Science Ant is legit and we need to really wrap our minds around what that means

[wizenheimer]

Ant isn’t CJ. Of course we MUST trade CJ. I hope Dame, Cronin and the Vulcans all understand that. If we don’t trade CJ nothing else will matter. Ant is better than CJ already IMO simply because of his passing. His trajectory much, MUCH higher and his contract won’t be even close to CJ’s albatross. If we have the right personnel 3-5 we can absolutely roll with two elite assassins in the back court. I would only trade Ant as a centerpiece for a true star and even then I would hesitate. Ant has a kobe-esque vibe to him. He needs to take it to the rack and he needs to defend. I believe he will so both in the future especially under Billups. CJ and Norm are who they are and Ant will be better than either and can be on a reasonable contract. Its a pity Olshey didn't lock him down.

just so you know, if the cap is 112M next year, A 4-year max deal for Simons would be over 30M a year, assuming some other team made a max offer (unlikely)

 

[Idog1976]

I disagree that Ant has Kobe-esque vibe to him. He;s super talented but to me he has more of a Batum-esque vibe to him. Kobe after 4 years in the league would have dominated last night and Ant was more Batum last night.

I don't remember Ant starting and being given the greenlight before the most dominant center since Wilt played in the front court next to him. Kobe had wayyyyy more playing time by Ant's age and also had Shaq I believe by Ant's age. Kobe was awful quite often during his first couple of years when he had more time than Ant has total. I remember him having the greenest of green lights before Shaq came throwing up 3+ airballs in a row vs. Portland in Nevada during that weird game that was in Las Vegas.

 

[Idog1976]

just so you know, if the cap is 112M next year, A 4-year max deal for Simons would be over 30M a year, assuming some other team made a max offer (unlikely)

I feel we can get him for around $20 million, I'd definitely balk at $30 million, but I'd consider it before probably saying no, but we will see what happens. Still cheaper than CJ and Ant is already better in the sense of being more well-rounded.

 

[Hoopguru]

aww man. There is one just down the street at mollala state park, but i pulled out of the boat i was going to buy.
Im concerned i wont use it. Ever since i got covid i have not had any energy beyond working and music. Maybe things will change this year but until i can get back to 40 hour work weeks instead of 50. Im just soo drained.

i feel like a total puss ass typing that out, but my fatigue is for real with this covid shit.

Sorry man, hope you get your energy back soon. Im 71 am on my third boat and went years in between while raising kids and playing ball. We like to play close to home and it only takes 20 minutes to a boat a ramp.

 

[Hoopguru]

I don't remember Ant starting and being given the greenlight before the most dominant center since Wilt played in the front court next to him. Kobe had wayyyyy more playing time by Ant's age and also had Shaq I believe by Ant's age. Kobe was awful quite often during his first couple of years when he had more time than Ant has total. I remember him having the greenest of green lights before Shaq came throwing up 3+ airballs in a row vs. Portland in Nevada during that weird game that was in Las Vegas.

I dont dispute that, I just dont see him having the Kobe vibe. More like Batum vibe.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

I don't remember Ant starting and being given the greenlight before the most dominant center since Wilt played in the front court next to him. Kobe had wayyyyy more playing time by Ant's age and also had Shaq I believe by Ant's age. Kobe was awful quite often during his first couple of years when he had more time than Ant has total. I remember him having the greenest of green lights before Shaq came throwing up 3+ airballs in a row vs. Portland in Nevada during that weird game that was in Las Vegas.

You seem to be confused. Blazers only ever played in Vegas vs Lakers in 1992 playoffs during Rodney King riots when Kobe wasn’t yet in the league. Kobe’s consecutive air balls were in a playoff series vs Utah in his first playoffs in 1997.

 

[Idog1976]

You seem to be confused. Blazers only ever played in Vegas vs Lakers in 1992 playoffs during Rodney King riots when Kobe wasn’t yet in the league. Kobe’s consecutive air balls were in a playoff series vs Utah in his first playoffs in 1997.

Wow that's really weird I remembered it being against us in Las Vegas. Was the game in Vegas maybe? I swear it wasn't at a normal NBA arena.

 

[blazerfan11]

You seem to be confused. Blazers only ever played in Vegas vs Lakers in 1992 playoffs during Rodney King riots when Kobe wasn’t yet in the league. Kobe’s consecutive air balls were in a playoff series vs Utah in his first playoffs in 1997.

In the Vegas games, I remember Drexler throwing down a crazy dunk off a pass that looked way out his reach. Is my memory correct?

Edit: Yes my memory was correct. It was the game 4 in Las Vegas.
The dunk is at the 21:50 mark in this video. with slow motion replay at 23:00.

"That's what it's all about. When you're Clyde the Glide, you can get into a flight pattern."

 

[Lanny]

I will say this, I think Simon has the potential to be better than Damian. However in order for him to do that we can’t train him to be like dame. Simon doesn’t have the strength and the explosiveness that dame has. What Simon need to do it look at Steph curry and his off ball movement specifically. Like how curry has green I think Simmons would be a great fit for simons. Simon may not necessarily reach curry level but I think he can be better than dame with his all around game.

Anfernee has explosiveness in spades.

 

[TBpup]

Anfernee has explosiveness in spades.

Agreed. At this point, I'd say he isn't as strong as Dame was at a similar age and hasn't learned how to use it as effectively. For someone who is a Dunk Champ, he rarely throws down in the manner that he certainly can. Whether is it strength, mentality, or a combination of both, he needs to develop that. It will help him get to the FT line, especially on nights when he isn't shooting as well.

 

[Idog1976]

I just watched the Hawks game and two things came to mind, the Hawks broadcasters are Classy AF. Dominique Wilkins is a surprisingly good analyst and super fair to the other team.

Also my second and more important thought was, I think it would be a huge mistake to trade Simons. Like I'm getting worse than Jermaine O'Neal-type vibes. Ant looks like he could be top 5 in scoring in a few years if we give him the green light. I think we have to keep him now. He's Dame's Protege and I am terrified of what he might become on another team and giddy at the prospect of him taking over for Dame someday.

He has the absolute perfect mentality for this game. Ant is somehow even cooler than Dame. He also has a deadly snake kinda vibe that's a bit different from Lillard who is cool until he's not. Ant is almost passionless it's wild he just feels like an Assassin. He's been insanely good in this recent streak and he has seemingly no-ego right now. He's a super willing passer and clearly listens to Billups. His court vision and playmaking is way, WAY better than I realized/saw and he's only 22. This kid looks straight-up legit to me and has the right vibe/mindset to be supremely deadly. I don't think I want to trade him anymore. I think he's closing in on untouchable status. I know it doesn't make sense to keep him when we have Dame but this kid is the real deal.

I can't, I just can't countenance trading Dame he's the heart and soul of this franchise and the perfect face of the team. He's a living Legend of a Blazer and I just can't trade him. Just ask him if he'd consider a deal structured in such as way as to maximally benefit the team while making sure Lillard Gets Paid (TM). I am no cap wizard and not sure how we could do that, but I think there are ways we could do it.

The problem isn't Lillard's Cap impact it's CJ's. Lillard is in contention for the title of best PG in the league. He's only overshadowed (when healthy) by the transcendent generational talent of Steph Curry. CJ on the other hand is a talented player but grossly overpaid for his production/impact. We need to trade him and other potential/current cap space hogs. We need to keep Simons I really believe that. I'm thinking it would have to be an almost 1-1 with cap filler for a Star in their prime and nothing short of that. I'm even ever so slightly leery of trading him for Simmons now which is a testament to what I'm seeing in Ant.

Someone else linked this first and I can't remember who, but feel free to let us know in the comments and I will give you props it's a great find. Forget for a minute that this Sixers fan wants to steal Simons from us and how mad we all are at Morey (those of us who want Simmons I mean). Instead, just listen to his breakdown of Ant. Even if you turned this off after a few minutes before because of these sorts of reasons, I'd recommend giving it another chance. This guy Sixers fan or not really understands basketball and his breakdown and admiration for Ant are really quite awesome. If you haven't watched this you should.

I listened to that guy and then watched the Atlanta game which I had missed and I was like damn! Simons is so freaking composed in the game. He controls the tempo and I felt absolutely comfortable every time he had the ball in his hands. The minute it left his hands I felt nervous. I know this was a career night for Ant (so far and he's only 22!), but it was just an incredible game and he did a lot to answer Trae Young who also had a career night. If you can find it or have it recorded it's such a great game, one of the best of the season for sure. Ant and Trae both having career nights.

Anyways, listen to this guy's analysis of Ant. We can't trade this guy, we just can't. I think we might even want him next to Dame and trade CJ and Powell for a star and have McLemore off the bench for cheap. Imagine if/when he learns how to defend with that speed and wingspan. He looks like a future All-Star and threat for scoring title-level guy. Just watch all the January games and it's not like he's not getting defensive attention. He got doubled a lot recently and still played extremely well.

For those who didn't watch the video I embedded. He's real AF!