Blazers make final cuts - waive Pressey and Omari Johnson

[Natebishop3]

HCP already posted this in the cuts thread, but it's news so I'm reposting it with a link from the O.

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i...phil_pressey_omari_johnson_--.html#incart_std

The team on Friday announced it had waived Phil Pressey and Omari Johnson, trimming its roster to 15 players, the maximum allowed by the NBA in the regular season.

The cuts mean that Frazier, the 6-foot-1 point guard, beat out Pressey for a regular season roster spot.

The Blazers signed Frazier last March for the stretch run and his superb work ethic and positive demeanor won over teammates, particularly All-Star Damian Lillard, whom Frazier has become good friends with. He averaged 4.6 points and 3.4 assists in five games with the Blazers last season, recording a double-double (13 points, 10 assists) against the Dallas Mavericks.

Midway through the exhibition season, Frazier had seemingly pulled ahead of Pressey, his familiarity with the team's philosophy and system no doubt helping his cause.

 

[HailBlazers]

As expected, what does this mean for Montero?

 

[Natebishop3]

As expected, what does this mean for Montero?

I'm really hoping they send him to an NBDL team for a bit, but they might decide they just want him around the team to be a sponge.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

As expected, what does this mean for Montero?

He works on his game according to:
http://blogs.columbian.com/blazer-b...ressey-and-omari-johnson-roster-at-15-players

Montero played in only two preseason games so far this season. He’s a project in the rawest sense of the word. The Blazers have given indications to Montero’s camp that they want to see where his game is in a year, according to league source. His 6-7 frame, long wing span and skills with the basketball have made him a project worth investing in for the time being. The Blazers, it appears, want to see what their player development staff can do with Montero’s raw skills.

 

[Natebishop3]

He works on his game according to:
http://blogs.columbian.com/blazer-b...ressey-and-omari-johnson-roster-at-15-players

That makes the most sense to me. It's basically like finding a really nice piece of stone and giving it to a sculptor and saying you'll check back in a year to see what he has made.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

Good for Frazier! Will probably get waived when we absorb someone's dump at the deadline but whatevz.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

I was surprised to see Pressey suck so bad, I thought for sure he'd outplay Frazier.

 

[Reep]

I was surprised to see Pressey suck so bad, I thought for sure he'd outplay Frazier.

I was glad to see him take it decisively. Surprised, but glad.

Montero seems to need strength (weight room and trainers) and some basic practice. There are too many players who won't get regular minutes, but need to play to send them all out. Between Frazier, Montero, Alexander and Patty, I think there should be plenty of changes to get some scrimmage time.

I know we didn't get to see him much, but I thought he looked pretty comfortable on the offensive end. Seems like he mainly needs weights and some individual defense drills.

 

[Natebishop3]

I was glad to see him take it decisively. Surprised, but glad.

Montero seems to need strength (weight room and trainers) and some basic practice. There are too many players who won't get regular minutes, but need to play to send them all out. Between Frazier, Montero, Alexander and Patty, I think there should be plenty of changes to get some scrimmage time.

I know we didn't get to see him much, but I thought he looked pretty comfortable on the offensive end. Seems like he mainly needs weights and some individual defense drills.

I suspect we won't get to see the fruits of the Blazers labor until next summer. I think we'll see Montero in summer league again, and at that point we should get to see how he has come along.

 

[Reep]

I suspect we won't get to see the fruits of the Blazers labor until next summer. I think we'll see Montero in summer league again, and at that point we should get to see how he has come along.

Yes, Montero, and maybe Alexander, seem to be behind the scenes projects.

Who joins Montero on the inactive list? Probably shuffle between Alexander, Patty, Kaman? Seems like they would need to keep Frazier active in case they need a PG.

 

[Draco]

Yes, Montero, and maybe Alexander, seem to be behind the scenes projects.

Who joins Montero on the inactive list? Probably shuffle between Alexander, Patty, Kaman? Seems like they would need to keep Frazier active in case they need a PG.

Yeah I expect Frazier is always active. Since we can dress 13 we only need two of them in suits. We've had more than two players sit out ever preseason game with injuries. I expect that to be the norm. Teams get more injuries as the season goes on not less. If somehow everyone is healthy I think Montero and Alexander sit. Maybe Montero and Pat if the opponent has a number of traditional bigs.

 

[riverman]

Montero will learn a lot from just practicing against NBA talent..good coaching will be key to his development..They said they want to make him a pt guard

 

[Schilly]

Has anyone with less experience than Montero ever made an NBA roster?

 

[UncleCliffy'sDaddy]

Darryl Dawkins and the other high schooler drafted the same year.

 

[Natebishop3]

Has anyone with less experience than Montero ever made an NBA roster?

Dennis Rodman had very little experience. He didn't play ball in high school, got a growth spurt and then started playing junior college ball. He was drafted by the Pistons at the age of 25.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Other teams are making cuts. Biggest names include Jimmer Fredette. The Bucks have waived Jorge Gutierrez (played with Crabbe at Cal.) I'd be interested in him: big defensive-minded PG.

 

[UncleCliffy'sDaddy]

Kobe, LBJ, Martell Webster, etc, etc.

 

[UncleCliffy'sDaddy]

The Greek Freak's (not even gonna try and spell the name) brother got cut by the Knicks.....

 

[Natebishop3]

Kobe, LBJ, Martell Webster, etc, etc.

I don't think that's what he means. Those guys all played AAU ball, in addition to high school. They played organized ball for most of their life.

Montero didn't get into basketball until much later.

 

[Schilly]

All these guys listed even HS to nba players have more experience than Montero. He played one year of HS and one year of CC basketball. Rodman was a 3 time all American at the NAIA level.

 

[UncleCliffy'sDaddy]

I don't think that's what he means. Those guys all played AAU ball, in addition to high school. They played organized ball for most of their life.

Montero didn't get into basketball until much later.

Gotcha. What about Quintel...or whatever...Woods?

 

[Schilly]

4 years of HS, 2 of community college.

 

[riverman]

Has anyone with less experience than Montero ever made an NBA roster?

I'm guessing they have but I'll bet Rasta could name a few from overseas

 

[riverman]

I just read that Amare only played 2 years of high school and missed his jr year transferring then got drafted out of HS...that's Montero

 

[Draco]

Has anyone with less experience than Montero ever made an NBA roster?

Yeah there have been a number of players who only played a couple years of organized basketball before the NBA; Michael Olowakandi, Bismack Biyombo, Tyrus Thomas, Joel Embiid. Probably some others. I can't think of a good one.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Nedzad Sinanovic didn't quite make a roster, but there was a guy with little basketball background. Freeland didn't have much, either, IIRC (at least not at the time we drafted him).

 

[riverman]

Enis Kanter didn't play much either

 

[riverman]

Farewell to Elvis and the Beaver! They got a fair shot at least...Shanghai Sharks will sign them

 

[Draco]

Yi Jian Lian only had a couple years in China. Dante Exum was hidden away in Australia.

 

[riverman]

At least Montero doesn't have years of bad habits on the court to shake