Lillard is not the only proven player on this team. To me proven players are guys who have been in the league for more than a couple of years and have played consistent minutes. Let's take a look at what we have then. Aminu 5 seasons 377g 174gs (46% games started) 22.3mpg verdict: proven Henderson 6 seasons 391g 292gs (75% games started) 27.5mpg verdict: proven Davis 6 seasons 354g 82gs (23% started) 21.4mpg verdict: proven Plumlee 2 seasons 152g 67vs (44% started) 19.9mpg verdict: proven Harkless 3 seasons 201g 104gs (52% started) 22.9mpg verdict: proven as capable So there we have 5 added guys who while they aren't stars are all proven in the sense that the play consistent and in the cases of all 5 have respectable number of starts. I don't care that they were for bad teams either. They have proven that they belong in the league. In the case of Portland we are adding these guys as depth to make a solid foundation. So yes Vonleh isn't proven but he has a ton of potential. We didn't have a lotto pick last year so Neil traded for one for the building process. So I think the blanket theory of we have added unproven players tells me people really don't pay attention to the rest of the league much.
I agree with all of those except Harkless, since his minutes, his per-minute-production, and his PER have decreased every year.
I had originally posted his verdict as proven as capable but concerns about last year. Very interesting situation.
vonleh was injured and started the season very late, similar to cj's rookie season. it's almost impossible to play catch-up at that point, so that's an unfair analysis of vonleh for sure.
If they played for bad teams they are unproven. Especially when they weren't even "go to" players on bad teams.
False. If Kanter had accepted the Thunders highest offer of $62 million instead of holding out for the Blazers offer of $70 million, the Thunder still would need to dump PJ3 to get under the luxury tax threshold.
You do realize that the $8 million difference is more than just $8 million, right? http://www.sbnation.com/2013/11/21/5126774/nba-luxury-tax-2013-repeater-chicago-bulls
You do realize the difference between what the Thunder offered and what the Blazers offered was only $2 million per season, not $8 million per season? The Thunder had to dump PJ3 to reduce their luxury tax once they committed to re-signing their RFA. They still need to dump more players to get under the luxury tax threshold.
So, you're saying that it is stupid to draft players - they're unproven! Don't sign players in FA with 3 or less years in the league - they're unproven! Stick with mediocre vets to try to hang on to what you've got. Wait, I've got it. Mark Cuban has hacked tlongs account!
Not saying that at all, but I'm sure you know that. I like drafting players that have a chance to be stars. We had no 1st round draft picks this year. I like signing FA's that can be a difference maker for your team. The FA's we've signed are young, but have shown no more than journeyman ability to date.
but, but, but they're unproven.... If you win 50+ games, you are not in position to draft anyone with much of a chance to be a star. We swung for 2 difference makers in FA and struck out. Now what? You've got to give something to get something. Neil has obtained players with potential without giving up much.
Oh, so I guess we shoulda maxed Wes, signed Lopez for $13M, then barely miss the playoffs for the next 5 years? We didn't give them up, we let them decide on accepting big contracts. And how did we give up on LMA, if he's the one who decided to leave?
You said Neil signed promising players without giving up much. Do you think he would have signed those guys with Wes, Lopez, and Batum still here?
No They were gone soon as Aldridge decided to go to SA. Olshey stated it was up to Aldridge if they were bringing back Wes, Lopez, and Batum. They were history anyway without Aldridge
I'm not the one who said that. He wouldn't have, but he still didn't give anyone up like it's a bad thing he let those guys go.
