Here's the deal.
We've now got 4 bigs (+ Sampson who apparently does not figure into the equation, and Corliss being played completely out of position). Of the 4 bigs, Miller, SAR, Thomas + Potapenko, there is not a one of them, or a pair of them, capable of shutting down the paint. Doesn't matter which one, two, or three you want to keep. NONE of them can pull it off.
So, with that as a backdrop, basically ALL of our interior presence has to be imported. That's a helluva lot to ask from one player. So maybe it shuld even be too. But regardless it means the list of "bigs" we should be looking at should pretty much exclusively involve guys who control that painted area on defense.
Just going team by team:
Atlanta
-- Have nobody (except Josh Smith who is an OG/SF not an interior intimidator)
Boston
LaFrentz -- can blocks shots, hit a shot, and might fit our "system" (which may be part of the problem), but soft and a huge contract
Olowokandi -- will be a free agent, but nobody's answer
Perkins -- young guy been impressive in the last month, still not clear whether he's a real player or just a backup, and doubtful Boston gives him up
Jefferson -- too short, not areal intimidator, and basically untouchable
Charlotte
Okafor -- presumably untouchable or at least VERY expensive
Wallace -- of course we had him once, and doubt he wants to come back. Also obviously a SF, not an interior presence.
Ely -- showing something this year. But as a scorer. Not much of a rebounder or shotblocker really.
Chicago
Chandler -- obvious choice. Rebounder/shotblocker. Big contract, and all Chicago has is the problem.
Cleveland
Big Z -- likely untouchable, pourest of pure centers, really more a soft scorer than anything else, not much of a rebounder
Dallas
Diop -- blossomed in Dallas but still so so limited, pureest of pure low skill centers,would actually be hard to attain
Dampier -- available I'm sure, but who wants him? Impressive numbers. Not so impressive game except during contract years BIG contract. Pure center.
Denver
Camby -- unattainable
Martin -- too small, huge contract, bumb knee
Detroit
Big Ben --- free agent, but no way, unattainable
Sheed -- also unattainable + getting up there in age as any kind of anchor
Golden State
Foyle -- all they have, but sucks, very limited, and vastly overpaid
Houston
Yao -- untouchable
Deke -- ancient, and Houston should be his last stop as a backup
Swift -- attainable, but has really flopped in Houston and now you have to wonder. Dumb, not much of a rebounder. Could help maybe, but not the anchor.
Indiana
O'Neal -- likely untouchable, or INCREDIBLY expensive. Also he and Ron had issues, so probably out of the question.
Granger -- way too small, SF really, just a good defender, likely unattainable
Harrison -- unproven young guy. All around guy rather than intimidator, pure center,
Clippers
Brand -- remarkable for a guy his size, but clearly unattainable now and despite block #s not clear he really shuts down the paint
Kaman -- likely unattainable caveman, pure center, not an anchor all by himself
Lakers
Mihm -- mediocre, could help, but not anchor, softish
Memphis
Gasol -- likely unattainable, not much of a boarder and softish anyway, a major move for a star type rather than a guy who fits
Wright -- no longer much of a shotblocker and terribly mediocre
Tsakalidis -- scrub, huge scrub, but still a scrub
Miami
Shaq -- obviously unattainable
Zo -- Miami is his last stop as a backup (what an amazing year he's having though)
