Who are the young stretch bigs out there?

[Skybox]

Seems like the role playing C these days is a lot more human. What I mean by that is that you don't have to be a physical marvel like Wilt or Shaq, but you do need a couple of skills to complement the other, more featured, roles like big wings. Obviously, once in a lifetime guys like Kareem, Jokic, Wemby who can do everything well and stay relatively healthy are outliers. It would seem that not being able to shoot 3's enough to, at least, be a threat is a big detriment and not being able to switch out on the perimeter, at least briefly, on defense is also a gaping hole in modern skillsets.

Guys like Brook Lopez has evolved into a terrific combo of rim protector and perimeter threat. He's also a MUCH better rebounder than his stats, as he's a guy that boxes out selflessly while his higher profile teammates get to rip n run with rebounds he could have easily corralled for himself. Al Horford is the perfect modern big if he wasn't physically on his last legs...KP to some extent too, although missing significant time EVERY year is written in pen. Kevin Love has always been a very cerebral player with great rebounding and outlet passing - his 3pt threat is there, but very limited and he's another guy on his very last legs.

Aren't there any young guys of the same ilk? Myles Turner is in the ballpark, but he's not really THAT great a defender other than protecting the rim and he's simply a subpar rebounder for a big. Sabonis, I guess, is a pretty terrible defender and helpless on the perimeter but a great offensive engine. His teammate Raynaud looks interesting but perhaps landed in the wrong place. JJJ is a phenomenal defender and player overall, but also doesn't collect rebounds like a big should (in an age where PF's aren't really 'bigs' anymore). Wendell Carter is a way underrated defender because he doesn't block a lot of shots, but he seems to have forgotten how to shoot 3's confidently at a time when ORL could really utilize the spacing that would bring. He also hasn't collected 10+ rebs per game in quite a few seasons...he sticks around in ORL because he defends physically and moves laterally on switches...but his upside is tied to regaining a respectable 3pt volume and % (stop with all the pump-fakes and shoot ) as well as rebounding like a beast again.

I'd rather have Bobby Portis at C than a lot of more prominent guys. Isn't there another young Horford type out there to complement Paolo & Franz?

[JRoy]

Instead of chasing unicorns, it might be be a better idea to move one of them for more complementary talent.

[Skybox]

Instead of chasing unicorns, it might be be a better idea to move one of them for more complementary talent.

What could be a more complimentary talent (I assume you're talking about ORL) than a C who fits? Not a star, just a better fit. IF you've got Franz & Paolo, in their early 20's, you figure it out or at least really try before you tap out of that very rare combo of size and versatile talent x 2.

Adding a young Horford-type shouldn't be THAT magical a wish...just give me solid defense, solid floor spacing, BBIQ and unselfishness setting picks, etc and respectable rebounding for a big man without a big role in the offense...I don't need McHale-level post play or Jokic-level passing - just do your job and stay out of the stars' way on offense.

[JRoy]

Instead of chasing unicorns, it might be be a better idea to move one of them for more complementary talent.

What could be a more complimentary talent (I assume you're talking about ORL) than a C who fits? Not a star, just a better fit. IF you've got Franz & Paolo, in their early 20's, you figure it out or at least really try before you tap out of that very rare combo of size and versatile talent x 2.

Adding a young Horford-type shouldn't be THAT magical a wish...just give me solid defense, solid floor spacing, BBIQ and unselfishness setting picks, etc and respectable rebounding for a big man without a big role in the offense...I don't need McHale-level post play or Jokic-level passing - just do your job and stay out of the stars' way on offense.

It is good to want things.

How many C fit that criteria, and why would the team holding those guys hand them over?

It’s a skill set with greater demand than supply.

[mg]

As stated in the OP there just aren't any/many young Horford types scattered around the league anymore. Most of those guys are on their last leg.

[bkohler]

Instead of chasing unicorns, it might be be a better idea to move one of them for more complementary talent.

What could be a more complimentary talent (I assume you're talking about ORL) than a C who fits? Not a star, just a better fit. IF you've got Franz & Paolo, in their early 20's, you figure it out or at least really try before you tap out of that very rare combo of size and versatile talent x 2.

Adding a young Horford-type shouldn't be THAT magical a wish...just give me solid defense, solid floor spacing, BBIQ and unselfishness setting picks, etc and respectable rebounding for a big man without a big role in the offense...I don't need McHale-level post play or Jokic-level passing - just do your job and stay out of the stars' way on offense.

I might be wrong but I’m pretty sure you might just be describing an allstar. If they also had Jokic level passing or McHale post moves they’d be a top 5 player.

[Skybox]

Instead of chasing unicorns, it might be be a better idea to move one of them for more complementary talent.

What could be a more complimentary talent (I assume you're talking about ORL) than a C who fits? Not a star, just a better fit. IF you've got Franz & Paolo, in their early 20's, you figure it out or at least really try before you tap out of that very rare combo of size and versatile talent x 2.

Adding a young Horford-type shouldn't be THAT magical a wish...just give me solid defense, solid floor spacing, BBIQ and unselfishness setting picks, etc and respectable rebounding for a big man without a big role in the offense...I don't need McHale-level post play or Jokic-level passing - just do your job and stay out of the stars' way on offense.

I might be wrong but I’m pretty sure you might just be describing an allstar. If they also had Jokic level passing or McHale post moves they’d be a top 5 player.

Maybe...Horford was...even as clearly a role player...but I'll backtrack and say he doesn't have to be as good as prime Horford, just the same archetype. That's the point of this thread...are those guys out there anywhere? maybe hidden on someone's bench? Could Filliposwki become that kind of guy? or Drew Timme? smart players with the BBIQ to develop what they need to have long successful careers as supporting actors, knowing full well that they are NOT stars in the making.

[BK_2020]

Jovic? Not a C but he's stretchy and he's big. And, given the reduction in role and how poor he's played, I would think he's very available.

[SkyHook]

What could be a more complimentary talent (I assume you're talking about ORL) than a C who fits? Not a star, just a better fit. IF you've got Franz & Paolo, in their early 20's, you figure it out or at least really try before you tap out of that very rare combo of size and versatile talent x 2.

Adding a young Horford-type shouldn't be THAT magical a wish...just give me solid defense, solid floor spacing, BBIQ and unselfishness setting picks, etc and respectable rebounding for a big man without a big role in the offense...I don't need McHale-level post play or Jokic-level passing - just do your job and stay out of the stars' way on offense.

I might be wrong but I’m pretty sure you might just be describing an allstar. If they also had Jokic level passing or McHale post moves they’d be a top 5 player.

Maybe...Horford was...even as clearly a role player...but I'll backtrack and say he doesn't have to be as good as prime Horford, just the same archetype. That's the point of this thread...are those guys out there anywhere? maybe hidden on someone's bench? Could Filliposwki become that kind of guy? or Drew Timme? smart players with the BBIQ to develop what they need to have long successful careers as supporting actors, knowing full well that they are NOT stars in the making.

Flip might progress to become a neutral defender someday, but I wouldn't expect him to be a plus defender. If that's acceptable, then he probably fits your criteria. I think that the Jazz would be a reluctant seller in his case.

[Ron Swanson]

I mean, anyone could have given Jay Huff a contract this offseason. Lopez only signed for 2-years, $18 million. Anyone was free to trade for Porzingis given the price he went for. A "young Horford" type is probably more valuable now than when Al Horford was actually young (2007-2015), so this just seems like you're asking for an attainable, borderline All-NBA caliber stretch big, and I'm not sure the kind of responses you expected given that, you know, those kinds of guys are so rare and very much not attainable unless it's under very specific circumstances. For Orlando specifically, you're not gonna get one of those without including at least one of Paolo, Franz, or Suggs.

[nate33]

Very few people in the planet are tall, mobile, AND competent shooters at a young age. Most Horford types started out as more traditional low post centers or rim runners before developing a 3-ball.

Horford didn't average 1 made 3 per game until age 29 (on a pedestrian .344 percentage)
Lopez didn't average 1 made 3 per game until age 28 (on a .346 percentage)

There are a couple of unicorns who shot 3's early, like KAT and Porzingis, but those guys were top 4 picks. I'm assuming you are not expecting Orlando to add a guy like that to the roster without sacrificing a star in return.

Honestly, the only guy from the last decade that I can think of that fits your criteria of a decent, youngish, starting-caliber 3&D center who isn't such a star that he was unobtainable is Turner.

There are a couple of role-playing centers that could do the job, but they're not really starting caliber guys because they're not good enough defensively. I'm thinking of Jay Huff, Jalen Smith or Naz Reid.

Maybe Kel'el Ware? But Miami isn't going to just give him away.

[jbk1234]

If there's truly a young big who can defend, rebound, and really space the floor, he's not going to be available. You might find a jack of many trades master of none type. I don't understand why the Magic need rebounding help with that roster tbh. The answer on that front might just be reprioritizing where the energy is expended and to stop forcing pace with a roster that's more suited to a grind it out game.

[nate33]

Another option would be to find a veteran center with good defensive instincts and decent FT% who might be aging out of a rim-runner role but could conceivably develop the 3-ball with practice.

The only guy I saw that might fit that description is Mark Williams (80% FT shooter last year). Paul Reed and Isaiah Stewart might be worth a look too.

[gswhoops]

Instead of chasing unicorns, it might be be a better idea to move one of them for more complementary talent.

What could be a more complimentary talent (I assume you're talking about ORL) than a C who fits? Not a star, just a better fit. IF you've got Franz & Paolo, in their early 20's, you figure it out or at least really try before you tap out of that very rare combo of size and versatile talent x 2.

Adding a young Horford-type shouldn't be THAT magical a wish...just give me solid defense, solid floor spacing, BBIQ and unselfishness setting picks, etc and respectable rebounding for a big man without a big role in the offense...I don't need McHale-level post play or Jokic-level passing - just do your job and stay out of the stars' way on offense.

The problem is that every team wants a young center who can defend, space the floor, and rebound, with high BBIQ, who plays within the flow of the offense. Who wouldn't want a guy like that.

[gswhoops]

To answer the OP's question though, the only guy we have who vaguely fits the criteria is Quinten Post but he's mostly a garbage time player at this point.

[Skybox]

Very few people in the planet are tall, mobile, AND competent shooters at a young age. Most Horford types started out as more traditional low post centers or rim runners before developing a 3-ball.

Horford didn't average 1 made 3 per game until age 29 (on a pedestrian .344 percentage)
Lopez didn't average 1 made 3 per game until age 28 (on a .346 percentage)

There are a couple of unicorns who shot 3's early, like KAT and Porzingis, but those guys were top 4 picks. I'm assuming you are not expecting Orlando to add a guy like that to the roster without sacrificing a star in return.

Honestly, the only guy from the last decade that I can think of that fits your criteria of a decent, youngish, starting-caliber 3&D center who isn't such a star that he was unobtainable is Turner.

There are a couple of role-playing centers that could do the job, but they're not really starting caliber guys because they're not good enough defensively. I'm thinking of Jay Huff, Jalen Smith or Naz Reid.

Maybe Kel'el Ware? But Miami isn't going to just give him away.

You must be as old as me if you think every tall kid is being developed as a post player...I would think everyone learning the game, at any height, is encouraged to shoot 3's and switch on defense.

what happened to all of the Garnett/Brow stories of kids learning to play like guards and then having THE insane growth spurt?

To the others - I'm looking for a "type" not necessarily a perfect version of such.

[nate33]

You must be as old as me if you think every tall kid is being developed as a post player...I would think everyone learning the game, at any height, is encouraged to shoot 3's and switch on defense.

what happened to all of the Garnett/Brow stories of kids learning to play like guards and then having THE insane growth spurt?

To the others - I'm looking for a "type" not necessarily a perfect version of such.

It's not that every tall kid is being developed as a post player. It's that most tall kids don't have great hand-eye coordination so they're much more effective if the shots they take come from closer to the basket. They are groomed primarily as defenders and they are either roll men or hang around in the dunker's spot because that's all they have the coordination to do on offense. Maybe they can hit the 3-ball in a practice gym, but they never really put it together at game speed under defensive pressure.

[Skybox]

Why does it seem so hard for taller guys, who were theoretically strong enough earlier to shoot with proper form (not hoisting with their whole little bodies) to shoot well? especially free throws...I don't get it. I understand that there are many more humans in the 6' -6.5' range, so many more 'candidates' to fight for the jobs, but c'mon...we only need about 35 in the world to come to the NBA and do it.

[parsnips33]

To answer the OP's question though, the only guy we have who vaguely fits the criteria is Quinten Post but he's mostly a garbage time player at this point.

But he can SHOOT. I think there's something there

[BlazersBroncos]

Why does it seem so hard for taller guys, who were theoretically strong enough earlier to shoot with proper form (not hoisting with their whole little bodies) to shoot well? especially free throws...I don't get it. I understand that there are many more humans in the 6' -6.5' range, so many more 'candidates' to fight for the jobs, but c'mon...we only need about 35 in the world to come to the NBA and do it.

A number of reasons but one is that the larger your hands get, generally the harder it gets to shoot a basketball. This obviously has outliers, but it seems to be a historical rule of thumb.

As others have said, guys like Brook and Al were late blooming shooters. I presume they are some of the few stretch bigs that are providing other solid skills because of said late blooming. They concentrated on the fundamentals of being a big man BEFORE they built out the 3PT shot.

I think, totally without real evidence, that bigs who become stretch bigs from a early age are able to sorta neglect other aspects of their games and just key in on shooting that ball.

As for ORL being able to get a young Horford - simply isnt happening given league wide scarcity. If ORL wants a stretch big, unless Suggs or someone of similar value is on the table, they are looking at guys like Post, Reath, Huff, etc.