re: David Griffin says off-season more about tweaks than big moves

quote:

---

You don’t build depth?

---

Of course. That doesn't change the fact that we played 50 games without a top 10 player, and 30 games without a top 30 player.
Doesn't matter what your depth is, you aren't going to win much when you're missing that.

quote:

---

If there was a competent backup 4, the player type of what Hayes should be, this team without Zion wins 4-6 more games than they did for the season.

---

i've been screaming for a competent back up 4 since Mirotic left.

quote:

---

Build that depth, you’re playing in May at least.

---

After 30 games this season, we were considered one of the deepest teams in the league, and of the most talented. We didn't lose that depth, or talent. We simply played too many games without our top talent.

I'm not saying we don't need to upgrade positions and get more depth, but you don't do it with the mindset of i want to be able to win games when my stars don't play. You build around your stars playing in the playoffs.
It does you no good to have 11 guys that can give you great regular season minutes, but only 6 or 7 can step on the court in the playoffs. You have to have a legit 8 guys that can play important playoff minutes. Those 8 guys need to be the best 8, meaning 6 of them need to compliment BI and Zion to the fullest extent. if your top 6-7 guys after BI and Zion don't compliment them, then we have no use for them, even if they help us win a few regular season games.

quote:

---

After 30 games this season, we were considered one of the deepest teams in the league, and of the most talented.

---

We were because of the depth at the wing. It was a bit misleading because of Murphy and Naji being able to slide in at the 4 for small ball lineups. The reality is that wasn’t the case. The lack of depth of the bigs had been plaguing us. As you noted, no back up 4.

This should be the draft targeted issue.

At this point, you have to build with the idea that Zion is going to miss 30 games and you need to draft the next starting power forward.(there’s no replacing his talent, so replacement doesn’t seem like the right word).

It’s providing a Plan B that’s more like a 1A.

quote:

---

That's the kind of under the radar target they need to be looking at. I can see Orlando valuing assets over keeping him with where they are in the rebuild. Would JV and #14 be enough? Seems like it should be an easy sell to fans as a win if someone worthwhile is there at 14.

Although I am not liking the low number of games played. 62 games is a career high 2 years ago and he only played 57 this season.

---

I'm not opposed to having WCJ on this team, but I also don't really think he's better than Jval. Obviously I get the age thing that marks the value difference, but for a win now team, I'm not convinced giving up a 1st for a guy who IMO is worse than JVal doesn't seem like the move we should be looking at.

Just feels like a downgrade for the now and losing the pick. It's a move for the future, so I do get that part.



Also, I don't really see why ORL would do that. I think they'd prefer to keep WCJ, as they have time to wait and let him keep developing towards his peak.

A lot of folks refer to BI and Zion being out and generalize a lack of depth. Reality shows Pels missed Nance, Jose, and Dyson for significant stretches. Compounding that, Coach Green refused to play Hayes.

The depth is fine, the management of the depth needs to improve substantially. You cant expect reserves to play starter minutes out of position and hope to have good outcomes.

We need another 4/5 who can control bit something. Either defensively, rebounding, or spacing.

Kelly olynyk isn't a bad target IMHO.

Routinely jv goes to the bench and the rebounding goes to absolute shite. Giving up 2nd chance points was killer.

quote:

---

That 10 game skid really sunk the Pels season. If you can just go .500 over that stretch your 47-35 and a fourth or fifth seed.

---

Or do better than 0-5 against the magic and jazz. Those games stick out a bit as canary in the coal mine games. We had 2 of our big 3 in 4 of those games. Got to do better than 0-5 against those teams.

Kessler and Olynyk too. Utah just a nightmare matchup for us last year.

JV doesn't need to be "upgraded" per se. Willie would always try to cover up the hole in the middle with defensive wings. Imagine a better defensive center that Willie trusts to protect the rim. Those points you miss from JV could be made up by having better shooting wings in the game.

That still means you need a Zion/BI or Jose or maybe Kira/Seabron to break the defense enough to get the shooters open shots. But JV's offense isn't as needed with more shooting on the wing, and the wing defense isn't as needed with more defense in the middle.

I still have no idea who this JV replacement is, but it's not about being better than JV, it's about balancing the floor.

quote:

---

The real problem that we have is that we really need to upgrade all three true centers (not Larry). JV isn't good enough to be a #1, and Billy and Jaxson aren't good enough to be in the regular rotation.

---

I mostly agree with this. But I don’t see a major upgrade from JV happening this offseason. So maybe this is wishful thinking, but I think if you had two competent bigs on the bench behind JV (as opposed to zero) JV would start to look a lot better as a 28-30 minute a game offensive center.

I watched zero college basketball this season. Is there any hope to get a big in this draft. Maybe lively or that giant white wemby from Purdue would give some defensive juice off the bench next year.

You’ve got to have an identity, a clear shared vision of how the team is going to play.

Right now it feels like Griff wants to play Dino ball, with a monster on the block who you feed the ball down to, while Willy wants to play Warriors ball with a smaller, athletic center who can switch off on defense.

They need to pick a lane and drive in it. Look no further than Sacto to see what happens when you align the roster to fit your playing style, even if it means trading away a young star.