Connaughton wants to play Baseball - Olshey not on board

[Rastapopoulos]

Interesting article.

 

[PDXFonz]

Pick one and stick with it rook!

 

[barfo]

So, it turns out the white guy can't jump after all.

barfo

 

[Draco]

Great article, thanks for linking. Heres some highlights;

"That's not happening,'' says Neil Olshey, the general manager of the Blazers. "The conversation we had with Pat prior to all of this was you're an NBA player now. Being an NBA player is not a part-time job.''

"Now, look,'' continues Olshey, "if he gets into a second contract down the road and that is something he wants to pursue, then that can be a discussion point ...''

"I signed my baseball contract out of high school, and at that time I definitely liked baseball better,'' says Ainge, who would play four years of basketball at Brigham Young while he also played professional baseball in the summers for the Toronto Blue Jays.

"But there are also some theories now that say there are so many knee injuries because kids specialize in one sport. I played 18 years of professional sports and never had a surgery and never had a broken bone. And some people have told me -- trainers and doctors -- they attribute that to me playing multiple sports as a kid.''

Connaughton believes that he will be less vulnerable to overuse injuries because his athletic portfolio has been diversified.

Ainge, however, believes his athleticism has been exaggerated, based on reports of Connaughton posting a vertical leap of 44 inches at the NBA Draft combine.

"I don't want to ruin the story for the kid,'' Ainge says. "But I told him this: His vertical was 39, because they miscalculated his standing reach. His standing reach in the combine, if you look back, was listed at 8 feet. That's the same size as Quinn Cook, who is only 5-11.''

Ainge figures that Connaughton's standing reach is 8-5. "So they miscalculated by five inches,'' Ainge says. "Now, 39 inches is still high. It's just not Andrew Wiggins-high. Andrew Wiggins is at 43. There is no way that Pat Connaughton is a better athlete than Andrew Wiggins, and all the others that are in the low 40s. He is a good vertical athlete off one leg, but he is not a good two-legged jumper, he's not a great athlete laterally, and he doesn't handle the ball very well because he played forward for Notre Dame. But he is very tough and I love him.

For sure, absolutely, he is going to be all-in with the Trail Blazers. Basketball is now his priority. He is going to trim his body fat, improve his ball-handling, develop the same kinds of relationships that have helped improve every team for which he has played. He is looking forward to investing in basketball the spare time that used to be applied to classwork and baseball at Notre Dame.

He is going to spend more time than ever training for his new career in basketball. And then, when he can't train anymore, he is going to throw.

"I'm on the Portland Trail Blazers right now, I'm focused, I'm playing basketball,'' he says.

He sees himself becoming an NBA player, increasing his strength, improving his skills. And then, on the side, when all of the NBA work is done, he will throw. The NBA cannot object to this plan any more than if he were playing golf on the side, or pursuing commercials, or taking acting lessons or recording music or opening a restaurant.

Imagine the payoff if the minor-league pitcher becomes an NBA guard who in turn is able to pitch in the major leagues. Imagine the good will that will benefit both leagues and their teams if he is able to switch back and forth between the two worlds.

In this era of specialization, Connaughton is envisioning a potential merger. Because this is how you're taught to dream when you major in business at Notre Dame. And if the merger falls apart, if he cannot marry the two sports, then what was the harm? He will still to be able to play basketball ... or baseball.

 

[Sinobas]

He should go back to baseball, he has no future in the NBA. The Blazers should not even waste a roster spot on him.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think he played SL and realized that he's really not that good.

 

[SpamKing]

"I don't want to ruin the story for the kid,'' Ainge says. "But I told him this: His vertical was 39, because they miscalculated his standing reach. His standing reach in the combine, if you look back, was listed at 8 feet. That's the same size as Quinn Cook, who is only 5-11.''

He had a 8' 3.5" standing reach at Portsmouth, so probably a 40" vertical . . .

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Pat-Connaughton-40714/

 

[BonesJones]

I think he played SL and realized that he's really not that good.

I guess Batum should've went back to France after his first summer league...

Seriously, a dude goes off and they say "doesn't matter, can't read into it because it's summer league"

Then, when a kid has an average to above average summer league, they say it means that the guy, somehow, isn't good enough to play...

 

[BonesJones]

"I don't want to ruin the story for the kid,'' Ainge says. "But I told him this: His vertical was 39, because they miscalculated his standing reach. His standing reach in the combine, if you look back, was listed at 8 feet. That's the same size as Quinn Cook, who is only 5-11.''

He had a 8' 3.5" standing reach at Portsmouth, so probably a 40" vertical . . .

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Pat-Connaughton-40714/

Not saying they didn't mess up and he actually has an 8 foot standing reach, but I'm 6'5 with a 6'5 winspan and I have a 8'1.5 standing reach, so it's not impossible.

 

[Natebishop3]

I guess Batum should've went back to France after his first dinner league...

Seriously, a dude goes off and they say "doesn't matter, can't read into it because it's summer league"

Then, when a kid has an average to above average summer league, they say it means that the guy, somehow, isn't good enough to play...

No, some people don't put stock in SL, and some people do. I put stock in SL because more often than not, it's a pretty good indicator of someone with talent. It's not the same summer league of 15 years ago. Bo Outlaw wouldn't go out and score 50 points.

 

[BBert]

Imagine the payoff if the minor-league pitcher becomes an NBA guard who in turn is able to pitch in the major leagues. Imagine the good will that will benefit both leagues and their teams if he is able to switch back and forth between the two worlds.

I can't imagine any payoff or good will. It's not like the two sports are at war. Seriously I don't get it.

 

[BonesJones]

No, some people don't put stock in SL, and some people do. I put stock in SL because more often than not, it's a pretty good indicator of someone with talent. It's not the same summer league of 15 years ago. Bo Outlaw wouldn't go out and score 50 points.

I've seen people play both sides pessimisticly and optimistically, and play the "it doesn't mean anything" and the "its a good indication of what (said player) can do". Guess it depends on who you are.

 

[barfo]

I can't imagine any payoff or good will. It's not like the two sports are at war. Seriously I don't get it.

You don't. Pat is going to lead both leagues to an eventual merger. Baseketball. It's real, and really awesome.

barfo

 

[BonesJones]

You don't. Pat is going to lead both leagues to an eventual merger. Baseketball. It's real, and really awesome.

barfo

Hit a basketball with a baseball bat, if it goes in the basket its a homerun?

 

[Natebishop3]

I've seen people play both sides pessimisticly and optimistically, and play the "it doesn't mean anything" and the "its a good indication of what (said player) can do". Guess it depends on who you are.

Because it varies from position to position, or age, or whether they were drafted as a pure project or if they're expected to be able to contribute.

Take Vonleh for example. He was a 19 year old big man. If he goes out and doesn't perform great in SL, that doesn't bother me because A) it's very difficult for bigs to put up numbers in SL (it's a guards league), and B) he's a young project.

CJ is a guy that I expected to play well. He was a lottery pick, he was a 4 year player, and he was supposed to be polished. If he had not played well in SL, I would have been disappointed.

 

[ebott]

If Neil doesn't want Pat to play baseball because basketball is a full time job he shouldn't let Damion do that rapping of his.

 

[dviss1]

If Neil doesn't want Pat to play baseball because basketball is a full time job he shouldn't let Damion do that rapping of his.

What's he gonna do, get a frog in his throat?

 

[barfo]

What's he gonna do, get a frog in his throat?

It's the grog in his throat that is the problem.

barfo

 

[blue32]

This guy is nothing. Who cares.

 

[Natebishop3]

If Neil doesn't want Pat to play baseball because basketball is a full time job he shouldn't let Damion do that rapping of his.

This is true. The NWA movie might reignite the east coast vs west coast feud and Dame might end up like 2Pac!

 

[Rhal]

I'm not sure what to make of Connaughton. He doesn't do anything great but is okay at a lot of things, thats what Claver was and he showed little to no real presence at the NBA level. I'll like to see what he shows through the next few years but if anyone sees him as the next great second round pick I think thats as big of a reach as me saying i'll win 50k on my next $5 scratcher. I always give rookies at least 2 years before completely writing them off.
What I find interesting is the bit about playing multiple sports are a reason why he has stayed injury free and that play just one sport can lead to leg injuries. Its not a theory that has gained a ton of media attention but the last year i'v heard it mentioned on a ton of podcast and read it in articles where study is being conducted on why injuries seem to be so much more relevant now then ever before.

 

[Draco]

You don't. Pat is going to lead both leagues to an eventual merger. Baseketball. It's real, and really awesome.

barfo

 

[ripcityboy]

Man. He's friggin delusional if he wants to play both sports. I've only heard of a couple of players even attempting it. Good luck with that one.

 

[rasheedfan2005]

Ill be ok with this if he's as good as Michael jordan was at each sport.

 

[Eastoff]

Man. He's friggin delusional if he wants to play both sports. I've only heard of a couple of players even attempting it. Good luck with that one.

Bo knows baseball. Bo knows football.
Pat knows baseball.

 

[Sinobas]

I guess Batum should've went back to France after his first summer league...

Seriously, a dude goes off and they say "doesn't matter, can't read into it because it's summer league"

Then, when a kid has an average to above average summer league, they say it means that the guy, somehow, isn't good enough to play...

Yes, he should have. Most over-rated Blazer in history.

Also, he was a rare example. People whip that out whenever when want to justify some guy they like. I didn't hear anyone saying that as an argument to keep Rashad James.

 

[julius]

If Neil doesn't want Pat to play baseball because basketball is a full time job he shouldn't let Damion do that rapping of his.

yeah, because rapping on the side is the exact same as playing baseball.

 

[rasheedfan2005]

yeah, because rapping on the side is the exact same as playing baseball.

Rapping must be a workout cause all the rappers I see are tough dawg.

 

[julius]

Rapping must be a workout cause all the rappers I see are tough dawg.

little known fact, the # 1 surgery for rappers?

Tommy John.

 

[BBert]

So he wants to practice pitching when his basketball work day is done?

Big Fucking Deal.

Would anyone give a shit if he went for a one hour bike ride every evening?

Or joined a bowling league?

Or if one of our young guys studies for his degree?

Or Meyers Leonard practices three pointers?

Oh, wait....