HomieOmey wrote:slick_watts wrote:I think a guy who might come real cheap who may help the Thunder in 2010 offseason is Brendan Haywood. He's had injury problems recently, but he's a big body and can be a nice 1/2 punch with Krstic if they intend to keep Green at PF..
He's the kind of "average starter" I referenced earlier. I'd definitely be happy with his addition, I just don't think he is good enough in any area to hide the weaknesses of Green - which needs to be done to contend, I think. You're basically giving yourself a team that's always going to be at a disadvantage in the front court. The back court better develop into near stars! Again, no rush, but the sooner you can put a real nucleus together, the better for team chemistry. I'd happily wait to see what the next draft and free agency period does for the front court, but once that passes, the team better go into overdrive to complete its front court.
I think you can be very competitive in today's NBA, and even contend, without a traditional front court. As I mentioned earlier, just look at Dallas for a good example of a team which made the Finals without a dominant big man in the traditional mold. The fact that Kevin Durant is able to score so efficiently really minimizes the need for a low post scorer. The team needs interior defense and rebounding in the front court with Durant and (possibly) Green. Haywood, or any kind of center like him, would provide both those things.
The team as currently constructed will always be at a disadvantage because they have nobody to guard opposing bigs or patrol the paint / block shots. I don't think there's a huge need for a guy like Carlos Boozer or Amar'e Stoudemire who will score efficiently inside as opposed to someone like Emeka Okafor / Tyson Chandler who could have galvanized the defense. I would be much more comfortable with Green / Durant at SF / PF if the Thunder had a center in the Chandler mold inside playing defense and rebounding, and they could easily be competitive with such an arrangement.