nate33 wrote:
Now that we have Gafford and he looks to be a keeper at center, does that move Mobley down in anyone's opinion? I know Doc said he'd take Mobley at #1, but given our current needs, I think I'd put Cunningham and Suggs over him. Cunningham in particular looks like the best fit in terms of need. We really need a SG/SF swing man who can shoot and defend, and we ultimately need a playmaker to take over in the future when Westbrook ages out. Cunningham checks all the boxes.
I'm fine with any of the top 3 players. Well, I'd be ecstatic really, since yeah we are doing the pointless push for the 9th seed we always do, and are likely to get the 10th pick.
The case for Mobley: I think Thomas Bryant is a dead end for us, since he is a defensive liability. Gafford is a nice pick up. A blend of the two of those players would be awesome. If we can end up with a player who HAS BOTH offensive utility/versatility, and defensive instincts, then why would we not look for that player? Ultimately you want an upgrade at every position on the floor, if you can get one. Since either or both of Rui/Deni can play SF/PF then I still think it is a position of need to select a PF/C who is able to switch on the outside, and is both productive while young and getting better. A playable two way Big is still one of the harder positions to find. Tall and athletic are rare, but even more rare is the combination of tall, athletic, and smart. Defensively ready. We see any number of JaVale Wiseman KAT types who are big natural athletes who don't seem to know what to do with it. The ones who inherently understand defense at an early age have an advantage and are more playable early. If you can pick up a player who projects to be on a scale between Myles Turner and Anthony Davis, you snatch them. They can affect a team's fortunes more significantly than a perimeter player. Even with Gafford on the team we are still playing 3 bigs. A Big who you can play at either 4 or 5 gives you versatility to face whatever team you line up against. LA won with Unibrow playing next to centers and a giant 'PG' in LeBJ. Giannis plays next to the other Lopez. Philly runs out Embiid with Simmons and a PF. There are teams that go big.
That said, I do see Cunningham as an excellent fit for what we need. If the team had a choice between any of the top 3, there seems to be a role for any of them.
And as you have pointed out, it is all irrelevant since we're far more likely to be picking 10th.