Plumlee dilemma

[Draco]

RFA Festus Ezeli is who I'm hoping they make a run at this summer. At 26, he fits in age-wise with the rest of the main players on the roster & he can definitely defend the paint. On offense he's got some robotic low post moves that work OK, but more importantly he's athletic & coordinated enough to catch a pass and flush a miss.

STOMP

I'm hoping we don't. He's got severe knee problems and missed literally half the games over his career.

 

[MAS RipCity]

I would look to move Plumlee this offseason if I'm Neil Olshey. I wasn't thrilled about moving RHJ for him on draft night, either. Plums is a great backup center, but he's about to get paid in full this next offseason. His offensive game is limited to the pick-n-roll, and his defense, both man and help-side, leaves a lot to be desired. He's an above-average rebounder and a stellar passer, especially for his position, but I don't think they outweigh his lack of offense or overall defense.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I don't think Plumlee has reached his ceiling. Especially offensively. I say this because we see "flashes" of different offensive skills every so often that are surprising. Like his set shot from about 10-12 feet. I think he passes up a lot of opportunities to shoot more.

I am not opposed to using him as trade bait for a better player. Mainly because I think he and his cheap contract have a lot of value. But I think it all comes down to what we want from our SF and PF when we start to think about Monroe. I agree with Scalma that it is a dilemma. Do we go after an offensive center and keep our defensive SF's ? Do we go after a offensive PF and SF and
go after another defensive minded center? Do we stay put with Plumlee because he would fit well with a scoring PF because of his good passing skills. Neil as some big decisions for sure. I guess it will come down to who we can actually get.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I think Plumlee is okay, but I do think that with the Blazers being committed to a small-ish backcourt that isn't known for playing great defense, having a true rim protector would be a major asset.

I am not sure having a small-ish back court means we need a rim protector any more than with a bigger back cout. When we had Wes starting we still needed a rim protector. The need for a rim protector is often needed more with bigger slower guards because the little faster guards are blowing right by their defenders and getting to the basket. Even if the bigger guards shoot over CJ and Dame ont eh perimeter.......a rim protector won't help.

At the present time I think CJ and Dame are average defenders. Not bad and not great. But even if some advanced stats says otherwise, it is not because of their size, they do fine against bigger guards. It is the smaller more explosive guards like Reggie Jackson and Isaiah Thomas who are the bigger problem. I just think we need to stop bringing up their size as being an issue. Being too short by a couple of inches on the perimeter is not that a big of a deal to over come. A step or two is the bigger issue, but guards of all sizes are susceptible to that.

 

[e_blazer]

I am not sure having a small-ish back court means we need a rim protector any more than with a bigger back cout. When we had Wes starting we still needed a rim protector. The need for a rim protector is often needed more with bigger slower guards because the little faster guards are blowing right by their defenders and getting to the basket. Even if the bigger guards shoot over CJ and Dame ont eh perimeter.......a rim protector won't help.

At the present time I think CJ and Dame are average defenders. Not bad and not great. But even if some advanced stats says otherwise, it is not because of their size, they do fine against bigger guards. It is the smaller more explosive guards like Reggie Jackson and Isaiah Thomas who are the bigger problem. I just think we need to stop bringing up their size as being an issue. Being too short by a couple of inches on the perimeter is not that a big of a deal to over come. A step or two is the bigger issue, but guards of all sizes are susceptible to that.

"I think Plumlee is okay, but I do think that with the Blazers being committed to a small-ish backcourt that isn't known for playing great defense, having a true rim protector would be a major asset."

I would have emphasized that sentence like this, rather than the way you did. I agree with you on the size issue, which, as you say, primarily relates to bigger guards shooting over them or posting them up. The rim protector is more of a factor just because Dame and CJ do often get beat by the quick guards, or simply get caught up in a pick. They've gotten better at D, but I don't see them becoming elite at it. That's why I think getting a big shot blocker of a center may be in the team's best interests.

 

[STOMP]

I'm hoping we don't. He's got severe knee problems and missed literally half the games over his career.

really? Please explain what is exactly wrong with his knees that make them a severe problem. Excuse the snark, but are his knees in as dire a state as Curry's ankles as posters here used to claim? Articles I've read described his first surgery as necessary to "reinforce both the medial collateral ligament and posterior cruciate ligament in Ezeli’s right knee." He moved very well last year following that one. His other surgery earlier this year was reportedly to clean up loose cartilage, which is a very common procedure.

I'm certainly not privy to the real details of his or any other players true health status & would hope that team doctors would weigh in before the team makes any FA offers. He's said to be back any day now and should have plenty of time to show what he's got left in the playoffs. Again, please elaborate on what you know that would lead you to share this opinion.

STOMP

 

[Draco]

really? Please explain what is exactly wrong with his knees that make them a severe problem. Excuse the snark, but are his knees in as dire a state as Curry's ankles as posters here used to claim? Articles I've read described his first surgery as necessary to "reinforce both the medial collateral ligament and posterior cruciate ligament in Ezeli’s right knee." He moved very well last year following that one. His other surgery earlier this year was reportedly to clean up loose cartilage, which is a very common procedure.

I'm certainly not privy to the real details of his or any other players true health status & would hope that team doctors would weigh in before the team makes any FA offers. He's said to be back any day now and should have plenty of time to show what he's got left in the playoffs. Again, please elaborate on what you know that would lead you to share this opinion.

STOMP

Ezeli has missed half his career games with knee problems. Its not an exaggeration, he was out an entire season, only played 40 games one season, and has been out for what will likely be another 40 games this season. In 6 of 7 years Curry played 74+ games every season. Curry had one season where he missed time with an injury and thats it. Totally different situations.

The #1 predictor of future injuries is previous injuries. Ezeli likely is getting $10 million or more per season and would be our only free agent addition. I'd go in a different direction.

It's been awesome the last few years not having Blazers with chronic injuries. Sure Wes had his injury but that was a freak occurrence.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Monroe was the reason the Bucks beat Golden State this year. Draymond struggles against low post scorers, but lucky for him there aren't that many left in today's NBA. Doesn't mean they're not valuable. Monroe is also a great passer, so it's not like the ball would die in his hands. I think it would be a good move, and there's a reason why Olshey has been trying to acquire him for years.

You don't think it had anything to do with Boston taking them into OT on the road the night before?

 

[STOMP]

Ezeli has missed half his career games with knee problems. Its not an exaggeration, he was out an entire season, only played 40 games one season, and has been out for what will likely be another 40 games this season. In 6 of 7 years Curry played 74+ games every season. Curry had one season where he missed time with an injury and thats it. Totally different situations.

The #1 predictor of future injuries is previous injuries. Ezeli likely is getting $10 million or more per season and would be our only free agent addition. I'd go in a different direction.

It's been awesome the last few years not having Blazers with chronic injuries. Sure Wes had his injury but that was a freak occurrence.

so my question wasn't comparing Ezeli to Curry or Wes, it was... what do you know about his knees that causes you to call them a severe problem? The answer appears to be not much. Hoops is a rough game & pretty much every player deals with injuries that cause them to be shelved from time to time. Sure a very few players seem to be Mr Glasslike and break again and again until they're done (Oden), but the vast majority come back from injury and resume their careers where they left off... unless they suffered something irreparable. Unless there is insight to be lent how he doesn't have much cartilage left (like B.Roy) or something along those lines, I'll continue to hope Portland pursues him as a FA target if he continues to show out on the floor. I'll leave it to those Docs who've actually looked at the X-Rays & CAT scans & are familiar with his injuries and the recovery prognosis's to make the dire medical evaluations.

Dude is a talent & in possession of a skill set Portland lacks. On court his biggest weakness is his Plumlee like FT shooting

STOMP

 

[Draco]

so my question wasn't comparing Ezeli to Curry or Wes, it was... what do you know about his knees that causes you to call them a severe problem? The answer appears to be not much. Hoops is a rough game & pretty much every player deals with injuries that cause them to be shelved from time to time. Sure a very few players seem to be Mr Glasslike and break again and again until they're done (Oden), but the vast majority come back from injury and resume their careers where they left off... unless they suffered something irreparable. Unless there is insight to be lent how he doesn't have much cartilage left (like B.Roy) or something along those lines, I'll continue to hope Portland pursues him as a FA target if he continues to show out on the floor. I'll leave it to those Docs who've actually looked at the X-Rays & CAT scans & are familiar with his injuries and the recovery prognosis's to make the dire medical evaluations.

Dude is a talent & in possession of a skill set Portland lacks. On court his biggest weakness is his Plumlee like FT shooting

STOMP

Well of course I'm not a doctor and haven't examined Ezeli personally, that would be a ridiculous expectation on a fan message board. Some players are injury prone and others are more durable. When a guy has multiple major injuries over different season it becomes a pattern. When its to the same body part it heightens the concern. When it's a body part that has ended many players careers such as knees its more of a concern. There isn't one single fact that dooms Ezeli; but there's enough to where I don't think we should be the team taking that risk.

If the Blazers were a franchise with no major injuries in our past I might feel differently. When the debate is between multiple free agent options I want us to target players with better health records first. Its not that Ezeli can't become a healthy productive player; all else being equal I don't want my favorite team to potentially go down that road again. I do expect Ezeli to get paid enough to where he would be the main free agent acquisition.

 

[riverman]

I like Mason and Ed on the team for many reasons. They are team players for one. They are affordable. They aren't divas. They still haven't played a whole season together. I don't think Mason has reached his ceiling at all and both he and Ed have improved at free throw shooting. If Meyers and Noah aren't your scoring bigs...you need to plug in a shooter at the 4-5 for matchups. I see a lot of teams with max big guys...Cousins, Howard, Drummond....that aren't having much more success than the Blazers are with our guys. In Cousins case...much less. I think I'd take a chance on Whiteside or Sanders...Sanders could be brought in on a cheap contract...Whiteside will cost a bundle. We can add a big without giving up Ed or Mason but that means Meyers and Kaman are history. If it came down to Mason or Ed...Ed gets my vote to stick around

 

[Blazinaway]

I like Mason and Ed on the team for many reasons. They are team players for one. They are affordable. They aren't divas. They still haven't played a whole season together. I don't think Mason has reached his ceiling at all and both he and Ed have improved at free throw shooting. If Meyers and Noah aren't your scoring bigs...you need to plug in a shooter at the 4-5 for matchups. I see a lot of teams with max big guys...Cousins, Howard, Drummond....that aren't having much more success than the Blazers are with our guys. In Cousins case...much less. I think I'd take a chance on Whiteside or Sanders...Sanders could be brought in on a cheap contract...Whiteside will cost a bundle. We can add a big without giving up Ed or Mason but that means Meyers and Kaman are history. If it came down to Mason or Ed...Ed gets my vote to stick around

Yeah, Sanders is the el cheapo "risk" and Whiteside gets a huge payday (20-21 mil per). We do need a scoring threat/shooter at the 4 and given the shoulder issues with Meyers I'd prefer to let him go. If Harkless could just improve his shot I think he could be our 4, he's still only 22. We can keep Ed and Plums for another yr unless we use one in a trade. Bottom line for me is that I think we have to take a few risks to become real contenders, some interesting choices to be made.

 

[Blazinaway]

Ezeli has missed half his career games with knee problems. Its not an exaggeration, he was out an entire season, only played 40 games one season, and has been out for what will likely be another 40 games this season. In 6 of 7 years Curry played 74+ games every season. Curry had one season where he missed time with an injury and thats it. Totally different situations.

The #1 predictor of future injuries is previous injuries. Ezeli likely is getting $10 million or more per season and would be our only free agent addition. I'd go in a different direction.

It's been awesome the last few years not having Blazers with chronic injuries. Sure Wes had his injury but that was a freak occurrence.

I agree, with injury concerns I pass on Ezeli unless he's cheap which he won't be

 

[STOMP]

If the Blazers were a franchise with no major injuries in our past I might feel differently.

With this logic Portland shouldn't have drafted Walton, Roy, LA, Dame or CJ as they all suffered major injuries even before their NBA careers started. Ezeli getting his knee scoped is nothing compared to Walton's inherent foot problems. Pass on Bill to avoid injury concerns...

EVERY franchise has had to deal with many major injuries in their past. Most players suffer major injuries in the course of their careers. It's part of the deal and it will happen again and again and again. Team Docs absolutely should have input in player personnel decisions, especially in who not to pursue, but modern medicine truly is amazing in how they're able to repair players from what used to be career ending.

STOMP

 

[STOMP]

Cousins, Howard, Drummond....that aren't having much more success than the Blazers are with our guys. In Cousins case...much less.

Injuries have made Howard a shadow of his former self, so bad example. Considering the Pistons and Kings... how many of their other starters would start over whats in place in PDX? I guess I take Tobias over Aminu... 3-4 other guys could be in the rotation mix but nothing to get worked up over.

Its still a team game. Add Drummond or Cousins to whats already in PDX and we're looking at a very solid team on both ends.

STOMP