And this is why Danny is reluctant to add bigs this season. While this current core is getting exposed in the playoffs big time, he would provide needs for this team next season. Adding guys like Ibaka or Noel would only steal his development minutes.
I think Danny was reluctant to add anyone during the season because he wants to have to option to offer a max contract this coming summer. I doubt he's worried about a 20-year old's minutes next season.
I agree on both counts, perhaps salary for another max + the arrival of Yabu and Zizic...I'm still making the comparison that Zizic kinda reminds me of Valuciunas
I think that in 2 years Žižić will be a better that JV.
I project him as a good defensive center by then, which Valenciunas, now in his prime, isn't. Žižić has a lower center of gravity, therefore he moves quicker, also just by my eye test his pound of muscle is worth more than JVs pound. He doesn't have that Lithuanian touch gene, (they seem to be draining shots in their minds while still in their mother's bellies), but that can be tightened.
You guys will love him, humble, competitive, hard worker, great frame, and off course he rebounds like he wants to take the air out of a basketball 100 times in a row. All that for a slavers 4-year contract.
Žižić is not JV, no similarities, except that they are white European centers.
The closest comparison IMO is Steven Adams, no-nonsense physical center.
Less dirty (good way dirty), I guess cause Steve played rugby and learned the little annoying tricks there, but Ante adds vertical spacing dimension (plays above the rim more, catches lobs).
Yes - that's why we don't do a quick fix move for a half-done overpaid vet big.