Larry Hughes Greatest Value Is In His Own Mind
I have always considered myself a pretty good judge of character, normally I can spot a phony a mile away. Perhaps that is why I was bothered by Chicago Bulls guard Larry Hughes statements back in March. Hughes as you may remember was traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Chicago Bulls last February. The first time that the two teams met after the transaction, Hughes spoke to the Cleveland media about his time wearing a Cavaliers uniform. Hughes told reporters “They wanted me to sacrifice things so we could win. In this system, there is more movement and draw and kicks. It was a good run. We had 50-plus wins, made the finals and I learned from it. I was unhappy, though, and wasn’t myself. I’d rather enjoy the game than all that.”
There are a lot of players that if those words came out of their mouths, it would not phase me in the least. Larry Hughes was not in that category in my mind and to be frank I was shocked. Hughes said in no uncertain terms with that statement, that he would rather be the best player on a bad team, than a part of a winning organization where his role would not be as substantial.
The “Chicago Tribune” Monday reported that Hughes has now voiced his displeasure with his role with the Bulls. Hughes told reporters that he deserves more minutes than he is getting, and is not pleased he is so far down on the depth chart. Of course the reason that he was replaced in the starting lineup by Ben Gordon was Hughes started the season on the injured list, a place where he has found himself far too many times in his NBA career.
When Larry Hughes is healthy, he is an elite NBA player, the problem is that although he is very talented he is equally fragile. Maybe one of the reasons making the NBA Finals with Cleveland was not such a big deal, was he did not play due to injury. Perhaps if he had played the Cavaliers may not have been swept by the San Antonio Spurs.
Larry, it is time for you to face the facts, your fragility has taken away your market value. Chances are very good, that if Chicago was not looking to unload Ben Wallace, you would still be in Cleveland. You are no longer entitled to minutes, you have reached the point when you must earn them. The quicker you come to grips with that, the better your career will be in the Association.
New York Vinnie will never start a fight, but he's not afraid to finish one.. Mess with New York Vinnie and he'll rip your nuts off and throw them down the sewer!
December 31st, 2008 at 10:06 pm
I agree in general with this post, but the one thing you got wrong is why Hughes isn’t valuable. Yeah he’s fragile, but his ridiculously low fg% and inefficient offense are as big a factor, if not bigger.
Also he has been more effective this year, miraculously, http://notqualifiedtocomment.blogspot.com/2008/11/harry-lughes-hits-game-winner-larry.html but he’s just old and expensive and not a viable part of the Bulls future. Keep up the good work Sackmaster, love your site.
January 13th, 2009 at 2:35 am
A phoney? Get over yourself, Hughes in his limited minutes has a valid point, Rose should have never played over 40 minutes a game all these first 40 games, now he is spent. In the name of sacrifice, Hughes was promised the 2nd guard positition, but on March 3rd of that year, took the point guard position and yes, lead the Cavs to the playoffs in that position. You fail to mention that he played 70 games that year, started 68 and averaged a career high in points, rebounds and assist in 37.1 minutes per game. Oh yah, your phoney ranked 26 in the NBA in steals also.
This year his FG% and 3 pt average is one of the highest on the Bulls and one of the best defensive players (not hard to do with Rose and Gordon).
36 3 pointers in half the minutes of Rose, with only 14 this year? Your Rookie is burnt out and can’t drive the lane anymore and hit. The league knows that he can’t make an outside shot, his average ppg will be down to 10 by the end of the season.
Is Hughes valuable, well Lebron thought so, he told the Cavs to get him at the cost of out bidding Washington with 60 million, that is good to mid 2011.
Fragile? Maybe, but what is the average length of an NBA career? 4.5 years, Mr. Hughes is on year 11, so he has had injuries like many, but sustained twice the average and only 10% of all NBA players make it 10 years.
Your facts are pretty poor, your spotting a phoney and patting yourself on the back even worse.
The Bulls should have never traded for a guard with a high value two year contract, when you could have kept Wallace and been done this year.
Then you draft a guard when you have no centers. Noah, there is a bust.
Deng to 2014, that wiil be a bust. Look for a lot more years before you see a championship in Chicago. Hold on to that Cubs T-Shirt from over a century ago, the Bears T-Shirt from the eighties and Bulls from 11 years ago.
You haven’t spotted much else, you got a good rookie with Rose, but you burnt him out, when Hughes easily could have took the load off until Heinrich got back today. Now he is wasted, cause he has never seen 40 games in his life yet and has another 40 to go. Gun shy of driving the lane already and can’t hit from the collge 3pt line.
No, Hughes gave you exactly what he gave any team over the last 11 years, but with half the minutes, management screwed up in overloading themselves with guards, not Hughes. What stats is he low in? None, except minutes, his only complaint, and a viable one but every statistical measure.
Plus, cheap shot on hurting a foot, when the dude went out and played everygame as many minutes as possible risking his career. Your call is off, no intellect and cheap, most of all, its just jealosy, because you know Hughes makes more in a night than you do in a lifetime. Thats $$$ VALUE.