Exclusive Blazers take Scoot at #3!!! Now what?

[Ed O]

I don't see how Scoot does not, at a minimum, become a high level starter.

But Scott/Dame/Ant/Shaedon. There's just no minutes.

Yes there is. I've posted the math several times. Just because we haven't had four good guards on our team in years doesn't mean there's not enough minutes for four good guards.

 

[Pinwheel1]

True but it was by far the douchiest question.

Asking him if Dame will stunt his growth.... wtf.

Yeah, I heard one of the talking heads discussing the exact same thing before the draft. It does not make sense to me either

 

[B-Roy]

Yes there is. I've posted the math several times. Just because we haven't had four good guards on our team in years doesn't mean there's not enough minutes for four good guards.

It's not putting them in an optimal situation. Where is the path to contention?

 

[James lamphear]

Scoot scored 31 points in his second game on the Ignite. When he was still three months shy of turning 18.



He's legit.

Just saying his stats don't pop out there like I expected don't mean he can't play.

 

[MrDraftGuy]

This is a lot to read but I’ve never said he isn’t talented or won’t be good.

In fact, I agree with you. A lot of guards do extremely well. That’s the issue. The fact that so many guards do really well means that… it’s not that valuable of a position IMO because it’s so easy to find another one.

You have to read the full quote, my guy. I agree with your original quote

 

[glredig]

I don't post here much (ever, really), but very actively read along.

You can count me in the pro build around Dame camp. There's obviously a group of people on this board that land on the other side of that decision point.

Seems to me that there are folks who like the idea of rolling the dice or asking for a fresh shuffle. There's adventure and hope in that mindset. I'm not here to belittle that approach. It's your opinion... No better or worse than mine.

But what I see is a hope that this next shuffle will land us somebody like Dame. He's such an incredible star to have on this team, and it seems to me that some are hoping to move on from him in search of another him.

That lottery ticket could be a jackpot winner, sure. But the odds are generally pretty slim that it is. And I have a feeling everybody will miss what we have in Dame if he goes (which seems depressingly more likely this evening).

But maybe this undersized point guard will be the difference maker.

None of this is to disparage Scoot. He seems like he could be a big deal. We just don't know.

I'll be taking in as many games as possible this season while Dame is still pulling off miracles for the good guys.

 

[MrDraftGuy]

^^Yeah, I feel you. Scoot is going to be great but the talent Dame has is quite rare, having achieved the closest thing to Steph that no other PG has achieved.

I think only Sharpe will be able to fill the hole in my heart now (one that has existed since the days of Roy-Oden-LMA)....but it's like, why not have both Sharpe AND Dame?

 

[Predator]

haven't been around for months :shrug: But that's interesting....I feel like there are a ton of counterpoints. GSW is an anomaly but they fit. MIL with Giannis and DEN with Jokic (and TOR with Kawhi) prove your point, but none one of those were drafted with a top pick. In fact, the only top 5 picks in the last 15 years who've won titles (of any height) were those who played with Lebron (Kyrie, Love, Waiters, AD).

My argument was that there were something like 3 out of the last 30 finals MVPs that weren’t short guards, so it’s clear to me what the path to winning looks like.

Steph, Isiah and Chauncey were the exceptions. Everyone else… tall top 5ish players (another exception was Igoudala who clearly wasn’t the best player on GSW).

And yes, it wasn’t really based on where we drafted to be honest. I said I wouldn’t draft another short guard in general, lol.

I don’t really care where we draft them. I’d be drafting 6’6+ guys with the most potential until the cows come home.

But especially with a top pick, I’d be going after those guys. I also said if there was a SUBSTANTIAL tier difference I’d draft a guard if I had too.

Obviously I’d take Scoot over Rayan Rupert for instance.

also note; I didn’t say top 5 picks to win. I said they’re top 5 players in the league, which for the most part, are taller players. Which was another part of my position. Part of talent for me is size. Probably because it’s harder to guard a 6’8 freak athlete than a 6’2 freak athlete. Giannis can simply do things Scoot will never be able to… because of his size.

 

[Natebishop3]

But what I see is a hope that this next shuffle will land us somebody like Dame.

Here's the thing. First, thanks for your post. I appreciate your opinion.

It's not that I want to land somebody like Dame. I love Dame. He has been so much fun to watch. I want to put together a better TEAM and we don't have very much time at all to put a complete team around Dame. With Scoot and Sharpe I see two foundational pieces who are 20 years old which we can build around the right way. We need to look at what Golden State did and what Denver did. They built slow. They were very deliberate in how they added pieces. That's what we need to do. I think LMA leaving just completely derailed this team for 8 years. We never really got on a solid road. I blame Neil but there was never clear direction.

 

[Predator]

 

[Predator]

 

[Strenuus]

We got the perfect heir to Dame.... and people are pissed. I don't get it.

We have been stuck in mediocrity for so long. It's like people are addicted to it. Or maybe it's that we haven't had a superstar in so long, people are just hanging on for dear life.

Yeah, like I said I wanted Miller. But heres the thing, the only BAD way of doing this draft was to trade the #3. Now we're set up for post dame. And honestly, that needed to be taken into account so Joe gets a win for being patient.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Ant HAS to go.

Can eek out 25-30 mpg for Scoot and play 10-15 mins with Dame.

Yup. Three guard rotation with Dame/Shae/Scoot. It sounds perfect.

Simons HAS to go.

So we trade Ant in the next few weeks then Dame asks out in a few months? Or what if Sharpe is ultimately better at SF?

I wouldn't trade Ant unless both it was a similar talent coming back and we have a long term commitment from Dame.

In fact if Dame doesn't want to commit now, it's probably better getting picks from Brooklyn in a trade for him and not giving Grant a massive boat anchor of a contract.

 

[illmatic99]

So we trade Ant in the next few weeks then Dame asks out in a few months? Or shat if Sharpe is ultimately and better at SF?

I wouldn't trade Ant unless both it was a similar talent coming back and we have a long term commitment from Dame.

In fact if Dame doesn't want to do that now, it's probably better getting picks from Brooklyn in a trade for him and not giving Grant a massive boat anchor of a contract.

even if dame asks out, the future is Scoot/Sharpe.

Ant can go too.

Grant can walk.

Fire Cronin also. I'm happy with the Scoot pick but let's be honest, he simply took BPA here and did nothing.

 

[Strenuus]

even if dame asks out, the future is Scoot/Sharpe.

Ant can go too.

Grant can walk.

Fire Cronin also. I'm happy with the Scoot pick but let's be honest, he simply took BPA here and did nothing.

Eh, I think its good enough that he didnt do a trade. Had he done a trade (none of them were good) i'd of wanted to see him go. But he was patient and hes thinking long term.

 

[inconceivable]

where is the press conference?

 

[illmatic99]

where is the press conference?

https://www.nba.com/blazers/now/

 

[Natebishop3]

even if dame asks out, the future is Scoot/Sharpe.

Ant can go too.

Grant can walk.

Fire Cronin also. I'm happy with the Scoot pick but let's be honest, he simply took BPA here and did nothing.

I would re-sign Grant if the contract is reasonable, and then try to trade him at the deadline.

 

[glredig]

Here's the thing. First, thanks for your post. I appreciate your opinion.

It's not that I want to land somebody like Dame. I love Dame. He has been so much fun to watch. I want to put together a better TEAM and we don't have very much time at all to put a complete team around Dame. With Scoot and Sharpe I see two foundational pieces who are 20 years old which we can build around the right way. We need to look at what Golden State did and what Denver did. They built slow. They were very deliberate in how they added pieces. That's what we need to do. I think LMA leaving just completely derailed this team for 8 years. We never really got on a solid road. I blame Neil but there was never clear direction.

Totally fair, and I agree 100% that something more drastic than tinkering around the edges is the only way we'll ever have a shot.

Probably it comes down to where we're each willing to place our risk. You're willing to risk a reset with a promising draft pick. And accept the unknown in order to retain flexibility for a few years.
I'm willing to risk a lack of flexibility and a bit of an all-in push to continue riding with the known quantity that is Dame. I just happen to enjoy watching him enough (I haven't enjoyed watching any Blazers player as much as him) that I'm okay if we come close-ish, but short with his remaining years.
But this is just my opinion and while I can't vibe with the trade Dame side of the argument, I can definitely understand it. (As long as it's in good faith, looks yours and not trollish like some folks)

 

[Natebishop3]

Totally fair, and I agree 100% that something more drastic than tinkering around the edges is the only way we'll ever have a shot.

Probably it comes down to where we're each willing to place our risk. You're willing to risk a reset with a promising draft pick. And accept the unknown in order to retain flexibility for a few years.
I'm willing to risk a lack of flexibility and a bit of an all-in push to continue riding with the known quantity that is Dame. I just happen to enjoy watching him enough (I haven't enjoyed watching any Blazers player as much as him) that I'm okay if we come close-ish, but short with his remaining years.
But this is just my opinion and while I can't vibe with the trade Dame side of the argument, I can definitely understand it. (As long as it's in good faith, looks yours and not trollish like some folks)

I honestly understand both approaches, and I wasn't completely against going win-now, but I just wanted us to pick a lane. It sounds like we're not doing that. We're going to keep straddling the two timelines.

 

[glredig]

I honestly understand both approaches, and I wasn't completely against going win-now, but I just wanted us to pick a lane. It sounds like we're not doing that. We're going to keep straddling the two timelines.

We seem to excel at that.

Unfortunately, I think these leaked timelines and ultimatums from Dame's camp (real or fiction) will be what picks our lane. Other GM's smell blood and have no desire to help us out (even worse than our historically bad track record).

Coincidentally, I think your vision for the team and mine both rest on Scoot and Sharpe being amazing this year.

 

[bemac]

Oh my, sounds like this 19 year old kid isn't finished developing.

 

[Natebishop3]

 

[Natebishop3]

 

[inconceivable]

I wanted Miller and Amen more. I hope Scoot proves me wrong

 

[Blazers Roy]

I'm excited! we have our future PG under rookie contract!

 

[UKBlazer]

If we're keeping Scoot then all the focus has to go into the frontcourt. Need to add size, rebounding and rim protection.

If our only pieces in doing so are Simons, Little, Nurkic and free agency then it's not going to be nearly enough I fear.

 

[sheed30]

why? that's no fun at all

I don’t see all the hype about Scoot, he reminds me of Eric Bledsoe just more explosive.

It’s just the m.o. of this fanbase, then look for a scapegoat...

This right here, the kid needs to work on his game a lot, tons of explosive athleticism, but his shooting is a issue and people are too over hyped about him here without him playing a second of NBA ball. People here are the funniest, and quite silly with their over the top exceptions.

 

[Blazers Roy]

I don’t see all the hype about Scoot, he reminds me of Eric Bledsoe just more explosive.

It’s just the m.o. of this fanbase, then look for a scapegoat...

This right here, the kid needs to work on his game a lot, tons of explosive athleticism, but his shooting is a issue and people are too over hyped about him here without him playing a second of NBA ball. People here are the funniest, and quite silly with their over the top exceptions.

I agree on keeping our expectations low, but i think we need to ask ourselves: yes, he's a bad shooter. not a great defender etc. Does he have the character to push himself and improve in those areas?
his physique and reputation says he does.

He's 19 years old. He has a lot of time to grow as a player.
Many all-stars and superstars came into this league with glaring downsides.

It's wayyyyy to early to be too high or too low on him at the moment.

 

[sheed30]

I agree on keeping our expectations low, but i think we need to ask ourselves: yes, he's a bad shooter. not a great defender etc. Does he have the character to push himself and improve in those areas?
his physique and reputation says he does.

He's 19 years old. He has a lot of time to grow as a player.
Many all-stars and superstars came into this league with glaring downsides.

It's wayyyyy to early to be too high or too low on him at the moment.

I agree with everything you said.
I’m not trying to pour cold water on people’s high expectations, but at the same time it’s like come on, let’s see some flashes of it first or how it does in the NBA for at least one season.

Those concerns I mentioned were more just I want to see how those things pan out, he is young and has lots of time to grow, let’s just give him that time first before we put over the top exceptions on him.