Addressing the hole at center

[Derek]

I wouldn't be some quick to assume that Love will only play C for short stints. He played a good amount there last year, about 15 mpg. I don't expect that number to decrease here.

 

[Walter White]

I'm really hoping we get Dieng out of the trade. Not because I think he is a great player, but we just need decent players at center. After losing Zeller, I'd like to add 2 more centers to be honest. Dieng and Mozgov is all I could hope for. Then wait for the deadline or next off season to cash more of our assets in for an upgrade at center.

 

[Derek]

I'm really hoping we get Dieng out of the trade. Not because I think he is a great player, but we just need decent players at center. After losing Zeller, I'd like to add 2 more centers to be honest. Dieng and Mozgov is all I could hope for. Then wait for the deadline or next off season to cash more of our assets in for an upgrade at center.

You want both of them? Where are they going to find minutes?

 

[Marcus]

I'm really hoping we get Dieng out of the trade. Not because I think he is a great player, but we just need decent players at center. After losing Zeller, I'd like to add 2 more centers to be honest. Dieng and Mozgov is all I could hope for. Then wait for the deadline or next off season to cash more of our assets in for an upgrade at center.

I don't think there's any way you could take them both.

The rotation (assuming the Cavs get one of either Mozgov or Dieng), would look something like Varejao/Mozgov or Dieng/Thompson. The only concern at that point (and it is a viable one and I think this is where you were headed with it, at least) is Varejao's health. Even with the pickup of another center, an injury to Varejao, especially one that derails the rest of his season, would be devastating to say the least.

 

[Walter White]

You want both of them? Where are they going to find minutes?

If Varejao or Love goes down. Either way, depth is never a bad thing to have. Just in case. Wouldn't we still be looking for another center, even if we had Zeller? Plus makes trades easier down the line. I'm not sold Dieng would be ready to log that many minutes anyway. Save Andy for the playoffs and crunch time.

 

[Walter White]

I don't think there's any way you could take them both.

The rotation (assuming the Cavs get one of either Mozgov or Dieng), would look something like Varejao/Mozgov or Dieng/Thompson. The only concern at that point (and it is a viable one and I think this is where you were headed with it, at least) is Varejao's health. Even with the pickup of another center, an injury to Varejao, especially one that derails the rest of his season, would be devastating to say the least.

Exactly though. We are hanging by the thread of Andy as basically our only center, and what happens if he is injured? We need a couple more centers to be safe. I'm not thrilled with the prospect of Tristan or Love logging minutes at center, even though they could. I'd rather save that for situational moments, not be forced into it. With one of our centers injury prone, I'd feel better about having three centers.

 

[Derek]

If Varejao or Love goes down. Either way, depth is never a bad thing to have. Just in case. Wouldn't we still be looking for another center, even if we had Zeller? Plus makes trades easier down the line. I'm not sold Dieng would be ready to log that many minutes anyway. Save Andy for the playoffs and crunch time.

No point in acquiring both of them if one will just ride the pine pony all year. There's barely enough room to get minutes for one more guy.

Here are some low-end minutes projections

PF: Love 24/Thompson 24
C: Varejao 24/Love 12

That leaves just 12 open minutes and it doesn't account for LeBron playing the 4 or the possibility of Varejao and/or Tristan playing more than 24 mpg.

It would certainly be wise to acquire another center whether it's a developmental guy or a veteran emergency guy, but the hole at center is being greatly exaggerated. You can debate whether the guy we have can get the job done, but the fact remains that we have the guys that are going to play almost all of our front court minutes.

 

[cavfanintexas]

Maybe the cavs having a true coach and James pounding on his head can get TT moving in the right direction?

 

[Douglar]

PF: Love 24/Thompson 24
C: Varejao 24/Love 12

It's a bit of a nit pick, but If Thompson is playing next to Love, I'd say that Thompson would be the center. He's the guy that's going to be roaming the middle on offense and likely focused on strong side defense at the other end.

Thompson should have a lot more freedom to operate if the Cavs only need him to play 26 instead of 36 minutes. He can be more aggressive contesting shots. Also, replacing Hawes and Deng with Love and Lebron will really give Thompson a lot more freedom on offense.

Still, the Cavs could really use a young C prospect and a vet like Haywood if Haywood can't play. Maybe the Cavs find a good ring chaser on a February buyout.

 

[Randolphkeys]

Once the trade goes through, I think they can swipe one of these unemployed and unspectacular backup centers for the vet minimum. There are still about 10-12 backup centers out there in free agency and all the real money is dried up.

 

[batdan]

I wouldn't mind playing TT as our starting C until we find a legitimate one. Tristan has similar physical attributes as Hickson who plays mostly center for the Nuggets. Both are around 240 lbs, 6'9 ft tall, and solid rebounders. TT in a position just to catch lobs, gobble rebounds, and defend is where he could excel.

 

[Derek]

It's a bit of a nit pick, but If Thompson is playing next to Love, I'd say that Thompson would be the center. He's the guy that's going to be roaming the middle on offense and likely focused on strong side defense at the other end.

Thompson should have a lot more freedom to operate if the Cavs only need him to play 26 instead of 36 minutes. He can be more aggressive contesting shots. Also, replacing Hawes and Deng with Love and Lebron will really give Thompson a lot more freedom on offense.

Still, the Cavs could really use a young C prospect and a vet like Haywood if Haywood can't play. Maybe the Cavs find a good ring chaser on a February buyout.

In principle, yeah, Tristan is probably the Center in those situations although who they defend would be virtually interchangeable. Ultimately I was just showing the minutes crunch in the front court.

 

[Cavatt]

Can we trade another pick to get Tyler back?

 

[Fuggles]

Exactly though. We are hanging by the thread of Andy as basically our only center, and what happens if he is injured? We need a couple more centers to be safe. I'm not thrilled with the prospect of Tristan or Love logging minutes at center, even though they could. I'd rather save that for situational moments, not be forced into it. With one of our centers injury prone, I'd feel better about having three centers.

Why not four just to be on the safe side?

We do have unlimited assets.

 

[Otsego Mar]

Roy Hibbert

- Sent from my Galaxy s3 -