Could The Suns Trade for the Rights to YI?

[azirish]

The Mavericks don't seem to have a problem with soft bigs...

I'm not sure if you are being ironic. The Mavs are all but precluded from playing "small ball" because Dirk is such a terrible defender. Without having big rebounder shot blockers at center, their defense is really awful.

Except Gasol is Option #1 on his team, big difference.

Gasol is a first rate offensive player and a good rebounder, but like Dirk not physical enough to defend the post. When playing with small but athletic guys at PF, their defense was just awful. Last season, opponents shot 48.6% and outscored the Griz by -5.1 ppg.

 

[Chaplin]

Gasol is a first rate offensive player and a good rebounder, but like Dirk not physical enough to defend the post. When playing with small but athletic guys at PF, their defense was just awful. Last season, opponents shot 48.6% and outscored the Griz by -5.1 ppg.

You're ignoring the point, George. You compare a rookie, who you describe as a "soft big" to Gasol, who is the #1 option on his team, and then you go on to say that he never got his team out of the first round. If Yi was here, he wouldn't have to get his team out of the first round because there would be 7 guys ahead of him with that responsibility. Skill set may be comparable, but that has nothing to do with where Gasol's teams have ended up.

 

[azirish]

You're ignoring the point, George. You compare a rookie, who you describe as a "soft big" to Gasol, who is the #1 option on his team, and then you go on to say that he never got his team out of the first round. If Yi was here, he wouldn't have to get his team out of the first round because there would be 7 guys ahead of him with that responsibility. Skill set may be comparable, but that has nothing to do with where Gasol's teams have ended up.

I don't know if Yi will be become a physical guy someday. As it is, I doubt any rookie would play much for the Suns not name Oden, Durant, or Horford.

My concern is that the Suns already have too many small PF's who are unable to defend the post in Marion and Diaw. To play a "big soft" means having to play a physical defender with him, but IMHO Amare is too foul prone for that role. When playing Marion, there is at least a super rebounder who is effective at denial defense; but it's still not enough against the Spurs.

Yi might be a big deal on team looking for inside scoring, but IMHO the Suns need a younger and faster version of KT.

 

[elindholm]

Yi might be a big deal on team looking for inside scoring, but IMHO the Suns need a younger and faster version of KT.

Heck, now they need any version of Thomas. An old and slow one would have been adequate.

 

[azirish]

Heck, now they need any version of Thomas. An old and slow one would have been adequate.

True, very true.