Notice Official Blazer Press Release - TRAIL BLAZERS ACQUIRE DRAFT RIGHTS TO JAKE LAYMAN

[Wizard Mentor]

GOLF, $1.2 MILLION, AND A PHONE CALL: HOW LAYMAN BECAME A BLAZER
http://www.csnmidatlantic.com/maryland-terps/golf-12-million-and-phone-call-how-layman-became-blazer

“I heard that they were very interested in me. I’ve watched them play a lot,” Layman said. “They shoot a lot of threes. Their offense fits me well, so I think it’s a great fit.”

 

[SlyPokerDog]

And the board confusion continues, with people posting to both threads. No one has a clue why Sly won't merge them, or started the problem in the first place.

I work in mysterious ways.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

I have absolutely no doubt that with our training staff, he'll be a very good NBA player....

Of course, it's the offseason and I really go into super-optimistic/full homer mode this time of the year.

My favorite NBA player comparison: a Luke Babbitt who can jump and play defense.

If LB could play defense, he might have become a star.

It remains to be seen if Layman can play defense in the NBA. His scouting video listed it as a weakness and showed him getting posted up by guys 4 inches shorter than him. And Luke Babbitt can jump.. His vertical at the combine was less than 2 inches less than Layman's.

 

[Pinwheel1]

It remains to be seen if Layman can play defense in the NBA. His scouting video listed it as a weakness and showed him getting posted up by guys 4 inches shorter than him. And Luke Babbitt can jump.. His vertical at the combine was less than 2 inches less than Layman's.

Draft express had this to say about his D......"With his athletic profile, and strong lateral quickness, Layman has the potential to be a versatile stopper with multi-positional defensive prowess. He can be a real playmaker here, playing the passing lanes for a steal or rotating over for a huge block at the rim, but his consistency is a question mark on this side of the floor as well. Layman has a tendency to drift defensively and can be a step slow to react to off-ball movement or dribble penetration. Bringing a high level of effort and intensity every possession could turn him into a more well-rounded defensive player and help him provide more value to his professional team. To his credit, Layman improved on this part of his game as his career moved on, and it's rare to find a 6'9 player who can effectively guard three positions like he showed the ability to at times.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

It remains to be seen if Layman can play defense in the NBA. His scouting video listed it as a weakness and showed him getting posted up by guys 4 inches shorter than him. And Luke Babbitt can jump.. His vertical at the combine was less than 2 inches less than Layman's.

I can pretty much assure you that he can't play NBA defense right now. However, I think that eventually he will be a much, much better defender than Babbitt Nation ever was, and a Babbitt that can defend is an excellent NBA player, maybe even a starter. All players fill out, and with the appropriate gym workouts done by Blazer players, his body will develop to where it needs to be.

That being said, I'll repeat that I'm a Blazer Homer during the offseason.

 

[theprunetang]

I really don't get it in regards to Layman. I imagine no one here would have selected him after purposefully trading for that second round draft pick. But, I do have a lot of trust in Olshey. I have to imagine that he sees something in the kid to warrant targeting him specifically. I still don't get it, but I'm just going to have to give Olshey the benefit of the doubt on this one.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I really don't get it in regards to Layman. I imagine no one here would have selected him after purposefully trading for that second round draft pick. But, I do have a lot of trust in Olshey. I have to imagine that he sees something in the kid to warrant targeting him specifically. I still don't get it, but I'm just going to have to give Olshey the benefit of the doubt on this one.

A quote from maybe my favorite movie (Charlie Wilson's War): "You can teach 'em to type, but you can't teach 'em to grow tits."

The blazer philosophy is that it is easier to teach hard working shooters to do most anything, than it is to teach athletic players to shoot.

Considering Layman's skill set, he's a logical pick for the Blazer's system. Apparently, before his agent told Layman where he was going, his agent used the term "home run" to describe this fit.

 

[Boob-No-More]

A quote from maybe my favorite movie (Charlie Wilson's War): "You can teach 'em to type, but you can't teach 'em to grow tits."

The blazer philosophy is that it is easier to teach hard working shooters to do most anything, than it is to teach athletic players to shoot.

Considering Layman's skill set, he's a logical pick for the Blazer's system. Apparently, before his agent told Layman where he was going, his agent used the term "home run" to describe this fit.

And at 47, I think it's all about fit. If this guy ever makes an NBA roster, it's a win. If he doesn't it didn't cost us any players or even any cap space, just some of PA's loose change. His upside may not be huge, but the risk is negligible. As I said originally, he's cheap insurance for the 14th or 15th rooster spot.

BNM

 

[Pinwheel1]

Before the beginning of the season he was projected as a first round pick. So I don't think it was as much of a reach as it sounds.
Apparently he dropped because his stats did, while playing on a very deep and good Maryland team. But he picked it up toward the end of the season. I think the increase in Euros hurt his draft stock as well.

 

[JDC]

Stretch 4's need be physical and rebound? I don't think you understand the whole stretch 4 concept. A guy like Channing Frye is the definition of a stretch 4. Make open jumpers and be able to dribble the basketball.

That said, Layman is better suited as a 3. He's got great size for that postion, tested out really well athletically. I see no reason he can't transition into the SF position.

I understand your point, but you can't just ignore the defensive side of the ball when throwing out small ball lineups. To use your example, even Channing Frye rebounds to average level for a PF and can guard bigs competently. Layman will struggle to do either at even a below average level. Ultimately it's a moot point as he's not going to be asked to play that role, especially if Harkless is retained this summer.

 

[jlprk]

Before the beginning of the season he was projected as a first round pick.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Jake-Layman-7125/mock-draft-history/

Here we go with this propaganda for years. Well, one mock draft placed him at #29 in all of 1 of its 26 weeks. The second mock draft placed him at #22 for exactly 1 of its 14 weeks.

But I'm sure that for years, we'll hear (as we still do for Bayless and others), "Somebody projected him much higher for a week, so it was widely considered a steal, not a stupid choice!"

 

[riverman]

So the Blazers received what 90% of you computer nerds are so desperately seeking.......... a lay, man.

yeah but she had to be 47 for that to happen

 

[HailBlazers]

@BonesJones what do you think of his fundamentals?? Some interesting YouTube comments prior to the draft.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I can't wait until KingSpeed starts calling him the second coming of Peja Stojokovic.

 

[BonesJones]

@BonesJones what do you think of his fundamentals?? Some interesting YouTube comments prior to the draft.

I don't see him being able to create his own shot at all... Best bet is to turn him into a stretch 4.

 

[jlprk]

I don't see him being able to create his own shot at all... Best bet is to turn him into a stretch 4.

Progress marches on. Miniaturization continues unabated. Layman replaces Meyers Leonard.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I can't wait until KingSpeed starts calling him the second coming of Peja Stojokovic.

Or has sex with him

 

[ripcityboy]

Was trolling the Maryland foruma this morning. Apparently Layman got the goods as "they say," good athleticism, decent defense and a nice 3 touch. He had the bad luck to play on a team with a bunch of ball hogs. That and he's not the most intense dude in the world. None of then could ever figure out why. Hopefully he eventually makes us evwntually forget Leonard.

 

[BonesJones]

Progress marches on. Miniaturization continues unabated. Layman replaces Meyers Leonard.

Meyers is like 4 inches taller and 30 pounds heavier than this dude.

 

[ripcityboy]

Meyers is like 4 inches taller and 30 pounds heavier than this dude.

Yeah. But projecting Layman to that position isn't as much of a stretch..... see see what I did there! I'll be here all night.

 

[Scalma]

Meyers is like 4 inches taller and 30 pounds heavier than this dude.

Leonard doesn't play to his size, so whatever. I've seen guards box him out.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Leonard doesn't play to his size, so whatever. I've seen guards box him out.

But it seems that Layman doesn't play to his size either.

 

[riverman]

Layman has a lot of competition to even see the court...he's got Connaughton ahead of him already

 

[Scalma]

Layman has a lot of competition to even see the court...he's got Connaughton ahead of him already

That won't last long.

 

[Scalma]

The arrogance of same fans is really funny to me. This is a player Olshey has evidently targeted for awhile, and he deserves the benefit of the doubt so let's wait until he puts on a jersey before coming to a conclusion yah?

 

[VanillaGorilla]

That won't last long.

What makes you think that? Olhey picked Connaughton as well..

 

[VanillaGorilla]

The arrogance of same fans is really funny to me. This is a player Olshey has evidently targeted for awhile, and he deserves the benefit of the doubt so let's wait until he puts on a jersey before coming to a conclusion yah?

You just came to the conclusion that he will be ahead of Connaughton before he has put on a jersey.. Hypocritical?

 

[Scalma]

No because I've seen Connaughton play.

 

[riverman]

You always hope to strike gold with draft picks...it's possible he comes in and owns a rotation spot but I seriously doubt it happens rookie year. It'll take at least that long for the game to slow down for him...that's to be expected. Stotts seems to give guys a chance more than most coaches

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Meyers is like 4 inches taller and 30 pounds heavier than this dude.

and can't rotate out on defense, which is why Biebs is not the messiah.