The mess at center

[ChettheJet]

This year, as I said elsewhere, you play two of them for any given game mostly depending on matchups. If the opponent is a tough inside scorer, Vuc and Miller, if they're playing a stretch 5 you go with Miller and Smith. If anybody gets the most minor of injury he sits for the other two. This is basic basketball not rocket science.

When the trading period begins Vuc is on his way out, There are going to be teams that lose in the playoffs and blame the lack of a center for it. They don't love Vuc or think he's the 35 year old answer but their window is open and they need to fill that hole right now. Now they don't need a center in return, depending on who they get back if they are willing and able to trade any other expiring contracts you have to see.

[Dan Z]

I don't know what the deal is with Smith. I don't know if he's killing us quietly in terms of some things which aren't obvious to the naked eye, but the coach can't stand (ie, not following patterns that we aren't aware of defensively or offensively), but his play time doesn't seem to match up to his impact to me on the eye test.

Zach Collins seemed solid to me, I think Wemby just stole any possibility for him in SA.

I agree Vuc is the worst.

I would be looking to move Vuc for a 20M dead salary and a 2nd rounder where the move is overall salary neutral but he can maybe help another team and just clear the log jam for us and the concern of bad locker room vibes. Not sure how it is because I'm not there but his on court energy is often poor, and his verbal discussion of his game seems highly demanding relative to his ability.

I can't believe, especially with Vuc back, that BD doesn't give Smith time at the PF spot. BD's treatment of Smith reminds me of how he treated Derrick Jones Jr.

It's odd. The team is having a losing season, so why not try Smith at PF for a little while? What do they have to lose?

[kodo]

Smith has actually been our biggest #s producer per minute, not Collins. Collins just plays full starter minutes.
Per 36
Smith: 19.5 points 13.1 rebounds 1.7 blocks
Collins: 17.5 points 12.3 rebounds 0.8 blocks

Smith also has a better defensive rating than Collins, it's the best on the team (better than Lonzo).

But I gave up trying to understand why Donovan does anything a long time ago. I assume he's just one of those old school touch-feely coaches that goes by his gut and Collins looks like he sweats more when he's out there.

[WesPeace]

We could easily get minutes to all three guys.. Smith and Collins can play PF min.

Vuc 24min, Collins 16min, Smith 8min
Matas 30min, Smith 10min, Collins 8min

Here or there with those minutes..maybe sometimes Phillips get those 8min depends on opponent.

Vucevic will sadly play the most min, because Billy loves him.

Patrick also will and should get decent minutes at PF. Doesn't matter if he doesn't deserve them IMO. We MUST do everything we can to rehabilitate his on-court and trade value considering the length of his deal IMO. Phillips I don't really care about one way or the other.

PWill should be playing more and more on SF.. get him on diet and leaner.. he isnt suitable for PF

[Jvaughn]

This team is alot more fun to watch when we don't have to watch Vooch and Patrick

Definitely.

We've been so traumatized by watching Vuc be a turnstile on defense, that I was literally shocked when I saw Collins hedge the screen and recover to block a shot at the rim. I had to rewind to see what I was seeing. That's not normal. That's literally what 90% of the bigs in this league can do. I never want to see another drop zone coverage ever again.

[League Circles]

We could easily get minutes to all three guys.. Smith and Collins can play PF min.

Vuc 24min, Collins 16min, Smith 8min
Matas 30min, Smith 10min, Collins 8min

Here or there with those minutes..maybe sometimes Phillips get those 8min depends on opponent.

Vucevic will sadly play the most min, because Billy loves him.

Patrick also will and should get decent minutes at PF. Doesn't matter if he doesn't deserve them IMO. We MUST do everything we can to rehabilitate his on-court and trade value considering the length of his deal IMO. Phillips I don't really care about one way or the other.

PWill should be playing more and more on SF.. get him on diet and leaner.. he isnt suitable for PF

Agreed he should get as much time at the 3 as possible, but that's only gonna be about 15 mpg behind Giddey. And that's assuming Huerter doesn't get any minutes at the 3, which I kinda doubt.

[WesPeace]

Patrick also will and should get decent minutes at PF. Doesn't matter if he doesn't deserve them IMO. We MUST do everything we can to rehabilitate his on-court and trade value considering the length of his deal IMO. Phillips I don't really care about one way or the other.

PWill should be playing more and more on SF.. get him on diet and leaner.. he isnt suitable for PF

Agreed he should get as much time at the 3 as possible, but that's only gonna be about 15 mpg behind Giddey. And that's assuming Huerter doesn't get any minutes at the 3, which I kinda doubt.

Thats on Billy to adjust.. his preference to play 3 or even 4 guards its a problem for rotation,if he wont adapt.

Giddey, T.Jones, White, Huerter, Williams, Buzelis, Smith, Collins, Vucevic

Should be his 9-man rotation, until Ball comes back..
Phillips, Terry, THT jump into rotation per need, more offense (THT) or more defense (Terry, JP)

OUT : Ayo
Xtra : Young, Carter, Terry, Phillips, Liddell

[Hangtime84]

Great OP LC!

I saw Smith last night had some sort of ice/wrap on his knee, so maybe he is dealing with an injury.

What was telling last night with Vuc back was just how much worse we are with him out there. The combination of his needing to be fed the ball to contribute with how little else he contributes when he doesn't have the ball (compared to Smith/Collins) is really detrimental to the team's overall level of play.

IDK what to do if we can't trade Vuc in the offseason. Maybe buy him out? Doubt AK would do that. All we could hope to do is trade him at the deadline. I might even be inclined to take a longer contract back, if it was for a servicable player.

Regarding a guy like Maluach, I think drafting him or any other rim running shot blocker with our 1st will be a bad move. Those guys are gettable later or for little money in FA.

Our best case scenario next season at C is that we trade Vuc (even for no draft compensation) and roll with Collins/Smith. While they are both middling, I think on a 48 minutes basis, they might be around middle of the pack in terms of production at C. If somehow they improve a couple % on 3 balls, there's some upside.

Smith has been dealing with some injury this entire season.

[MrSparkle]

It’s not representative of his career, but Collins in 11 Bulls games has been way better than Vuc ever was, at any point (in Chicago). His PER is 20.4 and TS is 67%, while his defense has been visually (and statistically) strong. Vuc was hot the first 2.5 months of this season, but the defense was the same ole’ ole.

There is no way this is sustainable. Those offensive numbers are way higher than his career averages. So just be ready for the crash, next year. Unless he comes in determined to make some huge money with Arturas overseeing the deal.

[meekrab]

The 'mess' is entirely because AK couldn't close the deal with Golden State to ship Vuc out of here. Needs to be gone this offseason if this youth movement is not going to immediately sputter out next October with 40 year old Nikola jacking 3s at 31%.