At #43, Blazers select Rayan Rupert

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Tince said:
Nets still owe unprotected first-round picks to Houston for the James Harden trade in 2024 and 2026 -- plus pick swaps in 2025 and 2027. That was on top of the the 2022 unproteced pick, and 2021 and 2023 pick swaps they've already gave up.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...ston-rockets-trade-james-harden-brooklyn-nets
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Ah yes of course. So most of the 2020s Nets picks are tied up already but they have the Suns picks I noted plus a 2027 Phili top 8 protected 1st & a Dallas 2029 unprotected 1st... bottom line, they could put together a package.

https://www.si.com/nba/draft/draft-pick-tracker/a-comprehensive-guide-to-the-nets-future-draft-picks

STOMP
 
Watched 6 or 7 of his NBL games the last few days...

His length is nice, plays hard and he's more comfortable with the ball in his hands than you'd expect. The pull-up shooting is what I think makes people excited about his upside. His believers see Mikal as his upper end outcome and I can see it in that respect. Very similar mid range games stylistically. Pretty smooth process and a very high release. All the intel on him seems top notch on him.

I continue to be pretty skeptical like I was pre-draft though.

Struggle to see the path to efficient offense unless he ditches the pull-ups and is in a tiny role. And even then you are banking on some pretty big finishing and shooting improvements. Played with the ball a lot at lower levels and it shows in his instincts for better and for worse. A lot of holes athletically. The defense has a decent chance to be a positive but his length covers up for a lot imo. Don't totally trust his feet. Looks good picking up full court and using his length but everything else looked just ok or not great to me. Blows switches. Hands didn't look very accurate or strong on digs. Not a great screen navigator (strength and technique issues). Offers little as a help side rim protector. Doesn't seem to have those instincts and cant jump much at all even if he is in position. Kris Murray has a lot of the same issues as rim protector btw.

Hope he proves me wrong. The work ethic reports make me more hopeful than I'd usually be.
 
JDC said:
Watched 6 or 7 of his NBL games the last few days...

His length is nice, plays hard and he's more comfortable with the ball in his hands than you'd expect. The pull-up shooting is what I think makes people excited about his upside. His believers see Mikal as his upper end outcome and I can see it in that respect. Very similar mid range games stylistically. Pretty smooth process and a very high release. All the intel on him seems top notch on him.

I continue to be pretty skeptical like I was pre-draft though.

Struggle to see the path to efficient offense unless he ditches the pull-ups and is in a tiny role. And even then you are banking on some pretty big finishing and shooting improvements. Played with the ball a lot at lower levels and it shows in his instincts for better and for worse. A lot of holes athletically. The defense has a decent chance to be a positive but his length covers up for a lot imo. Don't totally trust his feet. Looks good picking up full court and using his length but everything else looked just ok or not great to me. Blows switches. Hands didn't look very accurate or strong on digs. Not a great screen navigator (strength and technique issues). Offers little as a help side rim protector. Doesn't seem to have those instincts and cant jump much at all even if he is in position. Kris Murray has a lot of the same issues as rim protector btw.

Hope he proves me wrong. The work ethic reports make me more hopeful than I'd usually be.
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Appreciate the input!
 
Natebishop3 said:
It's funny because we recently found out that we have a second kid on the way (it's still pretty early) and their nickname is going to be "Oops" as well.
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that’s now been refuted. He and his agent tweeted at me that it was ‘Roops’ and the language barrier got in the way. I asked him and clarified it… we obviously didn’t understand each other. But he had fun with it. I like him a lot.
 
Travis Demers said:
that’s now been refuted. He and his agent tweeted at me that it was ‘Roops’ and the language barrier got in the way. I asked him and clarified it… we obviously didn’t understand each other. But he had fun with it. I like him a lot.
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I really like all three rookies. You're lucky man. I think they're all going to be really great interviews.
 
BonesJones said:
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
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Question for you, I always appreciate having you respond to a question here. How much do you think Draymond helps us contend over DDR?

At Ant’s lowest value, I still think he can be traded to the Bulls for DDR for our 1sts back. Maybe he have to toss in a 2nd or two, but I might still construct a deal to make it happen.

Dame/Scoot/Mays
Sharpe/Scoot/Thybulle/Rupert
DDR/Kris/Nas/Rupert
Grant/Watford/Walker
Nurk/_____/Badji

Maybe we bring in Gafford, or sign a competent backup C in FA, but the team might be good enough on paper to keep Dame happy. I’m like you, I want Dame on the team mentoring this backcourt. I’m willing to continue the facade that we’re contending, I’m just not willing to give Draymond $40m a year. DDR gives the impression that we are (and maybe the results end up being good) but really could be an expiring contract. Sharpe will just have to become a POA defender quicker, so give him first crack at defending the best opposing guard on defense. Scoot next, then Thybulle as a safety value, who Dame could theoretically play with.

Do you think DDR + any of Nurk, Nas, Gafford as salary + any of Rupert, Kris, Walker, Watford as young fliers + 3 unprotected 1sts and 2 pick swaps is enough to get a guy that could make us a contender at next deadline?
 
BankTeller said:
Question for you, I always appreciate having you respond to a question here. How much do you think Draymond helps us contend over DDR?

At Ant’s lowest value, I still think he can be traded to the Bulls for DDR for our 1sts back. Maybe he have to toss in a 2nd or two, but I might still construct a deal to make it happen.

Dame/Scoot/Mays
Sharpe/Scoot/Thybulle/Rupert
DDR/Kris/Nas/Rupert
Grant/Watford/Walker
Nurk/_____/Badji

Maybe we bring in Gafford, or sign a competent backup C in FA, but the team might be good enough on paper to keep Dame happy. I’m like you, I want Dame on the team mentoring this backcourt. I’m willing to continue the facade that we’re contending, I’m just not willing to give Draymond $40m a year. DDR gives the impression that we are (and maybe the results end up being good) but really could be an expiring contract. Sharpe will just have to become a POA defender quicker, so give him first crack at defending the best opposing guard on defense. Scoot next, then Thybulle as a safety value, who Dame could theoretically play with.

Do you think DDR + any of Nurk, Nas, Gafford as salary + any of Rupert, Kris, Walker, Watford as young fliers + 3 unprotected 1sts and 2 pick swaps is enough to get a guy that could make us a contender at next deadline?
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Draymond, because hes much better defensively and is better as a connective piece offensively than DDR. Don't think DDR helps the Blazers at all.
 
BonesJones said:
Draymond, because hes much better defensively and is better as a connective piece offensively than DDR. Don't think DDR helps the Blazers at all.
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But why are you so comfortable giving Draymond $40m a year for four years? Am I underrating Draymond’s impact even at his age?
 
BankTeller said:
But why are you so comfortable giving Draymond $40m a year for four years? Am I underrating Draymond’s impact even at his age?
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$40M over 3 was my offer, and it's definitely a big overpay but if it keeps Dame in Portland, I'm for it. I think he'd be a huge help to our defense.
 
BonesJones said:
$40M over 3 was my offer, and it's definitely a big overpay but if it keeps Dame in Portland, I'm for it. I think he'd be a huge help to our defense.
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That sounds a little crazy to me. Do you think 3 years/$100m would be enough to get him?
 
BankTeller said:
That sounds a little crazy to me. Do you think 3 years/$100m would be enough to get him?
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Probably not. I think Portland will have to overpay him to get him to leave Golden State. Maybe it's not as much as $40M/yr.
 
BonesJones said:
Probably not. I think Portland will have to overpay him to get him to leave Golden State. Maybe it's not as much as $40M/yr.
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Man, I would hope for a salary that starts at $33m in year 33, $35m in year 34, $37 in year 35. I could stomach that.

I guess it’s also worth weakening the Warriors. Even if we aren’t competing, we can trade him back to them for 5 1sts.
 
I hadn't seen him in any of the summer league practice videos. Had anyone else?
 
Labinot41 said:
start him from day one
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Absolutely why not! As long as he and out other kids have some vets behind them to keep them from floundering and learning bad habits, there’s no reason for our starting lineup to average more than 22 years old
 
1 Eye Jack said:
I want them to earn it players can get complacent when things are handed to them. That said if they earn it during preseason then I’m all for it.
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Batum started his rookie season despite looking completely lost in summer league.
 
We want those lotto balls next year we could start 2 19 year olds and 1 20 year old
 
I like this young man getting rotation minutes. He's a defensive minded guy with an insane wingspan.
 
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