8 Puzzling Positions
I am now haunted by the fact that I will see this man’s
face every time a Clipper ‘oop shows up on SC Top 10.
Or I see one of these commercials:
Or I see one of these commercials:
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| "Uvo, Get me Doc Rivers" |
The 2013-2014 season could be one of the most
interesting in recent memory. At least 8
teams (Boston, Milwaukee, LA Lakers, Utah, Orlando, Philadelphia, Sacramento, Phoenix)
would be smart to avoid wins from the get-go (and that number will surely go up
as injuries occur to would-be contenders).
Any team could justify a bad season by happily sitting in on the 2014
Draft Lottery. Well, any team except New
York, Brooklyn, and Golden State, whose unprotected picks will be given to Denver, Boston, and Utah,
respectively.
In other words, the fabled strength of the 2014 draft
could lead to a clump of bad-to-horrible records and another clump of good-to-great
ones. If you're in the middle, you're not doing 2014 right.
A polarization of GMs’ expectations for their teams has been apparent so far this offseason. When the Utah Jazz, known for being perennially content with average-ness and playoff exits, elect to let its starting frontcourt walk for nothing, you know this draft will be special.
A polarization of GMs’ expectations for their teams has been apparent so far this offseason. When the Utah Jazz, known for being perennially content with average-ness and playoff exits, elect to let its starting frontcourt walk for nothing, you know this draft will be special.
Then what were the Bobcats doing signing Al Jefferson?
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| "Now that's how you get PAID, fellas" |
I considered this to be a shrewd move by the
Bobcats. On the surface, 3 years, $41
million is too much for a ball-stopping big man who only plays one end of the
floor. But Charlotte hasn’t seen a big
name free agent acquisition or any signs that management cares about winning
since the Hornets. The critics will say,
and have already said, “Why make a free agent splash before the biggest draft in
a decade?” But that’s the beauty of the
signing: Big Al is in no way a winning player. He has never been past the first round of the
playoffs. He knows losing. His style of play is conducive to losing. The Bobcats ranked last in the league last
year in defensive efficiency, while the Jazz allowed 10 points less per 100
possessions with Big Al on the bench. This
signing is low risk (only 3 years, exactly the time Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is
scheduled to re-up his deal) and the Bobcats will still have loads of cap space next summer. It also creates the illusion to fans that the Bobcats
are trying to win when, in reality, they could easily end up with yet another
top 5 pick.
What were the Pistons doing acquiring Josh Smith?
I have absolutely no idea. If Josh Smith was telling the truth when he
said that the Pistons were his “only option” in free agency, then Joe Dumars 4
year, $56 million offer came prematurely in the negotiation process. The Pistons envision Smith as a ball handler
on offense that will hide some of the weaknesses of their playmaking-challenged
youngster Brandon Knight. It could be
a good fit, if you think starting a 30% jump shooter at the 3 is a good idea. But can this roster contend for a
championship? Don’t bet on it, not
unless Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond are the next coming of Duncan/Robinson. This team is heading for average-ness. Would have been smarter to settle for a high
draft pick (dream of a Wiggins/Monroe/Drummond frontcourt for the next 10
seasons).
Why did Cleveland sign Jarret Jack and Andrew Bynum?
See James, Lebron: Attractive Free Agency Destinations 2014
But the point of this entry is not to address how
effectively teams have decided to tank. The
point is that, with two months until training camps, there are still many
tweaks that can be made to most rosters. Even if it is in the team's best interest to lose this season, it is still important to make adjustments in order to maintain locker room chemistry and provide
support to younger players. Hopefully, your teams’ Execs aren’t just
vacationing it up somewhere (who knows?) and are exploring options to better
the team. While the Draft and Free
Agency periods sucked up a lot of energy, there are some rosters that are in
serious need of some adjustment. So here
it is, 8 roster positions that are currently puzzling me along with proposed
solutions:
1)
Boston Celtics Shooting
Guard
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| "The Pit Bulls" |
Current Roster: Avery
Bradley, Courtney Lee, Marshon Brooks, Jordan Crawford, Keith Bogans
If this group stays, I do
not envy the position of first-year head coach Brad Stevens one bit. Choosing which of these guys will play on a
given night will be like trying to choose between different brands of $1.99
toothbrushes. Bradley looks to be in
position for his first healthy training camp (knock on wood) and, still only
age 22, has already established chemistry with Rondo in the backcourt. He goes in as the starter, and will also play
back-up minutes at the point guard. But
that still leaves 20-30 minutes a night at the 2. Bogans figures to start on the outside
looking in, as he is the oldest and least intriguing candidate. There is also no point in showcasing Bogans
in a trade, as his $5 million/year deal (signed to match salaries) will be a
huge deterrent to any suitor.
That leaves Lee, Brooks,
and Crawford. Lee signed a 4 year, $21
million deal last season, which makes it hard to sit him outright. He is also by far the best 3 point shooter
and defender of the three, and has the most experience in the team’s system. Let’s assume he’ll get some of the backup
minutes.
Then who will play between
Brooks and Crawford? Both are young (24
years old, with Brooks entering 3rd season, Crawford 4th),
offensive-minded, and play with a lot of swagger. Their career PERs are almost identical (13.1
to 13.6). Neither can play any position
besides shooting guard. What I’m trying
to say is, they are as redundant as a “final outcome” and one needs to go.
Solutions: One of the most interesting
things about Brooks coming out of college was his remarkable 7’1”
wingspan. Although it hasn’t necessarily
translated so far, there are still many who believe Brooks has great defensive
potential. Learning alongside Avery
Bradley will certainly help in this regard.
Which brings up...
Boston sends Jordan
Crawford, SG to Milwaukee Bucks
Boston receives Epke Udoh,
C
Milwaukee currently fields
only OJ Mayo at the SG position, while maintaining a horde of centers. It is possible that Udoh, at age 26 has
reached his potential as a limited, though solid, presence inside. This trade benefits both teams, as Boston,
though also stacked at PF, is thin at C.
Or, if Boston decides Kelly
Olynyk, Brandon Bass, and Shavlik Randolph can hold down the center position (all salute Tank Commander Ainge),
they can simply deal with the 76ers, a team starving for backcourt depth.
Boston sends Jordan
Crawford, SG to Philadelphia 76ers
Boston receives 2014 2nd
Round Draft Pick
Philly is going to be
horrible in 2013-2014, which makes their 2nd rounder another asset
Danny Ainge can stow away.
2)
Cleveland Cavaliers Small Forward
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| "I got Alonzo Gee starting with me, man smh" |
So what did Chris Grant go out and do in the off season to bolster the position? Offer Kyle Korver? Martell Webster? Maybe even a Dorell Wright? Can I get a Mike Dunleavy to space the floor!?
Nope. None of the above. Although they did draft Sergei Karasev (I liked this pick a lot), the Russian teen is still years away from contributing. By signing Jarret Jack and Andrew Bynum, the Cavs made it clear that they are ready to put their lottery years behind them and move forward behind Kyrie Irving. But the small forward position is still a glaring hole, and the fact that Gee's is unquestionably the best option on the roster is scary. Anthony Bennett's unique skill set would be neutralized at the small forward (this is a bad thing), not to mention the defensive issues. And Earl Clark definitely, no way, don't even try it, cannot play small forward. Yes, some birds have told me it's possible that Lebron comes back , but there are still 82 games before you can start smoking that pipe.
Solution: The Cavs have a plethora of picks coming in the next couple of drafts. This coming draft alone, they will have an additional 2 2nd rounders from Memphis and Orlando. Combinations of these 2nd rounders could be enough to snag their choice of any of the following sweet shooting young SFs (in this order): Jeff Taylor (Bobcats), Jordan Hamilton (Nuggets), or Darius Miller(Pelicans).
If, however, those teams are not willing to part with their promising late round finds, and I suspect they may not, the Cavs could look to free agency. One potential target could be Austin Daye, a slowly improving player who, after spending his first three years trying to add weight, finally saw minutes last year and showed glimpses of his offensive repertoire. These may seem like small additions but playing Alonzo Gee any more than 15 minutes a night is a waste when you could be giving players with higher potential some burn. And I just can't bear to watch a Derrick Williams part two positional identity crisis happening with Anthony Bennett.
-Note: Mike Miller would be a good option here, but Memphis and Oklahoma City are the only contenders for his services at this point.
-Editor's Note: Mike Miller has been signed by the Grizzlies
3) Houston Rockets Center
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| "Heeyyyy Asik, You mad?" |
Per 36 Minutes:
Player 1- 54% FG 56% FT 12.1 PPG 14.0 REB 1.3 BLK 2.5 TO
Player 2- 58% FG 49% FT 17.1 PPG 12.5 REB 2.5 BLK 3.0 TO
Hopefully the challenge didn't take you too long. Even Hubie Brown already figured it out ("Now look at this. What we have here are two centers...."). Let's continue:
Average Salary (over next 3 years)
Omer Asik- $8 million
Dwight Howard- $22 million
Shots taken further than 10 ft from the basket last season:
Omer Asik- 7/19 36%
Dwight Howard- 10/44 23%
MPG
Asik- 30
Howard-36
It is just a shame that there are not 66 minutes in a regulation NBA game. It is also a shame that neither Asik or Howard can make a shot outside of the paint. Houston insists it has no plans to move Asik, but how can you limit either of these centers just reaching their prime to less than 25 minutes a game? Less than 20 minutes a game ? Because you sure can't play them together. Injuries are a concern, sure, but if Dwight Howard gets injured, the Houston Rockets aren't going to win anything anyway. Might as well lose some games.
Solution: A defensive minded center of Asik's quality at $8 million a year has serious value and could net the Rockets some decent assets. Get rid of him now before the bench splinters begin hurting his value.
Boston seems a likely trade partner, as Danny Ainge has been interested in Asik in the past and he is a good compliment for newcomer Kelly Olynyk. A 2 for 1 sense for both teams, and Boston's positions of strength (as discussed before) are the Rockets' weaknesses.
Celtics Trade: Avery Bradley, SG, and Brandon Bass, PF,
Rockets trade: Omer Asik, C
Brandon Bass doesn't have the prettiest contract, but neither does Asik (deal jumps to $13 million in two years). Bass's 12-18 foot game would look nice paired with Dwight Howard's low post dominance (it already did in Orlando), and Avery Bradley could possibly take over starting point guard duties as a scrapper alongside James Harden. Does Houston want to be paying a 15 minute/game guy $13 million in 2 years? Both teams accept.
4)
Los Angeles Lakers Small
Forward
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| "Maybe if I close my eyes long enough it will be 2007" |
Overheard from the Lakers' Pregame Locker Room, December 2013:
Mike D'Antoni: "Alright guys, I want you to pass it around and find the open 3."
Steve Nash, Nick Young, Jodie Meeks: "Aight Coach! Sounds good, let's go!"
Kobe Bryant: "Whoa, whoa, wait a second. What about the defense? I mean, we're playing the Thunder. Who's got Durant? Who's got Westbrook?"
Steve Nash, Nick Young, Jodie Meeks: "Not me."
Mike D'Antoni: "Kobe, why do you mention such things?"
Kobe: "Ya'll can't all guard Thabo! And I'm coming off an Achilles tear! I wanna guard Thabo!"
Steve Nash, Nick Young, Jodie Meeks: "Oh."
Pau Gasol: "I will do it, Kobe."
Kobe: "(shakes head) I need to retire."
It’s easy to know what Kobe wants from the upcoming season. If reports are accurate, he will be ready to go at least by opening night, but the recent track record of players returning from Achilles surgery is not great (see Brand, Elton and Billups, Chauncey). My guess is that Kobe is not delusional and knows the Lakers are not going to make any noise this season. He also knows he will not be around long enough to see the benefit of a high draft pick. Therefore, Kobe’s goal this season: shoot (and score) the ball as much as possible in hopes of passing MJ on the all-time scoring list. This means that other things, mainly defense, have been pushed way down the priority chain.
Which is why the Lakers current backcourt supporting cast is so amusing. Steve Nash, Nick Young, Jodie Meeks, and Wesley Johnson are all average-woeful on the defensive end. The Lakers need someone to plug in at the 3 that can do some dirty work and be an enforcer of sorts. Nick Young and Wesley Johnson? Sweet. Well.... I guess they can shoot (and by that I mean Nick Young can shoot).
Is Metta World Peace available? *Crickets*
The scary thing is, even if any of these players were signed, they probably wouldn't get any burn from D'Antoni because they are not good shooters. Yikes.
5) Milwaukee Bucks Small Forward
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| It's looking like Carlos Delfino won't have much meditating bench time this season |
The Milwaukee Bucks enter the season with Carlos Delfino as the only small forward on the roster. Carlos Delfino is a nice guy, has cool black hair, and would be fun to tour South America with, but he has never averaged over 32 minutes a game. It's possible that Ersan Ilyasova will slide down to the 3, in part due to the logjam in the Bucks' front court, but they could use someone else.
Solution: Call up the Magic and beg them to give back Tobias Harris Link.
6) New Orleans Pelicans Shooting Guard
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| "Hold up. We got Jrue AND Tyreke??" |
I was already intrigued by the logjam of shooting guards that the Pelicans had acquired before the Summer League. Then Austin Rivers had to go out there and complicate things by dropping 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists the very first game on Iman Shumpert. Rivers looked bigger, faster, and more sound with his shot selection and driving decisions. Not that this is a bad problem for the Pelicans to have. It seems like we've known Jrue Holiday, Eric Gordon, and Tyreke Evans forever, but it is important to remember that they are only 23, 24, and 23 respectively. Throw in Rivers at age 20 and it's a reasonably safe assumption that the Pellies have enough back court scoring the next decade. Good thing, too, because the salary tied to these players (along with Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson) isn't going to give them any flexibility in the near future.
It is easy enough to see why the Holiday/Gordon/Evans combo will work on the defensive end. Evans, a strong 6'6" is more than capable of guarding small forwards, while Holiday and Gordon will be above average at the guard positions.
The offensive end will be more than interesting. Evans and Gordon are both scorers, first and foremost, while Holiday is also a scoring point guard (although he did finish 4th in assists). How will they share the ball? The Pelicans should look to the model that Miami has created for an offense that features crisp ball movement, but also allows its stars to be stars. An uninventive, ISO heavy system could be largely detrimental to Evans in particular (think Gerald Wallace last season with the Nets, although Evans is a much more creative scorer). Monty Williams would be wise to use his big men mainly on the perimeter, sacrificing some offensive rebounding while improving transition D and opening driving lanes for his guards. This is ideal because Anderson and Jason Smith are both excellent shooters. And if Thursday's USA Showcase is any indicator, Anthony Davis has greatly improved his jumper, as well.
Of course, the Pelicans could just start Al Farouq Aminu and bring Evans off the bench to start the game. But in crunch time, you know Evans is going to be in no matter what.
Solution: As I was writing this, I realized that there is not really a problem with the Pelicans roster; really I am just excited to see how their season plays out.
On second thought, I actually I do have a solution: If Eric Gordon starts whining at any point in the season and wants out again, just trade him. To Milwaukee. Or Charlotte.
7) Oklahoma City Center
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| Even Kendrick Perkins has a grandmother |
Before you start reading this, I want you to make the Kendrick Perkins stink face/scowl/you know what I'm talking about. Got it locked in? Read this entire segment with the scowl and see if you feel like killing someone at the end. Either that or telling your mom to make you a sandwich.
Now check out Perkins' PER numbers since joining Oklahoma City: 9.1, 8.7, 8.2 (15.0 the year before in Boston)
Your eyes are not deceiving you several times a game you wonder, "Is Kendrick Perkins really a key player? On a good team?" These are terrible numbers for an NBA starter, and are only declining.
Now a really scary number: -0.6. That was Perkins' PER in last year's playoffs. Ouch.
In fact, without Perkins on the floor during last year's playoffs, the Thunder were 18 points better on offense per 100 possessions. That is a huge number. They were also better on defense, although only marginally.
Nick Collison, a player who continually bamboozles me with his effectiveness, is not your typical center, but serves as Perkins' substitute. His PER during last years playoffs? 16.1. Still, Collison only averaged 16 minutes a game to Perkins' 19.
Hey Coach Brooks, what gives? Is Kendrick blackmailing you? Or is he really just that scary?
One problem with sitting Perkins is that you don't want $9 million a year rotting on the bench for the next two seasons. Perkins still has value, and will certainly be needed for Tim Duncan, Dwight Howard, Marc Gasol, and other offensive centers. But it really has gotten to be time to explore other options. The Thunder made a good draft move by going with the raw Steven Adams, and he will be ready to step in when Perkins' contract is up. But what can be done now?
Solution: Sign Mike Miller, SF, and Ivan Johnson, PF
I know, I know. Neither of these signings are centers. But have you seen the center free agent crop? And the Thunder are not willing to trade what it would take to get the likes of Omer Asik. In 2013-2014, The Thunder will need to improvise and use nontraditional lineups. This means more small(ish) ball. In no way should Scott Brooks be playing Kendrick Perkins just so that he can have a prototypical center playing. Serge Ibaka and, as previously mentioned, Nick Collison, are more than capable of handling extended minutes at the 5, especially when Kevin Durant is providing rebounding and shot blocking from the small forward position.
Ivan Johnson, a bruising power forward with a reliable jump shot, allows Ibaka and/or Collison to slide over as center for 10-15 extra minutes a night (ie. 10-15 minutes more that Kendrick Perkins is NOT playing).
I wouldn't count on Mike Miller to play more than 40 games this season. But when he does play alongside Kevin Durant, it creates serious mismatches while not sacrificing too much on the defensive end (Miami played Miller at the 4 during the playoffs). It is all about creating flexibility and using the 82 game season to find what works best.
You can smile now.
=Editor's Note: Mike Miller was signed by the Grizzlies.
8)
Utah Jazz and Philadelphia 76ers Point Guard
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| Not much separates Burke and Carter-Williams, who were selected 9th and 11th in the 2013 Draft. |
What is the ultimate sign of a tanking strategy? Drafting a rookie point guard and completely handing over the reins without even providing a decent backup. Oh, you just want to give your rookies experience, huh (Alec Burks and Enes Kanter roaring with laughter in the background).
This is currently the situation of not only the Utah Jazz, but also Philadelphia 76ers, who are content to let the kids run and frolic about this season. I like Trey Burke and Michael Carter-Williams a lot, despite Carter-Williams foul shooting and Burke's general ineptitude in the Orlando Summer League. I think both will make great strides during the season. But it is a mistake to not have a mentor type alongside these two to help usher the process and ease the pressure. Neither is going to be Damian Lillard from day one, although it will be interesting who fares better in their rookie campaign.
Carter-Williams, currently, is the only point guard on the Sixers roster (in fact, he is also the shortest player at 6'6") and some would argue he isn't even a point guard.
Burke's backup is Jerel McNeal, who hasn't played in an NBA game, either.
Here's the keys to my new Audi, son! Go where you want!
Solutions:
Philadelphia 76ers sign Gary Neal, PG/SG
Philadelphia needs scoring in a bad way, and I hear that Gary Neal just wants to get paid. The Sixers can give Neal whatever he wants provided the contract is not too long, and he will provide scoring and a good locker room presence. This move also provides a backup to Jason Richardson at SG. It's possible Neal could get 30 minutes/night playing with the Sixers.
Utah Jazz re-sign Jamaal Tinsley, PG
Tinsley knows the system, the coaching staff, and the players. He's only a 15 minute a game guy at most, but the Jazz want to give Burke (obviously) and McNeal a look. He would be the most seasoned Jazzman in the locker room by far.
Happy Tanking Everyone!
