GT #79: Bucks @ Bullets 7 PM (NBC SW/980 AM)

[doclinkin]

It would be incredible if they could somehow tank into that 5th spot. 42% shot at top 4. 10.5% shot at Wemby.

This roster is an immediate contender with Wembanyama.

I doubt we get the 5 spot, but yes, it is easy to see 4 or 5 ways to build a roster around a Wemby led team. And much easier for Ted to let Kuzma go rather than overpay.

[payitforward]

Pretty disappointed with gaffords play towards the end of this season.

He really hasn’t come on in the way I think we were hoping. He’s undersized and isn’t actually a very good defender.

Westbrook should be receiving a kickback from Gafford as he is largely responsible for making him look better than he actually is, we're on the hook for another 3 years. Gafford is a fine 2nd/3rd string center at 1/3 of his current salary, compare him to Kessler on a rookie deal. Oy!

I'll take the other side on this one with pleasure.

First off, I'd say that at $12.4m Daniel Gafford is one of the biggest bargains in the league -- excluding guys on rookie salaries of course, including Walker Kessler. What possible relevance could it have to compare Gafford or pretty much any veteran to Kessler?

OTOH, there is no question that Gafford's 408 minutes with us in '20-21 represented a high point he'll have trouble repeating. Anyone would. But 408 minutes is not enough minutes to conclude that it could have lasted. Nor was it all Russ -- Gafford had a career-high in blocks & rebounds in that stretch.

Did he score more points per 40 minutes in that '20-21 run with us? Sure. But, he also got lots more FGAs! & that's because these days we have way more guys who want to take a ton of shots.

Not to mention that in some ways he's even better this year. For example, his TS% in those 408 minutes was .696, while this year he's at .738. That's a big difference.

Hard to see a reason to complain about Daniel Gafford -- especially when there is such a plethora of better candidates to complain about!

[nate33]

This roster is an immediate contender with Wembanyama.

I still don't love the chemistry of the team with Wemby aboard. Too many of our best players are 6-10 and taller (Wemby, Porzingis and Gafford) and too many of our wings are shot happy with sub-par D (Beal and Kuzma).

What if we traded Beal and Porzingis to Boston for Jalen Brown, Derrick White and filler? Boston solves their Jaylen Brown problem and gets a long term solution at center to replace the aging Horford. We get two 2-way guards. Then trade Kuzma for a Cam Johnson.

PG White/Wright
SG Brown/Kispert
SF Kispert/Avdija
PF Wemby/Johnson
C Gafford/Wemby

[NatP4]

Wembanyama and Porzingis would be a dynamic frontcourt and a great fit IMO. Definitely let Kuzma go, no doubt about that.

Wright Morris Goodwin
Beal Davis Jackson
Kispert Avdija
Wemby Cooks
Porzingis Gafford

[AFM]

Kuzma should be let go regardless because he sucks ass

[dckingsfan]

Wembanyama and Porzingis would be a dynamic frontcourt and a great fit IMO. Definitely let Kuzma go, no doubt about that.

Wright Morris Goodwin
Beal Davis Jackson
Kispert Avdija
Wemby Cooks
Porzingis Gafford

I am all in on the Porzingis/Wembanyama combination as well. That would just create so many mismatches in the FC.

If it is me, I am going after defensive players around those two. So, I like that you have Wright as the starter there. To me, Kispert comes off the bench and probably behind Beal (let the screaming commence ).

Avdija is a problem until he isn't. He could be a solution or?

[doclinkin]

Did he score more points per 40 minutes in that '20-21 run with us? Sure. But, he also got lots more FGAs! & that's because these days we have way more guys who want to take a ton of shots.

It's also because Westy is fun for Bigs to play with because he commands a lot of attention in the lane. Nobody wants to be dunked on, everybody knows he's gonna drive it. Bigs shift to cover him, his center is left wide open. Russ is excellent at finding them, hence the triple double crown. The fact that he misses a ton of those shots means Bigs who are proficient offensive rebounders also feast on easy buckets.

I always thought Russ would play well with a stretch 5 like Porzingis, the lane opens up and KP is good at crashing in for a follow up board from the mid-range. If he'd had an inside/outside 4 he would do well. I guess LeBJ commanded too much attention for this to be a workable strategy though. And Russ is past his peak, so too late. Except in China where even now he would destroy that league in a 2nd career.