Blazers Face Difficult Decision On Final Cuts (Columbian)

Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Register Log in

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)
ABM

ABM

Happily Married In Music City, USA!
Joined
Sep 12, 2008
Messages
31,865
Likes
5,785
Points
113
From: Brian Hendrickson - The Columbian

TUALATIN, Ore. — Steven Hill has spent so much time with the Portland Trail Blazers in the last few months, that he admits to already feeling like he is part of the team.

The 7-foot rookie center from Arkansas has developed friendships with his teammates, worked out regularly with coaches and been a daily familiar face around the practice facility since the end of summer league.

But he knows those connections may be broken after this week.

Portland has until next Sunday to trim its roster to 15 players, and Hill is locked in a tight battle for the last roster spot with forwards Shavlik Randolph and former Oregon standout Luke Jackson.

Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard said he will wait until after this week’s final three preseason games to make a decision, adding that no one player has separated himself.

That makes this week’s games crucial for the players on the fringe..................................
Click to expand...
 
The Columbian said:
Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard said he will wait until after this week’s final three preseason games to make a decision, adding that no one player has separated himself.
Click to expand...

I wonder if that means they cut all three. After reading the article sounds like they will pick the player that gives them a need on the court, and right now with Webster/Fry out I think Randolph fits that need better than Hill/Jackson. I really dont think there is anyway Luke makes the team.
 
With the #15 spot, I see us offering a 10 day contract, not a full year guaranteed deal. Actually, I'm not sure if you can offer a guy a 10 day deal until the season starts, so my previous sentence could be horsecrap.
 
The way Shavlik had been playing, I bet it will be him. There's no way Jackson makes the team, considering even with Martell out, we have a logjam at SG/SF.
 
maxiep said:
With the #15 spot, I see us offering a 10 day contract, not a full year guaranteed deal. Actually, I'm not sure if you can offer a guy a 10 day deal until the season starts, so my previous sentence could be horsecrap.
Click to expand...

I figured instead of a 10-day, they'll just do a non-guaranteed contract, and carry the player until...

a. He earns a full season pickup (a la Udoka)
b. The roster spot is needed for a 2-for-1 trade.
c. The full-season pickup deadline hits, and he's let go due to lack of need.

I think they're just deciding on whether they need someone for practice fodder only (Hill), or someone who might be able to carry himself in short minutes on the court (Shavlik). Of course, Hill's advantage is that you can't teach "tall"...
 
I'm still leaning toward Steven Hill. The 15th guy is not going to play one minute this season, rather is just going to be a practice guy and Hill fits the bill to take the punishment from Oden and Joel.
 
alex42083 said:
I'm still leaning toward Steven Hill. The 15th guy is not going to play one minute this season, rather is just going to be a practice guy and Hill fits the bill to take the punishment from Oden and Joel.
Click to expand...

I am hoping you are waaaaaaaaaaay off. I mean that hopefully we will be up big and create tons of garbage minutes at the ends of games. :clap:
 
Shavilk would be ok, but we have Ike, Fry, Aldridge, and Outlaw to cover Power forward, Oden and Pryz are the Centers (please let Aldridge just be a great PF), Really Hill looks like a fine 3 string center and sparing partner.
 
bodyman5001 said:
I am hoping you are waaaaaaaaaaay off. I mean that hopefully we will be up big and create tons of garbage minutes at the ends of games. :clap:
Click to expand...

haha, hopefully we're up so big that our 15th guy in a suit behind the bench who won't be on the active roster will be able to go in and play our the rest of the game.
 
Can you give 10 day contracts to a 16th player? If so, sign Hill and give Jackson two 10 day contracts so we have one more SF for part of the time that Webster is out. If not, Give Jackson a non-guaranteed contract until Webster comes back, then cut him and sign Hill.
 
Clearly Jackson is the most NBA ready of the 3. He has good experience and can both pass & shoot. He also moves well without the ball.
 
All 3 players have talent and skill, but when the week is up and the final decision is made, I hope it is Randolph who will be staying. I think he is a cut above Hill, Jackson and Diogu. In player value and in trade value - if need be - at a later time. Also, if for some reason Greg and Joel were out, I think Randolph would fit better in the low post with either LMA or Frye and a three guard line-up.

JAFO
 
I'm leaning toward Hill. Sounds like he's made friendships, and we know he's a heck of a hard worker. I feel bad for Jackson, he's a great guy, and a pretty solid player, but injuries have really hurt him. Shavlik showed a lot in one game, but I don't think he'd be a solid contributor this season and I think he'd be a one year player anyway with a new draft pick to add next year or whatever. So I'd take Steven to be practice fodder, and every team needs a guy like Hill to bring in at the end of a blowout game and everyone can root for.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top