Center Ideas?

Krapinsky · Post #1 » by **Krapinsky** » Sun Jun 21, 2009 9:37 pm

There has been rumblings that Kahn likes Thabeet, b/c another starting quality center may be hard to come by. My question is outside of Mullens (who has apparently looked terrible in workouts), what are some other long term center options for us?

It seems clear that Kahn wants an "explosive" front court player, and while he like Pekovic, he doesn't seem to think he is the right player to mix with Jefferson/Love, which also seems to be the consensus among posters here.

Some initial ideas:

Javale McGee -- Could he be had by Washington? Would Pekovic or the #18 pick do it? His numbers from late year are decent and he fits the "explosive" shot blocker mold that Kahn may be looking for.

David Andersen -- a very solid player in europe the last few years. He's already 28, and not an explosive player, but he does spread the floor and would be a great offensive compliment to Big Al, or Love, while being able to guard the other teams opposing centers. The Hawks own his rights but have been to cheap to bring him over. My guess is he would have to be signed for somewhere in the neighborhood of $4 million/year.

Deandre Jordan -- Would the Clips give him up? They already have Kaman and Camby to man the center position. What would it take? He showed glimpses of being a dominant defensive player last year. Why we didn't take him when we had the chance I have no idea.

Dewey · Post #2 » by **Dewey** » Sun Jun 21, 2009 9:51 pm

Dr.Krapinsky wrote:There has been rumblings that Kahn likes Thabeet, b/c another starting quality center may be hard to come by. My question is outside of Mullens (who has apparently looked terrible in workouts), what are some other long term center options for us?

It seems clear that Kahn wants an "explosive" front court player, and while he like Pekovic, he doesn't seem to think he is the right player to mix with Jefferson/Love, which also seems to be the consensus among posters here.

Some initial ideas:

Javale McGee -- Could he be had by Washington? Would Pekovic or the #18 pick do it? His numbers from late year are decent and he fits the "explosive" shot blocker mold that Kahn may be looking for.

David Andersen -- a very solid player in europe the last few years. He's already 28, and not an explosive player, but he does spread the floor and would be a great offensive compliment to Big Al, or Love, while being able to guard the other teams opposing centers. The Hawks own his rights but have been to cheap to bring him over. My guess is he would have to be signed for somewhere in the neighborhood of $4 million/year.

Deandre Jordan -- Would the Clips give him up? They already have Kaman and Camby to man the center position. What would it take? He showed glimpses of being a dominant defensive player last year. Why we didn't take him when we had the chance I have no idea.

Great post. I'm not a big Thabeet guy and these options are very interesting. Lets hope Kahn is pursuing them. Jordan would be tough to get.

Post #3 » by **Basti** » Sun Jun 21, 2009 10:50 pm

as incompetent the Clips management is I highly doubt they'll trade Jordan unless we'll give up the protection on our pick. I think they are really high on him and should keep him and Griffin as they aren't likely to trade their #1 pick away. I doubt they'll get much in return for Camby, Kaman and/or Randolph until they are in their last year of their contracts.

I'd love to have McGee on our squad but I'm not sure how we could get him. personally I don't Pek + #18 is enough to get him but I might be wrong. would anyone do another trade with Washington taking on another bad contract to get McGee? I don't think I would but you never know.

Post #4 » by **Calinks** » Sun Jun 21, 2009 10:58 pm

COURTNEY SIMMS!!!!

We better invite him to a camp!

huttops · Post #5 » by **huttops** » Sun Jun 21, 2009 11:35 pm

I'd love McGee but if we can't get him, why not try for Robin Lopez on the cheap? His April splits (8 games) were 5.6/4.3/1.5blk in 16 minutes and change. As effective a shot blocker, limited scoring potential, rebounding is a wash. Hell, if he's a scrub, we still let him get 11 rebs against us. :evil:

Expiring + 28 could do it, at best he's a promising young C with some upside that needs to develop and at worst he's better than Collins.

Devilzsidewalk · Post #6 » by **Devilzsidewalk** » Sun Jun 21, 2009 11:49 pm

try to use the influence of Flip to move Foye for one of Washington's centers: Haywood, McGee, or Blatche. They don't need all those guys

B Calrissian · Post #7 » by **B Calrissian** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 12:43 am

Devilzsidewalk wrote:try to use the influence of Flip to move Foye for one of Washington's centers: Haywood, McGee, or Blatche. They don't need all those guys

They might not need them, but I don't see them trading any of them for Foye. Maybe Blatche, but he seems like a numbskull and I believe Kahn is going to shy away from players like that after his run with the Pacers(Tinsley/Artest).

prefuse73 · Post #8 » by **prefuse73** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 1:13 am

Robin Lopez would be my choice as well. I wonder if Peckovic and #18 would do it. This only happens if PHX decides to make another run with shaq, amare and nash. Robin would fit great.

My list of centers that may fit with little financial commitment

Robin Lopez
Javale McGee
DeAndre Jordan
Dj Mbenga
Kwame Brown (i know..)
Courtney Simms
Saer Sene

Expensive guys.

Dalembert
Chandler
Turiaf

Next year will have a good amount bigs that can fulfill that role through the draft, so it might be best to take a risk on a cheaper guy and see what happens. Simms and Sene would be cheap low risk, high reward type guys.

Ironically, if Kahn was our GM last year, we probably would have selected and kept Jordan.

the_bruce · Post #9 » by **the_bruce** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 3:25 am

I think an athletic 3/4 is a better idea for love/al than a pure 7 footer. Earl Clark anyone.

Winter Wonder · Post #10 » by **Winter Wonder** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 4:03 am

The center idea is great, but of those listed, would only be interested in the younger ones and don't think they could be pried away without vastly overpaying. Koufos out of Utah may be attainable, but he wouldn't be considered athletic. R. Lopez may also be a viable target. Not sure how much else out there would be.

Krapinsky · Post #11 » by **Krapinsky** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 4:27 am

Maybe the answer is as simple as us drafting John Bryant in the second round? Ford mentioned he was getting a lot of buzz in the second round, and word has it that Mullens is absolutely terrified of him. 14 rebounds a game for a center that shoots nearly 80% from the line is nothing to snuff at.

shrink · Post #12 » by **shrink** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 4:33 am

Etan Thomas this year, Pekovic the next.

the_bruce · Post #13 » by **the_bruce** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 4:37 am

Dr.Krapinsky wrote:Maybe the answer is as simple as us drafting John Bryant in the second round? Ford mentioned he was getting a lot of buzz in the second round, and word has it that Mullens is absolutely terrified of him. 14 rebounds a game for a center that shoots nearly 80% from the line is nothing to snuff at.

Or this Euro...

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Sla ... tsov-5044/

9'3" standing reach.
37 inch vert

http://www.nbadraft.net/node/6824

Seems like a defensive long athletic center prospect that could work with Al & Love to me.

AQuintus · Post #14 » by **AQuintus** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 7:15 am

I would give any asset we have outside of Jefferson, Love, and the 6th pick to bring in DeAndre Jordan.

wolves_fan_82au · Post #15 » by **wolves_fan_82au** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 7:59 am

i would much rather haywood and than we could trade foye in the deal

go with this
c-Jefferson/Haywood
pf-Love/Smith
sf-Gomes/Brewer
SG-Harden/Terrance Williams/Brewer
pg-Evans/Mills/Telfair

ithink we would need to upgrade the sf spot in 2010 though maybe Lebron :pray:

younggunsmn · Post #16 » by **younggunsmn** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 8:12 am

AQuintus wrote:I would give any asset we have outside of Jefferson, Love, and the 6th pick to bring in DeAndre Jordan.

Sadly that ship has sailed. He is locked up at minimum salary the next 2 years, and that makes him almost untouchable. I wonder how high they are on peckovic? They really can't afford to bring him over though. Griffin/Jordan could be a nice front line for a long, long time.

jade_hippo · Post #17 » by **jade_hippo** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 9:22 am

how about someone like Robert Swift? hasn't shown much due to injuries, but he's still young, he's big and doesn't move too bad.

Post #18 » by **Basti** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 12:54 pm

jade_hippo wrote:how about someone like Robert Swift? hasn't shown much due to injuries, but he's still young, he's big and doesn't move too bad.

with the reputation our medical staff has I doubt Swift will all of a sudden become an injury-free player.

karch34 · Post #19 » by **karch34** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 1:00 pm

Some good ideas. I'd be interested in giving Zaza a look for part of the MLE. I wouldn't give him the full, but I think he'd fit pretty well.

jpatrick · Post #20 » by **jpatrick** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 1:17 pm

What happened to Robin Lopez in Phoenix last year? I thought he'd be a perfect big to go with Jefferson/Lopez; a true center who blocks shots, plays with energy, wouldn't mind only playing 20-25 minutes a night, and doesn't need the ball to be effective. But he didn't do crap for the Suns, wonder if they'd give up on him early?

Unless it's part of a smokescreen, I don't think Kahn is interested in an "earthbound" center like Pekovic or Zaza to be the third big. He wants someone who can protect the rim.

I think we need a true center (even if it's someone coming off the bench), but if we're playing Love/Jefferson alot of minutes together I think an athletic shotblocking three to play with them is essensital. I like the Earl Clark idea alot but he's not going to make it to #18 (trade up?). I read somewhere that we may have made a promise to Daye at #18 (hoopsworld maybe?). I don't like him as much as Clark because he's painfully thin and not very athletic but he's long enough to block some shots.