If signed, JaVale would be the backup C, Papa would start, Koufos likely traded, WCS backing up the 4/5. Skal starts at 4.
Methinks Papa is coming along very well.
You may not like the move but it actually makes sense from a asset maximization point of view.
Koufos is a solid trade chip and wanted by many playoff teams no doubt. Could trade him for a mid to late first rounder.
So do you want Koufos? Or do you want McGee and a mid to late first rounder? Given the talent I see in Papa and our other young bigs, I'm going with the latter, if we can indeed get decent return for KK. Trading a player for a pick and then signing a someone in FA to fit that slot in the rotation is a great way to accumulate assets. You can't sign a draft pick out of free agency. They are the more limited resource here.
*Note: I've noticed European bigs are farther along fundamentally than comparable domestic products. I think it's because they train in big fundamentals from an earlier point in their career and have access to their country's best coaches. Didn't Papa start playing pro ball at like age 15 or something? Combine this with the fact that Euro players are more solid fundamentally over all... you can see why Papa is ready to start. He really got my attention last year. I was an early Papa mega fan. Believe I was the first to say he has Gasol-level potential, and I fully stand behind that.