Undetermined but it seems likely, if you watch him as a trailer defending the break, hes really quite nimble n almost strangely well coordinated for a player with such a frame. Like he sort of moves like Al Farouq Aminu but he's 7'1 Its quite important to note Sarr is very young and thin so as he ages he might much more lean towards C, which isnt the worst thing for the Blazers. But especially in his opening years id think the answer to that question is yes... and he's sort of got a frame like Lamarcus Aldridge, but a more modern comparison would be what the Cavs do with Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley -- Which is a jackpot scenario as things stand today for the blazers imo..
it's almost certainly gonna be viable for the blazers to take 4 french players with the 4 picks (if Sarr is the first one) France is just LOADED with talent perpetually.. this draft is no exception if the picks went Alexandre Sarr (lott0) Zaccharie Rischaser (late 1st) Tidjane Salaun (would be crazy value for the blazers to land in the 2nd rd imo) Pacome Dadiet (see above) and all 4 of those players are 2005-born so 1st year of draft eligibility meaning thats the youngest draft any team will have... thats cool with me n Rayan Rupert will sure love that scenario! Theres a 6'5 french guard at UCLA named Ilane Fibleuil on the radar too, Melvin Ajinca is projected 1st rd everywhere, theres also Lucas Ugolin and Illan Peitrus n a few more, Yohan Traore at Santa Barbra.. Salaun is more of a PF/SF cuz hes probably still growing Rischaser is more of a pure SF and Dadiet is more like a SF/PF n then theres Sarr whos a PF/C or C/PF N the Blazers dont have to give up on the youngins they have at many of those positions if they perform well this season like Kris Murray, Jabari Walker, Camara etc, cuz many of these french players are 1st year of eligibility n can be stashed n they arent on the same timeline..
Spain will almost certainly be well represented in the next few drafts aswell... Actually theres a few players deserving of writeups going into the season.. Almansa is a very well known commodity.. Mara and Baba Miller are as well but to a lesser extent But Spain has quite a few 'sleepers' one of whom is actually the nephew of Ray Allen.. Miguel Malik Allen born in '03 he's a forward for Joventut (I'm unware of his progress tbh need to catchup -- and this kid is still growing or something sure looks taller than 6'8 to me, think hes one of these players who outgrew the wing position n is now transitioning to PF) Michael Calciedo however, im a big fan of, 6'6 do-it-all type of player destined for the Spanish mens senior national team. Seems like he'll make his way to the NBA if u ask me, might be built to be a glue guy for a younger team like the Blazers.. Theres Juan Nunez whos like a poormans ricky rubio --- makes no sense at all for the blazers, completely redundant here.. Sergio De Larra who i mentioned above.. there was a kid i saw named Ruben Dominguez who i thought looked pretty solid but maybe just a 3rd stringer or backup type in the NBA.. good shooter.. oh and I almost forgot to mention the Graham brothers the 7-footers at Pittsburgh, although they probably arent NBA material.
are there any Oregon State die-hards on this board --- Anyone can learn me up on KC Ibekwe, 6-10, Center, Sophomore Thomas Ndong, 6-10, Forward/Center, Freshman ?
so a few other PAC-12 players I have my eye on (that I havent already posted about) Adam Miller (Redshirt Jr) 6'3" CG at Arizona State... This kid has had some bad luck with injuries he once looked like a shoe-in to make the league IMO, n probably still will in some capacity but itll sure help his case if he crushes it this season (and plays 25+ games). Rooting for him bigtime, fun player to watch when hes got it all going, capable of getting very hot offensively. He's like a Poor mans Anfernee Simons... Kobe Johnson 6'5" Junior at USC is gonna have to step up --- Word from the "James gang" is that Bronny will return to the team n play "in the near future" 7'1" Braxton Meah at Washington --- This kid is a powerhouse n looks like a certain pro.. Athletic and 250lbs plus hope he stomps competition, though theres lots of crazy talented n older C's in the Pac-12. I like watching Jaylon Tyson who's x-ferred to Cal.. He's a player with lots of offensive skill, interested to see the progress he's been making in the weight room -- can take him far..
I think it is an exciting clip, but do not fault Zach on this and do not put much stock in it. He rotated on the play, the ball handler made the correct pass, then Edey looks bad because he made an effort to defend the dunk when put at a disadvantage. I would think less of him if he would have avoided the "poster".
Donovan Clingan completely wrecks Omuyri's entire world if he tried to do the same thing.. But thats why Clingan is projected WAY higher n considered to be a way better defender.. but prime Hasheem Thabeet wrecks his world too n he was a bust... shit even Ibou Dianko Badji probably denies that thunderously... Well I mean, is it really necessary that Zach Edey is 300+ lbs or whatever he weighs in this clip? Weighed in at 306 at the combine!! I fault him for that!! did you see how lean Ivica Zubac looked on opening night when he whooped our blazers? Edey has legs like tree trunks he needs to be LEAN, he'll still have his power, hes a giant!. NBA teams fault him for that, who am I to absolve him? the pope? surely not... teams want him in better shape, like all of these heavy giants cuz their liabilities on defense cuz they dont rotate well --- its part of the reason that holds Moses Brown back from being a backup n why he's a 3rd stringer, the same defensive limitations... When your 306 lbs, u dont get exused for looking mechanical.. I'm not "Body shaming" him.. Its a matter of ur a 3rd stringer and little more at 306lbs.. Edey aint Wembanyama, far from it.. why he had to return to school after winning the NPOY.. But I just hard-disagree with ur take.. cuz ur trying to be dismissive of a very real flaw n fault in Edey's game --- that him and his agent were diligent to try n show off his progress in the offseason, yet he decided to return to school so the work he put in wasnt good enough to get the feedback they hoped.. But also its a moot point.. the blazers have robert williams as the backup c.. we dont have to worry about this stuff with him around hes like savant level with the recovery defense.. Edey is irrelevant to the blazers IMO..
7'2" Zvonimir Ivisic makes much more sense for the Blazers to be developed as a project for the 3rd C spot than a player like Edey -- its not even close.. and Ivisic can really run and jump and he shoots 3's n blocks shots.. he's not some mechanical giant like edey, and he's not lacking skill like Ibou Dianko Badji --- this kid could go in the 1st rd if eveything works in his favor. Ivisic ISNT cleared by the NCAA yet though.. so who knows whats about ot happen, hopefully it resolves itself soon.. Kentucky is usually crazy thorough with these things far as i understand it so they are just waiting on word from the NCAA.. Ivisic was good enough to be selected in the 2023 draft IMO.. could've went near where Toumani Camara was selected IMO..
I agree with your take that Edey should definitely be slimming down, I just dont think this the clip that proves it. He rotates, the ball handler makes a nice pass and it is converted. I do not see anyone rotating that quick. Will happily concede if you can show me clips of someone rotating that quickly. Edit - tried finding something that fit this description and found this (even without having the disadvanage of having to rotate). Lot of superstars getting dunked on. Does not make them any less great. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zvlP5uYeKO0
That dude Clifford Omyuri is EXTREMELY high character btw.. He's like a charitable type of fellow who will probably make a bunch of money playing basketball n give it away to good causes.. Thats the type of energy Cliff has so I am extremely biased cuz he might have to make hay overseas.. But I'd almost expect him to return to play with Ace Bailey as a senior n they will certainly get rutgers back into the top25, but im getting ahead of myself/off-topic..
Well ur lookign for a reaction.. thats part of why Edey is so slow.. n why Clingan is so good.. Defense isnt always about reacting, its about sniffing out the offenses next move ahead of the time.. its called Obviating.. Sub-par defenders react like Edey, slowly, n then people stand around n make excuses --- and play the blamegame.. while great defenders like Anthony Davis was in college, see the play at a conceptual level early n then "sniff it out early".. but thats part of what people dont wanna recognize.. they wanna make it all "athletecism" when often your reaction time can be altered bigtime if your able to ANTICIPATE.. To Someone like CLingan --- he's watching the offense telegraph their next move, so he's able to STIFLE it often.. Edey is more like a Lurch from The adams family type of Mechanical moving... N Edey needs to gather himself, he moves like Godzilla did in the 50's attached to strings..Where in the Era where Giannis and Wembanyama are euro-stepping from halfcourt! Same reason Thon Maker was a bigtime bust --- Too mechanical.. its a matter of pallate and digestion.. n this is where edey and many other giants like him are not only slow of foot but slow of PROCESSING POWER.. N this conversation is completely IRRELEVANT TO THE BLAZERS... If u think discussing Zach Edey is worth our time ON A BLAZERS DRAFT FORUM in OCTOBER 2023 after the AYTON AND ROBERT WILLIAMS TRADE... ur probably LACKING CONTEXT imho.. If I was a die-hard Edey fan I'd sure be hoping he landed somewhere else, cuz he's destined for 3rd string Moses Brown duty..
n I mean im a masters ranked league of legends player at 36 years old... which is beyond ancient to be ranked that high.. n most of the 15-20 year old kids think u lose your reaction time at like 25 years old... but reaction time can be highly altered if your able to anticipate ahead of the time n digest n process the actions n prioritize them.. n thats what allowed me to get to high rank (top 7% of the playerbase) without cheating, in my old age.. n its completely defys the "commonly held belief" that old people lose their reaction time... n i got to that rank in 2 and a half years which is warp speed compared to how long it takes most of those kids to go from never played to leapfrogging 90% of the playerbase (while not cheating or abusing the many methods/avenues to skew ur results).. Talent is overrated!!!! Look at TJ McConnell! He's not an "NBA Talent" but he fought his ass off n became tough enough to hold down an NBA job reliably, n word is the Suns want him bad..
when it comes to Edey, i hate to impose double-standards but thats the nature of the game when it comes to this draft stuff(n times 20 when ur talking backup C's), u gotta be good enough to help -- this isnt some popularity contest.. n he's a fatbody.. Cuz truly FROM THE BLAZERS POV --- this is how it is... Zach Edey at 306 lbs... He might as well be Gomer Pyle hiding jelly donuts in his footlocker --- they'd both be of equal use to this roster...
For someone preaching about talking about Edey in a Blazer's forum, you are the one that are talking alot. I am not talking about him at all. I am pointing out that I do not think it is fair to think anyone had a fair shot at defending that play. Again, I will happily concede if you show clips of defenders making the "poster" saving plays you claim could have been made.
How about you show me more impressive clips of YOU dunking on 7'4" National players of the year! Can you even dunk at all? I'm 36 years old n can still dunk.. How bout you? or do you just sit on forums talking down about people who do dunk all over 7'4 national players of the year.. Are you the type of guy who would walk up to Clifford Omoyuri and tell him to his face that wasnt a legit poster because of all the excuses you made? Buncha whiners on this forum who arent man enough to give credit to opponents for making the right play..
cuz THATS NOT A STRONG CONTEST BY EDEY!!! If that looks like a strong defensive contest to you idk what to tell ya.. Go see footage of Ivica Zubac blocking the hell out of our blazers opening night --- Zubac is way better defensively.. HE's wildly swinging in a direction before he's tracking the play with his eyes... so why would u ever pick that play to argue on? so u picked a terrible hill to die on.. welcome to the ignore list im not gonna get pedantic with someone who cant see basic stuff..
Zach Edey jumps 12" off the ground in that highlight! WEAK CONTEST! ur point of "show me someone who makes that" is preposterously off base.... Wembanyama makes that block with his forearm! let alone at full extension.. shit wembanyama probably blocks thatg with his elbow! This is AN NBA DRAFT THREAD... not a college basketball thread! U disrespect other players who are worthy of discussion... THATS NOT A STRONG CONTEST by Edey... he is very mechanical n barely jumps at all off the ground on the contest --- part of why he didnt get even close to the 1st rd evaluation he was hoping for last summer..
Do I need to conduct a blazers history lesson... about 7'3 and 305lb Ha Seung-Jin? the 46th pick of the 2004 draft? Cuz we have Ayton and Robert Willams here... My 2 favorite players on the roster are Moses Brown and Robert Williams!!! the 2nd and 3rd string C. n we have Ayton the highest paid player on the team.. so the C position is LOADED n we should focus our efforts elsehwere... but I'll do a history lesson on Peter John Ramos, Satnam Singh Bahmarra, Ha Seung Jin, n many others... but its really all quite irrelevant for the blazers imo so id prefer to focus on the forwards
N for the record in the 2023 draft I thought the Blazers were a really good landing spot for James Nnaji.. but instead we traded for Robert Williams whos like Nnaji but ready-to-go.. but its just the state of the C position has changed... THOUGH there are a few exceptions.. 6'11" with a 7'4 wingspan Junior Jonas Aidoo would be a 5-man worth tracking for the Blazers to develop.. but he's a 3-and-d CENTER, who blocks shots n has a smooth looking J out to the 3pt line.. With Ayton and Williams here we can afford to develop players like that, which is why i mentioned Ivisic also who blocks shots n shoots 3's.. Aidoo apparently is relatively tik-tok famous n has like half a million followers..
