Everybody keeps crying "our offense wasn't the problem, our defense was!". Well, here's the problem: a PF isn't going to solve the problem of 3 point shooters from going off on the Kings's defense. If you rely on your PF to do that, there's more the worry about (scheme, switching, rotations, backcourt play, etc). The idea that Ryan isn't a great defensive 4 is irrelevant. He does actually rebound and bang when he plays inside, he's just rarely asked to go inside. He's a poor man's Kevin Love in that respect. What he does bring outweighs his limitations, which is spread the floor for Boogie inside.
"But why can't we play Omri or Rudy then and accomplish the same thing?" Well, for one I'm not sure either will be on the roster, but let's assume they are. This totally depends on play style. If they want to go small, they certainly can use those smaller lineups. I'm in favor of a slower-paced, bigger lineup to reduce the impact of poor defense, which I don't think is going to just be solved by a new coach and some MLE type additions. Closing the gap with the rest of the league from deep and slowing the pace reduces the impact of a bad defensive team with a 3 pt deficiency.
I like Ryan. He's a character guy. He's local. He's in his prime right now. He can help this team by giving Boogie room down low and punishing teams when they double down. He's a smart guy too who doesn't try to do too much.
Yes, it doesn't address the backcourt, but this being a good deal depends on those other moves. I could see the Kings packaging Gay with Kofus for Butler. I wouldn't mind a team that looks like:
DC/Curry/(Jeremy Lin?)
Butler/Mac
Omri/prospects
Ryan/prospects
Boogie/WCS
I disagree, that a PF isn't going to solve the problem of 3pt shooters going off. I mean how many threes are taken in a 1vs1 scenario? How many are taken out of pick&rolls scenarios, out of drive and kicks and in transition?
Pick&roll: Now I'm not an expert, when it comes to NBA defense, but defending it requires at least two players. When you field a PF that is too slow to come out high on pick&rolls, you are in trouble. When you field a PF, who is too slow to switch on a guard, you are in trouble. From there on it's "pick your poison"-time. You will give up a wide open 3, an easy floater/mid range shot or a layup. Teams did that with Cousins all season long. With Cousins and Koufos on the floor at the same time things got even worse.
So from my point of view, limiting the number of potential pick&roll targets (slower, bigger guys) for the opposing team is not a bad thing.
Of course there might be strategies to defend the 3 and the pick&roll even with slower guys involved, but it might speak for itself, that the teams, that advanced to the conference finals all prefered very mobile lineups.
Drive and kick: now this one isn't all that complicated. With a fully stretched floor ( guarding a stretch 4) you need a PF, that is able to help on the drive, force the kickout and still be mobile enough to at least attempt a contest on the corner 3. Willie can do that. Ryan not so much.
Transition: early 3's out of turnovers and long rebounds. We all know it well, because the Warriors buried us time and time again with that. I would guess a quicker PF might help a bit. Especially because our center isn't always the first guy back and isn't from the Mason Plumlee, Steven Adams or Bismack Biyombo breed.
So yes you can set up a good defense around two slower bigs. Memphis has proven that. San Antonio tried it this season. But ultimately both teams fell short, when matched with more athletic, quicker teams. And that's with elite perimeter defenders like Allen, Conley, Leonard and Green.
Ryan Anderson can help the Kings on offense, but does his offensive output mask his defensive shortcomings? I certainly wouldn't count on that.
And if Anderson fails here, you look at an immoveable contract, because the stakes for slower bigs, that can't play as a lone big are not exactly high at the moment.
At least I would expect that, with the way Love struggled in the Finals.