Pick up after Cousins Injury
Well, the wild card turned out to be crap. DeMarcus Cousins, the wild card of the year, the guy that maybe could have been an all star again, the guy that looked great and was working hard got hurt, sadly, and will not play this year. I feel badly for the man, and wish him the best, I'd leave the door open for a return next season. That being said who should pick up to replace him.
Lets start with this, we now have two roster spots available, one we hope to fill with Andre Iguodala. We will get to the importance of that in a bit, and now we have a second spot open due to the injury to Cousin. AD has publicly said he doesn't want to play the five, and being that he is the best young big in the world, and has yet to resign with us for the big 5 years super max contract we will offer him, we must and I repeat must respect his wished and allow him to spend the bulk of his minutes at the four. Now maybe the last six minutes of the game we slide Kuz into the line up and move AD to the five, but that leaves 42 minutes of the game that we need a different five. Javale was awesome at the five last year when we was healthy, but he can only give you 25-30 minutes a game, so that leaves 15-20 minutes a game we need to fill.
So, the names I hear being floated are:
Dwight Howard: This guy has all the physical tools but we all know he is a tool. He was awful last time he was here, but if Rob says OK Kobe must have said Yes, and Lebron did play with him in 2008 so?
Joakim Noah: This may be our best option. He is big enough, strong enough so that AD doesn't have to battle down low to much. Can switch on the pick and roll, and has been shooting better in the mid range than I remember. Not injury prone.
Kennith Faried: The Manimal!! Love this guy, the engine is always running full steam! Never will forget 2014 when he was the best big on team USA! Shoots well enough. But...He is barley 6'8" and when we play big backup centers we will be hurt, not to mention Javale is light in the back pocket.
Mo Speights: Here we have a big big man. With a jumper! Hey! If we say AD can guard the pick and roll well, and we need a big that can handle a big back up center. This may be our guy.
Nene: He is the oldest of the prospects we are talking about here. a few years ago he would've maybe been the best pick of the bunch but now, IDK. He has all the tools but can he play 82?
Marcin Gortat: He also is getting up there, at 35, but much like Nene has all the tools we need. Shoots well, plays defense OK against bigs, but age.
Greg Monroe: He is only 29 and a big big with low post moves. But isn't quick enough to guard the pick and roll. Do we need that or can AD be the big back up if the other team has a stretch five?
Salah Mejri: I don't understand why this guy is even an option, but see his name being thrown around. He is 33 but has only played 3 years in the NBA and was OK. He has the size but really?
One more thought, how long can we wait for Iggy? If we is not gonna sign then should we look to a stretch five like Marquese Chris? Carmelo Anthony? Spenser Hawes? Willie Hernangomez? think we need a back up big that can keep AD from battling to much down low but if Iggy is not coming do we pick up a stretch five? Or look for a defensive three and let Kuz get some back up five minutes?