Portland Signs Georgios Papagiannis to a 10-Day Contract

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BBert said:
I feel so good about this team. Olshey and Stotts both deserve a lot of credit. But what Dame brings to this team is unprecedented. He's the Captain, the glue, the compass, the soul, the MVP. Might as well start building the statue because Dame will go down as the best Blazer of all time
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Doesn't Dame have a statue phobia though? It might not be the best idea to traumatize him with his own statue.
 
ripcityboy said:
Olshey is building a playoff contender out of spare parts and castoffs. I don't know the last time a NBA team did that and won a championsip. What..... 04-05 Pistons? This is a league where people fall over themselves to get premium talent. We are definitely going a different route.
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It's not like Olshey has decided to bring Papagiannis here instead of Anthony Davis. We haven't really had the opportuntiy to go after a premium star at any point in recent times, we tried to go for Paul George but Oklahoma had an offer that we simply could not have matched (and it has turned out brilliantly for Indiana).

We do not have the assets to go for premium players so we are trying to find good talent on the cheap. Olshey has largely succeeded with that, see Harkless, Napier, Aminu, Davis etc. With Dame and CJ we already have two premium players who came from the draft and one of them is a top 10 player in the league currently. I think as long as both of them are on the floor we can stay competitive with anybody, which is why filling out the bench and supporting cast with the best talent possible is key to our future success. Taking several shots at players who were considered lotto/first round picks not so long ago and bring the set of skills that could be beneficient to the team is a very good idea that I'll always support.

We already have the backcourt and the center that can keep us in the game. I am actually fine with Collins projecting as our starting power forward 1-2 years down the line, so now the task is to bring a 3 that would be better than Harkless (who has been very good lately, actually), and building a second unit that can have a competitive edge over our rivals. When that happens, this team could take another step. I actually think having a great bench is more important than having the small forward now. We will have enough scoring when our first unit is on the floor, we will be able to match anybody. If we have a bench that can consistently outscore the opposition for the 12-15 minutes they are on the floor against each other, we will be great.
 
I read recently that Olshey and scouts are utilizing analytics trying to find most-undervalued players with best opportunity to succeed.

Watch for Baldwin to replace Napier next season (because Napier will get paid too much by another team).
 
Harry's Raincoat said:
I read recently that Olshey and scouts are utilizing analytics trying to find most-undervalued players with best opportunity to succeed.

Watch for Baldwin to replace Napier next season (because Napier will get paid too much by another team).
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Want to see what Baldwin can do in the summer league.... If he develops his outside shot we can use him at either guard spot. He even may end up having more upside than Shabazz.
 
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Didn't know they had signed PapaG through next season. Guess they see something...
 
Big man insurance is a very good investment. When injuries happen, it's a lot harder to find a serviceable big man to bring in than guards and wings. I think it's also helpful to have a couple extra on your bench for situational substitutions and to keep your regular's minutes down. For example keeping Nurk to under 30 minutes a game will pay off in keeping him fresh and healthy for the playoffs.
 
http://www.eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/638059/papagiannis-deal-blazers-best-thing-happened-two-years/

– How do you feel that the Portland Trail Blazers trusted you with a contract not only for this season but for 2018-2019 as well?

– “I’m really-really happy being with this team. This is the best thing that has happened to me these last two years. Every person here has been exceptional. From the coach to the GM and the management, the staff. All the players are terrific characters. I’m just happy being here.”

– What do you think is the biggest difference you feel between the Blazers and the Kings?

– “I can’t answer this right now. There are differences. But right now, I’m really happy with this team and I’m going to give my best for the Blazers.”

– Did you think of returning to Europe when you were cut by the Kings?

– “I had an offer to return to Panathinaikos. I want to thank club owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos for giving that offer, believing in me and trusting me to potentially get back. But I chose to stay in the USA and examine my options. After I was waived by the Kings. I immediately moved to L.A. and started training there. Going to the gym, even doing some boxing in order to preserve my physical condition.”

– Do you think about playing with the Greek national team in the World Cup Qualifiers in June?

– “Of course. It’s the biggest honor for every player to play for his country. I will talk with the coaches as well since this is a new team. I’ll see how to make in order to be there.”
 
Yeah, we need that spot to sign a viable big like Len, Okafor, or Beasley
 
Just point out that Pappa G is just 21 years old....barely played....bigs have a longer learning curve in the NBA....to be NBA ready as a center you need to gain experience guarding DeAndre Jordan, Boogie, D Howard, Anthony Davis, etc....as it is the kid has only practiced against a few bigs like Nurk ...project...not saying he's going to stick, but folks have to realize who these 3rd stringer are and not expect them to be impact players at 21...Collins was an unusual exception to the rule. He'd make a lot more going back to Greece and start with a team.
 
riverman said:
Just point out that Pappa G is just 21 years old....barely played....bigs have a longer learning curve in the NBA....to be NBA ready as a center you need to gain experience guarding DeAndre Jordan, Boogie, D Howard, Anthony Davis, etc....as it is the kid has only practiced against a few bigs like Nurk ...project...not saying he's going to stick, but folks have to realize who these 3rd stringer are and not expect them to be impact players at 21...Collins was an unusual exception to the rule. He'd make a lot more going back to Greece and start with a team.
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But even in Sumer league he doesn’t look close to belonging. There are other 3rd string centers running circles around him.
 
Orion Bailey said:
But even in Sumer league he doesn’t look close to belonging. There are other 3rd string centers running circles around him.
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He touched the ball about 3 times....summer league is never a big man's showcase...he's really young...no college experience...he's a project...Nic Batum looked terrible in summer league and Nolan Smith looked like an allstar in summer league...sort of...it's summer league
 
riverman said:
Just point out that Pappa G is just 21 years old....barely played....bigs have a longer learning curve in the NBA....to be NBA ready as a center you need to gain experience guarding DeAndre Jordan, Boogie, D Howard, Anthony Davis, etc....as it is the kid has only practiced against a few bigs like Nurk ...project...not saying he's going to stick, but folks have to realize who these 3rd stringer are and not expect them to be impact players at 21...Collins was an unusual exception to the rule. He'd make a lot more going back to Greece and start with a team.
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Too many projects in our front court. Papa is a project, Swanigan is a project, Meyers has been a project for 6 years. Blazers are deep in their back court, and even at the 3, but the front court is paper thin. They need to let papa go or trade Swanigan to make room for a viable big, who can provide more depth in the front court to balance out the roster.
 
riverman said:
He touched the ball about 3 times....summer league is never a big man's showcase...he's really young...no college experience...he's a project...Nic Batum looked terrible in summer league and Nolan Smith looked like an allstar in summer league...sort of...it's summer league
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It’s his footwork though. he doesn’t need the ball to show or noit show what he has. I’m Saying he looks waaay too slow and cement footed to ever make it in the nba as anything.
 
Orion Bailey said:
But even in Sumer league he doesn’t look close to belonging. There are other 3rd string centers running circles around him.
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plus we have three third string centers
 
Orion Bailey said:
It’s his footwork though. he doesn’t need the ball to show or noit show what he has. I’m Saying he looks waaay too slow and cement footed to ever make it in the nba as anything.
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He's like Frankenstein in there
 
Chris Craig said:
Too many projects in our front court. Papa is a project, Swanigan is a project, Meyers has been a project for 6 years. Blazers are deep in their back court, and even at the 3, but the front court is paper thin. They need to let papa go or trade Swanigan to make room for a viable big, who can provide more depth in the front court to balance out the roster.
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They may well do that but to say a rookie big like him looks uncertain on an NBA court is a given in my view....two way contract would be the ticket for him..like Baldwin had last season. He'll probably go back to Greece for the paycheck and the comfort level anyway.
 
riverman said:
They may well do that but to say a rookie big like him looks uncertain on an NBA court is a given in my view....two way contract would be the ticket for him..like Baldwin had last season. He'll probably go back to Greece for the paycheck and the comfort level anyway.
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Of course he looks uncertain he's a rookie. I am not arguing that. I am saying the Blazers have too many project bigs. They lost Ed Davis and need another big who isn't a project.
 
riverman said:
prepare yourself CC....Meyers is not a 3rd stringer anymore with Ed gone....we have 3 rotation centers as it stands....Collins, Nurk and Leonard
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I hope he brings it, I really do. It'll be about damned time. He didn't look too bad last season, but even with him, blazers need a little more depth in the front court. Let Papa go back to Greece, let the G league babysit Swanigan, and sign another big who can shoot and play defense to add more depth.
 
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