Can Paolo Banchero play Center?

T-Cat · Post #1 » by **T-Cat** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 3:41 pm

I'm a firm believer that our offense should run through Paolo this upcoming season and the coaching staff should take advantage of the mismatches on the offensive end at the center position! Also Paolo could take more of defensive role, which WCJ failed to do consistently and hopefully that will lead to MVP considerations.

We can pair him up with Jonathan Isaac because defensively can bring us much needed versatility!

l

VFX · Post #2 » by **VFX** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 5:24 pm

MasterGMer · Post #3 » by **MasterGMer** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 5:37 pm

What?

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ORLMagicGirl15 · Post #4 » by **ORLMagicGirl15** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 5:45 pm

RichCollab · Post #5 » by **RichCollab** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 5:48 pm

T-Cat wrote:I'm a firm believer that our offense should run through Paolo this upcoming season and the coaching staff should take advantage of the mismatches on the offensive end at the center position! Also Paolo could take more of defensive role, which WCJ failed to do consistently and hopefully that will lead to MVP considerations.

We can pair him up with Jonathan Isaac because defensively can bring us much needed versatility!

l

WCJ is better defensively. Paolo gets torched switching onto guards often.

Paolo needs to focus on offense.

Post #6 » by **Knightro** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 6:32 pm

I don't think Paolo can extended minutes at center whatsoever.

Maybe if a team goes very small the Magic could counter with Paolo at center for a couple of minutes, but nothing beyond that.

tooler · Post #7 » by **tooler** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 6:38 pm

Paolo at center, Franz off the bench, bring back Dwight and Vucevic, trade everyone else.

T-Cat · Post #8 » by **T-Cat** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 7:07 pm

tooler wrote:Paolo at center, Franz off the bench, bring back Dwight and Vucevic, trade everyone else.

RookieStar · Post #9 » by **RookieStar** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 9:09 pm

Paolo being the last line of defense? Yikes....

T-Cat · Post #10 » by **T-Cat** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 10:57 pm

RookieStar wrote:Paolo being the last line of defense? Yikes....

Wendell Carter being the last line of defense...Yikes

I challenge our coaching staff to make Banchero more dominant on both sides of the ball this year!

Being a perimeter player and playing in transition, he can take you so far when he should be getting easier post ups!

CarraT · Post #11 » by **CarraT** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 11:35 pm

tooler wrote:Paolo at center, Franz off the bench, bring back Dwight and Vucevic, trade everyone else.

You forgot our PGOTF. RJ Hampton.

RookieStar · Post #12 » by **RookieStar** » Yesterday 12:05 am

T-Cat wrote:
RookieStar wrote:Paolo being the last line of defense? Yikes....

Wendell Carter being the last line of defense...Yikes

I challenge our coaching staff to make Banchero more dominant on both sides of the ball this year!

Being a perimeter player and playing in transition, he can take you so far when he should be getting easier post ups!

WCJr is expendable. That means if he uses all 6 fouls before the half all of us wouldnt even blink.

Plus, as much as we rag on him, wcj can bang with the leagues bigs downlow. He just doesnt block shots

T-Cat · Post #13 » by **T-Cat** » Yesterday 2:12 am

RookieStar wrote:
T-Cat wrote:
RookieStar wrote:Paolo being the last line of defense? Yikes....

Wendell Carter being the last line of defense...Yikes

I challenge our coaching staff to make Banchero more dominant on both sides of the ball this year!

Being a perimeter player and playing in transition, he can take you so far when he should be getting easier post ups!

WCJr is expendable. That means if he uses all 6 fouls before the half all of us wouldnt even blink.

Plus, as much as we rag on him, wcj can bang with the leagues bigs downlow. He just doesnt block shots

I agree! I find Weltman extending WCJ a bit puzzling do his injury history and inconsistent effort.

I just like my centers to play in the post and punish the rim, Paolo fits the bill! :nod:

KillMonger · Post #14 » by **KillMonger** » Yesterday 8:47 am

no sir

Skybox · Post #15 » by **Skybox** » Yesterday 1:13 pm

T-Cat wrote:
RookieStar wrote:Paolo being the last line of defense? Yikes....

Wendell Carter being the last line of defense...Yikes

I challenge our coaching staff to make Banchero more dominant on both sides of the ball this year!

Being a perimeter player and playing in transition, he can take you so far when he should be getting easier post ups!

I consider WCJ a somewhat limited, unconventional C...but his defense is very good. It's what keeps him in the starting lineup. No highlight reel blocks, just denial of guys getting where they want to go.

I'd be interested in some experimentation offensively (like Steve Kerr was...in certain matchup scenarios) - with Paolo playmaking out of the high post, but it would have to involve Isaac on the other end...and if Isaac's shot isn't coming back, it's a non-starter. Paolo's just not any kind of exceptional defender and banging with Centers and contesting layups will only make him look worse (on both ends). Many Vuc haters here, but Paolo might look even worse in that role...and doesn't have Vuc's shooting and defensive rebounding to offset it....just not how PB plays - he's closer to a massive 2 guard than a conventional Center.

Bakomagic · Post #16 » by **Bakomagic** » Yesterday 8:34 pm

Not full-time, but it could be a fun, high-octane unit used in small doses.

AB, Bane, Suggs, Franz, Penda, Jase, etc. could stay in front of their assignments enough so Paolo wouldn't have to "protect the rim" much.