How do we get Simons more minutes?

[tester551]

thats a lot of assumptions after 10 games. There’s no guarantee Simons will be a good fit, will live up to potential, or will be a good defender. A bird in the hand is worth two in a Bush.

I'm fairly sure Bones was stating those as negatives for CJ... not necessarily positives for Simons.

CJ makes a crap load of $.
CJ's defense is poor.
CJ is not particularly athletic.
CJ is an OK fit with Dame, but not a great fit.
Ant has more long-term potential.
CJ currently has more trade value.

You are right, we don't know if Ant will live up to the potential or be a good defender. However it's called a calculated risk. I'm more comfortable moving forward with the Dame+Ant backcourt than the Dame+CJ one for a number of reasons.

 

[BonesJones]

thats a lot of assumptions after 10 games. There’s no guarantee Simons will be a good fit, will live up to potential, or will be a good defender. A bird in the hand is worth two in a Bush.

Assumptions? Their differential in comtract, athletics, age, and trade value are assumptions?

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

I'm not sure we trade CJ or put all our eggs in the "Simons" basket just yet. It's really early in the season, it's really early in Simons career, who knows where he goes from here.

 

[hoopsjock]

I'm not sure we trade CJ or put all our eggs in the "Simons" basket just yet. It's really early in the season, it's really early in Simons career, who knows where he goes from here.

Well that and the fact still remains we can't trade CJ for 2.5 months anyway plus we all know Olshey isn't going to trade him.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Well that and the fact still remains we can't trade CJ for 2.5 months anyway plus we all know Olshey isn't going to trade him.

Simons could win MVP this year and I’ll probably be saying the same thing next year at this time. Im aware CJ cant get traded yet, but that doesnt seem to stop people from putting trades that include him out there for discussion.

 

[Blazers1977]

I'm fairly sure Bones was stating those as negatives for CJ... not necessarily positives for Simons.

CJ makes a crap load of $.
CJ's defense is poor.
CJ is not particularly athletic.
CJ is an OK fit with Dame, but not a great fit.
Ant has more long-term potential.
CJ currently has more trade value.

You are right, we don't know if Ant will live up to the potential or be a good defender. However it's called a calculated risk. I'm more comfortable moving forward with the Dame+Ant backcourt than the Dame+CJ one for a number of reasons.

• Ant will eventually demand just as much money.
• CJs defense is better than Ant’s at this point. You guys are just assuming Ant will become a good defender bc of his wingspan etc, that’s not guaranteed
• CJ is just as good of a fit with Dame as Simon, actually, he’s far better given their 7 years of experience together.
• Why would we want long-term potential when Dame is in his prime NOW?

I don’t see us making a deep run in the playoffs with a 20 year old as one of our featured options. I think you guys are greatly underestimating how important experience is in the playoffs. Ant won’t have the experience for a deep playoff run until Dame is far past his prime. Regular season success often doesn’t translate into playoff success, especially when you’re a hungry 20 year old and most of your minutes are against back-up scrubs who aren’t highly motivated to play defense in the regular season. CJ has proven himself in the PLAYOFFS as a #2 option, not a bench player.

I say keep them both and do something like OKC did with Westbrook, Durant, and Harden. Put Ant in off the bench and give him big minutes in a separate rotation

 

[HailBlazers]

Simons could win MVP this year and I’ll probably be saying the same thing next year at this time. Im aware CJ cant get traded yet, but that doesnt seem to stop people from putting trades that include him out there for discussion.

Hold on, you're saying that even if Simon's won MVP you STILL wouldn't be sold on him?

 

[Orion Bailey]

I get what you are saying, but one other note: in the current NBA, you almost have to have a couple of A list vets like Dame and then great production from young 3rd or 4th year players to win championships. It's about money. You need a couple of guys who are still on early rookie type contracts playing beyond their cap hit. Dame and Ant line up fine. When Dame is still in his prime to late prime, Ant will be firing on all cylinders and not be costing the team 20m per. It's actually perfect. CJ is more likely to be traded in my opinion.

good point. I didn’t consider the salary stuff.

but I don’t think it’s likely we trade CJ after giving him an extension, unless that’s another financial thing that I don’t understand

why would we trade our most consistent playoff performer over the last 7 playoff series, instead of a 20 year old who has played less than 10 total games in the NBA?

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[Orion Bailey]

Simons could win MVP this year and I’ll probably be saying the same thing next year at this time. I'm aware CJ cant get traded yet, but that doesn't seem to stop people from putting trades that include him out there for discussion.

Its the financial implications that make it logical to move CJ over Ant, I think. That and Jodie just took the team over and a disappointing season this year might lead her to question her long term commitment and possibly turn the corner to wanting to sell. IF so, they definitely don't want to go deep into tax by moving Ant and taking on a Griffin type of salary somehow.

The one thing I love about sports and life in general really is that more often than not, we must take a chance if we want to get to the top. That chance can be a life risking, breath taking, adrenaline flowing moment. In this topic, its taking the risk of confidence. How confident is Ant? the team? Does he pay attention, soak in knowledge and show improvement in practices(I see it on the court)? If so, when CJ is open to the market, you make the move and take the chance. no risk no reward.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Hold on, you're saying that even if Simon's won MVP you STILL wouldn't be sold on him?

I have big time trust issues with young players.

 

[Blazers1977]

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[blazerfan11]

• Ant will eventually demand just as much money.
• CJs defense is better than Ant’s at this point. You guys are just assuming Ant will become a good defender bc of his wingspan etc, that’s not guaranteed
• CJ is just as good of a fit with Dame as Simon, actually, he’s far better given their 7 years of experience together.
• Why would we want long-term potential when Dame is in his prime NOW?

I don’t see us making a deep run in the playoffs with a 20 year old as one of our featured options. I think you guys are greatly underestimating how important experience is in the playoffs. Ant won’t have the experience for a deep playoff run until Dame is far past his prime. Regular season success often doesn’t translate into playoff success, especially when you’re a hungry 20 year old and most of your minutes are against back-up scrubs who aren’t highly motivated to play defense in the regular season. CJ has proven himself in the PLAYOFFS as a #2 option, not a bench player.

I say keep them both and do something like OKC did with Westbrook, Durant, and Harden. Put Ant in off the bench and give him big minutes in a separate rotation

Yeah and look what happened in OKC in general. They traded the bench guy because he was a bench guy.

CJ is a starter because he's a starter.

If he's going to lolligag for the first 20 games, let him do it from the bench.

 

[blazedanugz]

• Ant will eventually demand just as much money.
• CJs defense is better than Ant’s at this point. You guys are just assuming Ant will become a good defender bc of his wingspan etc, that’s not guaranteed
• CJ is just as good of a fit with Dame as Simon, actually, he’s far better given their 7 years of experience together.
• Why would we want long-term potential when Dame is in his prime NOW?

I don’t see us making a deep run in the playoffs with a 20 year old as one of our featured options. I think you guys are greatly underestimating how important experience is in the playoffs. Ant won’t have the experience for a deep playoff run until Dame is far past his prime. Regular season success often doesn’t translate into playoff success, especially when you’re a hungry 20 year old and most of your minutes are against back-up scrubs who aren’t highly motivated to play defense in the regular season. CJ has proven himself in the PLAYOFFS as a #2 option, not a bench player.

I say keep them both and do something like OKC did with Westbrook, Durant, and Harden. Put Ant in off the bench and give him big minutes in a separate rotation

CJs defense is not better than Ants

 

[HailBlazers]

I have big time trust issues with young players.

Man your kids are in for a world of hurt when they reach high school

 

[Blazers1977]

CJs defense is not better than Ants

you’re right, CJ is a far better defender than Ant. Ant has no idea what he’s doing on defense.

 

[Blazers1977]

CJs defense is not better than Ants

Ant hasn’t played with any more energy than CJ, he’s just been shooting better.

blazer fans always do this. Someone has like 5 good games in a row and the entire fan base demands we trade our stars and they become the starter. You guys were probably saying the same thing about Stauskas last year, and Shabaz before that, and Rudy before that.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Man your kids are in for a world of hurt when they reach high school

HAHAHA

VERY well played!