Zombie Gary Trent to Blazers

[Wizard Mentor]

 

[theprunetang]

That's what I want to hear.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

That's what I want to hear.

Amen.

 

[Scalma]

Trent needs to let the hair go like daddy. He’ll look much better.

 

[BonesJones]

There's a lot to like about Thomas, but we had him and many others in for a workout, and apparently Simons demonstrated a higher upside.

We didn't bring Thomas in, according to local radio.

 

[Scalma]

Many of the mock drafts had Trent being a mid-to-late first round pick. That he lasted to the 37thpick will stick with him.

“Chip on my shoulder? It’s more than that,’’ Trent said. “Going in the second round … I believe I was a first rounder. I’m going to have to come in and work and prove I belong, prove I can stay in this league and prove that I’m better than a second round pick. I’m up for that challenge.’’

Trent’s father played for the Blazers from 1995-1998, a coincidence not lost on the younger Trent.

“It’s crazy. That can’t be nothing but God’s work,’’ Trent said. “To put me in the same place that my dad played – it’s a surreal feeling. It’s unexplainable. Crazy to think about.’’

 

[BonesJones]

Cats in here trippin', but I BET Simons was wearin' them OUT in that workout.

I don't mind taking Simons, it's that we took Trent over Thomas.

 

[riverman]

I don't mind taking Simons, it's that we took Trent over Thomas.

I think our scouts do a good job of assessing intangibles beyond basketball skills which has been mentioned...more goes into a pick than stats

 

[BonesJones]

I think our scouts do a good job of assessing intangibles beyond basketball skills which has been mentioned...more goes into a pick than stats

I think they value it too much with players that have clear limitations.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Gary Trent is a poor man allen Crabbe, nothing to be excited or so

I didn't really mind Crabbe when he himself was a poor man's Allen Crabbe on a cheap rookie contract. Once we matched that ridiculous offer sheet and he stopped improving, he had to go.

BNM

 

[jlprk]

Trent’s father played for the Blazers from 1995-1998, a coincidence not lost on the younger Trent.

“It’s crazy. That can’t be nothing but God’s work,’’ Trent said. “To put me in the same place that my dad played – it’s a surreal feeling. It’s unexplainable. Crazy to think about.’’

A bigger coincidence is that the Blazers (Bob Whitsitt) traded a pick for his father on draft day, then did the same for the son 23 years later.

 

[Scalma]

 

[Wizard Mentor]

We didn't bring Thomas in, according to local radio.

Wait. Let me enjoy this. For once in my life, I know more than BJ does. Exhale. Fun.

https://www.blazersedge.com/2018/6/...n-josh-okogie-khyri-thomas-pre-draft-workouts

 

[Boob-No-More]

I have no idea how accurately Kevin Pelton can predict the future, but if Trent ends up being a better shooter than DiVincenzo and Huerter and everyone else picked ahead of him, we just got a huge steal.

BNM

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I think the Trent over Thomas thing is for the intangibles. Trent is a no-nonsense superhard
worker who has a professional mindset. Don't know where Thomas falls on those measures.

 

[crandc]

Makes me feel old. I remember the draft where we got Senior.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

There's a lot to like about Thomas, but we had him and many others in for a workout, and apparently Simons demonstrated a higher upside.

I sure wouldn't want to base my pick on workouts; even Olshey has said he doesn't do that. I guess an argument could be made that Trent's first year in college was better than Thomas'. Oops, then I looked. Thomas shot over 41% on threes his first year and has proved consistency by basically doing that for three years. And his overall FG% his first year 47%, 6 points higher than Trent. That is a huge difference and he improved to almost 54% by his third year.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

2 - Gary Trent Jr.
Duke

• Birthday: 1/18/99
• NBA Position: Shooting Guard
• Class: Freshman
• Ht: 6-5
• Wt: 205
• Hometown: St. Paul, MN
• High School: Prolific Prep
• Team Site Profile
• Statistics

NBA Comparison: Buddy Hield
Strengths: Strong 6’6, 215-pound body frame for an NBA 2-guard … Tough and physical swingman … Fundamentally sound player … Known for being a high level shooter, especially from beyond the arc … Compact and consistent jumper … Sweet shooting touch … Can shoot the three off screens or pull-up in mid-range spots … Impressive scoring instincts/shot-maker … Clutch player who wants the ball in his hands at the end of games ... Can finish through contact … Makes good use of floaters and improvised runners in the lane … Knows his strengths and plays with great technique … Not afraid of taking big shots in big situations … Can get hot from three by both spotting up and off the dribble … Has very good range on his jumper … Decent scorer off the dribble … Can score off the move and from all three levels … Excellent free throw shooter … A successful scorer in the open floor … A good scorer on straight line drives … Adequate playmaker … Uses his size to gain post position and to clear space for rebounding … Good rebounder … Plays with poise ... Exhibits solid decision making and passing ability … Can drive the ball effectively with either hand … Aggressive player and will crash the glass on both ends … When he’s locked in defensively and competing, he can move his feet and stay in front of his man … Strong enough to switch onto bigger players … Aggressive in playing the passing lanes … Has good instincts for coming up with steals … Built a reputation for being a high character kid and a leader ... Bloodlines and growing up around the game give him a leg up on competition ...

Weaknesses: Average run/jump athlete … Lacks explosiveness … Does not possess quick feet or lateral quickness… Plays mostly below the rim … Does not have an ideal combination of size, length, and leaping ability, which can make it hard for him to fight for rebounds or make plays at the rim at the next level … Can be a streaky shooter … Spotty shot selection at times … An inefficient scorer from inside the arc … Lacks an elite first step off the dribble … He’s not overly creative or explosive with the ball in his hands … Would rather bulldoze his way through opponents on his way to the basket … Lacking great speed, he relies heavily on his strength … Does not create for his teammates as much as you’d like to see … Can be categorized as a reluctant (or even bad) passer, often becoming too focused on scoring on offense … Decent, but not elite, ball-handler … Does not project as a great perimeter defender at the next level … Lacks fluidity in his movements for a wing player ... Gives inconsistent effort on the defensive end of the floor … May struggle to guard quicker and more athletic players in one-on-one situations …Will need to show that he can consistently excel on defense … Prone to gamble for steals …

Overall: Gary Trent Jr. is a potential first round pick in this year’s draft ... He has a strong frame and great confidence as a shooter ... Theoretically, he could fill the role of a 3&D at the next level ... But he’ll have to buy into that role first, as he’s shown to primarily place his focus on just trying to be a scorer ...

So we are drafting a guy on potential, but he is an average athlete who lacks explosiveness and lateral quickness. I tried to talk myself into liking Swanigan last year but I don't think I can do that again.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

What am I missing? Trent shot a measley 41.5 % overall. His EFG was 52.8%, a full ten percent behind Khyri Thomas 62.9%.

 

[Scalma]

What am I missing? Trent shot a measley 41.5 % overall. His EFG was 52.8%, a full ten percent behind Khyri Thomas 62.9%.

Shot selection which led to inconsistent numbers. He’d have games where he was lights out followed by games where he didn’t make anything. But the base is there for him to develop into a really good shooter with Portland, especially since he won’t be asked to do as much. Trent was a near 90% free throw shooter. Thomas was at 72%. That’s a pretty significant difference. I don’t know of many guards that shot below 80% in college that went on to be great shooters in the NBA.

 

[tester551]

What am I missing? Trent shot a measley 41.5 % overall. His EFG was 52.8%, a full ten percent behind Khyri Thomas 62.9%.

You're not missing anything. It's a poor pick.

Even best case, Crabbe's poor defense would still put Trent's to shame

 

[hoopsjock]

I think the Trent over Thomas thing is for the intangibles. Trent is a no-nonsense superhard
worker who has a professional mindset. Don't know where Thomas falls on those measures.

To me a lack of defense shows one of 3 things. That player doesn't have a high BBIQ, the effort isn't there, or he just doesn't have the physical ability to move quick enough.

Khyri Thomas was a two time defensive player of the year in the Big East and Gary Trent's team had to switch to zone defense because they were so bad at man to man defense. If we're evaluating work ethic, I'll take the one who has proven he loves to play defense.

On top of all that, Thomas is a great shooter too. The only things Trent has on Thomas are his size, that he is younger, and as @Scalma just pointed out free throw %.

 

[James lamphear]

So we are drafting a guy on potential, but he is an average athlete who lacks explosiveness and lateral quickness. I tried to talk myself into liking Swanigan last year but I don't think I can do that again.

He was in top 5 in the combined in the shuffle with 2.99 so I thank he as it but he has to make up his mind up to do it on the D side of the ball.

 

[Scalma]

Shot selection which led to inconsistent numbers. He’d have games where he was lights out followed by games where he didn’t make anything. But the base is there for him to develop into a really good shooter with Portland, especially since he won’t be asked to do as much. Trent was a near 90% free throw shooter. Thomas was at 72%. That’s a pretty significant difference. I don’t know of many guards that shot below 80% in college that went on to be great shooters in the NBA.

To expand: an example is Evan Turner. Turner had seasons of shooting 44% and 37% from outside at Ohio state, but never shot over 80% at the stripe. It’s not a perfect science but I wouldn’t bet on someone like Thomas translating his outside shooting into the NBA. Trent has better odds.

 

[James lamphear]

Duke play zone due to they had 3 or more freshman in there all the time. I believe Carter was best out the bunch.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Wait. Let me enjoy this. For once in my life, I know more than BJ does. Exhale. Fun.

https://www.blazersedge.com/2018/6/...n-josh-okogie-khyri-thomas-pre-draft-workouts

 

[James lamphear]

Well he have to remember that Thomas a lot of mock draft had in 1st round so we not the only team pass over him. So there must been something about him through combined and work outs that teams didn't like.

 

[julius]

He was in top 5 in the combined in the shuffle with 2.99 so I thank he as it but he has to make up his mind up to do it on the D side of the ball.

whats the shuffle?

 

[Reep]

What if, having seen both players in workouts, they decided Trent had a better chance of getting his shot off against NBA defenders? What if, they were more interested in playing him some a SF? You can’t measure those things in raw stats. And that isn’t even to mention professionalism, aggression and work ethic.

 

[HailBlazers]

On top of all that, Thomas is a great shooter too. The only things Trent has on Thomas are his size, that he is younger, and as @Scalma just pointed out free throw %.

What about ball handling.