Yeah a fun exercise is to look through the west and see what PF starter your afraid will cook Jaden.
The worry isn't about a PF cooking Jaden, it's about Ayo being able to handle the best wings in the league. Jaden will be fine no matter where he plays, it's the cost of taking him off of the best wings and entrusting that duty to Ayo.
I agree with Cool on this. And again, I think there’s a rebounding issue and a depth issue that requires adding another big to the roster. When I say a big, I mean someone with some size and physicality who can rebound and defend against physical players.
Thanks for explaining that Cool, I wouldn't have and hadn't thought of that with Ayo.
What makes you think Ayo couldn't handle that tho? He has enough length and size, perhaps an off season spent with the understanding that it is his role to be the top POA can get him to that level?
Lamelo's minutes were reduced last year primarily to lower his risk of injury and it paid off. He absolutely had a big year for the Hornets, and at the age of 24 the hope is he is just coming into his own. I've been hammering for a long time that we needed a point guard and now we have one. Wolvesfan set me straight about the fit next to Ant, so I am looking forward to seeing what this looks like.
The worry isn't about a PF cooking Jaden, it's about Ayo being able to handle the best wings in the league. Jaden will be fine no matter where he plays, it's the cost of taking him off of the best wings and entrusting that duty to Ayo.
I agree with Cool on this. And again, I think there’s a rebounding issue and a depth issue that requires adding another big to the roster. When I say a big, I mean someone with some size and physicality who can rebound and defend against physical players.
Thanks for explaining that Cool, I wouldn't have and hadn't thought of that with Ayo.
What makes you think Ayo couldn't handle that tho? He has enough length and size, perhaps an off season spent with the understanding that it is his role to be the top POA can get him to that level?
Aussie, I just think it makes more sense to bring Ayo off the bench where we will need his offense. Ayo can guard most wings, but Jaden is elite at it. I think we need a 4 who brings some versatility and allows Ayo to be the 6th man, replacing the role NAZ occupied.
That is all fine and dandy. But he is the Rudy Gobert of offense. All offense. No defense. There is a reason i did not want Gobert before the trade ever happened. There was a ceiling to his game. Same applies to Melo. Imo.
Yall can try talking this up all you want. But i never would have traded for Gobert, Randle or Melo. I prefer two way players.
THE poster child for all offense and no defense just won a championship and fmvp.
Melo, unlike Rudy, at least has the tool to be average on the opposite side of the floor. Rudy, is clumsy, not a playmaker and has no shot outside of 4 ft - he simply has no tools to be a passable offensive center. Melo at least has the size and athleticism to take on the least threatening matchup. It's theoretical of course, but just having that length matters.
But it's fine... We can just toss out good statical arguments that correlate with winning
Brunson might be a bad defender but i view him as alot superior to Melo in that regard.
All those stats were done with Rudy. Trying to convince the fan base. How has that worked out exactly? And no, we aren't winning a chip with both Rudy or Melo on this roster. Little lone both of them. Giannis or Brown were the move.
Can't even take you seriously when you suggest Brown being the move when you're team finally has a PG who cost 16 million less.
Brown is crazy overrated and overpaid
I agree with Cool on this. And again, I think there’s a rebounding issue and a depth issue that requires adding another big to the roster. When I say a big, I mean someone with some size and physicality who can rebound and defend against physical players.
Thanks for explaining that Cool, I wouldn't have and hadn't thought of that with Ayo.
What makes you think Ayo couldn't handle that tho? He has enough length and size, perhaps an off season spent with the understanding that it is his role to be the top POA can get him to that level?
Aussie, I just think it makes more sense to bring Ayo off the bench where we will need his offense. Ayo can guard most wings, but Jaden is elite at it. I think we need a 4 who brings some versatility and allows Ayo to be the 6th man, replacing the role NAZ occupied.
That's fair and I agree it would be the optimal set up, but I'm optimistic about Rudy, Jaden and Ayo leading a high level defense, and if Ant can finally lock in on that end it'll be elite, but.... Who knows if that'll happen
Team needs TJ and Joan to step up this year and that'll be a big test. Green looks promising, but I'm not sure how attached we should get.
The worry isn't about a PF cooking Jaden, it's about Ayo being able to handle the best wings in the league. Jaden will be fine no matter where he plays, it's the cost of taking him off of the best wings and entrusting that duty to Ayo.
I agree with Cool on this. And again, I think there’s a rebounding issue and a depth issue that requires adding another big to the roster. When I say a big, I mean someone with some size and physicality who can rebound and defend against physical players.
And hit threes or you just have replaced Julius with a less useful person. Also TJ made strides with effort and defense in the playoffs, maybe he gets a shake at the starting 5 if Ayo is too smol
Ideally, we’d add a front court player who hits threes at a clip significantly better than Randle. But we have to be realistic about who we a get with the limited assets and financial flexibility we now have. I’m talking about adding a good physical defender. We can’t even use the words “good defender” in the same sentence as Julius Randle. Also, Randle’s rebounding was subpar last season.
AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Thu Jun 25, 2026 9:47 pm
THE poster child for all offense and no defense just won a championship and fmvp.
Melo, unlike Rudy, at least has the tool to be average on the opposite side of the floor. Rudy, is clumsy, not a playmaker and has no shot outside of 4 ft - he simply has no tools to be a passable offensive center. Melo at least has the size and athleticism to take on the least threatening matchup. It's theoretical of course, but just having that length matters.
But it's fine... We can just toss out good statical arguments that correlate with winning
Brunson might be a bad defender but i view him as alot superior to Melo in that regard.
All those stats were done with Rudy. Trying to convince the fan base. How has that worked out exactly? And no, we aren't winning a chip with both Rudy or Melo on this roster. Little lone both of them. Giannis or Brown were the move.
Can't even take you seriously when you suggest Brown being the move when you're team finally has a PG who cost 16 million less.
Brown is crazy overrated and overpaid
He just took a middling roster where they traded tons of guys away to a 2nd seed. Everyone thought they were missing the playoffs or at best be a very low seed. Way more than Melo has ever done. And he is proven in the playoffs. Overpaid? No doubt. But you know exactly what you are gettiing. A winning player. Who carried a team on its back last season. He actually tries hard every game. Something most players on our team havent done in years.
And i cant take people seriously who applaud and want the most controversial players in the league. See Gobert. See Randle. See Melo. You have gotten your wish thrice times.
I agree with Cool on this. And again, I think there’s a rebounding issue and a depth issue that requires adding another big to the roster. When I say a big, I mean someone with some size and physicality who can rebound and defend against physical players.
And hit threes or you just have replaced Julius with a less useful person. Also TJ made strides with effort and defense in the playoffs, maybe he gets a shake at the starting 5 if Ayo is too smol
Ideally, we’d add a front court player who hits threes at a clip significantly better than Randle. But we have to be realistic about who we a get with the limited assets and financial flexibility we now have. I’m talking about adding a good physical defender. We can’t even use the words “good defender” in the same sentence as Julius Randle. Also, Randle’s rebounding was subpar last season.
So didn't see this discussed but two of the pick swaps were already swapped with the gobert and dillingham deals so basically we just did one extra pick swap and the unprotected in 33 which is downright scary. I am nervously excited to see what happens. Health being key but also would be nice to see Ball play some actual defense but that isn't likely.
I do feel Connelly has been really reckless. Some call it bold. The bills will come due on this sometime. The later the better. If we remain good it should be OK. If not it will be very grim.
On another note maybe it's time to sign James Wiseman and complete the trilogy.
Crazysauce wrote: ↑Thu Jun 25, 2026 10:57 pm
So didn't see this discussed but two of the pick swaps were already swapped with the gobert and dillingham deals so basically we just did one extra pick swap and the unprotected in 33 which is downright scary. I am nervously excited to see what happens. Health being key but also would be nice to see Ball play some actual defense but that isn't likely.
I do feel Connelly has been really reckless. Some call it bold. The bills will come due on this sometime. The later the better. If we remain good it should be OK. If not it will be very grim.
On another note maybe it's time to sign James Wiseman and complete the trilogy.
I've long been a person that values draft picks pretty highly. However at this point I generally feel like pick swaps in general are not really a thing that would keep me from acquiring a player if it wanted them. Same with 2nd rounders. Pick swaps you still have a pick and have a decent chance if you are smart to get a player or even trade that pick at the draft for a player etc. I wasn't a fan of the Aaron Gordon deal when Connelly made it I thought it was too much to give up for him. It didn't take me long to admit I was wrong on that one.
I also think right now there is simply so much depth of talent available that it makes 2nd round picks not as valuable to some extent. For example a couple drafts ago indiana picked 2 guys in the 2nd round. The Wolves ended up signing both those guys to 2-way deals a few months later. There is also going to be the "2nd draft" guys that either didn't succeed with their first team or didn't get an opportunity. At some point it's gonna be having any open roster spot is like having a draft pick to the team. Now this might change some when the league expands but it feels like the game just continues to grow especially with the ability to grow an develop guys on 2 way contracts and the G-league where every NBA franchise has a team.
