shrink wrote:Does Towns really need more offensive options to develop? No - the key to Towns becoming a truly elite player is to improve his defense. Keita plays some four because he can switch defensively, but he is not big enough for 4’s, or quick enough for 3’s. He’s a smart player, but Towns would never trust him defensively, would continue to break coverage to help out, and never improve.
As Rosas has said, this season is about installing a system and developing players. The most important player we can develop is Towns. Covington is much better as an SF, with the freedom to blow up opposing offensive sets, but we play him at PF to help Towns. RoCo makes smart decisions, and Towns likes him, and the hope is that KAT will stop coming out to challengers defense if he trusts his 4.
Maybe when/if Towns buys in, Keita can be more useful next to Towns, but every player should be making cuts. Until Towns gets it, Keita should only get bit minutes in the starting line up with KAT.
I agree that success of this team depends on KATs improvement in defense. That should not be even discussion. Even Vonleh looked better in drop scheme, but KATs has been so widely inconsistent this season. But lets just imagine that he remains same player next season: an elite scorer and average team defender. What are other things I am concerned about?
1)
TOs kill us, we don't have a proven starting caliber ballhanlder right now. Napier is an excellent backup PG, he is the best PG we had since Rubio, I would never question his heart, he really has heart of champion, but still he has his limits: consistency, size. I hope we can draft someone who can control tempo, even push tempo, run continuously PnR, PnP, feed KAT, give our young player better scoring opportunities (open 3s, backdoor cuts, off screen, shots). I have strong feeling that if we limit TOs (#23 in TOs per game as team), we can improve our defense greatly. Having top5 pace offense and a lot of young players does not sound like a good idea, but I can live with it this year.
2)
who can guard/control opponent point of attack? we need someone who can at least slow down a bit opponent ball handlers. A great defensive scheme, discipline, execution and veterans will help here, but currently we have none of these components. JO, JC are both close to liability in offense, Josh can't take care of the ball, JC can't shoot. As partner they have AW those effort goes up and down. If only Culver can hit FTs...
3)
we need size at both С and PF. If I think about best fit it would be Aron Baynes type player at backup C and Al-Farouq Aminu. Baynes will have big demand next summer, but Aminu has signed 29mil/3yrs contract, he is injured right now and won't play this season. When he gets back healthy he will not play much behind Isaac and Gordon. He also has POR connection with Vanterpool and knows how to play defense.
I would trade Dieng for Felicio. Crabbe for Augustine, Aminu, two SRP (if he is healthy)
Resign Napier, Martin. Draft Tyrese Haliburton because in my opinion he checks all boxes as pass first PG with great size, defensive potential. A big guard such as Haliburton would allow us to play Jaylen Nowell as off the ball scorer. RoCo shift to his natural SF position and guard opponent best perimeter star (point of attack). Aminu shares load with KAT in terms of defensive rotations, rebounds etc. Haliburton freelances in defense. Felicio is big body player who can set screens and fight under the rim. He has expiring contract next season. I am sure that Vanterpool would be happy to play with his old friend Aminu and a talented rookies Haliburton to form an exceptional defensive unit. If Culver, Okogie, KBD, KAT can take next big step as defenders this would a special group.
KAT(30)/Reid(15)/Felicio(3)
Aminu(15)/KBD(20)/RoCo(8)
RoCo(20)/Layman(20)/Wiggins(8) + Martin
Wiggins(25)/Okogie(20)/Nowell(3)
Haliburton(15)/Culver(25)/Napier(8)
Play fast tempo, wide rotation.