RandomFan

How'd that work out in the playoffs? Rhetorical question. We know the answer.

We do seriously need an offensive coach to kick Nate into this century.

Did you forget something?

I would still bring back Solo.

Didn't we just get close to a $4m trade exception from the Huerter trade? Solo signing was always more about the enforcer role, communication on D on a young team, and the locker room presence of massaging egos to keep the peace. I don't know that Harkless isn't also that, but it has nothing to do with statistical numbers.

Agreed. Or Ayton.

Reminds me, but I ran across this comment from another poster about JC on reddit that pretty much sums up how I feel about his whole roster fit situation. I think the reason John doesn’t have a lot of trade value is because his skill set and position don’t match. If he was bigger and you could play him at the five he’d be one of the most valuable non star players in the league. His main strength in the pnr is severely handicapped while playing with most centers in the league. To use John to the best of his ability you’d need to have a very specific type of center next to him. Someone who provides great interior defense and rim protection, while being able to stretch the floor and is cool with not being the primary big in pnr scenarios. Bonus points if they can switch on to perimeter players because John can’t. There aren’t a lot of guys like this in the league. It’s really hard to find a good front court pairing with him. I think teams recognize this and that’s why they’re not offering us the best return on him. They’re not interested in paying for how good he really is when how useful he is on the court is what really matters. He just doesn’t fit what the prototypical 4 man is now. A good interior defender that can switch out on the perimeter and make an open three. John can make an open three and get some weak side blocks as a help defender but he’s not quick enough to cut off driving lanes. He’s also not quick enough to guard anyone on the perimeter. He often gets lost on his defensive rotations (the entire team does really). He’s not big enough to bang with the traditional bigs either. He’s kinda in no mans land defensively while playing a position where that should be the priority. John’s still a really good player though despite all of his short comings and in the right situation you’d definitely see him shine. The problem is it’s hard to create that ideal situation and even if you did I’m not sure it’d be worth it. Because you’d definitely be better off building your team around a flawed star than a flawed role player.

A big reason for that was due to not having another ball handler capable of running the 1-5 PnR when Trae was on the bench. That won't be the case any more with Murray around.

Maybe. Probably. But that doesn't change anything regarding how Simmons still doesn't possess the skills needed to be a great defensive center. And as I keep pointing out, I'm probably the guy that wants us to trade for him the most out of anyone on this forum. I made a trade proposal for him months ago. He's just not best used as a center.

As has already been covered, but Simmons is 6'9", not 6'11". Even if he's really 6'10, he's still not built like a center in body type. He does still have a positive wingspan of 7'0", but he's just not built like a center. Plus, Simmons may be a Defensive Player of the Year candidate but he’s done that by his menacing perimeter defense, not his interior defense. Defensively his strength is guarding perimeter players. He's great fighting through screens, guarding ball handlers on-ball, wings off-ball, mobile bigs that are perimeter oriented. Guarding the interior is a different skillset. He lacks the strength the bang with centers full-time. But more importantly he's not a great help defender or rim protector, the two primary requirements of playing the 5 in most schemes. Let's compare this to OO who is similar sized, although built differently. Okongwu's strengths are help defense, and rim protection, but what makes him an elite interior defender is also having the ability to step out on the perimeter and do a good job there too. But you wouldn't want to make OO a full-time perimeter defender, it's not his strength and you would be wasting what he is good at. It's the opposite with Simmons. He's an elite perimeter defender, possibly the best in the world, that can also play some good interior defense. But you don't want him on the interior full-time because it's not his strength and you would be wasting what he is exceptional at. A 6'9" perimeter defender that can guard on-ball and off-ball is a unicorn. A 6'9" guy that isn't a great rim protector or help defender is a dime a dozen in the NBA. THAT is why he isn't a center. It's not that he is completely incapable of doing it; it's that your taking him away from a position of greatness and moving him to a position of mediocrity. Look, we are both in favor of wanting Simmons. He's just not a center and we shouldn't try to make him one.

BEN SIMMONS IS NOT A CENTER!!! Full stop.

Agreed. Which is why I posted this 10 hours ago saying he's not a center. His best position would be a point-forward: at least with our roster. Okongwu would be our center.

It would be JC plus either of Capela or Bogi for Simmons and cap filler. I'm good with either player going out. We've long needed to consolidate talent on this roster, and that's what this is. Not directed at you bird, but in reading the board today people seem to forget how good Simmons is. True he's not baggage free, but even considering that he's STILL a top 20-30 player. Ben is a DPOY quality defender who is as equally adept at on-ball and off-ball D, plus switching. Elite handles, passing, screen setting, rolling to the rim and finishing there. And still only 26 years old. Same age as Murray, two years older than Trae. He's elite at everything, except sucking at jumpshooting. But the shooting is why he's only top 20-30 instead of being a top 5 player. Trae wants Simmons here. Do we think we know better than Trae what a good player looks like? Do we think we know better than Trae about the roster fit or lineup fit with Ben? C'mon man!

I'm one of the biggest Simmons fans here and hope we trade for him, but he isn't a center. He can play small ball center, but he doesn't have the wingspan, length, and strength to be a regular rim protecting 5 full time. And he can't really technically be what is considered a small ball 5 either since he has no outside shot to draw the opposing center to the 3 pt line. But he can defend 1-4 exceptionally well; perhaps better than anyone else in the NBA. His best position is as a point-forward.

Sending out JC and Capela isn't enough outgoing salary to take back Simmons and Ayton.

You're broke and want some cash too?

I second that post. I may view player evaluations completely differently from Supes and will bust on him for his opinions there, but I have zero doubt that he has a legitimate source and appreciate the info provided.

It's beyond my understanding how people still willfully engage that poster as anything other than bad-faith. Especially after the years of evidence in support of that conclusion. The ignore function doesn't work if people keep quoting him. Help me out here folks!

Feel like I've posted this about 10 times already, so sorry for those that are seeing it again. "offense comes from the exceptional creation at guard, big men that can finish, wings that support"

I'd like to point out the primary return is the 1st round pick, not the expiring contracts. Although redistributing our contract allocation was obviously a perk of the trade.