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We're about 8 points per 100 possession better with CMB on the floor over the past few months (according to Kevin O'Connor/The Ringer)

But at the same time, we're not paying Poeltl 28mil AAV to come off the bench and we could definitely use his size.

How would you manage the starting lineup once Poeltl returns?

Is there a world in which both CMB and Poeltl start as our frontcourt?

Projected lineup once Poeltl returns: IQ/Barrett/Ingram/Barnes/Poeltl (CMB back to the bench) --- personally not a fan of this!

Other possibilities:
(a) IQ/Ingram/Barnes/CMB/Poeltl --- (RJ possibly traded for bench pieces)

(b) (PG)/Ingram/Barnes/CMB/Poeltl --- (RJ + IQ packaged for Garland/Ball/Morant)

(c) IQ/Ingram/Barnes/CMB/(C) --- (RJ + Poeltl packaged for Sabonis/AD)

Matchup dependant, but I don't like the idea of CMB going back to the bench full time. If he was 6'10 it wouldn't even be a debate. CMB is the future and just a better basketball player, even if he is still learning the league.

Poeltl starts but Darko needs to find a way to ensure CMB plays 25 to 30MPG and even finishes games when he should.

Let Poetl start, for many reasons:
-Build his trade value back up, if he starts to perform better
-Reduces injury risk for CMB so he doesn't have to play full time C.
-CMB can play pretty much with anyone, whereas Jakob's abilities are optimized with more offensive talent around him.

I put start both, but not really start both at the same time.

1. Bring Poeltl slowly back as a bench role - let him acclimate back to NBA ball and protect his back
2. For future, matchup specific. Let Poeltl take more traditional center (Zubac, Nurkic, Jokic etc), let CMB take the small-ball

We have a gem in CMB, let's foster his growth.

CMB needs to play as much as possible but it should be match up dependent who starts.

Definitely don’t play Poeltl-CMB-Barnes lineups. That said, I’ve been thinking Mamu-CMB-Barnes could be better when the alternative is playing Ochai.

Duffman100 wrote:I put start both, but not really start both at the same time.

1. Bring Poeltl slowly back as a bench role - let him acclimate back to NBA ball and protect his back
2. For future, matchup specific. Let Poeltl take more traditional center (Zubac, Nurkic, Jokic etc), let CMB take the small-ball

We have a gem in CMB, let's foster his growth.

Exactly what I think.

I think we really miss Jak's screening ability to. That opens up a lot of our offence

I say start CMB and give him a quick hook for Poeltl. Both should take up all 48 minutes at the 5 with some minutes where CMB plays the 4 alongside him.

I would say Poeltl 20-25 min a game at the 5 coming off the bench, CMB 23-28 min a game at the 5 including starting and finishing the game. CMB with about 5-10 min a game as a PF with Poeltl next to him and Barnes on the bench.

the first 5 or so games he will only play 15-20 min, so coming off bench is fine but then it all depends if he starts playing like last year poeltl or this year poeltl

If Poeltl is healthy he should start all the games. He’s the better player at this stage, and it doesn’t make sense to bring him off the bench next to Mamu.

Somehow, we’ve already forgotten how good the offense looks with Poeltl’s screening and actions in the short roll.

Tofubeque wrote:Definitely don’t play Poeltl-CMB-Barnes lineups. That said, I’ve been thinking Mamu-CMB-Barnes could be better when the alternative is playing Ochai.

Still Poeltl-Barnes-CMB is better than having Agbaji.

Meanwhile, prefer easying on Poeltl and have him start off the bench.

I just want to see a jumbo unit with BI/Barnes/CMB/Yak

Will this team ever be at full health?
Feels like there will always be minutes for those that are healthy.

If Poeltl is available and healthy, he starts. That's no brainer.

kalel123 wrote:If Poeltl is available and healthy, he starts. That's no brainer.

There's a very small chance we get a fully healthy version of Poeltl this season. Should he still start if he's at 75%? In the limited amount of games he's appeared in this season, he's looked horrible. For a team that's looking to secure a top 6 spot and in a tight playoff race, I don't think it's the smartest idea to start a hindered Poeltl over a much more impactful player in CMB.

LoveMyRaps wrote:

kalel123 wrote:If Poeltl is available and healthy, he starts. That's no brainer.

There's a very small chance we get a fully healthy version of Poeltl this season. Should he still start if he's at 75%? In the limited amount of games he's appeared in this season, he's looked horrible. For a team that's looking to secure a top 6 spot and in a tight playoff race, I don't think it's the smartest idea to start a hindered Poeltl over a much more impactful player in CMB.

I said CMB would start by year 2 at the latest before he season started, but I can’t deny Pöltl’s screening and the impact he has on others, especially IQ. Maybe move both to the bench.

LoveMyRaps wrote:

kalel123 wrote:If Poeltl is available and healthy, he starts. That's no brainer.

There's a very small chance we get a fully healthy version of Poeltl this season. Should he still start if he's at 75%? In the limited amount of games he's appeared in this season, he's looked horrible. For a team that's looking to secure a top 6 spot and in a tight playoff race, I don't think it's the smartest idea to start a hindered Poeltl over a much more impactful player in CMB.

I repeat. If Poeltl is available and healthy, he starts.

The reason he's sitting right now is because he's not. (i.e. attempted comeback but had discomfort, meaning they are being conservative) I have to think after all that sitting around, if he actually does come back, there's some semblance of steady health because if not, why TF even bother after all that sitting? So in that case, he starts.

CMB is clearly better and benefits greatly by playing more minutes.

Easy choice here.

IF he returns