I never understood the whole promise thing. Remember ATL promising Marvin Williams or Sheldon Williams to take them in the top 5?!?!
Chad Ford said the blazers promising Reggie Jackson makes no sense since we drafted Elliot Williams last year.
This is an old rumor. I thought it was to explain why he didn't show up for the combine, but then it turned out he'd been injured. Is it re-surfacing because he's cancelled some workouts? I also find the whole "promise" thing weird. So really, if for some bizarre reason Kyrie Irving fell to #21, the Blazers would HAVE to take Reggie Jackson? Or would they say "sorry, we had our fingers crossed!" And what's with the workouts the Blazers are conducting - that's all an elaborate smokescreen? Seems (a) cruel, and (b) expensive, if so. Finally: the problem I've had with this since the beginning, is that Reggie Jackson sounds REMARKABLY like Elliot Williams. Skinny athletic combo guard. (Although Williams is an inch taller and 20lbs lighter, I now see.)
I really don't get why we would do this, we have Williams and there the same players but Williams is more explosive and Jackson isn't really an nba PG he is a combo guard so this just doesn't make any sense. The reasoning behind this rumor is pretty stupid too, our pick at 21 isn't by any means a keeper with all the talk of moving higher in the draft and of wanting to get more veteran players.
Explain to me how the Blazers made a promise to Jon Brockman when that pick had been conveyed to SAC? So, stay quiet so we can draft you and trade your rights to someone who really does want you? Seems pretty ridiculous to me...
A scoring point guard? Sounds similar to most of the "point" guards we've tried to bring in here for the last decade plus, so it guess it makes sense from that perspective. On the plus side, supposedly Jackson has a freakish wingspan, so maybe he can at least defend on the perimeter.
I wouldnt mind Mack in the 2nd round. Dude is a bulldog on the court and a gamer. Just a little slow for the NBA game. Kinda Andre Miller-ish.
the point of the promise is to shut down a player from having some other team fall in love with him. A corollary to the "we really like him, so we'll release medical red flags about him so he drops to us" (ahem, Spurs). Let's just say that Jackson goes to SAC as part of the Jimmer/Kemba workout and dominates both. Do you think he'll be there at 21? But if a team already knows it's picking a prospect, it allows them to see their "floor" and make the decision whether or not to keep working out for teams.
My guy, Norris Cole, locked him down. I don't get the feeling Mack is a NBA player. Inefficient, combo guard with nice strength but he's below average everywhere else imo.
This is the part I can never understand for the players. Granted, they risk the chance of an injury during a workout, causing them to slide badly. But getting a promise at 21....wouldn't you try to get a workout against the next tier up, Jimmer, etc. and at least try to get up a bit higher. I would think if he had workouts, he might be able to impress enough to go to NY at 17. Or PHX at 13 or something. I think it makes more sense if it was, say Miami making the promise, as has been speculated, at 31. He could sign for more money at 31 than if he was drafted 21, and, he gets to play with Wade, Lebron and Bosh. For that, I'd shut down workouts. For 21, I doubt I would.
it's a gamble, though. If you work out against Jimmer and get destroyed, you may not be picked at 21 (or 51, for that matter). I'm not saying it's for everyone, normally high-upside unknowns, but a guaranteed 4/6-8M contract might make me shut 'em down. I don't know.
Reminds me a bit of splitting 10's in blackjack. Sure, you have a chance of doubling your winnings, but you could lose it all. If someone's basically guaranteeing you a modest win, that's what many people would take.
Being as Jackson suffered a knee injury, I am positive we are the team that PROMISED him. We love guys with bad knees!!!! LOL