Luis Scola

[Mike G]

After leading the Rockets in scoring last year, Scola was waived in July.
He was immediately picked up by the Suns, and he's their #2 scorer and rebounder after 9 games.

His 5 year stay in Houston makes him their #9 in franchise rebounds (regular season), #17 in scoring, #16 in Win Shares.
The Spurs had traded him for essentially nothing (two 2nd-round picks) in 2007.

Is there another example in NBA history of such a significant player being dumped for nothing?
Is he the ultimate example of a player who puts up big numbers but is really nothing special?
Did the Rockets just err in giving him a large contract after the 2009-10 season?

He's been an iron man, missing zero games in 4 of 5 NBA seasons.
The only players with more points, rebounds, AND assists since 2007: Gasol, Duncan, Boozer, Bosh, Aldridge, David Lee, and Josh Smith.

[DSMok1]

RAPM says that Scola is slightly overrated by box-score stats, but not significantly, so I have no reason to doubt that he's been a solid player. RAPM and most box score stats have him as about a league-average player over his career. That's pretty useful, when you consider his durability. I have him worth about $9 million a year.

[v-zero]

By my box-score metrics Scola has been quite good, quite bad and everything in between in the last few years. In fact he shows an inconsistency that might be the reason he was dumped - plus by the time his time was up in Houston he was on a bad slump and age won't help that.

[Mike G]

With a career PER of 17.0, and career WS/48 of .125, both are well above average.
Last year, both were down (15.4 and .080); yet he led the team in minutes played.
After 7 games, his PER is a career best 20.2, and WS are .127/48 -- a 5-year high.

Has anyone ever been waived after leading his team in minutes?

[kjb]

Not quite the same thing, but in 1988 the Washington Bullets leader in minutes and rebounding (he was 2nd in scoring behind Jeff Malone) was Moses Malone. That offseason, the Bullets let him leave as a free agent for no compensation.

[dtjmcauliffe]

With the Spurs dumping him, it was to do with salary, and probably thinking that Splitter would be coming over in 2008. They traded Scola + Jackie Butler for V-Span(Mutually let out of contract) and because of the tax, it saved them about 10 million. Definitely regrettable in light of how well he turned out, but Bonner, 2 2nds and 10million vs Scola was essentially the choice.

[Bobbofitos]

With the Spurs dumping him, it was to do with salary, and probably thinking that Splitter would be coming over in 2008. They traded Scola + Jackie Butler for V-Span(Mutually let out of contract) and because of the tax, it saved them about 10 million. Definitely regrettable in light of how well he turned out, but Bonner, 2 2nds and 10million vs Scola was essentially the choice.

I thought it had more to do with a supposed Manu / Scola rift?

[talkingpractice]

And now removed from the starting lineup tonight in favor of Markieff Morris.