06-24-2023, 09:44 AM
(06-24-2023, 09:27 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: I'm not a fan of a Gafford plan either. Center two years from now is presumably covered. Even if that turns out to be wrong, we have to act like it is covered and give Lively developmental time. I happen to be a believer in Holmes, but I've been wrong before about big men. I mean, I was wrong last summer about Powell getting 'dramatically more minutes than people expected (oh wait, that actually happened). I was wrong about Wood's best role being bench big (wait, that was true also). Never mind (actually, I probably was wrong about Wood's best position being PF instead of C).
If we take on someone else from the outside, I'd like it to be more of a 4/5 with a short contract. Olynyk would be the (uninspiring) prototype. Either he or Maxi could get center minutes (in case Holmes doesn't work out). His ability to shoot makes him multi-positional. And, as Lively grows, either he or Holmes are easily phased out. I think you have to have contingencies for 1. Holmes not bouncing back, 2. Maxi's annual injury and 3. Lively not ready yet. Someone with Olynyk's profile checks those boxes.
Oh, and I'd like to do that in addition to adding a wing who can play either the 3 or the 4.
Gafford is exactly the kind of center you are describing to cover for Lively´s development and Holmes not bouncing back. He´s fairly young himself, 24. His contract is very fair. He is proven in the league. Even showed he can play with another center in Porzingis. He has a career FG% of > 70%. He´s averaging 1.3 BPG for his career. Good advanced stats. He´s like a better and younger version of Powell, but I don't hate the Olynyk idea.
Best case would be Gafford/Olynyk/Lively.