badinage wrote:I love Beal, but this is the refresh/reset we need.
Think about this team:
Bryant
Achiuwa
Avdija
Herro
Westbrook
Bertans
Robinson
Hachimura
Neto
Brown Jr.
Lopez
Mathews
Achiuwa is 21, Herro 20, Bonga 20, Avdija 19. Bryant is 23, Hachimura 22.
Achiuwa shores up a glaring weakness at the 4 — rebounding, interior defense, switchability. He may allow Bryant to flourish, because he relieves some of his responsibilities.
That’s a great core to build with, those 6. Young, versatile, smart players. Let em grow together.
Westbrook is the team leader, which he already is, and he teaches the younguns how to be prepared, how to fight, how to ratchet up the intensity every night.
In time, it becomes Deni’s team.
If you want, you trade two of the 6 and get back one. That team can compete for a disgruntled star player a la a Jimmy Butler.
Don't forget Troy Brown.
Ultimately, that's a team that could implement doclinkin's vision of a headless monster with no primary point guard, just a bunch of big wings that can shoot, pass, dribble and make decisions, plus Achiuwa and Bryant who can finish in the paint.
The lineup in the post-Westbrook future would look something like this:
Guards: Herro, Brown, 2021 1st
Forwards: Avidja, Hachimura, Bertans, Bonga
Centers: Achiuwa, Bryant
Hopefully, one of Herro, Brown, Avdija or Hachimura emerges as an isolation scorer who can get a bucket in crunch time when the sets break down. That's the big if. Without one guy who can go get a bucket, the team peaks as San Antonio East - a 47-win team who can't advance in the playoffs. But if someone develops into a star, they'll be real good.