Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Including Vonleh in the deal was just a PR stunt. "Look, we traded Batum for a top 10 pick!"
The kid may have great measurements - but he has about 1/10 the skills of a guy like RoLo or Plumlee. The NBA calls guys like Vonleh a "project." MLB calls them "tools goofs." The vast majority of these guys sink like a lead weight and don't even leave a ripple to mark their passage.
Isn't that what the draft has become? All these young guys are to some extent a "project". So do we just go after seniors who are safer, or do we occasionally take a swing for the fences? I think a little of both. At least Neil brought him in last year and evaluated him closely. I would be more worried if he was just looking at last year's lottery and got excited over getting a top 10 pick.
Teams have to do their homework for sure. They have to determine who has the drive and ability to get better.
I have no idea on Vonleh. I will assume Neil does.
Sadly, that is largely what the draft has become. That's also why I wanted RHJ - this was a kid who already shown a willingness to work on his skills.
I hope Vonleh beats the odds, but I just can't get excited about him.
Can he really shoot the three-pointer, as his statistics suggest?
"Yes and no. He has an outside game, but Clifford correctly advised him to concentrate first on being a true big man, not someone reliant on jump shots. Vonleh is a power forward headed toward center, not a power forward headed toward small forward. He's athletic for a 5, not for a 3. So Clifford told him to focus on his post moves, be physical, and use the jump shot as a counter move, not a first resort."
"That dynamic was amplified by a sports hernia he suffered after summer league. He missed all of training camp and most of the preseason. No Hornets player needed training camp more than Vonleh (Hairston was different because he'd played in the D-League). Then, once he was recovered, the Hornets had a first month dense with games -- 18 in the first 31 days. That meant next to no practice and he didn't catch up until April."
hopefully he can come to Por and work out with Meyers or one of the few players left...lol can their be any "informal" coaching of signed players during the offseason?Explains even more why he got little burn. Dude sounds allot like young Meyers, hopefully he'll catch-on to defense and rebounding faster, things that will garner him minutes.
Yeah trading for Vonleh was a PR stunt you are so right dude why didn't I think of that! God you are so money.
Reminds me of another Blazers PF/C project who recently figured it all out. MM's favorite.
Last year we didn't have a pick and Noah was projected to go top-5 - Neil interviewed him in Vegas.
Like he did with Kristaps.
hopefully he can come to Por and work out with Meyers or one of the few players left...lol can their be any "informal" coaching of signed players during the offseason?
Reminds me of Thomas Robinson. Only not as exciting.
Reminds me of another Blazers PF/C project who recently figured it all out. MM's favorite.
Has a Karl Malone type body.My favorite acquisition so far.
He's a huge 6'9" 250 -- and has awesome potential as a post defender, even at the five spot.
At 19, his base is absurdly built. His legs are Chuck Hayes-like, only Vonleh is pushing 6'10" in shoes:
![]()
The body is great. It would be better if he was a superathlete instead of a good athlete. The question I have and that I'm sure few of you can answer is this: does he have Desiiiiiire. Does he have that Damian Lillard/Thomas Robinson/Biebs work ethic and desire to be great? If so, we really have something. If not, he'll be a disappointment. He slid in the draft, many thought he would go 4th, so there's something there for sure.My favorite acquisition so far.
He's a huge 6'9" 250 -- and has awesome potential as a post defender, even at the five spot.
At 19, his base is absurdly built. His legs are Chuck Hayes-like, only Vonleh is pushing 6'10" in shoes:
![]()
Good god... He could scratch his knees without bending down!!!My favorite acquisition so far.
He's a huge 6'9" 250 -- and has awesome potential as a post defender, even at the five spot.
At 19, his base is absurdly built. His legs are Chuck Hayes-like, only Vonleh is pushing 6'10" in shoes:
![]()
I read he has and can play SF.You can add him to the core of Dame/CJ/Meyers if we have to rebuild. It just seems like he and Meyers are the same kind of player and play the same position
if he can play SF effectively we could put some really fun and effective lineups out there in the years ahead. An almost 6'10" 245 lb SF with a 7'4" wingspan!I read he has and can play SF.
I read he has and can play SF.
check it again, it basically says he didn't play center.According to 82games, He played at the 4 and 5 for the Hornets last season. I'm not sure which positions he played while attending Indiana.
http://www.82games.com/1415/14CHA13.HTM
check it again, it basically says he didn't play center.
Isn't Aminu a FA? He's one of NO's guys.
Rereading this thread, I noticed that 6 days before Olshey announced the Aminu trade, SanteeSioux thought of Aminu.
Jason Quick had talked about him early on as well. Don't remember whether it was an article, tweet or in a radio interview. Freeman quite a while ago said they would go after Monroe.
