The Trouble with Tweeners

Sorry, Ben. Secret's out.

Despite going 9-for-9 from downtown to tie Latrell “Chokehold” Sprewell’s NBA record.Ben “The Microwave” Gordon was repeatedly left off the list each time Bill “Hyperbole” Walton named the players that would be Chicago’s young core of the future. And, as painful as it is for me to admit it, this time Uncle Bill has a point.

Tweeners are players who’s offensive skills set doesn’t correspond to the positions they can guard on defense. This is not to be confused with your multipositional player who can play more than one role on O and then hustle back to guard guys of varying size and speed. For instance, Shawn Marion is multipositional rather than a tweener: he can play both forward spots on offense while defending opposing 2’s, 3’s and 4’s. Versatility is an advantage.

Tweeners like Gordon, on the other hand, are a liability. They play one position when attacking yet must defend a smaller or slower position on the other end. As a sixth man, Gordon is elite—as a starter he struggles against starting SG’s. And as the third overall pick, he will insist on starter’s money when his contract is up. And Paxson will be hard pressed to commit his starting 2 slot to a guy the size of Derek Fisher who can’t defend, rebound, or play the point like him.

There are three ways a tweener can start in this league—learn the offensive skills your size/speed dictates, learn to defend bigger guys, or get surrounded with complimentary multipositional players.

Take Iverson. An incredibly talented 6’ shooting guard can score on offense and guard the one spot IF he has a big PG like Eric Snow who will gladly set the table on O and D up the opposing team’s two. When Eric Snow left town, AI had to develop point skills—he had to start (fan favorite, starter’s money) but would force the coach to either play a PG next to him thus hurting their defense, or no PG at all thus hurting their offense.

Gordon’s biggest obstacle to resigning for big cash is Hinrich. Though not quite as talented, Kirk can start as an NBA point guard and has the versatility to adequately guard the two position also. Starting the two of them in the backcourt seems unwise, so unless BG can accept his electrifying backup role, greener pastures will likely offer him green.



As the draft draws near, we still hear both management and fanbase from the Windy City declaring two clear needs -- low-post scoring, and a big two-guard. Unless Benny thinks he's ousting Kirk as the starting point, he must realize this is an endictment on him.

The solution? There's a native Chicagoan who is ultra-competative, has prototype size, and whose franchise desperately needs an infusion of youth and draft choices. Could Kevin Garnett be a Bull by summer's end? Possibly. Should Kevin McHale trade his superstar in order to rejuvinate his franchise with flailing youth just in time to earn the near-mythical #1 pick of the 2007 draft? Absolutely. Will it happen?



No way. But just for fun, this is what it would look like:

CHI sends Ben Gordon, Malik Allen, their 2006 #2 pick, and their 2007 1rst round pick (via NYK) to
MIN for Kevin Garnett and Ricky Davis

BULLS
Kirk Hinrich / Chris Duhon
Ricky Davis / #16 Ronnie Brewer
Luel Deng / Andres Noccioni
Kevin Garnett
Tyson Changler

WOLVES
Ben Gordon
Randy Foye
Adam Morrison
+ two shots at Greg Oden