What are the Cavs going to do at C?

I'm not going to lie though, Jonas' performance has me a little scared. I really hope Grant saw something in TT. Next year's center draft isn't looking too good.

abraxas said:

This is really what it all boils down to. Gilbert and Grant DO have a plan. They're not panicking, and the draft of TT was not last minute. I'm guessing they loved JV's potential but due to their plan, they went with TT. And I'm guessing their plan revolves around the personnel and scheme they believe will create a solid, flexible and well-balanced roster that is willing to work hard, be coached, and fight. Most good teams have players that take on their coaches' personality and they're doing this here too.

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This is the part I'm very conflicted on. Are the Cavs committing to a Scott system by drafting Thompson? I mean Coach can talk up defense (just like he talked up running all the time and the princeton), but the Cavs did not look like they were being coached on the defensive end for months. Could you imagine a role for TT on Scott's Nets or Hornets teams? Is something completely different going on here? I'm struggling to see the plan (as we all are obviously). Are we just going to flip flop the team priority from year to year until a new coach shows up or enough lottery picks are on the team?

It looks like Thompson can develop quickly into an effective transition defender (which plays to Scott's strengths), but he wasn't a lockdown defender last year and he certainly won't be in the NBA for years. I imagine our next few years of enthusiasm for TT will be surrounding his rebounding ability and block highlights.

ChewyOH said:

Of course, if they had TT in front of JV on there board then i understand the pick(even tho prob could move down to get him). If he was in front of JV I have another complaint(bad ranking).

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Bad ranking based on what? Who says Jonas even translates to the NBA?

Randolphkeys said:

At first I was with you on the logic behind the first pick, but if the Cavs had TT above JV in talent regardless of next season, well I'm willing to wait and see.

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They had TT higher but it was very close and a tough decision for them...

action said:

This is the part I'm very conflicted on. Are the Cavs committing to a Scott system by drafting Thompson? I mean Coach can talk up defense (just like he talked up running all the time and the princeton), but the Cavs did not look like they were being coached on the defensive end for months. Could you imagine a role for TT on Scott's Nets or Hornets teams? Is something completely different going on here? I'm struggling to see the plan (as we all are obviously). Are we just going to flip flop the team priority from year to year until a new coach shows up or enough lottery picks are on the team?

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I think Thompson brings a similar skill set to what Kenyon Martin had to offer as a rookie.

OT but does anyone have an nba comparison to Tristan? Yea, I know we haven't seen them play yet, but I'm just curious.

Tornicade said:

The logic?
You have a guy who can stand in the paint and contest shots giving a guy like Anderson Varejao the ability to roam the perimeter.

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TT fits the role of weak-side shot-blocker very well. The problem is that defensively, both he and Andy are really more PF's than C's. They should be really good help defenders in the post, but as for defending the post themselves, well, I think it's questionable whether TT can do that on an NBA level.

Ultimately teams can double up the big men all they want.

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But that's the problem -- why in the world would anyone double up on either of our big men? They are threats in transition, or in cutting to the basket, but neither is a legitimate threat either shooting or in the low post. I have trouble envisioning an effective half-court offense with those two playing the 4/5.

Pavlovic3Ball said:

OT but does anyone have an nba comparison to Tristan? Yea, I know we haven't seen them play yet, but I'm just curious.

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I think the guy just above you gave a pretty great comparison. I think Kenyon Martin is probably what we should all realistically be hoping for as a ceiling. Just hope he has the mean streak that Kenyon had then and still has today.

mcfly said:

I think Thompson brings a similar skill set to what Kenyon Martin had to offer as a rookie.

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Initial reaction:

Whoa? National College Player of the year Kenyon Martin? I get the transition game, but Kenyon could destroy guys on the block at Cincy as well. Not to mention he was a college center with good post D.

Still - Probably the best comparison and one I overlooked. If TT can get 12-15 points a game straight hustling then I'll be in awe of the grand Cavalier development plan.

Yea I like Kenyon Martin comparison. He also strikes me as being in the mold of an antonio davis kind of a player.

action said:

It looks like Thompson can develop quickly into an effective transition defender (which plays to Scott's strengths), but he wasn't a lockdown defender last year and he certainly won't be in the NBA for years. I imagine our next few years of enthusiasm for TT will be surrounding his rebounding ability and block highlights.

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That's fair. The hype regarding his defensive abilities centers around defending guys at his level, not NBA players/systems.

Hopefully his intelligence will make it easy for him to grasp team defensive concepts, and if he does, that could have a major impact on how the team plays. With all vestiges of Mike Brown's staff gone, though, I wonder what sort of defense we'll actually play?

Hopefully a less injury prone Kenyon Martin.

CP3 and K-Mart.

action said:

Whoa? National College Player of the year Kenyon Martin? I get the transition game, but Kenyon could destroy guys on the block at Cincy as well. Not to mention he was a college center with good post D.

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Kenyon was a 4 year player at Cincy. When he was a freshman, he averaged 3 & 3. By the time he was a senior he was putting up nearly 19 & 10, but he's averaged just 13 & 7 as a pro. Of course the knee problems didn't help, but I don't think he was going to live up to his hype.

We can't be overly concerned with how things will play out next season. Everything about the Cavs now is long term. How these players turn out long term and how this team is put together long term. Most of this roster will be long gone 3 years from now. I'm not too concerned with how the current pieces fit together for next season.
Cavs also need an influx of talent so having too many rookies shouldn't be a major issue either.

Erden turns 25 later this month and was drafted at the end of the 2nd round by Boston 3 years ago. He's always projected and still projects to a solid backup at best. The Cavs should not be counting on him to be the answer at C. Looks to have decent potential but we shouldn't get too excited over him.

I'm willing to wait and see what the Cavs plan is and what they do at C long term. Much of Thompson's success could depend on who they pair him with on the interior.