ButterflyRave wrote:Pacers Forever wrote:I have kept in my memories when Turner did a video saying that he told Jalen Smith adamantly he needs to take the bag. So it doesn’t surprise me that Turner took the biggest bag he could get.
I come here to post about Jalen Smith, and I find your post mentioning him… How about that?
I may be alone here, but if they’re going to go out and get depth at center, my preference is for them to use their mid-level exception to trade with Chicago to get Jalen Smith back. That and re-signing Jackson. Obviously not a replacement for Myles, but we know both guys fit with this team’s culture and won’t kill the cap for future years.
Ayton, unless on a one-year deal or a second year team option, is just too risky to me.
In looking at it,... you've got a nice bit of insight for thinking of Jalen. He wouldn't be a 'full size' starting 5. He did & does get pushed around a lot, both offensively and defensively. But,... he didn't actually play in a full '5 out' offense like we used last year? He did play in the mostly 5 out offense we used in 23-24,... he had a career year & shot 42.4% from 3, on 6.5 attempts per 100 possession, 2.4 attempt per game. He can play fast at the 5.
He has played mostly (71%, 83%, 98%) at the 5 over the last 3 years. In our current offense, he would spend a lot more time at the 3 point line, which would play into his strengths. He lost time in the rotation after the trade for Pascal, as he was more effective as a 5, but didn't have the defensive effectiveness of I-Jax? Both Myles & i-Jax had good availability that season. He would be a risk, as he's never played more than 24 mpg in a season,... He went to Chi-town for a better opportunity, but ended up playing less than he had the season before for the Pacers?
He is limited as a rim defender do to his length,... (it is legit center length, just on the low end) & strength, but,... he has good instincts & mobility that allow him to be a reasonably effective shot blocker. He isn't going to alter an opponents offense, but he can make opponents pay if they don't execute crisply. When he has played the 5, he has been a better rebounder than Myles. He would also be much more switchable than Myles?
I think most teams would play him with a wing, as he isn't that overly long? which would allow teams to put a real 5 on Pascal?... Could he make them pay for that? force an opponent to cover him with a 5? (unlikely?), or force a team to cover him with a second big (PF? - much more likely) Get strong enough to make them pay on the blocks when they do cover him with a wing?...
Could be a very interesting option for this year? with the possibility of growing into a long term role, most likely as the primary backup, getting real minutes?...
Another option might be Robert Williams III. He would be better defensively, and is strong enough to play as a small 5,... but do we have any confidence that he could be available for most of the season?
I looked at Olynyk as well,... 
