NBA Draft Preview: Crammed with centers
Even before Brook Lopez underwent a third surgery on his troublesome foot, the Nets were in need of another big man on the roster. Lopez and Andray Blatche were the only two legitimate options the team had at center, and Blatche, should he stay in Brooklyn, may be required to fill the gaping hole at power forward. Given those variables, adding a backup center via the draft or free agency is a must for Billy King this offseason.
Reports circulated Tuesday that the Nets wouldn’t let Louisville’s Gorgui Dieng slip past them at 22. Whether Dieng is still on the board when the Nets pick remains to be seen, but he’s only one of several options available to the team in the first round. If this draft has a strength, it could be the proliferation of big men in the 15-35 range. Will the Nets go big Thursday night? Here are some candidates if they do:
Gorgui Dieng, Louisville (Jr) - 6’11, 230
Positives:
- Long and athletic
- Defensive presence, can protect the rim
- Good rebounder
Negatives:
- Limited offensive game (but a decent FT shooter, might develop a jumper)
- Needs to get stronger
- Old for his class
How he fits:
Dieng would be an ideal compliment to Lopez and Blatche. He’s a defense first, second and third big man who can take pressure off of Brook and Dray at that end of the floor. As Louisville’s defensive anchor, Dieng has plenty experience cleaning up after perimeter players who get burnt (although in Louisville’s case, that was due to overaggressive play). Given his above average athleticism at 6’11, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Dieng could play next to Brook for stretches, especially when matched up against less than the quickest of power forwards. Offensively, he’s raw, but he’ll finish around the rim and is showing signs of a developing jumper.
Kelly Olynyk, Gonzaga (Jr) - 7’, 235
Positives:
- Very skilled on the offensive end
- Can score in the post or on the perimeter
- Runs the floor well for a 7-footer
Negatives:
- Short arms
- Not a great rebounder
- Poor defensively, doesn’t match up well against 5’s or 4’s
How he fits:
If Brook were to go down with a season-ending injury, Olynyk would be a solid replacement. They’re not clones, but Olynyk does a lot of Brook-ish things: straight-line drives, face up jumper, rim cuts, etc. The problem facing Olynyk is that he can’t guard either centers or power forwards. He’s not a shot-blocker, doesn’t have the strength to hold his position and the post, and isn’t athletic enough to guard fours out on the perimeter. Paired with a guy like Reggie Evans, Olynyk could be someone who continues the Nets’ offensive dominance over opponents bigs.
Mason Plumlee, Duke (Sr) - 7’, 238
Positives:
- Big and athletic
- Energy guy
- Good rebounder and shot-blocker
Negatives:
- Not much in the way of offense
- Showed improvement as a senior, but how much has his game progressed in four years at Duke?
- Doesn’t have great length for the position
How he fits:
Plumlee is another guy who could come off the bench right away as a defensive-minded center. He needs to get a little stronger before he can consistently hold his own in the post, but he’s an improvement over what the Nets already have in that area. His limited offense means it’s unlikely he’ll develop into anything more than a bench player, but the Nets can live with that. While not the quickest player laterally, Plumlee has enough speed and drive to garner a look at power forward, too, although only against certain lineups.
Rudy Gobert, France (20) - 7’2, 238
Positives:
- Longer than long (7’9” wingspan!)
- Excellent shot-blocker
- Can catch and finish around the rim
Negatives:
- Needs to get stronger
- Very limited offensively
How he fits:
Gobert isn’t ready to contribute in the NBA yet, mostly because he simply doesn’t have the strength to compete in the paint. Down the road, Gobert could be a dominant presence in the middle of the defense. Combined with his incredible length, Gobert gets off the floor quickly (ala DeAndre Jordan), which makes him a devastating shot-blocker and rim-protector. He hasn’t shown much in the way of offense yet, but he has soft hands and can finish at the rim.
Jeff Withey, Kansas (Sr) - 7’, 222
Positives:
- Great defender and shot-blocker (3.9 bpg as a senior)
- Good defensive rebounder
- Has requisite size and athleticism for the position
Negatives:
- Limited on offense, poor offensive rebounder
- Didn’t make an impact in college until he was a 22-year old junior
- Needs to get stronger
How he fits:
Withey is another all defense and no offense center. His upside is limited, so it’s unlikely he develops into anything more than a defensive anchor for the second unit Still, that’s a role in which he should flourish, particularly with his ability to protect the rim. Withey can take pressure off of Blatche or Teletovic on the defensive glass, although pairing him with Evans or Humphries could make scoring a challenge for the Nets. Unlike Plumblee and Dieng, there is no chance of Withey seeing time at the four.
Mike Muscala, Bucknell (Sr) - 6’11, 235
Positives:
- Can score in a variety of ways
- Great jumper (reportedly shot the lights out in workouts)
- Good rebounder and shot-blocker
Negatives:
- Is he physical enough for the NBA?
- Concerns about toughness
How he fits:
While not a sieve defensively, Muscala’s calling card at this stage in his development is his offense. He has some stretch four potential, but really he’s a stretch five, a player who can step out to 18-20 feet a knock down a jumper (like Brook). Given his strengths, his best fit would be off the bench playing next to Reggie or Hump (or any similar power forward), providing another scoring option for the second unit.
Previously: Point Guards, Shooting Guards, Small Forwards, Power Forwards
