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Tristan Thompson

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I preferred our offense with Zizic even though TT might be the better player at this point. Zizic makes the offense better imho. The defense too.

A guy like Tristan only works offensively if paired with at least one transcendent offensive player who can score 4 on 5. LBJ and Kyrie together had enough usage that TT's inability to play a useful role in offensive sets didn't kill us because those guys wanted the ball anyway.

But if you don't have guys like that, he becomes a huge liability on offense because teams don't really guard him. And the rest of the team isn't good enough to score 4 on 5. So he kind of floats around and grabs rebounds, but the offensive flow doesn't exist.

Zizic is still raw, but at least he has some gravity, and his ability to set screens really helps the other guys.
 
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A guy like Tristan only works offensively if paired with at least one transcendant offensive player who can score 4 on 5. LBJ and Kyrie together had enough usage that TT's inability to play a useful role in offensive sets didn't kill us because those guys wanted the ball anyway.

But if you don't have guys like that, he becomes a huge liability on offense because teams don't really guard him. And the rest of the team isn't good enough to score 4 on 5. So he kind of floats around and grabs rebounds, but the offensive flow doesn't exist.

Zizic is still raw, but at least he has some gravity, and his ability to set screens really helps the other guys.

This is spot on. Tristan, when healthy and motivated, is a guy championship contenders crave (because to be a contender, they already have that offensive transcendence).

The issue is that his contract now prohibits those teams from pursuing him unless it's a swap for the sake of making a swap (like the Delonte/Wally/Ben trade the Cavs made in 2007), or it's to clear up cap space heading into the summer as an expiring.

He's at least making a positive impact on the team's culture and locker room. I'd just rather see him play less since his game doesn't really help develop young talent. I'm hopeful that the next coach will also realize this and get his minutes downto 25-28 a game rather than 30+.
 
Well, I think he is here until the deadline. His recent injuries mean he will need to show he can stay healthy in spite of his former iron man reputation. He looks bad right now. These lower limb injuries have been disastrous for him. Gotta sell when he has a good stretch or he is gonna be a Varajao type loss sooner rather than later.

He had such a good stretch of games, I hope he can stay healthy and we can actually get a good prospect back for him. I think Philly wants him next year for the playoffs after they get punked by the Celtics or Raptors.
 
Well, I think he is here until the deadline. His recent injuries mean he will need to show he can stay healthy in spite of his former iron man reputation. He looks bad right now. These lower limb injuries have been disastrous for him. Gotta sell when he has a good stretch or he is gonna be a Varajao type loss sooner rather than later.

He had such a good stretch of games, I hope he can stay healthy and we can actually get a good prospect back for him. I think Philly wants him next year for the playoffs after they get punked by the Celtics or Raptors.

On paper, he really fits in Philly because they have the offensive spacing to work around him in limited minutes. I think he'd be a really nice fit there.
 
On paper, he really fits in Philly because they have the offensive spacing to work around him in limited minutes. I think he'd be a really nice fit there.

Yep and he does have a championship pedigree. They do not know how to win consistently I feel
 
Well, I think he is here until the deadline. His recent injuries mean he will need to show he can stay healthy in spite of his former iron man reputation. He looks bad right now. These lower limb injuries have been disastrous for him. Gotta sell when he has a good stretch or he is gonna be a Varajao type loss sooner rather than later.

He had such a good stretch of games, I hope he can stay healthy and we can actually get a good prospect back for him. I think Philly wants him next year for the playoffs after they get punked by the Celtics or Raptors.

I think for Philly what contracts they have and how Simmons develops his shooting will make or break them wanting TT. I could see them settling for Henson or Nance just because they can shoot 3's if needed and make alot less. Simmons not being able to shoot 3s just doesn't give them the luxury of taking on a center as limited as TT is as a shooter.
 
I think for Philly what contracts they have and how Simmons develops his shooting will make or break them wanting TT. I could see them settling for Henson or Nance just because they can shoot 3's if needed. Simmons not being able to shoot 3s just doesn't give them the luxury of taking on a center as limited as TT is as a shooter.

He's a great screener tho. TT can set a screen and get him to the hoop easily or catch the oop.
 
A guy like Tristan only works offensively if paired with at least one transcendent offensive player who can score 4 on 5. LBJ and Kyrie together had enough usage that TT's inability to play a useful role in offensive sets didn't kill us because those guys wanted the ball anyway.

But if you don't have guys like that, he becomes a huge liability on offense because teams don't really guard him. And the rest of the team isn't good enough to score 4 on 5. So he kind of floats around and grabs rebounds, but the offensive flow doesn't exist.

Zizic is still raw, but at least he has some gravity, and his ability to set screens really helps the other guys.

Gravity? Not sure what that means...weight? If you’re saying if tough for opponents to move Zizic off his spot, the same could be said for TT. I trust neither to hit an open jumper. You’re selling TT a little short here. He definitely can’t finish in a crowd, but he is a good lob finisher, and can get a decent hook off with either hand 1-on-1. He is a better screen-setter than Zizic and his defense and motor is way better than Zizic’s.

Zizic does have way more potential as a pick and roll finisher.
 
He's a great screener tho. TT can set a screen and get him to the hoop easily or catch the oop.

That's true. Just for spacing though. I think Philly like the Bucks have, will go to another level with a center that can stretch the floor. Lopez has been huge for the Bucks. Giannis at least attempts 3s, Simmons doesn't take them at all.

I think if a team takes on TT and doesn't have the luxury that it opens up them cap space in the summer of 2020, it has to be a perfect fit. For Philly I just don't think it's a perfect fit unless Simmons comes back from the off-season with a 3 point shot.
 
Gravity? Not sure what that means...weight? If you’re saying if tough for opponents to move Zizic off his spot, the same could be said for TT. I trust neither to hit an open jumper. You’re selling TT a little short here. He definitely can’t finish in a crowd, but he is a good lob finisher, and can get a decent hook off with either hand 1-on-1. He is a better screen-setter than Zizic and his defense and motor is way better than Zizic’s.

Zizic does have way more potential as a pick and roll finisher.

"Gravity" refers to defenders having to stay closer to a player because of the offensive threat he presents. Because TT can't shoot, and doesn't present a threat in the post, defenders can sag/cheat off him. Defenders have to stick more tightly to Zizic in the low post because he's more of an offensive threat there.

That helps get other players open, and helps keep the passing lanes more clear than if his defender was cheating off him.

I don't agree that TT sets better/more screens than does Zizic.
 
TT understands how a team defense works. Zizic is still learning that. I am glad we are not playing him more because I think we would win more games which is not the goal at the moment. In my opinion he would be most helpful to Toronto. I think he knows how to shut down Al Horford.
 
I wouldn't mind doing a deal with Philly with either Thompson or Nance and getting another pick this year or a player from them in Shake Milton - 6'6' guard and 2nd rounder last year. They just called him up from the G league after playing some games post injury.
 

TT played surprisingly well last season when not injured. But I’d still like to see him gone.

Mid season trade I’d like to see:
TT and Love for Whiteside, Nurkic, Nas Little, 1st round pick, and a pick swap the year after the first round pick.
 
6’8 centers with no shot blocking ability and no jump shot aren’t much use in today’s nba... maybe 10-15 years ago he would have been a really handy PF but the game has changed
 
6’8 centers with no shot blocking ability and no jump shot aren’t much use in today’s nba... maybe 10-15 years ago he would have been a really handy PF but the game has changed

TT is listed at 6'10 but I agree that as time goes on his profile as a player becomes less and less useful. He could be a stop gap center for some team. He is a good rim runner that rebounds really well and is switchable on defense.

I could see some team taking him on more for his expiring contract but maybe with the intention of using his bird rights to sign him on a short term deal. He is going to take a major pay cut next summer, where he lands could soften that blow alittle if they don't have better choices.
 
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