Roster Construction around Tatum and Brown

[CFAN38]

All of this trade speculation has brought me to a really foundational question:

What is the ideal roster construction around Tatum and Brown?


As both players are entering the infancy of their primes we are gaining a clearer picture of their strength and weaknesses. Without getting to bogged down in actual players I think the following player archetypes would be ideal around the Js,

PG. Solid 2-way PG with size to avoid exploitation in playoffs (ex Smart, Jrue Holiday, Lonzo)
SG Brown
SF Tatum
PF versatile defender with respectable perimeter game capable of defending 2-4 consistently while playing small ball 5 (ex D Green, prime Milsap, maybe A Gordon/L Nance but ideally this player is Cs 3rd allstar player on a championship level team)
C the smallest amount of cap space of any starter, just needs to be solid and capable of player high level D for 20-25mpg (Theis, Thompson or R WIlliams are all fine)

6th critical position where I would like to see a wing player who is talented enough to start on most teams, needs to be at least a neutral if not a + on D ( T Ross is an example that comes to mind)
7th scoring PG, a relatively easy position to fill just a true PG who can get his own shot if needed (Pritchard should fit this nicely)
8th large body backup center, drop defender who bring physicality (R Lopez, Cs Baynes)
9th utility wing, good enough to play in a pinch, not going to turn the ball over or hurt the team on D (Semi can play this role as can any number of past their prime wings)

[footey]

I used to think like you.  Now I am coming to realize that our biggest need is an elite play making guard.  Brown and Tatum are pretty pedestrian in play-making.  Youth is no longer an excuse. They just don't have the acumen to be elite play makers.  Not sure how we get one without trading one of them. 

I'd consider trading Brown for Fox and Barnes, for example.

[jambr380]

I used to think like you.  Now I am coming to realize that our biggest need is an elite play making guard.  Brown and Tatum are pretty pedestrian in play-making.  Youth is no longer an excuse. They just don't have the acumen to be elite play makers.  Not sure how we get one without trading one of them. 

I'd consider trading Brown for Fox and Barnes, for example.

I haven't really seen this one before - TP for the bold proposal. I'm not really in the market for trading Brown, but this one makes some sense for SAC with Hali's emergence. Definitely would need to follow it up with a Kemba trade for a wing, though...or at least another massive TPE in the offseason that we can use for a wing later on 

[Who]

#1 priority for me is big man passing at the center position.

Someone like Memphis era Marc Gasol. Someone who will ensure the team maintains ball movement and keeps everyone else involved. Someone who will get the ball inside the defense and allow Tatum and Jaylen to work from the spots they most enjoy (instead of playing off of a playmaking guard which entails mostly standing around the perimeter).

[todd_days_41]

I'd consider trading Brown for Fox and Barnes, for example.

Bet you would! Not sure the Kings would, though....

[CelticsBR]

What I am gonna say is hard, but I believe Gordon Hayward and Al Horford were the kind of wing and center kind of players that matchs pretty well with the Js. A team like we almost had could really switch it all on defense and would always have a mismatch to exploit on offense.

A center that could, at the time he was here, pass, score and open-up the floor when needed and cause some impact on defense.

A wing that could be the playmaker, calm the game down and defend many positions. Hayward was probably a way better scorer than the Js would need.

As of the guard, I would say with a Hayward kind of player, the Js wouldn't need a 1st tier guard. Somebody that could impact the defensive side and score the ball from the 3pt line would be enough.

[gouki88]

I agree with Who - playmaking at the big spot is what I'd want. If Williams can continue to develop there with his elite defence and rebounding he'd be perfect. If not, someone like Vucevic (high-end), Poeltl (mid-tier) or Tillman (low-end) would be great.

I like the idea of a guard who has size and can do a bit of everything. Someone like DeJounte Murray would be awesome. Allows the Jays to carry a load but can still help on offence, while giving us some nasty defensive versatility. Another forward who plays strong defence and keeps the ball moving like Aaron Gordon, Harrison Barnes or Thad Young would be my ideal complementary forward for the Jays too.

[Somebody]

#1 priority for me is big man passing at the center position.

Someone like Memphis era Marc Gasol. Someone who will ensure the team maintains ball movement and keeps everyone else involved. Someone who will get the ball inside the defense and allow Tatum and Jaylen to work from the spots they most enjoy (instead of playing off of a playmaking guard which entails mostly standing around the perimeter).

I agree with Who - playmaking at the big spot is what I'd want. If Williams can continue to develop there with his elite defence and rebounding he'd be perfect. If not, someone like Vucevic (high-end), Poeltl (mid-tier) or Tillman (low-end) would be great.

I like the idea of a guard who has size and can do a bit of everything. Someone like DeJounte Murray would be awesome. Allows the Jays to carry a load but can still help on offence, while giving us some nasty defensive versatility. Another forward who plays strong defence and keeps the ball moving like Aaron Gordon, Harrison Barnes or Thad Young would be my ideal complementary forward for the Jays too.

Thoughts on Theis filling in that role for the time being? He's not a great big man passer, but he's capable of making some pretty good reads and is comfortable in the high post and perimeter.

[gouki88]

#1 priority for me is big man passing at the center position.

Someone like Memphis era Marc Gasol. Someone who will ensure the team maintains ball movement and keeps everyone else involved. Someone who will get the ball inside the defense and allow Tatum and Jaylen to work from the spots they most enjoy (instead of playing off of a playmaking guard which entails mostly standing around the perimeter).

I agree with Who - playmaking at the big spot is what I'd want. If Williams can continue to develop there with his elite defence and rebounding he'd be perfect. If not, someone like Vucevic (high-end), Poeltl (mid-tier) or Tillman (low-end) would be great.

I like the idea of a guard who has size and can do a bit of everything. Someone like DeJounte Murray would be awesome. Allows the Jays to carry a load but can still help on offence, while giving us some nasty defensive versatility. Another forward who plays strong defence and keeps the ball moving like Aaron Gordon, Harrison Barnes or Thad Young would be my ideal complementary forward for the Jays too.

Thoughts on Theis filling in that role for the time being? He's not a great big man passer, but he's capable of making some pretty good reads and is comfortable in the high post and perimeter.

I wouldn't mind him at all if there wasn't the threat of his impending free agency. Would like to see him and Timelord kept with TT moved on (just going by what Stevens was saying with there only being room for one big), but I feel as if Theis has higher trade value than Thompson.

He's definitely solid though. Helps that he's a great screener

[Somebody]

#1 priority for me is big man passing at the center position.

Someone like Memphis era Marc Gasol. Someone who will ensure the team maintains ball movement and keeps everyone else involved. Someone who will get the ball inside the defense and allow Tatum and Jaylen to work from the spots they most enjoy (instead of playing off of a playmaking guard which entails mostly standing around the perimeter).

I agree with Who - playmaking at the big spot is what I'd want. If Williams can continue to develop there with his elite defence and rebounding he'd be perfect. If not, someone like Vucevic (high-end), Poeltl (mid-tier) or Tillman (low-end) would be great.

I like the idea of a guard who has size and can do a bit of everything. Someone like DeJounte Murray would be awesome. Allows the Jays to carry a load but can still help on offence, while giving us some nasty defensive versatility. Another forward who plays strong defence and keeps the ball moving like Aaron Gordon, Harrison Barnes or Thad Young would be my ideal complementary forward for the Jays too.

Thoughts on Theis filling in that role for the time being? He's not a great big man passer, but he's capable of making some pretty good reads and is comfortable in the high post and perimeter.

I wouldn't mind him at all if there wasn't the threat of his impending free agency. Would like to see him and Timelord kept with TT moved on (just going by what Stevens was saying with there only being room for one big), but I feel as if Theis has higher trade value than Thompson.

He's definitely solid though. Helps that he's a great screener

I don't think teams would offer him huge money tbh - a lot of front offices in the NBA are still very box score biased and Theis is mainly seen as a '9/5 guy with some intangibles'. We'll probably re-sign him for TT money on a mid-term deal and that would be really solid business imo.

[gouki88]

#1 priority for me is big man passing at the center position.

Someone like Memphis era Marc Gasol. Someone who will ensure the team maintains ball movement and keeps everyone else involved. Someone who will get the ball inside the defense and allow Tatum and Jaylen to work from the spots they most enjoy (instead of playing off of a playmaking guard which entails mostly standing around the perimeter).

I agree with Who - playmaking at the big spot is what I'd want. If Williams can continue to develop there with his elite defence and rebounding he'd be perfect. If not, someone like Vucevic (high-end), Poeltl (mid-tier) or Tillman (low-end) would be great.

I like the idea of a guard who has size and can do a bit of everything. Someone like DeJounte Murray would be awesome. Allows the Jays to carry a load but can still help on offence, while giving us some nasty defensive versatility. Another forward who plays strong defence and keeps the ball moving like Aaron Gordon, Harrison Barnes or Thad Young would be my ideal complementary forward for the Jays too.

Thoughts on Theis filling in that role for the time being? He's not a great big man passer, but he's capable of making some pretty good reads and is comfortable in the high post and perimeter.

I wouldn't mind him at all if there wasn't the threat of his impending free agency. Would like to see him and Timelord kept with TT moved on (just going by what Stevens was saying with there only being room for one big), but I feel as if Theis has higher trade value than Thompson.

He's definitely solid though. Helps that he's a great screener

I don't think teams would offer him huge money tbh - a lot of front offices in the NBA are still very box score biased and Theis is mainly seen as a '9/5 guy with some intangibles'. We'll probably re-sign him for TT money on a mid-term deal and that would be really solid business imo.

Yeah, an MLE-type deal for Theis over 2 years would be perfect. Would take him to 31 years old, and he'd be a great bench piece while Timelord ascends.

Hopefully we draft my binkie Garza in the 2nd round who can take over the 2nd string big role at the end of that too!

[Moranis]

A Horford type player and a Hayward type player.

[Jvalin]

PG: pass-first PG who can play off the ball. Ideally, an oversized guard cause we run a switch-heavy defensive scheme. Definitely not a score-first, undersized guard like Kemba.
SG: Brown
SF: either a Point Forward or a 3+D swing
PF: Tatum. He's more explosive than most PFs, which gives him an immense advantage on the offensive side of the ball.
C: mobile switchable big, ideally an elite PnR player and/or a 3pt shooter

For instance,

PG: Cade Cunningham / Haliburton / prime George Hill
SG: Brown
SF: Hayward / De'Andre Hunter / Barnes
PF: Tatum
C: Bam / Christian Wood / prime Horford / Ben Simmons (yes, I'd transform him into a Point Center)

Obviously, most of these guys are close to untouchable. Here's a more realistic scenario.

PG: Smart / Lonzo (although I hate the off-court drama) / George Hill / Satoransky
SG: Brown
SF: Barnes / Kyle Anderson (although he's a mediocre shooter)
PF: Tatum
C: Theis / Richaun Holmes / Khem Birch / Okongwu (imo, he'll be a bust. I mention him only because he fits our style of play)

[CFAN38]

What I am gonna say is hard, but I believe Gordon Hayward and Al Horford were the kind of wing and center kind of players that matchs pretty well with the Js. A team like we almost had could really switch it all on defense and would always have a mismatch to exploit on offense.

A center that could, at the time he was here, pass, score and open-up the floor when needed and cause some impact on defense.

A wing that could be the playmaker, calm the game down and defend many positions. Hayward was probably a way better scorer than the Js would need.

As of the guard, I would say with a Hayward kind of player, the Js wouldn't need a 1st tier guard. Somebody that could impact the defensive side and score the ball from the 3pt line would be enough.

Have to wonder if the Cs where not able to pull off the Kemba/Rozier trade and instead resigned Rozier would Hayward have been happy/thrived absorbing some of Kemba's play making responsibilities? .....

[Vermont Green]

Didn't Danny Ainge already address this?  Size that can shoot.  That is what would complement Tatum and Brown the best.

It could be made to work with almost any decent PG.  Something in the mold of Chris Paul would be the best probably but I don't feel it is that specific.  Kemba is not perfect but fine.  That is not the issue.