2020 Preseason Speculation - Lineup battles underway

[Kerrsed]

Read on Twitter

?s=19

I'd take Len back

Sent from my SM-G970U using RealGM mobile app

Yeah I catually think another big wouldn't be bad. We're still kind of small. We still don't have a Baynes replacement either. Smith is close, but Baynes was a big, tough enforcer behind Ayton. If Saric is gonna play the backup 5, he's definitely not powerful on the defensive end. We need someone to bang out against someone like boban or other huge bigs. Hoping Damian Jones isn't who they have in mind.

I look at Jones as strictly a Diallo replacement. He will be lucky to get 3 minutes in a weeks worth of games.

Now i have seen others throw up their mocked depth chart and have Cam as the starting PF, but i honestly believe he will be coming off the bench behind Bridges. Crowder will be our starting PF. But the thing is we have a bunch of guys that can play multiple roles.

Point Guard: CP3/Carter/Payne/Alexander
Shooting Guard: Booker/Carter/Moore
Small Forward: Bridges/Cam/Crowder/Nader/Moore
Power Forward: Crowder/Cam/Saric/Smith
Center: Ayton/Saric/Smith/Jones

Now im going to be strictly speaking about our bigs. So you got Cam that can cover 2 spots, along with Crowder, Saric and Smith. Looking at the breakdown i just did above, there doesnt seem like there would be many minutes left over to really go out and try to sign another important guy. I have no idea where Cam will get the majority of his minutes, behind Bridges or Crowder, but i have a feeling its probably going to be a close 50/50 split. I think Saric will definitely get the majority of his minutes at C behind Ayton (Leaving little minutes for Smith and pretty much None for Jones), and the 3rd string minutes at PF behind Crowder and Cam just might go to Smith to give him a handful of real minutes (Instead of Saric). But i also could see Saric getting the majority of the minutes there as well to start the season until Smith gets more familiar with the riggers and nuances of the NBA.

At this point i think we are only really lacking maybe a 3rd string PG/SG combo that will sit out most games but is practicing with the team and ready if something were to happen to a PG or SG resulting in him getting 7 or so minutes a game. I think thats pretty much our biggest need at this point. I view Carter more as a Booker back-up (And Moore the 3rd string), and Payne, if he repeats his bubble performance, will be just fine backing up CP3. Alexander is on a 2 way contract, so we need t hat 3rd string PG, and it would be helpful if he was more of a combo guard that could play SG in a pinch if need be.

[lilfishi22]

Read on Twitter

?s=19

We need another big?

At this point, Smith is barely getting rotation minutes. With Dario signed and adding another big (like Len), Smith would not see hardcourt unless we blow teams out. Unless the plan is to give him about 10mpg because we're comfortably blowing teams out on the regular

[Kerrsed]

Read on Twitter

What a weird career.

Went from not playing much in the league to getting waived and playing in China. Comes back for a second chance and changes everyone's opinion of him. Then in less than 3 seasons, he becomes vastly overpaid and lazy stiff to now getting virtually no looks from any NBA teams.

Remember he became a huge star in Miami, got a big contract and was actively recruiting players in public to come to Miami....only to be traded the next season. His stats are rather padded and the "Defender" that people thought he was in reality was the Miami Heat System. Blocked Shots dont necessarily make you a strong defender. He was pretty much an overpaid rebounder.

Watch on YouTube

[WeekapaugGroove]

Yeah Whiteside just could never understand that you don't have to chase EVERY block. I think he's also a pain to deal with, not surprised he's still available.

Sent from my SM-G986U using RealGM mobile app

[suns12345]

I'd take Len back

Sent from my SM-G970U using RealGM mobile app

Yeah I catually think another big wouldn't be bad. We're still kind of small. We still don't have a Baynes replacement either. Smith is close, but Baynes was a big, tough enforcer behind Ayton. If Saric is gonna play the backup 5, he's definitely not powerful on the defensive end. We need someone to bang out against someone like boban or other huge bigs. Hoping Damian Jones isn't who they have in mind.

I look at Jones as strictly a Diallo replacement. He will be lucky to get 3 minutes in a weeks worth of games.

Now i have seen others throw up their mocked depth chart and have Cam as the starting PF, but i honestly believe he will be coming off the bench behind Bridges. Crowder will be our starting PF. But the thing is we have a bunch of guys that can play multiple roles.

Point Guard: CP3/Carter/Payne/Alexander
Shooting Guard: Booker/Carter/Moore
Small Forward: Bridges/Cam/Crowder/Nader/Moore
Power Forward: Crowder/Cam/Saric/Smith
Center: Ayton/Saric/Smith/Jones

Now im going to be strictly speaking about our bigs. So you got Cam that can cover 2 spots, along with Crowder, Saric and Smith. Looking at the breakdown i just did above, there doesnt seem like there would be many minutes left over to really go out and try to sign another important guy. I have no idea where Cam will get the majority of his minutes, behind Bridges or Crowder, but i have a feeling its probably going to be a close 50/50 split. I think Saric will definitely get the majority of his minutes at C behind Ayton (Leaving little minutes for Smith and pretty much None for Jones), and the 3rd string minutes at PF behind Crowder and Cam just might go to Smith to give him a handful of real minutes (Instead of Saric). But i also could see Saric getting the majority of the minutes there as well to start the season until Smith gets more familiar with the riggers and nuances of the NBA.

At this point i think we are only really lacking maybe a 3rd string PG/SG combo that will sit out most games but is practicing with the team and ready if something were to happen to a PG or SG resulting in him getting 7 or so minutes a game. I think thats pretty much our biggest need at this point. I view Carter more as a Booker back-up (And Moore the 3rd string), and Payne, if he repeats his bubble performance, will be just fine backing up CP3. Alexander is on a 2 way contract, so we need t hat 3rd string PG, and it would be helpful if he was more of a combo guard that could play SG in a pinch if need be.

Great write up here!

And yeah, not sure why everyone is worrying about the Jones signing... Anyone that is good enough to play much in the NBA probably wouldn't sign with a team where they aren't going to get any minutes like Jones just did with the suns. Its the nature of signing end of bench guys.

[Desertfox]

I still think we should pick up a backup PF (Vonleh) and a veteran backup PG (Lin). Both should be available at the minimum.

[KLEON]

Read on Twitter

?s=19

Cut the bull,the best available big right now is Skal Labissière. I'll say it again, he's massively underrated

[SuperSunsFan]

signing more 2nd string players without any available time for them to play while not being up front about it with them during negotiation will only create tension and hurt team chemistry. I think after tying up saric we should be done.

[lilfishi22]

signing more 2nd string players without any available time for them to play while not being up front about it with them during negotiation will only create tension and hurt team chemistry. I think after tying up saric we should be done.

Agree in principle and I think it's more the 3rd string guys we don't need. We still need a true 2nd string guard and depending on if you think Dario is going to play a fair bit of 5 or not, then we might actually need a true 2nd string 5.

What we don't need is more of those Damion Jones or Moore type guys

[bigfoot]

signing more 2nd string players without any available time for them to play while not being up front about it with them during negotiation will only create tension and hurt team chemistry. I think after tying up saric we should be done.

We do have room for one more spot and one more two-way. We need the bodies for full-court scrimmages and backups in the event someone gets COVID. Still, we are so deep it will be a serious competition for minutes. Here is our depth chart in terms of positions played by each player last season:

PG: Paul (55%), Carter (100%), Payne (33%), Moore (37%), Okobo (59%)
SG: Booker (86%), Moore (53%), Payne (49%), Bridges (12%), Paul (45%), Okobo (37%)
SF: Bridges (78%), Johnson (21%), Booker (12%), Crowder (42%), Moore (10%), Nader (59%), Payne (18%), Okobo (4%)
PF: Crowder (54%), Saric (84%), Johnson (78%), Bridges (10%), Smith (??), Nader (39%)
C: Ayton (99%), Saric (16%), Smith (??), Jones (99%)

We are thinnest at the C.

[Revived]

Read on Twitter

?s=19

We need another big?

At this point, Smith is barely getting rotation minutes. With Dario signed and adding another big (like Len), Smith would not see hardcourt unless we blow teams out. Unless the plan is to give him about 10mpg because we're comfortably blowing teams out on the regular

Yeah I don’t get what he means at all. Smith/Dario are gonna be the backup 5s. Then we signed that other dude for an end of rotation big.

[nevetsov]

. Here is our depth chart in terms of positions played by each player last season:

PG: Paul (55%), Carter (100%), Payne (33%), Moore (37%), Okobo (59%)
SG: Booker (86%), Moore (53%), Payne (49%), Bridges (12%), Paul (45%), Okobo (37%)
SF: Bridges (78%), Johnson (21%), Booker (12%), Crowder (42%), Moore (10%), Nader (59%), Payne (18%), Okobo (4%)
PF: Crowder (54%), Saric (84%), Johnson (78%), Bridges (10%), Smith (??), Nader (39%)
C: Ayton (99%), Saric (16%), Smith (??), Jones (99%)

We are thinnest at the C.

Payne and Carter played together quite a bit, and I would definitely say that Payne was PG 100% of that time while Carter played off the ball. And absolutely no way was Payne a SF - that would have been Jerome in the 3-4 guard bench lineup.

[Qwigglez]

I mostly agree with Kerrsed breakdown of the rotation. Saric will likely be Ayton's backup at center, however could see Smith getting some opportunity depending on the matchups. I'd rather have Cam start than Crowder, but I could see Monty wanting a bit of fire power off the bench. The Moore signing is great, and I think he could be really effective with Saric being our playmaker off the bench.

I think our roster is basically complete, and doubt we make any more meaningful signings. Damion Jones is really an insurance policy in case one of our bigs gets injured (or suspended) and I doubt he plays often. Even in blowouts I expect us to give minutes to Jalen Smith.

James Jones is probably the leading candidate for GM of the year.

[SuperSunsFan]

looking through the available free agents i am surprised that Markieff Morris was shooting 3s at nearly 40%, surprised he hasn't been picked by anyone yet. if we have any problem resigning Saric Markieff could be a possible replacement as the main scorer off the bench type (I know he had beef with us but mostly was directed at MCD and gambo not necessarily the team and Sarver).

[Revived]

looking through the available free agents i am surprised that Markieff Morris was shooting 3s at nearly 40%, surprised he hasn't been picked by anyone yet. if we have any problem resigning Saric Markieff could be a possible replacement as the main scorer off the bench type (I know he had beef with us but mostly was directed at MCD and gambo not necessarily the team and Sarver).

Yeah....that’s not happening.

Next!

[matt131]

Read on Twitter

?s=19

Yes, Gambo. You broke the news. You knew before any of us, almighty prophet. How ever shall we thank you for your insight and inside info?

[Fo-Real]

looking through the available free agents i am surprised that Markieff Morris was shooting 3s at nearly 40%, surprised he hasn't been picked by anyone yet. if we have any problem resigning Saric Markieff could be a possible replacement as the main scorer off the bench type (I know he had beef with us but mostly was directed at MCD and gambo not necessarily the team and Sarver).

Morris bros are STRAIGHT ****!! Based on skill, he would be signed already, but when you add in his personality.... ... unemployed!!

[Kerrsed]

James Jones is probably the leading candidate for GM of the year.

I doubt it.

Pelinka Turned Rondo/Green/Howard/McGee into Schroder/Matthews/Harrell/Gasol.

Olshey switched out Ariza for Covington. Used their TPE to get Kanter to back-up Nurkic. Retained Hood and Melo. Signed Jones Jr.

Schlenk Has done a HELL of a job in Atlanta. They went from a team with Young & Collins (With a whole host of underperforming wings), to a Top Team in the East on paper. They added Rondo and Dunn to back-up Young. Signed Bogdonivic to play SG (Still have Huerter and Thomas for depth), Signed Gallo at SF (Sill have Hunter and Cam for depth), kept Collins (But drafted Okongwu who could be his replacement if rumors are correct and he wants $20M+ in FA next season), and Capella (Who they ROBBED Houston for last season). They just went from 2nd to last in the East to a top contender. AMAZING JOB!

Presti traded damn near the whole team for like 15 draft picks, then traded the contracts he got in return for another 15 draft picks. Word is he is getting ready to now flip those new new players for another 15 draft picks.

[bwgood77]

James Jones is probably the leading candidate for GM of the year.

I doubt it.

Pelinka Turned Rondo/Green/Howard/McGee into Schroder/Matthews/Harrell/Gasol.

Olshey switched out Ariza for Covington. Used their TPE to get Kanter to back-up Nurkic. Retained Hood and Melo. Signed Jones Jr.

Schlenk Has done a HELL of a job in Atlanta. They went from a team with Young & Collins (With a whole host of underperforming wings), to a Top Team in the East on paper. They added Rondo and Dunn to back-up Young. Signed Bogdonivic to play SG (Still have Huerter and Thomas for depth), Signed Gallo at SF (Sill have Hunter and Cam for depth), kept Collins (But drafted Okongwu who could be his replacement if rumors are correct and he wants $20M+ in FA next season), and Capella (Who they ROBBED Houston for last season). They just went from 2nd to last in the East to a top contender. AMAZING JOB!

Presti traded damn near the whole team for like 15 draft picks, then traded the contracts he got in return for another 15 draft picks. Word is he is getting ready to now flip those new new players for another 15 draft picks.

Yeah, Atlanta has a pretty nice lineup with nice depth. Young, Bogdanovic, Huerter, Bogdanovic, Gallinari, Capela with Rondo, Reddish, Hunter, Collins and Okongwu backing them up. Then Dunn and whoever else.

[oddity]

Read on Twitter

?s=19

Yes, Gambo. You broke the news. You knew before any of us, almighty prophet. How ever shall we thank you for your insight and inside info?

Wow this guy is a total schmuck