I do think there’s one move coming that will bring a useful player at the 4.
That said, I’m not nearly as down on this roster as most people. Our defense was disappointing at best last year. The number of open threes and easy drives to the basket was embarrassing, and I think giving a lot of Walker’s minutes to Richardson will help in that regard, as will having Al quarterbacking the defense.
The offensive ability on the team is taking a step back, no question, but if the offensive execution improves, we’ll still look better relative to last year, which was a disappointment. Hopefully an offense that features more ball movement will get better looks for everyone, particularly some of our younger shooters.
A starting 5 of Smart, Richardson, Brown, Tatum, and Horford is better defensively than what we had most of last year, and is still good for 80-90 points on its own. The bench needs a vet or two, because right now it’s Pritchard, Langford, Nesmith, TimeLord, and I don’t know who. Grant? Parker? Dunn, which means we play small a lot? As I said, I think there’s one move coming for someone who will start or be one of the top guys off the bench and primarily play the 4.
I think we finish with the 3rd best record in the East, although without a PF, as we are today, I’ll drop that to 5th.
I told a friend the other day that if we resigned Fournier and turned Tristan Thompson and a 2nd rounder into a PF like Kyle Anderson, I’d be happy. We got Richardson instead, which I’ll accept because Fournier went for more than I was comfortable with. If we still somehow turn Thompson into Kyle Anderson, I’ll continue to be pleased.
I must say I’m not nearly as bullish on Miami as others. Lowry has clearly been in a decline the last 2-3 seasons, and he’s 35 now. He’s had to miss progressively more time each year, and his production is dipping. Still starter-level quality, but not a star, and is more likely to keep trending downward than anything else. I think that team is easily passable, as are the Hawks and Knicks. And something tells me if the Sixers don’t get Ben Simmons a new home, that team is going to struggle. I know he’s been good in the regular season, but Doc and Embiid threw him under the bus (deservedly), and nothing about Simmons suggests he’s going to bounce back in a positive way if he’s still in Philly.
Get a someone who’s primarily a 4, such that Grant doesn’t get 1200-1500 minutes this year, and we’re a top 3 team. Bonus points if we get a bench shooter like Bryn Forbes.