Austin Reaves Discussion: Overachiever Who Underachieved

https://x.com/Tim_NBA/status/1923387203222114794?t=xoxBh3RbBSzNpj0lATEtZg&s=19

https://x.com/Tim_NBA/status/1923387851015626880?t=gyqJCxB7iNktPPwlCTzJYg&s=19

 

Claxton seems to be the candidate that fits this mold the most. He is switchy and doesn't commit as many fouls as some of these other rim runners out there. Only like 2.3 per 36 minutes. Gafford gets about 4.5, for example. Hayes gets also gets around 4.5.

 

pika beat me to it, but i don't think we spend any more than vet min on a center who can't defend outside the paint. jj would rather just play rui or DFS at center.

my point was think a player of that quality, not daniel gafford or his ilk. we already tried starting a backup in hayes. gafford isn't as big an upgrade there as people think, imo. again, capela should be cheaper and might actually still be better.

 

Cranjis McBasketball
@Tim_NBA
·
3h

Here are the bigs that generated about as many wins as Austin Reaves this regular season (+/- 0.5 WAR): Bam Gobert JJJ Sengun Wemby

Wings: Siakam Guards: Brunson Cade Dame Trae Young ........ Austin had a hell of a year

 

I really do think we should try to sign Capela. We are projected to only have the 5.7 m taxpayer mle, but maybe lebron takes less money and we could ensure that we could afford him. Capela is not what he used to be, but he still may command 7-10 million or so. He would be our back up at the 5. Claxton would be our trade target for starting 5.

 

Yeah, Claxton AND Capela is my "realistic pipe dream" for the offseason. I also think Cam Johnson is out of Brooklyn this summer. He has a relationship with JJ's pod/company, is a smart player and will likely go to a contender. Him and Claxton make the money work more difficult, but I still see him as a considerable upgrade to Rui.

But a starting 5 of Luka, Reaves, Cam, Bron, Claxton with DFS, Capela, Goodwin and 2 capable vet mins (we will be a top choice in this market) is a pretty good team

 

i feel like capela can be had for MUCH less (we'll see, i may be wrong), and i also think he still moves well enough to defend out to the three point line credibly.

okongwu just developed past him, which is good for atlanta, but he was still quite useful on the floor last year.

i just wonder if a promised starting spot (i'd do this) and playing for a contender and glamor franchise might be enough to sway capela to a 1+1 tpmle PO deal. i honestly think it's a really attractive deal for him, as if he balls out, he's seen people will pay our short-term successes (e.g., monk). if he doesn't, he opts in and reaps a one-year full MLE when i'm not sure how many teams are going to offer more total guaranteed money for him.

wait...this is the reaves thread.

yes, we should do the above and keep reaves. use knecht, expirings, and 1sts to get legit POA defender who's playable on offense in the playoffs.

 

Yeah I'm talking here because I'm still catching up to some playoff games and don't know the results. For some reason, the "Trade" topic is full of playoff spoilers ahah

On Capela, yeah he's not very switchable but that's why I want him AND Claxton. So we can have 2 different centers to deploy each night and go in clutch time with whichever is working the best in that game. But it has to be for cheap, I don't see a center like that eating a good chunk of the cap space

I agree with abeer that a contract like that is very enticing. He saw what Luka did to other centers' career. Gafford was unknown before going to Dallas.

 

I'm still unsure how to run a team with Luka at the 1, Reaves at the 2 and Lebron at the 4 and be a top tier team defensively in the playoffs.

Reaves is actually decent on that end but his athleticism has a ceiling. Luka is smart and does well enough, but gosh did the Wolves hunt him relentlessly, he had the most blowbys in a playoff game. Lebron has been good defensively since we traded for Luka, but he gets beat off the dribble by guards these days.

The only real way to sure up the team is to have two ELITE defenders in the starting lineup - example: a Herb Jones type for his POA defence and a big that can give you decent rim protection and switching ability.

There's a part of me that says, well maybe you trade or bench Reaves for the balance we need.

 

Getting Cam would really have us leaning into our offense. There is something to be said for great offense beats great defense, but I would still be concerned about poa defender. Although Cam is a slightly above average defender, it's still not really his expertise though.