His timing on pick and roll is sublime. It is such a weapon for his teammates to use. Then add the timing of his seals as Kemba and Jason can maximize getting to hoop.
He has some elite length that is a state secret .As he found his groove with the playing time he earned he
was blocking 1.5 shots a game and he has a Celtic motor. I have the feeling he has not reached his ceiling as he builds off timing he also looked comfortable attacking closeouts later in season.
Maybe next season the Refs give him a break on tacky fouls.
He is good as an extra
but can't be the starting center
He can't handle Embiid, Lopez, Gasol, Jokic etc.
I wouldn't say he cant be your starter but I do agree he cant be expected to handle the bigger centers you listed.
I have been trying to figure out my ideal celtics big/big man rotation as it relates to the draft and future FAs. Short of the DA landing a star center I think its clear the Cs will be center by committee for the foreseeable future.
Ideally I like the idea of a 3 man rotation at center. Offense has little to do with this roles, in my eyes the Cs center position should largely be dictated by defense.
1. A versatile big who can play multiple types of P&R overages and most importantly can switch onto smaller players as needed.
2. A drop coverage big who can handle the larger centers in the league
3. A small ball 5 who can provide floor spacing while still keeping the team D respectable
The talent differential between player type 1 and 2 dictates how minutes are distributed. Crunch time (high leverage) minutes usually fall to player type 1 or 3.
Theis is clearly player type 1
Kanter player type 2, Baynes was a great representative of this player type and is really missed (maybe more then Horford)
R Wiliiams should be a type 1 but I'm not sold that he is there yet as a perimeter defender, he needs to stay healthy and get on court reps
G Williams is a great candidate to be the Cs type 3 big. He just needs to come around as a 3pt shooter but i think he will.
Tacko is 1000% a type 2 big
If the Cs had retained Baynes I think we would have seen Theis and Baynes each play about 20mpg and split starting duties based on match ups. I like the idea of R Williams but I'm becoming skeptical that he ever reaches his Capela like ceiling with his health issues.
This draft might yield a few options for the future. Wiseman and Okongwu will likely be out of reach but when looking at them as positional role players.
Tillman, could be a slightly less mobile but stronger Theis like type 1 big
Achiuwa, could be a hyper athletic type 1 center who also bring elite rebounding
Reed, I question his strength but he has the skills to be a really good type 1
Azubuike, could suprise some people and carve out a nice career as a type 2 rim protector
Carey, I'm not a fan but in theory he should be a type 2 center
Stewart, he isn't as tall as I'd like for a type 2 big but he is long and really strong
This is also why I find myself lower on bigs like Toppin, Smith or Nnaji its hard to place them in a defensive role
As for small ball 5s (my type 3)
P Williams, could be a stud in this role. He isn't great on the perimeter for a forward but at Center he could be really good