My guess for Portland's center next year: Al Horford

[B-Roy]

So your biggest paycheck goes to a 30 year old guy who scores like 8 to 14 points when his team is losing?
I'm sorry, i just don't see how any of it makes sense.

With the new cap Horford will get almost 2x more money than DeMarcus Cousins.

Meh, smells like a mediocre move to me.

I rather see Derozan as our new starting SF, to be honest.

How is Horford losing? He's been to the playoffs 7 (about to be 8) of the 9 seasons he's been in the league, selected as an all-star 4 times, made the all-NBA team and has a career PER of 19.1 (higher than Derozan's 16.2 btw).

Is your gripe that he doesn't put up enough raw scoring numbers? I would argue raw scoring is the last thing we need on this team.

 

[Blazers Roy]

How is Horford losing? He's been to the playoffs 7 (about to be 8) of the 9 seasons he's been in the league, selected as an all-star 4 times, made the all-NBA team and has a career PER of 19.1 (higher than Derozan's 16.2 btw).

Is your gripe that he doesn't put up enough raw scoring numbers? I would argue raw scoring is the last thing we need on this team.

I didn't say he's a losing player, i talked about his "opposition force" when his team is losing.

Take any losing game we had against top 5 teams in the league, if Horford was there he would just be another guy going with the flow and the Blazers still lose.

 

[B-Roy]

I didn't say he's a losing player, i talked about his "opposition force" when his team is losing.

Take any losing game we had against top 5 teams in the league, if Horford was there he would just be another guy going with the flow and the Blazers still lose.

That's a bunch of speculation not backed up by....well anything.

But you're entitled to your own opinion.

 

[Blazers Roy]

That's a bunch of speculation not backed up by....well anything.

But you're entitled to your own opinion.

okay

 

[Orion Bailey]

That's not what I'm asking. I'm saying do you actually see Hark doing trip dubs or... what parts of Draymonds game do you see that Hark can do?

NO, not Trip dubs, but I can see him being our 15/8/6 guy, but mostly, he can turn into a combo threat. A guy you need to cover close because he passes well. A guy you cant allow in the paint but have to cover in the perimeter, but mostly the hustle. I think he will become our Green with regards to hustle.

 

[illmatic99]

You see Moe Harkless averaging 6 assists a game? 15/8/6 is a max player.

 

[Strenuus]

NO, not Trip dubs, but I can see him being our 15/8/6 guy, but mostly, he can turn into a combo threat. A guy you need to cover close because he passes well. A guy you cant allow in the paint but have to cover in the perimeter, but mostly the hustle. I think he will become our Green with regards to hustle.

You see Moe Harkless averaging 6 assists a game? 15/8/6 is a max player.

Yuyuza just said what I was going to.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

NO, not Trip dubs, but I can see him being our 15/8/6 guy, but mostly, he can turn into a combo threat. A guy you need to cover close because he passes well. A guy you cant allow in the paint but have to cover in the perimeter, but mostly the hustle. I think he will become our Green with regards to hustle.

Yeah, those assist numbers aren't happening on this squad. That isn't, and will never be, his role with Dame and CJ. 15/8, maybe--he's certainly got the athleticism to approach that if he continues to mature.

 

[Natebishop3]

You see Moe Harkless averaging 6 assists a game? 15/8/6 is a max player.

Define.... max player?

Are we talking rookie max, veteran max, super max, MaxieP..... you've got to clarify!

 

[illmatic99]

Define.... max player?

Are we talking rookie max, veteran max, super max, MaxieP..... you've got to clarify!

Not sure I need to. It's kinda obvious what a max player is.

In the last 15 years, only two players have put up 15/8/6 for a season: LeBron James in 12-13 and KG in 02-03. And now apparently Moe Harkless will. Expand that to the past 20 seasons: that adds MJ, Bird, Grant Hill, Schrempf once, and Fat Lever.

 

[Strenuus]

NO, not Trip dubs, but I can see him being our 15/8/6 guy, but mostly, he can turn into a combo threat. A guy you need to cover close because he passes well. A guy you cant allow in the paint but have to cover in the perimeter, but mostly the hustle. I think he will become our Green with regards to hustle.

I dunno, though... He can get buckets on put backs, cuts, etc... but he's still not there with his outside shot. He's got the hustle, but that's where it kind of stops... he's not a green passer.

Y'all know my love for Hark... but there does need to be some levity brought to his comparisons.

 

[illmatic99]

Y'all know my love for Hark... but there does need to be some levity brought to his comparisons.

The guy I want him to become is who I compared him with after one of the first games in November: Trevor Ariza (and I hate the guy because of what he did to my guy Rudy)

Ariza perfected that corner 3 and is a major threat on offense because of it. But his biggest strength is his defense. Hark needs to learn how to use his wingspan on D and complement his slashing ability with a 45% look from the corners. Get him to a legit starter level first before throwing out historic stats. I really want him to shine in the playoffs -- he certainly fits our timeline with Dame if he can work out.

 

[Strenuus]

The guy I want him to become is who I compared him with after one of the first games in November: Trevor Ariza (and I hate the guy because of what he did to my guy Rudy)

Ariza perfected that corner 3 and is a major threat on offense because of it. But his biggest strength is his defense. Hark needs to learn how to use his wingspan on D and complement his slashing ability with a 45% look from the corners. Get him to a legit starter level first before throwing out historic stats. I really want him to shine in the playoffs -- he certainly fits our timeline with Dame if he can work out.

Just think if he does become starter level. And he's already shown in the last few games what he can do starting a game. His first quarters have been HUGE.

A starter level that we got for a 2nd round pick.

 

[Orion Bailey]

You see Moe Harkless averaging 6 assists a game? 15/8/6 is a max player.

a max player even with the new cap space going back down in a few years?

Yuyuza just said what I was going to.

Not sure I need to. It's kinda obvious what a max player is.

In the last 15 years, only two players have put up 15/8/6 for a season: LeBron James in 12-13 and KG in 02-03. And now apparently Moe Harkless will. Expand that to the past 20 seasons: that adds MJ, Bird, Grant Hill, Schrempf once, and Fat Lever.

Many different types of max contracts depending on the players vet status as has been pointed out in several other threads.
However i did not know the 6 assists was that tough. So maybe its more like 4. The reason I think this though is becaused I think his handoffs to others in the paint will continue to improv, so I see 2-4 assists a game where he is given the ball down low and hands off to a streaker...obviously this is a cap on his progression. Not now. He had a great dish under the hoop to Aminu I think in the last game that made me think he can see the slashers and hit them when he gets defended well.

 

[Orion Bailey]

I dunno, though... He can get buckets on put backs, cuts, etc... but he's still not there with his outside shot. He's got the hustle, but that's where it kind of stops... he's not a green passer.

Y'all know my love for Hark... but there does need to be some levity brought to his comparisons.

Again, I am in now way saying he is there. Im saying I think he can get there.

The guy I want him to become is who I compared him with after one of the first games in November: Trevor Ariza (and I hate the guy because of what he did to my guy Rudy)

Ariza perfected that corner 3 and is a major threat on offense because of it. But his biggest strength is his defense. Hark needs to learn how to use his wingspan on D and complement his slashing ability with a 45% look from the corners. Get him to a legit starter level first before throwing out historic stats. I really want him to shine in the playoffs -- he certainly fits our timeline with Dame if he can work out.

I have not watch a ton of Ariza, but from what I have it seems Hark is WAY more athletic. Which should bring a much more versatile game to the table than Ariza.

 

[BigGameDamian]

I think they'll pursue Horford too but Greg Monroe might be more realistic.

I agree with this. I think the Blazers end up with Greg Monroe this summer. I also wouldn't mind Middleton but that might be asking to much, unless we part with C.J.

 

[blue9]

Stylistically, I liken Harkless to a mix of Clyde and Jerome. He's got the same smoothness to his game Clyde had, and a bit of the hustle/be-in-the-right-spots that Jerome had.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

If Harkless can replicate for us what Jae Crowder does in Boston, we'll be set at SF for the next decade.

 

[Strenuus]

Again, I am in now way saying he is there. Im saying I think he can get there.



I have not watch a ton of Ariza, but from what I have it seems Hark is WAY more athletic. Which should bring a much more versatile game to the table than Ariza.

That's where I disagree. I don't think he can get there. And this is coming from someone who sees a ton of potential in Harkless. But Draymond Green is beyond his ceiling, IMO. Ariza, even Joe Johnson... but not Green.

 

[B-Roy]

That's where I disagree. I don't think he can get there. And this is coming from someone who sees a ton of potential in Harkless. But Draymond Green is beyond his ceiling, IMO. Ariza, even Joe Johnson... but not Green.

Actually Green is not a bad comparison.

Jeff Green...

 

[Strenuus]

Actually Green is not a bad comparison.

Jeff Green...

SEMANTICS! I DON'T CARE IF THAT SEMANTIC IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT HUMAN BEING!!!! :MARIS61:

 

[Schilly]

I missed why we are comparing Harkless to Horford... Are they the same position?

 

[B-Roy]

I missed why we are comparing Harkless to Horford... Are they the same position?

They are both Puerto-Rican.

Well Horford is Dominican but same thing.

 

[Strenuus]

I missed why we are comparing Harkless to Horford... Are they the same position?

They both share the same position....

The position of both last names start with H!

 

[Orion Bailey]

That's where I disagree. I don't think he can get there. And this is coming from someone who sees a ton of potential in Harkless. But Draymond Green is beyond his ceiling, IMO. Ariza, even Joe Johnson... but not Green.

We shall have to agree to disagree. I was on the opposite side at the beginning of the season, but have been really trying to focus on him while on the court. Ive seen some great improvements in spacing and knowing where to be. He is only 22. I think he can become our version of Green with regards to versatility, toughness, and all around hustle game.

 

[BigGameDamian]

I'm fine with Plumlee/Davis as our center going forward. I think that if we brought this exact roster back next season, we'd win 50+ games and get home court advantage. Let's just grow from within.

 

[Natebishop3]

Define.... max player?

Are we talking rookie max, veteran max, super max, MaxieP..... you've got to clarify!

I was just trying to be funny...... and I failed.

 

[Strenuus]

We shall have to agree to disagree. I was on the opposite side at the beginning of the season, but have been really trying to focus on him while on the court. Ive seen some great improvements in spacing and knowing where to be. He is only 22. I think he can become our version of Green with regards to versatility, toughness, and all around hustle game.

What is he exactly versatile at? Are we talking about his versatility at different positions? I am assuming so.

 

[Orion Bailey]

What is he exactly versatile at? Are we talking about his versatility at different positions? I am assuming so.

Positions and both sides of the court and the ability to drive to the hoop or hit the outside shot. Again, This is what I see he can become, not what I think he is.

 

[Strenuus]

Positions and both sides of the court and the ability to drive to the hoop or hit the outside shot. Again, This is what I see he can become, not what I think he is.

Okay... but the assists, really?