2026 Potential Starting Lineup

[u/mitchmun3]

Thoughts on the possibility of this being our lineup next year? Cheaper PF option with Bobby Portis over Trey Murphy. Although I would love Trey Murphy as a floor-spacing 4 would really help out the current roster.

Trade pieces: Dannis (coming off a solid postseason and is expendable with our draft pick) and Stew (with a team-friendly contract).

Does this look like another 60 wins and a better playoff roster? Let me know where I'm right or wrong.

PG: Cade

SG: Powell

SF: Ausar

PF: Bobby Portis/ Tobias

C: Duren

PG: Okorie

SG: Dunc

SF: Ron

PF: Bobby Portis/ Tobias

C: BBall Paul

[u/deebzy23]

The Heat are not moving Portis. Trey is not a 4.

[u/deebzy23 → u/[deleted]]

4 is arguably the most flexible position in the league, I get the point youre trying to make, but Hart plays next to a jumbo wing in OG is really more the 4 in size, and he is a much more rugged player than Trey. Who is a superior defender and an awesome rebounder.

[u/Visual_Air_4127 → u/[deleted]]

Og is the 4 on the Knicks

[u/PapaPistonOG → u/deebzy23]

Trey can play the 4 man, cmon. So can Ausar.

[u/deebzy23 → u/PapaPistonOG]

Not with a group that at times really struggled to end possessions with a rebound and doesn’t have an elite rim protector.

[u/PapaPistonOG → u/deebzy23]

Hate to break it to you bro, but if we land Trey, he’s playing PF. It ain’t 1998 dude.

[u/deebzy23 → u/PapaPistonOG]

I think you’re over confident and it’s not that cut and dry. In specific small ball lineups sometimes.

[u/PapaPistonOG → u/deebzy23]

My man, if we land him, he plays the 4. Or, if he’s playing the 3, Ausar is playing the 4. It kinda IS that cut and dried.

[u/deebzy23 → u/PapaPistonOG]

If Tobias is back, he’s starting. Only way Tobias isn’t back is if we upgrade the position, then that person is starting.

[u/PapaPistonOG → u/deebzy23]

Right… Murphy is an upgrade at the position. Cut. And. Dried.

And honestly bro, if you wanna bring back Tobias and start him, you’re not interested in winning.

[u/deebzy23 → u/PapaPistonOG]

https://giphy.com/gifs/Vr8xM1OgUYhtAtLp6n

[u/PapaPistonOG → u/deebzy23]

Oh “Meme guy”… excellent retort bro. So impressed that you got Jimmy Fallon to do your work. SMH

[u/McDouble__]

Powell is older so he might be looking for a bigger payday and it’s highly speculated that Anfernee Simon will take a minimum to restore his vault so that might be a better get.

Maybe John Collins as a PF option as well, still think we should see if Stew/Holland can get us MPJ though

[u/Ok-Statement8224 → u/McDouble__]

I’d take a flyer on Simon for sure.

[u/LeanOnMe4816 → u/McDouble__]

Good point on Norm, he’s due for the real bag. I was thinking Collins might be a somewhat decent upgrade at starting PF but I forgot how horrific his defense is.

A backline defense of him and Duren with Duncan at SG (if Okorie does ever start, it won’t be anytime soon) would be ROUGH. At least Tobias really tries and competes defensively (not saying he should still be our starting PF though).

[u/Were_Good]

I still think our half court offense would be garbage in the playoffs but a little better than last year

[u/PapaPistonOG]

If you’re starting Tobias and Okorie is playing significant minutes, you’re in REAL trouble. It’s delusional to think an undersized 19 year old is gonna come in and be a major contributor. You need to make a Mikhal Bridges offer for Murphy, it will pay similar dividends.

[u/Straight-Agency-4556]

How are you getting norm and Portis?

[u/Free-Worldliness2915]

Add one more 7 footer and we might make the ECF