Who do you pick?
Ainge's number one priority will be working out a way to get us a franchise player like Durant or Lebron. If that’s not possible, he’ll probably attempt to put two top tier All Star level guys next to Rondo- or a young talent that's already in the NBA that he can see becoming one.
I believe if we are keeping Rondo, we need someone to replace Kevin Garnett- particularly on offense. A stretch 4 or 5 that also has some post game, rebounds and defends the rim.
To me, there are two people I can see being Ainge’s targets- they might not be franchise guys, but they are both top big men in the league. One in particular is, in my opinion- the most under rated player in the entire NBA. They are LaMarcus Aldridge and Chris Bosh.
Chris Bosh is the better player, and he’s the one we should be targeting.
Let’s ignore his perceived image amongst us NBA fans- his 'persuasions' (just kidding- there's nothing wrong with that anyway) or his eerily likeliness of a dinosaur….and focus solely on his numbers.
He’s currently the third fiddle in Miami- when he’s actually the 2nd most important player- behind the best player in the world on a championship team.
In only 2010, as the number one option on a Toronto squad that he carried to the playoffs – he Averaged 24 points and 11 rebounds in the regular season in 36 minutes per game.
Since going to Miami and being converted to a stretch power forward, his points, minutes, touches and shot attempts have all gone down. His shooting percentages and efficiency however, have all improved.
The guy was getting only 16.5 attempts a game in Toronto and scoring 24 ppg with 52% FG…. Lol.
Compare that to LaMarcus Aldridge in Portland last season with 21 points and 9 rebounds in 18 attempts in just under 38 mins per game. Aldridge’s field goal is 48.4%
Currently, Bosh is only getting 18 points, 7 rebounds in 13 attempts per 36 minutes. His actual time on the court was only 33 minutes per game last season. His shooting however has improved to 53% and his true shooting percentage was 60% last season with a 54% efficiency rating on his shots. Comparing this to Aldridge with a true shooting percentage of 53% and an efficiency rating of 48.5%, Bosh is clearly killing Aldridge with his effectiveness.
Even on defense he’s allowing 103 points per 100, and a defensive win shares rate of 3.6, compared to Aldridge’s 107 allowed and 2.3 defensive win shares per game. For comparison, Tyson Chandler’s ratings last season were 104 and 2.6 last season.
Obviously Bosh plays with the best player in the world, which helps as far as easy buckets and making life easier on both ends goes- but his touches, shots and usage go way down- the aim of the Heat is to get Lebron eating up as much usage as possible…
Now in the same context, Aldridge is the go-to guy on a perennial 8th seed and doesn’t appear to ever be reaching numbers like Bosh’s 24 and 11 in Toronto.
My question is, if we want a big man to put next to Rondo- who should it be?
I think Bosh is a top 5 big man in the NBA. His role has completely changed in Miami because of their offensive strategy and he’s made the biggest sacrifice of anyone on that team. Make him a center again, give him 18 shots a game at 35 minutes per game at center, and watch him get back to 22 ppg and 10 rebounds night in, night out. His defense has improved immensely, and is why I think he’s the key.
He has gone from a slightly above average defender to a very good/elite defender and hardened up in the paint significantly. I actually think playing against KG in the East was one of the best things to ever happen to Bosh. Anyway, of all the big men that are available while Rondo is under contract- this guy has the numbers and results that have been proven on the floor.
I think if we brought him back into a leading role- put him as our second scorer in a KG role , with Rondo manning the point guard position- while we look for that franchise level guy or some kind of top 10 small forward/scoring wing player. He stretches the floor for Rondo and the wings to penetrate- remember those threes he hit against us in the 2012 ECF? Now he’s not KG (no one is), but he can patrol the paint similarly and protect the rim with a high IQ on defense.
Miami know how good he is, and he has the personality to accept the 3rd fiddle role- I feel he’d embrace the role as a go to guy on offense though- while utilizing the defensive skills he’s picked up playing in Miami. At 29 years old, he’s right on par with Rondo in terms of age and being in his ‘prime’, for at least another 3 seasons.
I think he’d be a great fit. What do you think? The hard parts are his salary, and his 2 years left on his deal with Miami.
With Lebron there, and Wade fading, they’d be smart to keep Bosh as the replacement for Wade as the 2nd go to scorer.
Is this guy the most underrated player in the NBA?
Would he be a good fit with Rondo? And is he worth the 20 million per year?
Then, how would we get him and what could we offer the Heat?
I guess it's easier if Lebron goes back to Cleveland but meh...
pretty tough until 2016.
Topic: Which big men does Ainge target to put next to Rondo? I choose ... (Read 13415 times)