Ugh, no way, Monroe is likely a max guy this summer, we need a rim protector.
I would hate to waste cap space, especially Max cap space on a guy whose NBA ceiling is a poor mans Al Jefferson.
Poor man's Al Jefferson?
Monroe is only 25 years old and is already better than Jefferson in almost every regard. He's a more efficient scorer, he's a better rebounder, he's a better passer and he's a far better defender.
The only think Jefferson has over Monroe is a consistent jumpshot - if Monroe ever develops one of those, then it's Jefferson who will the poor-man's Monroe.
Also, I'm trying to gauge players who are realistically available to us, and that list most likely excludes guys like DeAndre Jordan, Kevin Love, Marc Gasol and LeMarcus Aldridge.
I can't really think of anyone else who can offer rim protection, who isn't a significant offensive liability (e.g. Asik), and who we actually have a good shot at signing. Maybe Hibbert, he can at least contirbute some on offense. Can't think of anybody else really.
The thing I like about Monroe is that:
1) He's a very good scorer
2) He's a borderline elite rebounder
3) He's one of the NBA's better passing bigs (fits with our motion offense)
4) He's at least decent on defense
5) He's young, with legit upside
6) He should be available for money that (between his potential and the increasing league cap) would probably look like a bargain 2 years from now
I know Monroe isn't much of a rim protector, but there's more than one way to win a basketball game.
Monroe's has such a dominant inside post game that we could run our entire offense through him in the old-school way and play our game inside-out. Very few teams can defend a guy like Monroe 1-on-1 in the post because:
* He's big (tall, long, strong, you name it)
* He has a very skilled post game
* He's a very good passer (so he can beat double teams)
* He's a good free throw shooter, so you can't apply hack-a-Shaq methods
We already have capable shooters at every position except small forward. If we get Monroe and add a lights-out shooter (a Korver / Reddick type) at the small forward spot, then we can play through Monroe in the post and force teams to decide whether to try to defend him with single coverage, or risk getting beat by our outside shooters.
If you think about it, that's basically the same approach Orlando took in the Dwight Howard days where they would stick Dwight in the middle and surround him with shooters. The difference is that Dwight never had much post game, wasn't a great passer, and couldn't shoot free throws - so you could just stay home on the shooters and Dwight was limited in how much he could really make you pay. But despite this, they were still a very tough team to guard. I always thought it was that precise dynamic (having to choose between Dwight or the shooters) that made that team so dangerous.
It's a bit unorthodox for today's league, but I think it could be effective. Then you can take a flyer on a guy like Noah Vonleh and see if you can develop him in to a Serge Ibaka type.