Free Noa.

[pipfan]

For sure-overpay IHart if OKC can't afford him and play a huge lineup-if Noa could start next to Matas

[sco]

He is. Way better at the rim than Pat. Pat is there for the beef so we don’t get bullied.

No way I’m putting Noa on Duren or Beef Stew or WCJ.

I do think long term Noa is the 4 and backup 5. Buz will be playing the 3 and 4. I prefer him at the 3 with a big size advantage. His length eats up wings on D.

Yeah, big question about whether Noa/Matas long term can defend 3/4 with another 5 and we go ultra big, or whether they're both really PFs (which is what I think is true). Also depends what other teams are doing, like they'd be awesome in a small ball lineup if the other team is going small, and we can play them at 4/5, but as you note, you can't play them (most likely anyway, certainly today) against a 5s that are 240+ in weight.

I'm also suspicious that Noa's a long term 5. I think he's a 4 that can cover 2-5.

His weight is obviously deficient right now for playing big minutes in the front court, but he also has a slight frame. And despite claims to the contrary, he's not actually overly long for his height so he creates a length mismatch if you play him at the 5.

The upshot is that during preseason he actually spent most of his time guarding the perimeter against non-trivial players, so I actually think his comparative advantage now is guarding smaller players and bothering them with his size. I actually suspect it'll be best to keep him thin and fast and make him more of a perimeter oriented big man -- kind of like Derrick McKey back in the day.

It might even be possible to play Giddey-Matas-Noa and the 2-4 on defense and have Noa and Matas take the two toughest covers out of those positions and let slow footed Giddey pick up the scraps.

This!

It's like trying to get Lauri to be a C all over again. The kid is rangy and quick. Let him work with that.

[dougthonus]

This!

It's like trying to get Lauri to be a C all over again. The kid is rangy and quick. Let him work with that.

The difference to me is that Essengue seems like a shot blocker / rebounder / defender with an offensive game within 10 feet of the basket. That just feels like a center. Laurie on the flipside was tall and could shoot, but he wasn't a rim protector and had a rangy offensive game, which sounds more like a PF.

Not to say Essengue can't be a power forward. I'm actually initially just focused on him being an NBA quality player, but if he doesn't develop as a shooter / ball handler then on offense, he sure feels like a center.

[dougthonus]

And despite claims to the contrary, he's not actually overly long for his height so he creates a length mismatch if you play him at the 5.

The first half of that sentence sounds like you think his length is a disadvantage, and the second half makes it sound like you think his length is an advantage.

From a practical perspective, he was measured with a 9'2 standing reach and 7'1 wingspan at the combine. That's not an advantage at center, but not a disadvantage (especially given his athleticism). The weight is definitely a challenge though, he's at a big deficit there.

[Chi town]

This!

It's like trying to get Lauri to be a C all over again. The kid is rangy and quick. Let him work with that.

The difference to me is that Essengue seems like a shot blocker / rebounder / defender with an offensive game within 10 feet of the basket. That just feels like a center. Laurie on the flipside was tall and could shoot, but he wasn't a rim protector and had a rangy offensive game, which sounds more like a PF.

Not to say Essengue can't be a power forward. I'm actually initially just focused on him being an NBA quality player, but if he doesn't develop as a shooter / ball handler then on offense, he sure feels like a center.

This. Exactly my line of thinking too.

I think he’s both. Perimeter defender and rim protector. His length disrupts with his IQ in and outside.

[Seccci]

I want billy to give him token 3-4 minutes at the late first, early second q, just like he started with Matas last year. It seemed to calm the rookie knowing he will play, with who and when and against back ups.

Than let Noa know any extra minutes come as reward of good play and doing the right things teamwise. Surely billy can give those 6 minutes he gave to terry to Noa.

Though after watching some preseason vids and practice vids with Noa, I kind of see why he rides the bench, not much refined NBA skills there yet, he is way more raw than Matas coming in.( Sort of just all arms and legs player right now, hopefully not Bruno Caboclo two years away from being two years away)