I understand people think this draft is loaded with bigs and we may get a long term replacement for Horford but do any of these guys actually replace Horford?
The answer is no. Horford has a very specific skill set that we build our team around. As this team evolves and Al gets older, our offense will change to focus on the wings.
What we want is a high pick next year or the year after. The issue is we can't see that far ahead and we don't know who will be there. This is the same problem every year but it does not mean panicking and trading up in the draft in front of you.
The best route is to stand pat this year and assess next year's draft, if there is nothing we like we can try to roll the picks to the following year.
To wrap up, most bigs in this draft are not Horford replacements. Better to wait and see.
You are correct that Al is unique.
I would point you to Wendell Carter. He's somewhat more suited to playing the 5 while Al is more suited to playing the 4, but he has the potential to provide a similar skill set. He's shown a rare combination of intelligence, passing, shooting and all around two-way play you would want in an apprentice for Al.
We also don't need exactly the same player as Al going forward. There will be less of a need for Al's playmaking, as we will have 4 other starters and possibly Rozier off the bench) who can now create on their own, whereas just a few months ago that wasn't true. Jaren Jackson is enough of a two way player to make us a better team too. He just as good a shot blocker as Bamba, and a better overall defender. He's also already proved he can shoot. He would make us historically good on defense.
I will check him out. The second bit I've bolded is the bit I want people to focus on. In 3-4 years when Horford is on his way out (an assumption), we likely won't be replacing him with a like for like replacement because his skill set is rare. We also will have evolved our offense, so may not need his skill set anymore.
So what will we need? I don't believe we can answer that. I can answer what we won't need. We will not need 'a counter to Embiid', 'A bruiser in the paint', 'A scoring post presence'. Those 3 things are captured in a guy like Baynes, a mid level exception player, not a future max player.
We do not need a max level big man unless they are ELITE That means AD only right now.
Yet we want to give up 2 potential lottery picks to move up for someone
now. When we don't know who we will need. In a year or two, having seen the growth from Tatum, Brown, Kyrie, we will have a much clearer idea.
Finally, don't overhype this draft. People do it every year, as the draft approaches "Oh my look at all the future HoFers in this draft!!!" There are 2 players in this draft that will lead a winning team in their careers (Doncic, Bagley) and a 3rd if he stays healthy (Porter). The rest aren't making the cut.
Topic: Why the Celtics should NOT trade up in this draft! (Read 5110 times)