Playing GM: From where we are today, if you HAD TO build around Sengun - how would you do it?

Jabari, regardless of his position, has to improve on that to be more than a role player. I don't think he will be a starter if he doesn't add to putting the ball on the floor, helping the ball movement and creating for himself and others. Otherwise, he won't be a starter most likely.

 

Jabari is likely going to get stronger. Might still be a couple years out, but if he does, he's going to be a force defensively at the 4. I think the Rockets care more about getting Jabari Smith better to see if he can be a defensive force at the 4 for those years than they do about getting the most value out of him defensively now. Though, Jabari's offense is still not there to be a 3 right now.

 

I worry more about the defense and his 3 point shot than the other stuff. Jabari does those two things as well as I hope and he's a starter. The Rockets need playmaking at the PG and SG spot and preferably shooters at the PG, SG, and SF spot unless the guy is just great (possibly Amen). Jalen Green is killing the guys that need space and depend on others for playmaking. I thought Green would do better with KPJ gone and FVV in, but Green just looks like another KPJ at this point.

 

MJ, Alpie, Lebron, peak Dream, Magic

 

If I had to build around Sengun I would just resign.

 

Jabari at 4 really worries me, because both Sengun and Bari are not good jumpers from standing position. You pay the price in rebounding and more importantly defending the rim. It would be ideal to pair Sengun with someone who is better than sengun at this. One scenario could be Jabari becomes offensively much better to offset this. That could work but I'd rather have a balance than having a very good offense and problematic defense.

 

lol

 

I think Jabari will be a better rebounder. He's was already showing better offensive rebounding prior to his ankle injury. I think defensive rebounding will improve with strength as he gets boxed in by tags now. I don't see him as a one-man rim protector. Though, I have hopes that Bari, Tari, and Amen can shoot well enough that they can be on the court together as a very switchable defense as well as share the rim protecting duties. As long as the Rockets can get a star out of those three, Cam, or elsewhere, I think Bari will be fine as a 4.

 

To me , the best sengun comparison is Julius randle (especially young JR) . Sengun needs to keep getting faster so he can have 4/5 versatility.

Just like you wouldn’t say a player is harden (because he’s an MVP) … you wouldn’t say a player is Jokic (MVP level) .

the more realistic outcome is sabonis / randle impact .

sengun needs to have strong defenders around him …. And he might be your second guy vs #1 .

He’s not at DMo 2014-15 level yet
That dude was the 3rd best player on a 56 win team

 

Sengun needs a dynamic and strong PF/C to pair with him. Jabari is solid for a backup but he is not a dynamic player that can create for others or for himself. Maybe Bam Adebayo would have made sense to pair with Sengun but he can't shoot 3s. Pascal Siakam would be another interesting guy to pair with Sengun. Sengun simply has to develop 3pt shooting if he's going to be the guy you build around.

 

Plant him at the 4
Move Jabari at the 3
Acquire a shot blocking 5 who can shoot
Choose among Dillon, Cam, or Tari at the 2/3 spot
Van Vleet or Amen at pg

 

Jabari is not being used anywhere near his potential. He can make things happen when given the chance. He is the fifth option now.

 

A note on a center who shoots and spreads the floor. It's still a minority of teams. The non-shooter spot is usually allocated to the Center, then you decide what 1 to 2 other non-shooters a lineup can get away with.

I think fans' perception is a bit warped when the focus is on top end guys like Embid or Jokic who can shoot. But majority of starting C's (or near starter) today in 2024, prototypically do not have range. It's a luxury but not a requirement.


Has Range
------------------
Myles Turner
Brook Lopez
Joel Embiid
Nikola Jokic
Kristaps Porzingis
Al Horford (now PF)
Anthony Davis
KAT (now PF)
Chet
Wemby (tbd)

Limited range
------------------
Jarrett Allen
Nikola Vucevic
Clint Capela
Rudy Gobert
Alperen Sengun
Jonas Valanciunas
Bam Adebayo
Steven Adams
Deandre Ayton
Jusuf Nurkic
Robert Williams III
Jakob Poeltl
Mitchell Robinson
Nic Claxton
Wendell Carter Jr
Daniel Gafford
Jalen Duren
Nick Richards
Isaiah Hartenstein
Walker Kessler


Majority of C's today do not spread the floor. If Alp can.. great, but if you're looking to convert more non-shooters to shooters, you're supposed to do it at the guard and wings spots first.

 

Leave Alpi at the 5.
Leave Bari at the 4.
Leave Brooks at the 3.
Start Cam, bench Green
FVV with Amen getting more minutes.

Offseason though will depend on what happens with this lineup going into next season.

 

Trevor Ariza Jr

 

Sengun has some natural ability to shoot and I suspect he will end up shooting a decent percentage from 3.

Sengun has a really high offensive ceiling and feel for the game.

 

Leave Alp at 5.
Leave Tari at 4.
Leave Bari at 3.
Leave Cam at 2.
Leave Amen at 1.

Leave Jalen at 6th man.

This line-up can't be worse than 24-30 WL. At least they progress and learn how to play together.

And also hire an offensive coaching associate. Not an ordinary coach but a coaching associate. Udoka seems needing something more than a mirror for offense solutions.

 

I agree with this except for the Jalen 6th man part. He should be 12th man. The 6th man is still TBD. I like having Tari as a starter with him and Bari actually being interchangeable.