’s favorite Hack-a-Candidate, and also the Player Most Likely to Airball a Free Throw (it is a close race with Drummond). He is 157-for-398, which adds up to 241 misses. The only other guys who can say he has 241 misses is the Sultan of Brunei. Still, this guy is going to get a max salary on the free agent market, And he is a contender for Defensive Player of the Year.
NOT KYLE KORVER
1. Zoran Dragic, G, Phoenix/Miami: Makes the list only because he has the highest 0-fer number in the league — 0-for-5. Got signed by the Suns to placate his brother, Goran, who is not with the Suns anymore — nor is Zoran. The crazy thing is that Zoran got a two-year deal for $3.4 million. Chris Smith (J.R.’s brother) is demanding an investigation. Slovenia will honor Goran will the annual Beekeeper Award (only Slovenians will comprehend that joke).
2. Brandon Rush, G. Golden State: Is employed as a “shooting guard.” Emphasis on the word “shooting.” Is compensated handsomely — $1.15 million this season, with a player option for next year at $1.27 million. My guess is he picks up that option. He has made two 3-pointers all season, attempting 24. Repeat: He has made two 3-pointers this season. Two. I small repeat … Two. My calculator tells me that is $575K for each of his threes. I’ll take Tim Duncan over Rush in the Next Guy To Make a 3 pool.
3. Lance Stephenson, Charlotte Hornets. He attempted one and missed it Saturday night vs. Atlanta, preventing him from hitting 100 attempts with a bullet. He is 16-for-100. I don’t need a calculator to tell me that is 16 percent. Michael Jordan could beat 16 percent taking 100 threes while sitting in a chair. Sad dropoff for a good player who led the NBA in triple-doubles last season. Rich Cho does not need this on his resume. Failure 101 classes in Charlotte include the Lance signing. But first you must understand the Adam Morrison pick, and the Bob Johnson era.
Honorable Mention: Jarrett Jack (29-for-125, .232), Michael Carter-Williams (34-for-143, .238) and Tony Wroten (37-for-142, .261).
HOTHEAD ALERT
1. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder. Leads the NBA in technical fouls with 15 (one ahead of Markieff Morris). If he gets one more, he gets suspended for one game. Memo to Russ: Save No. 16 for Game 82 … if you are in the playoffs already.. Otherwise, concentrate on the triple-doubles, cutting down on the turnovers and lightening up with your local media.
2. DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings. Before the season began, Boogie set his personal over/under at 5. He is currently at 11. That was the easiest preseason over/under pick aside from the Knicks’ win total being projected at 40 1/2. On the plus side, Cousins has only one more technical foul than coaches Derek Fisher of New York and Frank Vogel of Indiana, who each have 10 to share the lead among all coaches. (Pelicans coach Monty Williams has zero. He was issued two, on Dec. 12 and on March 22, but both were rescinded.)
3. Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves. He has accumulated 8 in 47 games, all of which were undoubtedly deserved. Cousins may edge him out for the hothead title, but Garnett’s characteristic intensity crosses the line much, much more often. Special mention here to the Morris twins in Phoenix, who have combined for 23 (14 by Markieff, 9 by Marcus.)
RATIO RIDICULOUSNESS
1. Hassan Whiteside, C, Miami Heat. Great shot blocker, great rebounder, a game-changer if you picked him up in your fantasy league. His skills as a passer? Nothing to write home about … unless you like to write home about very, very small percentages. With four assists and 46 turnovers, his ratio is 0.09. If there was a Yinka Dare Memorial Award, he’d run away with it.
2. Jonas Valanciunas, C, Toronto Raptors. He has played 71 games. He has accumulated 30 assists. When players are referred to as a “black hole,” this is what they are talking about — a guy you throw the ball to with almost zero expectation of getting it back. By comparison, Chicago center Joakim Noah averages 4.7 assists — second on the Bulls behind Derrick Rose’s 5.0.
3. Andre Roberson, G, Oklahoma City Thunder. Ever hear of fouls-to-points ratio? Yeah, me neither. But our managing editor, Chris Bernucca, keeps track of such things and notes that the Thunder’s starting shooting guard, after having just one more point (75) than personal fouls (74) last season, has improved his points-to-fouls ratio to 216:125. Maybe the Thunder should have kept James Harden, eh?
Chris Sheridan is publisher and editor-in-chief of SheridanHoops.com. Follow him on Twitter.
FYI the Roberson numbers are from last year.