Dat2U wrote:fishercob wrote:
I agree that Beal can be replaced "internally," but don't see Temple as an option. Yes to roles for Anderson (on the cheap) and Satoransky. Also, Kelly Oubre and Otto Porter. If Anthony Roberson and Thabo Sefolosha can play the 2, so can Oubre. Porter swallowed up Derozan in the playoffs two years ago. He's better suited to guard wings than he is burlier guys like Melo, etc.
One of the keys to playing small, ironically enough, is size on the wings. Golden State's small lineups are long as hell and wreak havoc defensively. Perhaps Oubre could be a long term solution at the two. The other key is Draymond -- while he's short, he's incredible strong (and long) and holds his own in the post and on the boards.
You make a great point about Otto and I've thought the same. He does seem to defend quicker players better than some of the oversized SFs that he comes up against. Oubre has the physical traits but I'm not sure we could survive his shaky jumper & on-ball limitations at the 2 at this point.
On balance, Oubre was terrible last year. But he's so young and got so little PT that we can't draw any meaningful conclusions from it. He showed elite defensive potential on the ball; he needs to figure out how to play team defense. His shot mechanics are solid; we shouldn't draw negative conclusions from his 31% clip from 3. He was 5 makes from being a 38% shooter.
The fact that both he and Otto have some SG abilities actually allay some of my concerns about letting Beal walk. In 2016 (i.e. after new Years) beal played 38 games, started 18 and shot 38.6% from 3. Otto played in 48 games, started them all and shot 40% from 3. Maybe the guy the WIzards should be extending this summer is Otto -- before he blows up -- and let Beal walk, or see if we can get an asset for him in a S&T.
Otto and Oubre's versatility also makes it such that I would not be at all opposed to them adding a "natural' SF like a Batum. Wings are the new bigs in today's NBA. You can never have enough good ones.
The Wizards offseason should be focused on adding as much talent as possible; let Brooks figure out how to deploy it. If they have a shot at a guy who doesn't readily seem like a "fit" given the current roster -- like Whiteside or Batum -- go get him.
That said, I was trying to talk myself into a Melo/Beal swap and I just couldn't do it. Melo's production has dropped markedly over his last 2 years. He's 32 and has 3 years left at huge money. Pass.
Naaah, who am I kidding? 
