Olynyk as a center?

[JBcat]

For those advanced stats guys out there I'd love for someone to post his minutes split from each position last year, and how well he did at both positions.  I think as Kelly gains strength he could maybe become sort of a Brad Miller like center, but maybe a little more diverse offensively.

If he can play center effectively it allows for a balanced big man rotation in the short term with Zeller and KO at center, and Sully and Bass at PF.  As of now KO and Sully are the 2 most talented bigs on the team, and if KO can play center they can play a lot of minutes together, and allow Sully to remain at his natural PF position.

To me it comes down to how much stronger he can be to play effective positional D at the center spot.  He may still need another year or 2 before this happens.  Ideally for me I'd still like to get a more defensive minded center like a Larry Sanders for a solid 3 man rotation with a Bass like player as the 4th big.

So what do you think? Is KO better off remaining at PF or move to C for his and the team's long term success?

[puskas54_10]

He is a PF.
When I visualize KO as a center, pictures of Andrea Bargnani trying to defend comes to my mind.

[Lucky17]

He is a PF.
When I visualize KO as a center, pictures of Andrea Bargnani trying to defend comes to my mind.

Not sure this is a fair comparison, given that Bargnani has long since stopped trying to defend. He's more apathetic than ineffective.

I think there will be times when KO can play a stretch-five role. Whether that's the norm or the exception remains to be seen.

[D.o.s.]

He is a PF.
When I visualize KO as a center, pictures of Andrea Bargnani trying to defend comes to my mind.

Not sure this is a fair comparison, given that Bargnani has long since stopped trying to defend. He's more apathetic than ineffective.

Oh, I don't know.

[Lucky17]

He is a PF.
When I visualize KO as a center, pictures of Andrea Bargnani trying to defend comes to my mind.

Not sure this is a fair comparison, given that Bargnani has long since stopped trying to defend. He's more apathetic than ineffective.

Oh, I don't know.

I stand corrected. I should have dropped the first letter in "apathetic."

[Tr1boy]

No . he is a pf

[CFAN38]

I didn't vote because I think he will be 50/50. I think KO is going to be at his best as the 3rd big backing up both positions. I don't think he has the foot speed to be an ideal starting PF or the length for center but as a backup for both he is idea. Even playing out of shape and over weight Sully seemed to move better laterally then KO last year. My perfect rotation would be Sully starting, a defensive starting 5 and KO playing big minutes behind both.


I think KO will be very similar to Mehmet Okur as he develops

Okur write up from draft express 2008

Overview:A skilled post player that can create mismatch problems with his mixture of size and shooting touch. Has very good size and strength for the power forward or center position. Not a true center by virtue of his skill set. Adequately mobile for a player his size, but not overly quick or explosive. Doesn’t change directions well. Used to show better athleticism. Shoots the ball like a guard. Knows where to set up to get open. Above average rebounder. Not much of a defensive player.

From DraftExpress.com http://www.draftexpress.com#ixzz3EMOLlbHi
http://www.draftexpress.com
 

[Celtics4ever]

He play C as long as your offense uses a C at the high post.   I think he could excel in this kind of play, he can pass and shoot decent from there as well as drop back for a three.

In the low post he needs ton of development, IMHO.

[puskas54_10]

He is a PF.
When I visualize KO as a center, pictures of Andrea Bargnani trying to defend comes to my mind.

Not sure this is a fair comparison, given that Bargnani has long since stopped trying to defend. He's more apathetic than ineffective.

I think there will be times when KO can play a stretch-five role. Whether that's the norm or the exception remains to be seen.

Bargnani is not a bad player. He just can't defend the paint. On offense he can stretch the defense just like you envision with KO. I don't see the patroling the paint mentality in KO.

[Who]

He is a PF.
When I visualize KO as a center, pictures of Andrea Bargnani trying to defend comes to my mind.

Not sure this is a fair comparison, given that Bargnani has long since stopped trying to defend. He's more apathetic than ineffective.

Yeah, Bargnani had the physical tools to be a good defensive center. He just thought defending and rebounding were a waste of time for a player of his talent. His job was to score the ball and that a player of his talents shouldn't have to waste his energy as a defender and rebounder. 'That is what other players are for' or something along those lines. Guys like Reggie Evans (rebounding) and so forth. His job was to score. Rest of it was somebody else's problem.

Bargnani actually said this in one of the interviews on Raptors team website and when the team realized what he had actually said they pulled down the interview straight away. Like a striker in football (soccer). That was his mentality. His job to score. Everyone else's job to do defense and rebounding. So long as he scored, he had done his job well. Up to rest of players and coach to find solution to defense + rebounding. Not him.

And then Bryan Colangelo goes and makes things even worse by firing the only coach (Sam Mitchell) that was trying to force Bargnani to play defense to earn more playing time and instills Jay Triano who was ordered to play Bargnani 30+mpg no matter how bad his defense and rebounding was. Compounding all of Bargnani's worst habits. Awful team management from front office new coach Triano.

Bargnani could have been a good defender. He had good physical tools (much better than Olynyk). Bargnani was strong, had good size and solid length. Mediocre lateral quickness and leaping ability made it hard for him to be high level shot-blocker & overall defensive center ... but he had enough physical talent to be a good defensive C if he applied himself. There would be (rare) glimpses of that talent -- post defense on Dwight Howard or PnR defense and switches on Nash / Frye or how hard it was to shoot over his length when he tried to block shots. When Bargnani actually tried, he showed he could do good things. Bargnani just didn't bloody well try. Thought it was beneath him (the #1 pick and top scoring threat) to do the dirty work. What a waste.

[hwangjini_1]

He is a PF.
When I visualize KO as a center, pictures of Andrea Bargnani trying to defend comes to my mind.

Not sure this is a fair comparison, given that Bargnani has long since stopped trying to defend. He's more apathetic than ineffective.

Oh, I don't know.

lets just call it a draw.

and great videos by the way. tp.

[Endless Paradise]

He is a PF.
When I visualize KO as a center, pictures of Andrea Bargnani trying to defend comes to my mind.

Not sure this is a fair comparison, given that Bargnani has long since stopped trying to defend. He's more apathetic than ineffective.

I think there will be times when KO can play a stretch-five role. Whether that's the norm or the exception remains to be seen.

Bargnani is not a bad player. He just can't defend the paint. On offense he can stretch the defense just like you envision with KO. I don't see the patroling the paint mentality in KO.

Nah, Bargnani's awful.  I say this as a Knicks fan who got to watch a whole season (well, 42 games) of him stinking up the place last year.  His three-point shot has long abandoned him, making him about as useful for stretching the defense as Sullinger currently is.

[SHAQATTACK]

I think he ll become more and more Dirk like as he ages....a big dude who can stroke the ball.  He is slow but very sure learner , and improves at a steady pace.

I'm looking for him to be a better player around the rim.  He understands work and in think he'll make huge strides this year around the basket and with defense.

Having a huge 7 ft frame is still new to him and how to use it .

Just hope we don't trade him before he peaks

[McHales Pits]

http://www.82games.com/1314/13BOS15.HTM

Take from this what you will

[pearljammer10]

He is a PF.
When I visualize KO as a center, pictures of Andrea Bargnani trying to defend comes to my mind.

Not sure this is a fair comparison, given that Bargnani has long since stopped trying to defend. He's more apathetic than ineffective.

I think there will be times when KO can play a stretch-five role. Whether that's the norm or the exception remains to be seen.

Bargnani is not a bad player. He just can't defend the paint. On offense he can stretch the defense just like you envision with KO. I don't see the patroling the paint mentality in KO.

Yeeesh... I don't know if I could say that. As a stretch four his best fg% over the last three years 44% with 39% and 42% being his other years. And his 3 has been atrocious at  29%, 31%, and 27%.

He had a couple good scoring years with Toronto and the potential was once there. But I don't think he can redeem himself after the past few seasons he's played. He looks cashed out.