Roster Needs for 2020-21

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Yes, I'm already looking ahead to next season. Let's face it, this team will be lucky to make the playoffs and if they do, they will likely be ousted in the first round. This year is all about implementing a new system and culture and sticking with it. Next year Rosas needs to take a major step forward in having the right players that fit the system.

This is my attempt at taking stock of the current roster that will still be under contract next season and where the big needs are. The good news is that I feel like we have most of the ingredients we need in house. There is just one big hole that needs to get filled.

Bigs - KAT, Dieng, Naz Reid
KAT - Arguably a top 5 player, top 10 at worst. We build around him, period.

Dieng - Gorgui's contract was a mistake, but he is an adequate backup Center. I think the downsizing of the league has actually helped Dieng to a degree in that he isn't being pushed around as much, yet his length relative to the competition enables him to get more deflections than ever before.

Naz Reid - He should be ready for NBA minutes if he stays healthy and in shape. He is still very young and offers an intriguing set of skills that are not too dissimilar to KAT, albeit at a much reduced level.

Forwards - Covington, Laymen, Bates-Diop

Covington - Elite 3&D role player whose impact has been limited this year based on a minutes restriction. If Bates-Diop keeps playing well and developing, RoCo could be dealt to upgrade our guards.

Laymen - Solid bench forward that fits our new system as long as his shot is falling. Absolutely does not need the ball in his hands to be effective and takes almost exclusively 3's and shots at the rim. Another good, bargain deal.

Bates-Diop - Has emerged over the last four games as a reliable 3-point threat and solid defender. Elite length allows us to go a little bigger at times when he's paired with KAT or Dieng. Another cheap deal too.

I actually think this is a solid group with no big weaknesses and on very good deals. I wouldn't look to change much here given the bang for the buck we're getting.

Guards - Wiggins, Okogie, Culver, Nowell

Wiggins - Has emerged as a legit scorer and playmaker this season, similar to his 2nd and 3rd years but with better passing. Still not a great shooter or defender, but can really help shoulder the offensive load with his new found floater, aggressiveness going to the hoop, and better shot selection. The question is whether he can keep this up. Assuming he does, it makes filling out the rest of the roster infinitely easier.

Okogie - Bundle of energy that has become an elite defender, but his poor outside shooting creates spacing problems on offense.

Culver - A big question mark. More advanced defensively than most rookies, but broken outside shot and free-throwing make him another offensive liability, similar to Okogie.

Nowell - Promising prospect, but largely unproven at this point.

The guard position is where we need the most help, which might sound odd since Wiggins has emerged to be a positive contributor this season. But because he isn't a great shooter, it means the guy playing next to him absolutely has to be elite in this area. We currently have no one that fits that bill, including the guys on the roster set to be free agents next year (Teague, Napier, and Graham).

Bottom line is the focus needs to be to find a backcourt starting-caliber player that can shoot the hell out of the ball without being a defensive liability. This could come in a variety of shapes and sizes, as we've seen Saunders is perfectly willing to field a unit without a true PG. Culver is not that guy. Okogie is not that guy. I think Nowell can be part of the solution, but more likely in a backup role next season.

What you got?

[thedoper]

Lead guard that can shoot. Same as usual. Rinse and repeat. I thought we were going to grab White. If we could really luck out and tank for Cole Anthony our problems would be solved.

Could we assume Portland is desperate and make a smart play for McCollum? I would also like a more athletic 4, although I'm hugely impressed with KBD the last couple of games.The Vonleh hype we were all feeling early seems to have been quelled substantially.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Lead guard that can shoot. Same as usual. Rinse and repeat. I thought we were going to grab White. If we could really luck out and tank for Cole Anthony our problems would be solved.

Could we assume Portland is desperate and make a smart play for McCollum? I would also like a more athletic 4, although I'm hugely impressed with KBD the last couple of games.The Vonleh hype we were all feeling early seems to have been quelled substantially.

It depends. If Wiggins is able to maintain this level of play and Rosas/Saunders wants to keep in tact a switching, positionless defensive scheme, we don't necessarily need to go with a pure lead guard (most of whom play point guard these days). In fact, finding a back court mate that can hit 3's in volume (unlike Culver, Graham, Teague, or Okogie) would make Wiggins and KAT even better play makers themselves, further negating the need for a pure PG.

This is where Cam's guy Bogdan Bogdanovic could make a lot of sense.

[thedoper]

Lead guard that can shoot. Same as usual. Rinse and repeat. I thought we were going to grab White. If we could really luck out and tank for Cole Anthony our problems would be solved.

Could we assume Portland is desperate and make a smart play for McCollum? I would also like a more athletic 4, although I'm hugely impressed with KBD the last couple of games.The Vonleh hype we were all feeling early seems to have been quelled substantially.

It depends. If Wiggins is able to maintain this level of play and Rosas/Saunders wants to keep in tact a switching, positionless defensive scheme, we don't necessarily need to go with a pure lead guard (most of whom play point guard these days). In fact, finding a back court mate that can hit 3's in volume (unlike Culver, Graham, Teague, or Okogie) would make Wiggins and KAT even better play makers themselves, further negating the need for a pure PG.

This is where Cam's guy Bogdan Bogdanovic could make a lot of sense.

A lead guard who can shoot should be able to play off the ball. Wiggins playmaking is a bonus. But I personally have no desire to hand the keys to the offense to him, and this being one of his biggest supporters. By all means keep him engaged with point-like responsibilities. But another player who does that even better than is only going to help this whole team. I dont like the idea of a singular look in general. The "system" has been great, but teams will be able to gameplan point Wiggins eventually if we haven't already seen it like in the UTAH game. The only way to have that shift is to have someone who can be quicker to the spot than Wiggins in that role when they're shutting him down.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Steph Curry

[crazy-canuck [enjin:18955461]]

Ideally a brogdan or Bojan type of guard, but I highly doubt we find one of those unless culver turns into one.

SO,

A 6th man that can get points in a hurry who isnt a total turnstyle on defense (ideally a combo guard).

Graham/Okogie offrtg 90.8 drtg 105.9
Okogie/Culver offrtg 96.7 drtg 100
Graham/Culver offrtg 100.8 drtg 103.8

Then a bigger stretch 4 that can defend.

We can move roco to the 3 which wil increase our spacing.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Lead guard that can shoot. Same as usual. Rinse and repeat. I thought we were going to grab White. If we could really luck out and tank for Cole Anthony our problems would be solved.

Could we assume Portland is desperate and make a smart play for McCollum? I would also like a more athletic 4, although I'm hugely impressed with KBD the last couple of games.The Vonleh hype we were all feeling early seems to have been quelled substantially.

It depends. If Wiggins is able to maintain this level of play and Rosas/Saunders wants to keep in tact a switching, positionless defensive scheme, we don't necessarily need to go with a pure lead guard (most of whom play point guard these days). In fact, finding a back court mate that can hit 3's in volume (unlike Culver, Graham, Teague, or Okogie) would make Wiggins and KAT even better play makers themselves, further negating the need for a pure PG.

This is where Cam's guy Bogdan Bogdanovic could make a lot of sense.

A lead guard who can shoot should be able to play off the ball. Wiggins playmaking is a bonus. But I personally have no desire to hand the keys to the offense to himBut I personally have no desire to hand the keys to the offense to him, and this being one of his biggest supporters. By all means keep him engaged with point-like responsibilities. But another player who does that even better than is only going to help this whole team. I dont like the idea of a singular look in general. The "system" has been great, but teams will be able to gameplan point Wiggins eventually if we haven't already seen it like in the UTAH game. The only way to have that shift is to have someone who can be quicker to the spot than Wiggins in that role when they're shutting him down.

We would not be handing the keys to the offense to him. Don't forget we have KAT, who is averaging 4+ assists per game and could easily get more. Many of our sets involve him up top facilitating with cuts, hand offs, etc. I also think we could sign a cheap-ish backup PG (ideally one that can shoot) that can sub in early if we need another ball handler.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Ideally a brogdan or Bojan type of guard, but I highly doubt we find one of those unless culver turns into one.

SO,

A 6th man that can get points in a hurry who isnt a total turnstyle on defense (ideally a combo guard).

Graham/Okogie offrtg 90.8 drtg 105.9
Okogie/Culver offrtg 96.7 drtg 100
Graham/Culver offrtg 100.8 drtg 103.8

Then a bigger stretch 4 that can defend

We can move roco to the 3 which wil increase our spacing.

Do you think it's possible KBD can fill this role?

[crazy-canuck [enjin:18955461]]

Ideally a brogdan or Bojan type of guard, but I highly doubt we find one of those unless culver turns into one.

SO,

A 6th man that can get points in a hurry who isnt a total turnstyle on defense (ideally a combo guard).

Graham/Okogie offrtg 90.8 drtg 105.9
Okogie/Culver offrtg 96.7 drtg 100
Graham/Culver offrtg 100.8 drtg 103.8

Then a bigger stretch 4 that can defend

We can move roco to the 3 which wil increase our spacing.

Do you think it's possible KBD can fill this role?

I liked him better than okogie last year.

I dont think hes all that talented, but he is so smart on the court and understands his role. I think we need guys like that next to kat and wiggs.

Wiggs legit looks for him on cuts and kick outs because kbd knows where to be. I think he studies a lot of film on the tendencies of our own players.

Ive liked kbds game for a while. He isnt flashy, but really solid, very tyus like.

Nowell is the guy id like to mold into our own vinnie microwave johnson.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Ideally a brogdan or Bojan type of guard, but I highly doubt we find one of those unless culver turns into one.

SO,

A 6th man that can get points in a hurry who isnt a total turnstyle on defense (ideally a combo guard).

Graham/Okogie offrtg 90.8 drtg 105.9
Okogie/Culver offrtg 96.7 drtg 100
Graham/Culver offrtg 100.8 drtg 103.8

Then a bigger stretch 4 that can defend

We can move roco to the 3 which wil increase our spacing.

Do you think it's possible KBD can fill this role?

I liked him better than okogie last year.

I dont think hes all that talented, but he is so smart on the court and understands his role. I think we need guys like that next to kat and wiggs.

Wiggs legit looks for him on cuts and kick outs because kbd knows where to be. I think he studies a lot of film on the tendencies of our own players.

Ive liked kbds game for a while. He isnt flashy, but really solid, very tyus like.

Nowell is the guy id like to mold into our own vinnie microwave johnson.

I was awfully lukewarm on KBD....until the last four games. But yeah, he plays a quietly efficient game in the way he moves without the ball and plays off of KAT and Wiggins. Nothing sexy, but very effective. We'll see if he keeps it up.