What Front Court Free Agent Pairing Would Be Ideal?

[jpotter33]

So, theoretically, we have the ability to open up cap space for two max or near-max free agents this summer. This year's crop of free agents is FULL of front court talent. So what front court pairing would be ideal given our current situation?

In this scenario, let's assume that we keep our back court set rolling with a lineup of Smart, IT, Bradley, Turner, and Young.

Unrestricted/PO                          Restricted

Marc Gasol                               Kawhi Leonard
LaMarcus Aldridge                      Jimmy Butler
Kevin Love (PO)                         Draymond Green                                 
Deandre Jordan                          Khris Middleton
Tim Duncan                              Tobias Harris
Brook Lopez (PO)                    Enes Kanter
Paul Milsap 
Greg Monroe
Al Jefferson
Roy Hibbert (PO)
Tyson Chandler
Jeff Green (PO)
Josh Smith
Luol Deng (PO)
David West (PO)
Robin Lopez
Omer Asik

Bold = virtually guaranteed to stay with current team by resigning or player option

To me, I like the Deandre Jordan and LaMarcus Aldridge pairing, because it provides us with an athletic frontcourt with all-around shooting and scoring in LMA and elite rim protection in DJ. I think Love would be a decent replacement for LMA, too. (How realistic is this is another question, but all it takes is for one domino to drop.)

A Gasol and Milsap/LMA combo would be interesting, too.

I realize that we probably need a better 3-man more than a PF, but I really doubt that we'd be able to pry Butler away from Chicago. Kawhi and Green are almost a lock to stay with their teams, and I don't think the rest are worth the contract they'll get this summer. Plus, focusing on building an elite front court would help us draw Durant here next summer! 

What pairing do you think would be most effective, the best fit, and the most realistic?

[bcgenuis]

What contract does Tyson Chandler get this off season?  Is he a max player?

[Beat LA]

Sadly, none of the above.  While not exactly ideal, the most realistic frontcourt 4/5 tandem would be Sullinger and William Bedford, I mean, Robert Upshaw, lol. I'd rather keep building through the draft, quite honestly.

[Rosco917]

Some of the free agents that are listed will most likely remain with there present teams. As an example, I feel Kawhi will remain with the Spurs (unfortunately). Same for Butler, I think the Bulls will go all out for him. Chandler too old, forget LaMarcus, Milsap will stay with Atlanta, some players we really don't want, Smith and Green,

I think we have a shot at Monroe, Asik, Middleton, Harris, Deandre (possibly) Love (possibly) Kanter (possibly)

In order to make a serious choice you have to decide if you're sticking with Sully or not.
So sticking with Sully I'd have to look at Middleton pretty hard, make an all out effort on Butler, and Deandre Jordan, and knock on the door of R. Lopez, but I doubt he will move.


If you decide to dump Sully.
Go at Monroe hard as the PF, and Deandre Jordan as the C. (and hope they don't get in each others way.)
Love would pair well with Jordan, but I feel Love will stay with the Cavs or jump to LA.

It's not as easy as I thought it would be LOL

[gpap]

Kevin Love and trading for Cousins.

[boscel33]

Kevin Love and trading for Cousins.

Jordan and Kawhi Leonard, then trading for Noel.

[loco_91]

Gasol and Love... and Kawhi and Butler, please!

[KGs Knee]

Gasol/Aldridge/Leonard

A man can dream, right?

[LooseCannon]

Some of the free agents that are listed will most likely remain with there present teams. As an example, I feel Kawhi will remain with the Spurs (unfortunately). Same for Butler, I think the Bulls will go all out for him. Chandler too old, forget LaMarcus, Milsap will stay with Atlanta, some players we really don't want, Smith and Green,

I don't think Millsap is guaranteed to stay with Atlanta.  I think it is not certain that Atlanta will be willing to give him a max deal, especially if the Hawks have a disappointing end to their playoff run.  I think he will leave if someone else offers him a max deal.

[jpotter33]

Gasol/Aldridge/Leonard

A man can dream, right?

Haha that'd be quite the front court!

[jpotter33]

Some of the free agents that are listed will most likely remain with there present teams. As an example, I feel Kawhi will remain with the Spurs (unfortunately). Same for Butler, I think the Bulls will go all out for him. Chandler too old, forget LaMarcus, Milsap will stay with Atlanta, some players we really don't want, Smith and Green,

I don't think Millsap is guaranteed to stay with Atlanta.  I think it is not certain that Atlanta will be willing to give him a max deal, especially if the Hawks have a disappointing end to their playoff run.  I think he will leave if someone else offers him a max deal.

You offering a 30 year old Milsap a max contract this offseason? For me it'd have to depend upon whether or not we can actually get a defensive big next to him. If we could land a DJ or Asik type, then I'd definitely do it.

[jambr380]

From your list, definitely Aldridge and Jordan...obviously.

You listed a number of SFs who I would also love, but don't necessarily fit your criteria of 'front court pairing'. If given a choice between signing Leonard / Butler or Aldridge, I would likely choose Leonard or Butler.

Realistically [and hopefully], I could see us throwing everything at Sacramento (and to 3rd/4th teams as facilitators) for Cousins and then signing whatever high level wing player will agree to play with us. Let's hope these fireworks actually happen this summer. At least we are in an upward trajectory.

[LooseCannon]

Some of the free agents that are listed will most likely remain with there present teams. As an example, I feel Kawhi will remain with the Spurs (unfortunately). Same for Butler, I think the Bulls will go all out for him. Chandler too old, forget LaMarcus, Milsap will stay with Atlanta, some players we really don't want, Smith and Green,

I don't think Millsap is guaranteed to stay with Atlanta.  I think it is not certain that Atlanta will be willing to give him a max deal, especially if the Hawks have a disappointing end to their playoff run.  I think he will leave if someone else offers him a max deal.

You offering a 30 year old Milsap a max contract this offseason? For me it'd have to depend upon whether or not we can actually get a defensive big next to him. If we could land a DJ or Asik type, then I'd definitely do it.

Paul Millsap is five months older than Lamarcus Aldridge and one month younger than Marc Gasol.  If either of those guys had a chance of being available, would you balk at handing them a big contract because of their age?

FWIW, I rank them Gasol>Millsap>Aldridge

[Ilikesports17]

Some of the free agents that are listed will most likely remain with there present teams. As an example, I feel Kawhi will remain with the Spurs (unfortunately). Same for Butler, I think the Bulls will go all out for him. Chandler too old, forget LaMarcus, Milsap will stay with Atlanta, some players we really don't want, Smith and Green,

I don't think Millsap is guaranteed to stay with Atlanta.  I think it is not certain that Atlanta will be willing to give him a max deal, especially if the Hawks have a disappointing end to their playoff run.  I think he will leave if someone else offers him a max deal.

You offering a 30 year old Milsap a max contract this offseason? For me it'd have to depend upon whether or not we can actually get a defensive big next to him. If we could land a DJ or Asik type, then I'd definitely do it.

Paul Millsap is five months older than Lamarcus Aldridge and one month younger than Marc Gasol.  If either of those guys had a chance of being available, would you balk at handing them a big contract because of their age?

FWIW, I rank them Gasol>Millsap>Aldridge

I think your ranking is different than most people. For me it is: Gasol>Aldridge>>Millsap

Why the infatuation with Millsap? I think he is a slightly better fit for us but from a talent perspective I really dont put him in the same class as Aldridge. However, I havent seen a lot of Milsap so Im really curious what makes you rank him above Aldridge when traditional thought says otherwise

[Rosco917]

Sure...I'd like Aldridge and Gasol, and Leonard too, but so would the teams they're on, and most every team in the NBA. You can't realistically expect all the top free agents to run to the Boston Garden.

I'm talking reality here.
This year, you are not to pry Cousins away from the Kings, not with a new high profile coach in his first year.

SanAntonio will not let Kawhi leave if they can, he is there major building block of the future, they would have to be brain dead.

Same thing for Butler, the Bulls will need one more shot at the ring, Butler's young and Rose is too injury prone to let him walk, they'd have to start over again in the back court.

I really hope I'm wrong.