Zombie Derrick Jones to Portland

[HailBlazers]

And when the other team swarms Dame, how will he be any more useful than Hark and Aminu were? I'm not just bitching to bitch - I look at Jones and see a poor man's Chief. I would have been fine with keeping Aminu as a reserve, but it always seemed to me he was over-matched as a starter. How is Jones any different/better?

Because he can slash

 

[wizenheimer]

all this chatter about Covington playing PF got me curious:

last year, at Houston:



and Minny:



and 17-18 in Philly:



sure looks to me like he's better as a SF and should only be a situational PF. A steady diet of PF and it looks like he gets over-matched on defense, doesn't score with the same efficiency, and essentially ends up a net negative

 

[blazedanugz]

And when the other team swarms Dame, how will he be any more useful than Hark and Aminu were? I'm not just bitching to bitch - I look at Jones and see a poor man's Chief. I would have been fine with keeping Aminu as a reserve, but it always seemed to me he was over-matched as a starter. How is Jones any different/better?

better defender and way more athletic

 

[1 Eye Jack]

My take superstars/all stars need role players around them to win championships. These are players that understand their role and sacrifice for the betterment of the team. This is easily the best role team ever put around Dame.

With these two new defenders we can matchup up with the teams above us Denver, Clippers and Lakers.
Last year/this year we got exposed on defense and rebounding. The additions make us better in both categories. I wanted to see more toughness someone to send message to the other team I think this team will have some of that at least that’s my hope.

 

[e_blazer]

heres the problem though, I don’t care about the regular season. If it doesn’t translate to the playoffs it’s irrelevant.

I think it will translate to the playoffs. First, they should be good enough that they don’t face the Lakers in the first round. That’s a great start. They should have home court in at least the first round. That’s a plus. There’s tons of depth so that there’s a better chance of surviving injuries and of being able to play varying styles to match up with opponents. Better defense is always a key to winning in the playoffs. If you’re looking for guarantees of winning it all, you not going to find them; the West is too deep for that, but this team, IMO, is built to compete.

 

[RR7]

Aminu was actually a 35% 3pt shooter. No use in his athleticism if he's stuck in a halfcourt offense sitting in the corner. I dont want him stuck in the corner. It's as much about how I think Stotts will (mis)use him as it is about DJJ himself.

You know Aminu was a 28.6% 3 point shooter when he came to Portland.

 

[Tince]

I think it will translate to the playoffs. First, they should be good enough that they don’t face the Lakers in the first round. That’s a great start. They should have home court in at least the first round. That’s a plus. There’s tons of depth so that there’s a better chance of surviving injuries and of being able to play varying styles to match up with opponents. Better defense is always a key to winning in the playoffs. If you’re looking for guarantees of winning it all, you not going to find them; the West is too deep for that, but this team, IMO, is built to compete.

I fully agree that the quality of your opponent plays a big role in the outcome of a series. We've been knocked out by the eventually western conference champs a lot!

I don't think this roster will finish top 4 in the West. I suppose there is a chance we come out and play all 72 games hard (and stay healthy) while others are on the load management plan and we do finish top 4.

Our big problem is that the majority of the teams that win it all have an elite player who has above average height/length for their position that can overcome schemes. Either that or 3+ all-stars, or both. We still are no where close to fitting that criteria and I think it'll continue to make playoff success very difficult for us.

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

So, guys like Hollinger and Jason Quick think this guy was really valuable. But, although Spoelstra and Riley didn't think Leonard was valuable enough to play in the playoffs, they thought he was more valuable than Jones? Or did they think that Jones would accept a lot lower pay; and money is really important to them because they want to sign Giannis. And Leonard was willing to sign a contract only guaranteed for one year while Jones wanted a longer contract?

 

[e_blazer]

I fully agree that the quality of your opponent plays a big role in the outcome of a series. We've been knocked out by the eventually western conference champs a lot!

I don't think this roster will finish top 4 in the West. I suppose there is a chance we come out and play all 72 games hard (and stay healthy) while others are on the load management plan and we do finish top 4.

Our big problem is that the majority of the teams that win it all have an elite player who has above average height/length for their position that can overcome schemes. Either that or 3+ all-stars, or both. We still are no where close to fitting that criteria and I think it'll continue to make playoff success very difficult for us.

I think Nurk is capable of reaching AllStar status. I know that’s a goal of his for this year. Zach will need to step up his game this year as well. We need to see how rosters finalize, but as of right now, I see the Blazers on equal footing with the Jazz and Nuggets.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Jones’ defense is what is keeping him on the court. According to Cleaning the Glass, Jones ranks in the 89th percentile for block percentage and in the 92nd for steal percentage

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

We've got a lot of good parts now; but it just seems that this team would need to play together more than one year to really gel.

 

[Ed O]

I wonder if he gives age a a lot of weight? He must give athleticism a lot.

He has a loooooooooooong explanation of his statistical analysis, but here's the explanation:

JaMychal Green (PO), Clippers — $3,437,062

I’ve listed Green with the power forwards because he’s 6-8, 225, but his best position might be center. He’s not a threat off the dribble, but he shot 38.7 percent on 3s last season, and that’s no fluke. His ability to drag opposing bigs away from the hoop helps create space for everyone else, and he can post up a switch with is jump hook game. Defensively, he’s lost a bit of lateral quickness from his Memphis peak but his wiry strength is underrated and he’s a solid rebounder.

Green has a $5-million player option for this season. In a tough market for veteran bigs, he’s probably better off picking it up and trying against next year. That’s particularly true if Montrezl Harrell leaves L.A., as it would give Green a chance to more fully establish his bona fides at center.​

 

[Ed O]

So, guys like Hollinger and Jason Quick think this guy was really valuable. But, although Spoelstra and Riley didn't think Leonard was valuable enough to play in the playoffs, they thought he was more valuable than Jones? Or did they think that Jones would accept a lot lower pay; and money is really important to them because they want to sign Giannis. And Leonard was willing to sign a contract only guaranteed for one year while Jones wanted a longer contract?

Miami has very little size on their roster. Coming into the draft, Adebeyo, Myers, Olynyk, and Alexander were the only guys taller than 6'8". Presumably it was a roster makeup decision.

 

[James lamphear]

I think our forwards are interchangeable this year so we don't have PF or SF we got fowards or wings whatever want to call it. What I like is players that like to play defense and we pick up to wings that fits very well. Plus we Zach and Nurk pretty good at that too. I expecting our defense improve this year.

 

[riverman]

And when the other team swarms Dame, how will he be any more useful than Hark and Aminu were? I'm not just bitching to bitch - I look at Jones and see a poor man's Chief. I would have been fine with keeping Aminu as a reserve, but it always seemed to me he was over-matched as a starter. How is Jones any different/better?

23 years old and we're paying him almost what we paid Ed Davis and Chief per season..half a million more I think

 

[riverman]

We can potentially have Wenyen, Melo, Covington and Collins play the 4....I don't see the gaping hole...Hoard can play the 4 too if he comes back..we have combo forwards

 

[riverman]

We've got a lot of good parts now; but it just seems that this team would need to play together more than one year to really gel.

Virtually every team in the league will be going through the same thing....we probably have less of a curve than most teams

 

[BigGameDamian]

This guy kind of reminds me of Trenton Hassell.

 

[Cheese22]

You know Aminu was a 28.6% 3 point shooter when he came to Portland.

That's a great point. If there is one thing that the coaches do in Portland it's making guys much improved shooters. He may never be Chris Mullen but I bet they get him to a respectable level.

 

[pougie]

Didn’t initially like the signing, but I guess I’ve warmed up to it. We signed him for pretty much what we had Aminu for, and Jones is basically Aminu if you ticked the defense up a bit and ticked the tendencies way up. I don’t know if it’ll happen in a year, but I can see him getting to the ~35-37% 3pt in this system like Harkless and Aminu were able to.

And ultimately, the deal was only a 2-year deal that’s gonna be an expiring the year after. Any improvement to his 3pt percentage and/or defense will help boost his trade value. I suspect this is the last year of the Dame/CJ pairing if they don’t at least win 2-3 WFC games because at the end of the day, CJ and Jone’s combined ~$40m, the young guys, and future 1sts should keep us in play for a big unhappy name.

This Clipper situation is getting interesting. Harrell gone. Green gone. Morris signed to a sizeable contract. Virtually no picks for half of the next decade. If they don’t sense that they can win this year...

 

[Ed O]

He has a loooooooooooong explanation of his statistical analysis, but here's the explanation:

JaMychal Green (PO), Clippers — $3,437,062

I’ve listed Green with the power forwards because he’s 6-8, 225, but his best position might be center. He’s not a threat off the dribble, but he shot 38.7 percent on 3s last season, and that’s no fluke. His ability to drag opposing bigs away from the hoop helps create space for everyone else, and he can post up a switch with is jump hook game. Defensively, he’s lost a bit of lateral quickness from his Memphis peak but his wiry strength is underrated and he’s a solid rebounder.

Green has a $5-million player option for this season. In a tough market for veteran bigs, he’s probably better off picking it up and trying against next year. That’s particularly true if Montrezl Harrell leaves L.A., as it would give Green a chance to more fully establish his bona fides at center.​

And... 2 years, $15m to Denver.

 

[THE HCP]

When I hear Derrick Jones Jr's name......this is the play I always think of.

 

[BonesJones]

You know Aminu was a 28.6% 3 point shooter when he came to Portland.

Yeah, I pray DJJ can raise his 3P% by 8 percentage points as well. Doesnt happen often.

 

[BonesJones]

Just so you're on record: What (measured) level or productivity would he have to have for you to say Stotts utilized him well?

Uh, I'll say Stotts utilized him well if I see him being utilized well.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

because Dame is at the very top of his prime. The moves we have made are supplemental moves. The problem is that many of us feel we have a foundational problem. We are still rolling with the Dame/CJ/Stotts show and I’m sick of it.

I’m not arguing for or defending anything. Was just putting things down on paper as to where things stands. I’m with you. I’d like to see a bit more. But I’m not going to bash the move, either. I like what NO has done thus far.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

This guy kind of reminds me of Trenton Hassell.

was going to bring this up just cuz the PC we held for him.

what a fucking charade.

all he was was dust in the wind.

 

[BonesJones]

 

[BonesJones]

It's crazy how the same people who hated the Aminu/Harkless pairing because of their shooting are excited about the acquisitions of forwards that shot 33.5% and 28.0% from 3 last year.

 

[kjironman1]

That’s really the difference between him and a Crowder who’s strictly just an inconsistent set shooter. This will be the best slasher Dame has played with in his career.

I agree. he has a different skill set.
I also understand those who have some questions? There will be a time and place for a player like this. If he can get his shot up in the 33-34% from 3 area he will be a better fit no question.
In the end if he doesn't really fit they look to move him. In my opinion this is worth a try.