Maybe I was too harsh on LMA earlier.
Two things bothered me about BKN signing LMA last year which influence my views on him:
(1) They signed the three old men - LMA, Blake Griffin and Paul Millsap. These three old men combined to cause huge problems in terms of quickness deficits on defense that hampered BKN all season long. This was the wrong strategy.
They showed in the playoffs the previous year (2021) how much they benefited from having a young big with quick legs (Claxton) even though he had no real skills other than physical ones (size and mobility). They showed that they only really needed some active defenders and outside shooters to free up their Big Three of Harden, Durant, and Kyrie; and they would've been a runaway team in the East.
Now not only are they going for one slow footed big man who will hurt their team but THREE. Three slow footed bigs! Three guys who not only do not contribute on defense but actively make you worse! You had plenty of offense. You needed defense! And these guys can't move their feet! They are too bloody slow.
Collectively, having three of them was a massive problem for BKN that hurt them all year long.
(2) BKN had loads of offense with Harden, Durant and Kyrie. They desperately needed guys who could play defense & make simple finishes (dunks inside or 3s outside). They did not need creators (LMA) who have one-on-one skills. They did not need slow footed bigs who cannot play defense. Instead they targeted the three old men none of whom can play defense. LMA and Blake's main value was their individual offense which BKN did not need. They had plenty of offense. They needed DEFENSE.
So yeah, maybe I was being too harsh on LMA earlier for reasons not only specific to his own game but also to the collective problems of the three old men and the team construction of BKN.
His flaws would be less painful on a team with quick mobile athletic defenders around him like BOS have. I still don't think LMA can play a lick of team defense anymore (he can't move well enough) but he is still big at 6-11 260lbs.
I like Kaminsky but it is not like he is a quality defender either. He is better on team D than Aldridge out on the floor because Kaminsky has younger legs that move better. But Aldridge is better in the post against physical bigs like Embiid which is something we need more. After all, if we want better perimeter D from the center spot we can just go small with Gallinari at center instead of using a lesser quality option like Kaminsky. So Aldridge provides more of a valued skill-set / contrast to what we have.
I do not like LMA as a rotation player. He was a liability for BKN last year ... but as a 3rd stringer? As someone who is only used when the team is desperate?
Like Gallinari, LMA would be an offensive orientated center who offers below average / minor defensive contributions but they would be two different types of offensive centers. Gallinari a smaller more mobile more perimeter orientated offensive player & defender. LMA a bigger bodied defender who can defend better in the paint, give an inside scoring option and some jump-shooting.
I am also thinking of David Lee in the Finals when GSW won their first title. They had a two-pronged attack at center with Bogut and Ezeli who were both defensive minded centers with minimal offensive skills at that point (Bogut could pass but not score anymore).
GSW needed something different to open up CLE's defense and they were able to go with David Lee as an offensive center. Lee's skills and solid size helped open up GSW's offense and gave them a lift that helped give them that little booster towards winning their first title.
LMA could maybe provide a similar option as a deep bench player for BOS.
Topic: Which center should we sign? (Read 40322 times)