Bring on the Euros!!!

[Blazer4ever]

It's time!
Joel Freeland, Pettery Koponen, Victor Claver. one of them will spend the entire season on the IR, one of them will be this year's dante cunningham and one will be ROY candidate - they've been stashed for too long, earning respect around Europe, playing key roles for very good teams. They already have more experience than your average rookie, and they're exactly the young blood we need.

 

[LameR]

I think they could help, but calling one of them a ROY candidate is an exaggeration. Barring our entire team getting hurt (again), where do the minutes come from?

 

[STOMP]

I think they could help, but calling one of them a ROY candidate is an exaggeration. Barring our entire team getting hurt (again), where do the minutes come from?

pretty much

Claver has indicated that he flat isn't coming at least until the timeline on his rookie scale deal expires... which is after 3 more seasons. I don't begrudge him for not wanting to leave millions on the table to sit on Portland's bench when he can actually play and develop in Europe. I believe that Freeland has past this junction though and there are some backup Big minutes potentially up for grabs. Koponen is a year behind Freeland on clearing the rookie scale deal and has a broken foot which won't be ready to go until training camp. However he has indicated that it's his dream to play in the league so maybe the $ doesn't matter as much to him If Rudy really is on his way out then there are lots of backup minutes available at the guard spots.

I have my fingers crossed on JF and PK being NBA talents and definitely am intrigued in what happens with them this summer. If bringing one or both over this year is in the plans that would lend even more weight to the strategy of trading out of the 1st round for future picks.

STOMP

 

[Nikolokolus]

The only one I think would even have a chance at sniffing the court is Koponen, but not a one strikes me as ROY material ... shit I'm not even sure any of them strike me as rotation material.

 

[STOMP]

The only one I think would even have a chance at sniffing the court is Koponen, but not a one strikes me as ROY material ... shit I'm not even sure any of them strike me as rotation material.

the Bigs rotation is going to be LA Camby and Greg getting a lion's share of the 96 available minutes... Freeland would be in competition for the scraps Pendergraph Howard and Cunningham fought over. If Rudy is gonzo then the only backup guards of note are Bayless and Webster. Petteri's ballhandling/playmaking skills and outside shot would seem to have a niche (if he's good enough... I really don't know)

STOMP

 

[axs88]

the Bigs rotation is going to be LA Camby and Greg getting a lion's share of the 96 available minutes... Freeland would be in competition for the scraps Pendergraph Howard and Cunningham fought over. If Rudy is gonzo then the only backup guards of note are Bayless and Webster. Petteri's ballhandling/playmaking skills and outside shot would seem to have a niche (if he's good enough... I really don't know)

STOMP

Yeah, but I'd assume we would get back a guard for Rudy. Although if we only trade him for a mid first-rounder and we are targeting a front court player there, bringing Koponen over would make sense.

 

[STOMP]

Yeah, but I'd assume we would get back a guard for Rudy. Although if we only trade him for a mid first-rounder and we are targeting a front court player there, bringing Koponen over would make sense.

I keep alluding to the option I think they might go for of trading for future picks as the roster is already bursting with guys who warrant minutes. Especially if KP really is on his way out, this would allow the new GM to evaluate whats in place while giving them more assets in the cupboard for making changes a year in.

STOMP

 

[hasoos]

In order to be rookie of the year you have to get playing time. That isn't happening here.

 

[Further]

I don't have high expectations for either Kop or Freeland, but I would love to see them get a shot and prove me wrong.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Maybe Kopo if Miller and Rudy go. I still like JJ Redick for the MLE. I agree, bigs are basically set (especially if we get Brand and Turner)

 

[Blazer4ever]

OK, not enough room for all three, start by bringing one of them this year and bring another one each summer. they are good players, at the very least they could be used as trade bait or make other players tradable, 2-for-1's or 3-for-2's are coming anyway, if god's willing, even 3-for-1. there'll be enough room for at least one of the euros.

 

[hasoos]

Maybe Kopo if Miller and Rudy go. I still like JJ Redick for the MLE. I agree, bigs are basically set (especially if we get Brand and Turner)

I agree, Reddick has turned into a pretty good player. He even played some point for Orlando last year as a backup, and did a pretty good job.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

The only one I think would even have a chance at sniffing the court is Koponen, but not a one strikes me as ROY material ... shit I'm not even sure any of them strike me as rotation material.

Agreed. I wonder if Kaponen could be backup PG.

 

[THE HCP]

The only sweat they would break would be when they were bringing the vets bags up to their rooms on road trips!

 

[The_Lillard_King]

¿But if KP is gone, are these euros safe?

 

[MARIS61]

It's time!
Joel Freeland, Pettery Koponen, Victor Claver. one of them will spend the entire season on the IR, one of them will be this year's dante cunningham and one will be ROY candidate - they've been stashed for too long, earning respect around Europe, playing key roles for very good teams. They already have more experience than your average rookie, and they're exactly the young blood we need.

None of them will stick, never mind ROY dreams.

 

[J_Ray]

Bad year to get rookie of the year, not only do they have to go up against this year's incoming draft class but Blake Griffin is still considered a rookie

 

[jlprk]

McMillan + rookie full of energy and confidence = rookie who sits and watches = 2nd year inhibited introvert who is afraid to exert his will on the floor = 3rd year trade bait.

 

[Nikolokolus]

McMillan + rookie full of energy and confidence = rookie who sits and watches = 2nd year inhibited introvert who is afraid to exert his will on the floor = 3rd year trade bait.

Nic Batum, Roy, Aldridge ... yep, shells of their former selves all.

 

[Sug]

McMillan + rookie full of energy and confidence = rookie who sits and watches = 2nd year inhibited introvert who is afraid to exert his will on the floor = 3rd year trade bait.

Sergio could have been the next Stockton, but he had Nate as a coach...

 

[Nikolokolus]

Sergio could have been the next Stockton, but he had Nate as a coach...

Unless he improves his English, he's got no shot at being the next Dick Stockton (despite the receding hairline).

 

[LOTBfan]

Lots of people look great in Europe.. Serge, Rudy, etc.

At some point you have to realize that they are no longer "developing" and are instead just getting older.
If they were good enough to be here they would be, but as it is now, they don't seem to even warrant the D-League.

 

[BrianFromWA]

This is slightly tangential to the topic, but I think it's where this question goes...

Did Brandon Jennings become a better player by going to Europe? Did he "develop" over there, or just get older? And does it matter since he was an outlier anyway...a heralded lotto-pick-to-be , and not a European of mediocre athleticism?

 

[LOTBfan]

In my opinion, he was not any better having left europe than he would have been staying here and going to a year of college...

 

[STOMP]

In my opinion, he was not any better having left europe than he would have been staying here and going to a year of college...

he was certainly much richer

STOMP

 

[Wizard Mentor]

he was certainly much richer

STOMP

and more humble, which may have been exactly what he needed.