General roster construction for this season and next

[CFAN38]

I usually limit my post to the draft or the occasional trade speculation but this trade deadline and next season has me really wondering what direction BS goes.


Questions I have

  1. Can a team with Pritchard and Simons playing heavy rotational minutes hold up deep into the playoffs? I have always felt a good team can protect one less than neutral defender. PP has always given great effort and is really strong for his size but at 6'2 we know his is limited and needs to be schemed for. Simons has improved but he also isn't really being hunted in the regular season.
   If the team plans to move forward with both of them I think that effects who/what type of big they go after to add to the big man rotation
   I also think it makes Garza unplayable in the playoffs



  2. Long term assuming continued development are the Cs better off starting Walsh/Hugo along side White, JB, JT, and Queta/Other center option with PP or Simons playing a heavy minute bench 6th man role? I'm bullish on Hugo long term and given his age and what he has shown this season wouldn't be shocked to see him as an every starter next season. Starting 4++ defenders in White,Hugo/Waslh,JB, and JT may change how the team has to approach the starting center and the center rotation in general. A player I have liked as an over pay Celtics target in Okongwu but given his smaller size I worry he would struggle as a true anchor but paired with those 4 (with walsh as a 5th coming off the bench) elite defenders I see him as a great option. Even Garza is a more playable option to me if he is surrounded by elite defense.

  3. Does Hauser need to be the odd man out? With JT coming back, the rise of Walsh and the surprise of Hugo I think Hause's minutes become tough. Not to mention Baylor and Minott have shown they can be rotational players. If Simons is being retained I expect Hauser and the 26 1st to be the chips used to bring in a big man.   


 

[Roy H.]

Giving very quick, surface-level answers to each:

1.  I think that we could go far in the playoffs with each on the roster, so long as they don't play a lot of minutes together.  We have the personnel to cover for one weak defender at all times, I think.  And, I think PP is probably closer to neutral than weak.

2.  This gets complicated with lineups and egos.  In theory, if Simons left, a lineup of Center / JT / JB / Hugo / White makes sense.  But, how does Pritchard's ego adjust to that?  And, if you consider Simons to be a weapon and bring him back, see #1 above.  I don't think he works playing heavy minutes next to Pritch.  So, I think that leads to both Hugo and Walsh coming off the bench.

3.  I wouldn't make Hauser the odd man out to accommodate Walsh.  If moving Hauser is needed to balance salary and to acquire a solid rotational center, then I get it.  But, in a vacuum, I'd prefer him over Walsh.  He's slumped slightly this year, but he's consistently been a 41% - 43% outside shooter.

[smicker16]

TP for the thread.

I think the Pritchard/Simons piece is very valid. It isn?t main reasoning for wanting to move Simons. With Tatum back I do not think we will be able to allow Simons as much on ball time. And I do think in the playoffs he would be picked on defensively. It is also why as much as Garza has impressed me I do not know if we would be able to rely on him in the playoffs. The matchup hunting and game planning in the playoffs is next level so I do have concerns there.

I agree with Roy on the ego aspect of starting Hugo/Walsh when Tatum comes back. I do think it will depend what happens with Simons. For the point above if Simons is here I do not think Pritchard can move to the bench. But if they trade Simons then it comes down to ego a bit there I feel.

Just my thoughts but something I have been thinking about too.