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So if all goes as expected and we have to pay KCP big bucks and Baynes walks this offseason we won't be looking at a lot of options there. If we bulk up Ellenson from now till next year why can't he take over the Baynes role? I mean it's not like Baynes is a great defender anyways he's just got more meat to hold his own down low. I think this is our best option moving forward especially as far as finding a role for the kid on the team, Agree or disagree?

I'd roll with Boban, no? It's what we got him for anyways as a contingency plan for the inevitable Baynes opt out.

I mean, if Boban craps the bed then yeah, I think rolling a Leuer/Ellenson lineup maybe our best option. Interior defense will absolutely suck though.

DBC10 wrote:I'd roll with Boban, no? It's what we got him for anyways as a contingency plan for the inevitable Baynes opt out.

I mean, if Boban craps the bed then yeah, I think rolling a Leuer/Ellenson lineup maybe our best option. Interior defense will absolutely suck though.

I just feel like Boban is going to fall apart mid court if we gave him full time backup mins

Ellenson seems like he is going to be like Leuer. I think he will be better on the Offensive end, not sure about the D

I have little faith in Boban. Yes, I believe he can be groomed for this.

joedumars1 wrote:Ellenson seems like he is going to be like Leuer. I think he will be better on the Offensive end, not sure about the D

My concern is that we have Leuer for 4 more years (and he seems to be worth the contract)... Seems like Ellenson will be the D-League/practice version of Leuer, and not one that actually sees any NBA action.

I feel like he has to crack the rotation by next year (even if it's only a situational 5-10mpg) if he's going to be anything here at all.

BDM22 wrote:

joedumars1 wrote:Ellenson seems like he is going to be like Leuer. I think he will be better on the Offensive end, not sure about the D

My concern is that we have Leuer for 4 more years (and he seems to be worth the contract)... Seems like he'll be the D-League/practice version of Leuer, and not one that actually sees any NBA action.

I feel like he has to crack the rotation by next year (even if it's only a situational 5-10mpg) if he's going to be anything here at all.

Yeah just have to cross that bridge when we get there. Good problems to have, SVG will figure it out, I think

Ellenson would need to a gain a TON of bulk to get to Baynes' size. He doesn't need to be that big, of course, but as others have said, his physical profile is a lot more similar to Leuer (although Low Key has ups Henry will never have... dude can get up well for a near 7-footer).

He has a big frame and his agility is better at C imo but its a matter of play style, is he gonna be a soft finesse player or a hard nose type of guy that can play center.

Even with Baynes gone, I don't see that many meaningful minutes for Ellenson next year. He's still so young. Next year they should be fine playing Leuer and Boban situationally while giving Ellenson spot minutes to get used to the NBA game. The following year is when I think his play will hopefully demand more minutes.

Dre 33 / Jon Boy 15

Harris 23/ Jon Boy 10 / King 10

Mook 28 / Harris 10 / SJ 10

Boban plays if needed and you move the pieces around the chess boards

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Given time to develop and mature Ellenson very likely can play both 4 and 5. He's over 240 lbs as a 19 YO rookie. Henry is an interesting player in that while he already shows some finesse in his offensive game, he's been a willing rebounder at every level. That's usually a good indicator that a player doesn't have a soft disposition.

The team seems to be on the cusp of relevancy once again and now it seems we don't want to allow the youngsters development time? It was okay to wait on Dre and KCP, but now we don't have time to wait on SJ and Henry? The better franchises generally have young talent under development. We should enjoy the luxury of not having to depend on the youngsters for success.

Baynes is actually doing a really nice job of defending at the rim this year. His percentage against at the rim is among the top in the league. Not sure Ellenson has that kind of potential. He got blocks at Marquette but that doesn't equally translate to being stout at the point of attack. Physically Henry isn't close to that kind of player in the NBA, and he's probably going to lose weight/tone up rather than bulk up.

I still think Boban will be the main backup at center going forward, but Leuer will play more there based on matchup (thus opening up minutes at the four for Ellenson to develop).

I can tell ya'll now, SVG won't play Ellenson at the 5. He likes "Big" guys to play the 5.

SVG has used Leuer at the 5, and he's not as big as Ellenson right now. A couple of years in a pro training program and additional maturity and I'd be surprised if Henry isn't 250 lbs or more. He's a big guy.

Ellenson has to get on the floor and show us he can actually play before anyone can make a decision on whether or not he can become a key backup.

ImHeisenberg wrote:Ellenson has to get on the floor and show us he can actually play before anyone can make a decision on whether or not he can become a key backup.

Seems like the best way to get him on the floor though, we are log jammed everywhere up front and it's inevitable there is going to be a hole to fill there next season.

The season is so looooooong that everybody will have their chances. Stay calm. He came very raw and need to develop to own minutes.

hoophabit wrote:SVG has used Leuer at the 5, and he's not as big as Ellenson right now. A couple of years in a pro training program and additional maturity and I'd be surprised if Henry isn't 250 lbs or more. He's a big guy.

And he was an even bigger guy before this past season at Marquette. Ellenson is a guy losing weight, not gaining it. And he needs to. His foot speed isn't good enough for any position right now and it's not like he's so big/long like Marjanovic that it's kind of covered up. Henry will definitely add some muscle over the course of a couple years but I think he will end up just a bit more than the weight he is now. We just have to hope more mobility comes with it.

Maybe he can, but i wouldn't necessarily want him to. Of course, there's always the small-ball lineups that he could matchup with a prototypical 4 who's being masqueraded as a center, but I feel like his most natural position will be a true power forward.

That being said, I'd love to see him do a lot of explosive training and gain more functional strength & foot speed rather than bulk. His ball handling and his ability to take a rebound coast to coast would be ineffective if he was a hulking 260+ with anchors for feet.