Drummond is a man though. Zinger looks like he's 210 lbs soaking wet.
Zinger isn't one of those physical big men. He's the type of guy you put out in the perimeter and put the ball on the floor. You have to start Zinger.
This aint the NFL, Zinger isn't a QB and his name isn't Aaron Rodgers. You throw him into the fire or deep end of the pool and see what happens.
I disagree. Zinger's true value lies in being a center. It just does. I think it is ignorant to say that he isnt capable of being a center and I don't think that argument would be made if he wasn't European. He is 7'3 and athletic. Athletic/agile big men have become a premium more so than bulky big men. Sure he needs to add strength, that is obvious, but that doesnt mean the Knicks need to force him into a perimeter role. IMO that will only stunt his development.
Idc about the starting/not starting as much as I do about putting him in the best possible position to both succeed and develop. I think moving Zinger to a perimeter role will hurt his long term development more than help it. I still want to throw him into the fire and give him minutes, allowing him the opportunity to play a key role for us right off the bat. I have been on record saying that I think getting PT is the best way to develop when it comes to the NBA, but IMO the best way the Knicks can give Zinger minutes right away and also help his long term growth is for him to start the season as our 6th man.
As a 6th man, Zinger will be able to be the first big man off the bench and could come in for any of the 3 frontcourt players if one of them gets into foul trouble or is just playing ******. His versatility is an extremely desirable quality for 6th men to possess. This would be a major benefit for us and Zinger, because it wouldnt thrust the undermanned Zinger into a center spot right away, before he is ready. It will allow him to play alongside Rolo and not get bodied inside by bigger players. But at the same time, it also allows Zinger to be our de-facto back up center, getting him the necessary amount of exposure against bigger players to develop into a better post player/defender over time.
Zinger has said himself that he does not see himself as simply another "stretch 4," and the Knicks have indicated this much as well. Zinger is an especially rare prospect with an enormous upside not just because he can shoot the ball and spread the ball at 7+ feet. We have seen this before, especially from Euros. What makes Zinger such an intriguing prospect is his potential to do all that kind of stuff but also be a rim protecting center. We haven't really seen that quite like that before, especially from a Euro. I guess you could make the case for AD and KG, but it is not like that is bad company to be mentioned with. The Knicks wouldnt be smart to put Zinger in a position that would jeopardize this long term goal, because it is where Zinger's greatest potential truly lies.
Sure nobody is going to complain if Zinger becomes the next Dirk, but wouldnt it be a lot better if he can become a Dirk-like offensive weapon with a Tyson Chandler-like defensive game? Besides, Zinger being a capable rim protecting center is also a way to sort of hedge his potential so to speak.
I don't think anyone realistically expects Zinger to become the next Dirk. That is an incredibly lofty goal. Dirk is one of the greatest offensive big men of all time and arguably the greatest Euro ever. But he does have the offensive potential to at least get close to what Dirk became. Similarly, I don't think anyone expects Zinger to ever be a DPOY rim protector like Chandler was.
BUT if he can play center, and sort of mix in a combination of Dirk-offense and Chandler-defense, he can become as good/better an NBA player than either of them without ever being as good offensively as Dirk was or as good defensively as Tyson was. If that makes sense.
And besides, I have always maintained the stance that Melo would be best served alongside a combo forward in the starting lineup who can push the pace and switch off between the 3 and 4 with Melo. Melo flourished at the 4 in 2013 with Shumpert at the 3, and I think the best way to use the strategy but also address/upgrade the weaknesses of that team that come with playing Shumpert at the 3 is to play Melo alongside another combo forward.
Derrick Williams isnt an ideal fit next to Melo, primarily because he sucks defensively, but he does fit that mold better than anyone on our roster right now. I also think that if we want to have any chance to get the most out of D-Will, we need to show faith in him and throw HIM into the fire right away, more so than Zinger. If it pays off and he thrives in the role, that would be ******* awesome. But if not, you move him out of the lineup for Zinger earlier than expected. no harm, no foul.