Fan Fest

[Mr. Robot]

http://www.sportstwo.com/posts/4262149/

thanks man, I thought it was only an interview, so I didnt start the video

 

[Trackjack]

Stotts going to have hard decision to make you got Collins Swanigan Davis and Aminu that play the 4. Does Stotts move Aminu back to the 3. So you just might see one of the young rookies starting at the 4. With Davis as a backup. I think it going to be either Leonard or Collins backing up Nurk.

 

[Blazinaway]

Stotts going to have hard decision to make you got Collins Swanigan Davis and Aminu that play the 4. Does Stotts move Aminu back to the 3. So you just might see one of the young rookies starting at the 4. With Davis as a backup. I think it going to be either Leonard or Collins backing up Nurk.

I hope the decision is "hard" because that would likely mean good competition and all the guys have been playin solid to well. Also would give Stotts a lot of "situational" options and that is great to have more options.

 

[Scalma]

http://www.nbcsports.com/northwest/...kfast-blazers-fan-fest-scrimmage-observations


The surprise

The biggest surprise Sunday was the play of guard Isaiah Briscoe, the rookie from Kentucky who is one of three players trying to win the 15th and final roster spot.

Briscoe scored 14 points and hit 6-of-7 shots while adding six rebounds, five assists and two steals.

After the game, coach Terry Stotts shrugged and said that’s what the staff has been seeing all training camp out of Briscoe. He is in competition with NBA veteran sharpshooter Anthony Morrow and guard Archie Goodwin, a 2013 first round pick – a spot I think many figure will go to Morrow – but after seeing Briscoe on Sunday that might be more of a battle than we think.

Solid Swanigan

Caleb Swanigan had 13 points and four rebounds, and what I liked best was his no-hesitation three-point attempt, which he made.

His ability to be a spacing power forward will only help him get on the floor in what figures to be the most heated position battle of the preseason. Between Swanigan, Al-Farouq Aminu, Ed Davis, Maurice Harkless, and eventually Noah Vonleh when his shoulder heals, coach Stotts will have many options.

I’ve been curious this training camp how Stotts and the players view Swanigan from a spacing standpoint, and all have had basically the same response: He hasn’t shot it well the first week, but they know he can. If he can consistently hit the jumper, that will give him a better chance to be on the floor with Lillard and McCollum.

Of course, the bread-and-butter for Swanigan is his nose for the ball, and that was on display Sunday. He is not afraid to bang inside and he is one of those guys who is constantly in motion.

“What saw from Caleb is what we’ve seen for the last month: Effective scorer, tough, feels very confident on the block,’’ Stotts said.

Odds & Ends

While Swanigan has earned much of the attention and figures to be more game ready, don’t sleep on fellow rookie Zach Collins. On Sunday, Collins had a nice block on Swanigan at the rim, and word out of practices is that Collins has emerged as the team’s best rim protector

 

[BBert]

Looks like it could be another hold-your-breath-and-pray shooting seasons for Al-Farouq Aminu. He went 0-for-4 with one airball and a near airball

 

[Reep]

I'm good with Briscoe for the 15th spot--assuming he is hitting threes consistently in practice. Feels like an Olshey player. He has a great NBA body and love his handle and aggressiveness. If he continues to develop he could be a great rotation player with Dame and CJ. Brings a bit more defense and is a change of pace from CJ's finesse game.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I'm good with Briscoe for the 15th spot--assuming he is hitting threes consistently in practice. Feels like an Olshey player. He has a great NBA body and love his handle and aggressiveness. If he continues to develop he could be a great rotation player with Dame and CJ. Brings a bit more defense and is a change of pace from CJ's finesse game.

A less annoying Patrick Beverly?

 

[BBert]

The biggest surprise Sunday was the play of guard Isaiah Briscoe, the rookie from Kentucky who is one of three players trying to win the 15th and final roster spot.
Briscoe scored 14 points and hit 6-of-7 shots while adding six rebounds, five assists and two steals.

I forget: Does Wilcox not count against the 15 roster spots?

I forget Pt. 2: What is Connaughton's contract status?

I forget Pt. 3: Depending on the answer to the first forget: Could the Blazers sign another "two-way" player?

 

[Scalma]

If it came down to it would we really give up Briscoe for a one dimensional journeyman in his 30s? I think the bigger problem would be if we're actually relying on that journeyman to fill a significant role. If we are, then there's no point in Connaughton on this roster, so the choice should come down to Morrow and Connaughton instead.

 

[rotary111]

Good to hear about Collins being a good rim protector. He is young and slim, but said to have a high bbiq. A big with defensive instincts will earn some PT.

Briscoe looked solid. I could care less if he can shoot three's if he is a good slasher and assist guy. We now have several big's who can benefit from Briscoe.

 

[Scalma]

I forget: Does Wilcox not count against the 15 roster spots?

I forget Pt. 2: What is Connaughton's contract status?

I forget Pt. 3: Depending on the answer to the first forget: Could the Blazers sign another "two-way" player?

No, doesn't count

Guaranteed contract at just under 1.5m

Yes. Briscoe would qualify, but if he plays like he did yesterday some other team will put him on their active roster.

 

[Scalma]

I feel like Briscoes agent at this point but whatever. Here's a nice video if you want to get to know him a little more.

 

[Blazinaway]

I still don't understand why we kept Pat C, should have let him go

 

[tester551]

Yes. Briscoe would qualify, but if he plays like he did yesterday some other team will put him on their active roster.

I thought that if a player signed a 2-way contract, no other NBA team can come and 'poach' them. The only way for them to get to the NBA would be with the team they signed the 2-way with.

 

[Scalma]

"I like power. I like feeling like people scared of me."

Give me this bulldog please.

 

[Scalma]

I thought that if a player signed a 2-way contract, no other NBA team can come and 'poach' them. The only way for them to get to the NBA would be with the team they signed the 2-way with.

Yeah but I don't think he would sign a two way contract if he played well this preseason. Some other team would give him an active roster spot. He's not currently signed to a two way deal.

 

[Scalma]

I still don't understand why we kept Pat C, should have let him go

Probably to use in a trade. We would've needed his contract in the Melo trade since I highly doubt the Knicks wanted any part of Meyers.

My question is would we swallow his deal if it came down to it, or would we carry him just because his deal is guaranteed.

 

[THE HCP]

Was @HCP there hazing the rookies?

No sir, waiting for this Sunday on our first road trip. Trying to figure if I want to have Dame assign Collins or Swanigan to me to be in charge of my luggage this season.

 

[BBert]

Probably to use in a trade. We would've needed his contract in the Melo trade since I highly doubt the Knicks wanted any part of Meyers.

My question is would we swallow his deal if it came down to it, or would we carry him just because his deal is guaranteed.

I would hope they would consider it a peanut and swallow it. The problem is, if they are going to want to get under the tax threshold to avoid future repeater tax. I don't know how any of that thinking would play into waiving Pat to sign Briscoe.

Any chance they could or would trade Pat or Napier to get under the tax and also keep Briscoe?

 

[BBert]

No sir, waiting for this Sunday on our first road trip. Trying to figure if I want to have Dame assign Collins or Swanigan to me to be in charge of my luggage this season.

Swanigan would just stare at you and you'd end up carrying HIS luggage.

I'd go with Collins.

 

[THE HCP]

It's always funny to see how the rooks handle the hazing. Most just put on the pink hello kitty backpack and roll with it. The only time I saw a rook be difficult about it was Jerryd Bayless. He was always a bitch about it. Coming into a hotel on the road at 2am on an 8 day road trip and BRoy and those guys would yell at him to start packing up and delivering the bags and he'd get all pissed. Very funny to see.







Hope me telling this story won't be constrewed as bragging about my job. Don't want anybody to quit because of my career choices.

 

[Scalma]

I would hope they would consider it a peanut and swallow it. The problem is, if they are going to want to get under the tax threshold to avoid future repeater tax. I don't know how any of that thinking would play into waiving Pat to sign Briscoe.

Any chance they could or would trade Pat or Napier to get under the tax and also keep Briscoe?

That'd be great. Napier would probably be easier to trade even though Connaughton is cheaper. But I'm starting to think we'd let Morrow go if it came down to it. Briscoe is also cheaper than him. Morrow needs to ball out and kick Pat to the curb, I mean the diamond

 

[BBert]

That'd be great. Napier would probably be easier to trade even though Connaughton is cheaper. But I'm starting to think we'd let Morrow go if it came down to it. Briscoe is also cheaper than him. Morrow needs to ball out and kick Pat to the curb, I mean the diamond

He seems to be ready. I googled the Blazers roster, and his photo shows him in a baseball cap, LOL

 

[Scalma]

He seems to be ready. I googled the Blazers roster, and his photo shows him in a baseball cap, LOL

I don't know why he's so adamant about basketball. In baseball he'd actually be a top talent and his earning potential would be higher as well. He'd also have a much longer career.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I don't know why he's so adamant about basketball. In baseball he'd actually be a top talent and his earning potential would be higher as well.

I don't know about that...in baseball, assuming he made the majors tomorrow, he'd be making the minimum (~550k, I think) for 3 years, and be cost-controlled through arbitration for another three, making him a free agent when he's 31. If he made the majors Opening Day.

Conversely, if he can just hang on until the end of his contract, he will have made almost $3M in 3 years to be a 10th man.

 

[THE HCP]

Ya I don't watch or know anything about MLB, but hasnt' he already made more money than most baseball guys do in their careers?

 

[Scalma]

Ya I don't watch or know anything about MLB, but hasnt' he already made more money than most baseball guys do in their careers?

Not a major leaguers career. And I said earning potential, not how much he's made so far. Being a FA at 31 is normal in baseball that's when most guys get PAID.

 

[GrandJury]

Aminu is exactly what he's worth. That's why he's paid cheaply.

Aminu is a nice defender. Nothing more.

 

[Mr. Robot]

Swanigan looks interesting, but if he can do that against other teams in preseason, then hell get minutes in the regular season, but when it comes to Collins, I dont believe hell play this season, unless garbage time

same goes for Briscoe, if he shows what he showed at the Fan Fest, he could take the spot from Morrow, unless Blazers need Morrow and his shooting so badly... but he needs to prove that he can shoot, he had an awful year and signed non-guaranteed contract, you have to wonder whys that

other than that, Dame and CJ looked ready to go, especially CJ, Nurk missed some shots, but Im not worried about that, I like that he had the ball in the low post, some mid range shots, one three...

 

[handiman]

It's always funny to see how the rooks handle the hazing. Most just put on the pink hello kitty backpack and roll with it. The only time I saw a rook be difficult about it was Jerryd Bayless. He was always a bitch about it. Coming into a hotel on the road at 2am on an 8 day road trip and BRoy and those guys would yell at him to start packing up and delivering the bags and he'd get all pissed. Very funny to see.

Are you sure that wasn't his happy face?