CJ McCollum favorite for ROY according to other rooks

[mook]

http://blogs.trailblazers.com/Publi...d/99/EntryID/5115/IamaUserID/566/Default.aspx

In between taking photos, signing autographs, and in the case of Victor Oladipo and Cody Zeller, trash can dunking on unsuspecting bystanders, 36 rooks from the Class of 2013 were asked to fill out the annual rookie survey. Questions included, but were not limited to, "Who will be the 2013-14 Rookie of the Year?", "Which rookie will have the best career?, and "Which rookie is the best shooter?" Those were some of the questions, now check out their answers.

Who will be the 2013-14 Rookie of the Year
T-1st: C.J. McCollum, Portland & Victor Oladipo, Orlando -- 24.2 percent

3: Kelly Olynyk, Boston -- 18.2 percent

4: Trey Burke, Utah -- 12.1 percent

5: Ben McLemore, Sacramento -- 6.1 percent

Others receiving votes: Anthony Bennett, Cleveland; Michael Carter-Williams, Philadelphia; Ray McCallum, Sacramento; Nerlens Noel, Philadelphia; Otto Porter, Washington

Worth noting: McCollum is an interesting pick, given that he'll be sharing minutes and touches with reigning Rookie of the Year Damian Lillard. But it's clear from the total amount of votes he received on all the questions that his fellow rookies believe he's a player. That's good news for the Blazers, no matter what his role is.

Of all the questions asked, to me this was the most surprising response. Not because CJ can't play, but because Portland's backcourt is now pretty loaded with incumbents Damian Lillard and Wesley Matthews and recent signing Mo Williams in the fold. Now it is worth bringing up that the rookie photo shoot took place on August 7th and the Trail Blazers signed Williams the following day on the 8th. Had the survey been given a week later, would the results have been the same? It doesn't really matter as I share the same sentiment as NBA.com's John Schuhmann who believes it's more of a judgment as to what type of player McCollum is and can become.

Also voted 3rd best shooter and 2nd most likely to have the best career.

 

[magnifier661]

I just don't see him winning the award, unless he forces the coach to start him at SG and move Matthews to the bench. I just don't see that happening.

 

[mook]

It'd be interesting to find out how accurate this survey has proven in past years. I remember Babbitt won "best shooter" his rookie year. And he probably was, in practice.

 

[mook]

I just don't see him winning the award, unless he forces the coach to start him at SG and move Matthews to the bench. I just don't see that happening.

Yeah, we went from a complete lack of depth to almost a little bit of a log jam at SG/SF. Matthews can play some SF, but that cuts into minutes for Wright

 

[magnifier661]

Yeah, we went from a complete lack of depth to almost a little bit of a log jam at SG/SF. Matthews can play some SF, but that cuts into minutes for Wright

I would be totally fine with Matthews coming off the bench if CJ just kills it. I think Matthews and Mo Williams would be a deadly 2nd unit (Matthews being a better defender and Mo Williams able to hit the perimeter shot and run an offense). Regardless, I am soooo glad that we are worried about playing time. Last season, I just cringed when our wings came on the floor.

 

[blue9]

Barring a trade, I don't see any way that CJ can get 20-25mpg. And without playing that many minutes there's no way he'll get consideration for RoY.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I just don't see him winning the award, unless he forces the coach to start him at SG and move Matthews to the bench. I just don't see that happening.

I agree. There is no way he will get the minutes to win the award.

 

[magnifier661]

I agree. There is no way he will get the minutes to win the award.

I think in a couple years, he could be a candidate for the 6th man of the year though. He has the "Microwave" vibe to me.

 

[BBert]

That CJ is so highly regarded by his peers is very good news for the future. But unless one of the three players ahead of him suffers the "I" word, he will not be rookie of the year, simply because the team will not be relying on him nor will he get enough minutes.

 

[blue9]

I wonder what the first substitution will be. My guess is Mo for Wes. Give Dame a chance to play both G spots early in the game. Then pull Dame for CJ. Then bring Dame back in with Mo going out. That's my guess...ignoring the front-court.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I love having depth.

BNM

 

[Denny Crane]

Seems like one of the guys who will be force fed minutes in Boston, Orlando, or Sacramento is going to win it.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Seems like one of the guys who will be force fed minutes in Boston, Orlando, or Sacramento is going to win it.

Yeah, last season we HAD to rely on Lillard to start and play big minutes. We had NO other option at PG. We got lucky. Lillard turned out to be a very special player. McCollum may turn into a good player, but I'm sure glad we won't have to rely on the rookie McCollum this year as much as we had to rely on the rookie Lillard last year.

So yeah, ROY will got to someone like Oladipo who will play big minutes on a crappy team out of necessity.

So, what are the odds McCollum will get enough PT to make the Rookie-Sophomore game or 1st or 2nd team all rookie? I hope he gets enough minutes to get some sort of recognition, because if he does, it means he's playing REALLY well. With our new depth in the backcourt, he'll need to play exceptionally well to steal minutes from the players in front of him (Lillard, Wes and Mo).

BNM

 

[Denny Crane]

My theory is that if he dominates in practice and in his game appearances, you would play him more and more minutes.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

 

[PtldPlatypus]

My theory is that if he dominates in practice and in his game appearances, you would play him more and more minutes.

Did you hear that? That was the sound of the earth shaking from this brilliant insight.

 

[Strenuus]

In one of the worst draft classes ever, it's really not that impressive. Whoever wins it shouldn't be that thrilled.

 

[blue9]

Seems like one of the guys who will be force fed minutes in Boston, Orlando, or Sacramento is going to win it.

Not Sacramento.

 

[Denny Crane]

Not Sacramento.

Didn't Tyreke Evans win ROY playing for them?

It is possible

 

[Denny Crane]

Yeah, last season we HAD to rely on Lillard to start and play big minutes. We had NO other option at PG. We got lucky. Lillard turned out to be a very special player. McCollum may turn into a good player, but I'm sure glad we won't have to rely on the rookie McCollum this year as much as we had to rely on the rookie Lillard last year.

So yeah, ROY will got to someone like Oladipo who will play big minutes on a crappy team out of necessity.

So, what are the odds McCollum will get enough PT to make the Rookie-Sophomore game or 1st or 2nd team all rookie? I hope he gets enough minutes to get some sort of recognition, because if he does, it means he's playing REALLY well. With our new depth in the backcourt, he'll need to play exceptionally well to steal minutes from the players in front of him (Lillard, Wes and Mo).

BNM

Did you hear that? That was the sound of the earth shaking from this brilliant insight.

My point is if he's good enough, he's good enough. Unless you think politics will keep him on the bench even if he's Michael Jordan x10.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

My point is if he's good enough, he's good enough. Unless you think politics will keep him on the bench even if he's Michael Jordan x10.

Nobody's suggesting anything of the sort. Maybe you need to re-read the portion of BNM's post that you bolded. If CJ gets enough minutes to make the rook/soph game, it's because he played well enough to earn them. We all agree with this.

 

[Denny Crane]

Nobody's suggesting anything of the sort. Maybe you need to re-read the portion of BNM's post that you bolded. If CJ gets enough minutes to make the rook/soph game, it's because he played well enough to earn them. We all agree with this.

There's a lot of doubt he'll get the PT because he's currently behind Wes and Williams.

Read the bold part indeed. What are the odds?

 

[e_blazer]

I think Denny has a fair point. I don't see it as out of the question that CJ could play well enough to push Wes to the bench by mid season.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

There's a lot of doubt he'll get the PT because he's currently behind Wes and Williams.

Read the bold part indeed. What are the odds?

There's a lot of doubt that he'll get the PT because he's behind two legit, proven players, and CJ hasn't proven he can play at the NBA level. It's not an issue of seniority; it's an issue of ability. The question is--and has always been--"What are the chances" that CJ demonstrates the ability necessary to earn the PT necessary to gain recognition? Nobody is suggesting that the coaching staff will unreasonably hold CJ back because Mo and Wes deserve the PT.

All I've been saying is that what you tout as "your theory" is in reality just generally accepted practice.

 

[mgb]

CJ will win not only ROY but sixth man as well.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

He's not in the mix for ROY unless things change, but it's quite possible they will...

Wes could get traded.
Wes could get injured.
Mo could be traded.
Mo could get injured.
Damian could get injured.
Batum could get injured.
Wright could get injured.

Most of the trades we would make require salary going out and Wes is the most likely to go and a big is likely to come to us. So, if we make any sort of trade CJs minutes likely go up.

While each of these is unlikely, together they add up to a reasonable likelihood.

 

[Denny Crane]

There's a lot of doubt that he'll get the PT because he's behind two legit, proven players, and CJ hasn't proven he can play at the NBA level. It's not an issue of seniority; it's an issue of ability. The question is--and has always been--"What are the chances" that CJ demonstrates the ability necessary to earn the PT necessary to gain recognition? Nobody is suggesting that the coaching staff will unreasonably hold CJ back because Mo and Wes deserve the PT.

All I've been saying is that what you tout as "your theory" is in reality just generally accepted practice.

If he's ROY material, you'd think he would be able to prove himself worthy of PT. It wouldn't surprise me if he did.

 

[Stevenson]

I think by December we will see CJ start and Wes come off the bench (where he belongs.) That equals PT.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I think by December we will see CJ start and Wes come off the bench (where he belongs.) That equals PT.

I can't imagine how good a team we might be if CJ is actually good enough to supplant Wes in the starting lineup.

 

[blue9]

Didn't Tyreke Evans win ROY playing for them?

It is possible

Yeah, it happened. But the chances of it happening again?
Although maybe they happen to get RoYs whenever the draft-class sucks, and it's an award that HAS to be given out even if it isn't properly earned.