Power Forward of the Future

[SlyPokerDog]

You should add a quote of a SlyPokerDog tweet saying "And again."

And again.

 

[santeesioux]

^ By Ben Golliver

 

[BBert]

I say we start Vonleh next to Nurk the rest of the season and see what happens. They might develop some kind of chemistry, Noah might learn a thing or two, and he might start to gain the confidence that is necessary to be successful. We have nothing to lose and possibly something to gain.

 

[BBert]

I still say we give Meyers a shot. Nurk does what Meyers does not do. So play them together.

I'm worried about the heads of some of our compatriots here on S2 exploding if we were to do that. But I agree we should do that at times, even if it Meyers coming off the bench.

 

[BBert]

Noah Vonleh: PER = 8.3
Meyers Leonard: PER = 8.3

These are NOT the Power Forward of the Future, if your goal is to win.

BNM

For this season...this is what we have to work with and hopefully develop. If they still suck in June, we definitely without a doubt need an upgrade, and pick one of them to keep as a backup.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

And in college with teams going small, a lot of 6'9 guys are centers as well. Look at Jordan Bell, he is 6'8" and a very effective center .....for college.

There you go. Bell could be our future 4. And Brooks could be our future backup 2 (after we dump Crabbe's salary so we can afford to pay Nurkić).

Problem solved.

 

[Reep]

I say we start Vonleh next to Nurk the rest of the season and see what happens. They might develop some kind of chemistry, Noah might learn a thing or two, and he might start to gain the confidence that is necessary to be successful. We have nothing to lose and possibly something to gain.

Of what we have on our roster, Vonleh is certainly the best fit next to Nurkic. At some point Vonleh is going to get tired of getting hit in the head by Nurkic passes and catch one. But seriously, I think Vonleh could pick up things from Nurkic.

As much as I like the new energy and hope from the Nurk era, I would still like to see Vonleh start for the rest of the season--even if it costs some games. If he doesn't progress then you reevaluate over the summer.

 

[Minstrel]

No new personnel is likely joining the roster this season, so give Vonleh and Meyers extended opportunities to play alongside Nurkic. While Davis is a better player than both, there's little mystery about what he is and adding an extra couple marginal wins the rest of the way isn't much help. The rest of this season might as well resolve some "what would he do if he started a bunch of games?" questions once and for all.

 

[BBert]

As much as I like the new energy and hope from the Nurk era, I would still like to see Vonleh start for the rest of the season--even if it costs some games. If he doesn't progress then you reevaluate over the summer.

Especially if it costs us some games?

 

[Reep]

Especially if it costs us some games?

And if he helps then win out, that's okay too. Either way is a win.

 

[riverman]

I think a healthy Aminu next to Nurkic is going to be good.....Aminu is a better pf than Favors in my opinion...especially defensively..I like Chief's game paired with Nurk

 

[Boob-No-More]

For this season...this is what we have to work with and hopefully develop. If they still suck in June, we definitely without a doubt need an upgrade, and pick one of them to keep as a backup.

That's the point of this thread - the Power Forward of the Future. We NEED to upgrade this position, because our PFs of the present suck ass. There is less than two months left in the regular season, Trust me, they will still suck come mid-April. By then, Meyers will have had five seasons and Noah three, including significant time as a starter. Neither has shown any significant progress in that time, I don't think the next seven weeks is going to make a difference.

BNM

 

[H.C.]

Unless you're going to completely blow it up trading Lillard AND CJ you don't have a rookie PF starting.
Obviously there are players I'd prefer to others.
Millzap or Young under the right contracts imo would be ideal.
Gallinari in a Portland uniform starting at the 4 would be awesome as well.

Then everyone else.
Quincy Acy
Motiejunas
Casspi
T.J. Warren
Adreian Payne

 

[riverman]

That's the point of this thread - the Power Forward of the Future. We NEED to upgrade this position, because our PFs of the present suck ass. There is less than two months left in the regular season, Trust me, they will still suck come mid-April. By then, Meyers will have had five seasons and Noah three, including significant time as a starter. Neither has shown any significant progress in that time, I don't think the next seven weeks is going to make a difference.

BNM

You seem to not like Aminu at the 4.....I think he'll thrive next to Nurkic without the need to score when CJ or Dame are doubled because Nurkic can do that..with Plumlee, you would hold your breath when he tried to score in the paint.

 

[riverman]

If you have Harkless, Chief and Vonleh playing PF it's not so bad...especially if they all learn to play off Nurkic's skillset

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

 

[riverman]

Posted this in the draft thread but it's useful here I think

A list of this years PF draft class...I know BGD listed them earlier but this way you can click on their names.
NBA Draft Prospect Rankings: Power Forwards


Howard Megdal ranks his top 2017 draft prospects ahead of the NBA Draft.
2017 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings
Rank Player School Year POS HGT WGT
1 Lauri Markkanen Arizona Fr. PF 7-0 230
2 Robert Williams Texas A&M Fr. PF 6-9 237
3 Johnathan Motley Baylor Jr. PF 6-10 230
4 Isaiah Hartenstein International - PF
5 Caleb Swanigan Purdue Soph. PF 6-9 250
6 TJ Leaf UCLA Fr. PF 6-10 225
7 Ivan Rabb California Soph. PF 6-11 220
8 John Collins Wake Forest Soph. PF 6-10 235
9 Thomas Bryant Indiana Soph. PF 6-10 255
10 Ethan Happ Wisconsin Soph. PF 6-10 232
11 Alec Peters Valparaiso Sr. PF 6-9 235
12 Harry Giles Duke Fr. PF 6-10 240
13 Chimezie Metu Southern California Soph. PF 6-11 225
14 Tony Bradley North Carolina Fr. PF 6-11 240
15 Mathias Lessort France - PF 6-9
16 Angel Delgado Seton Hall Jr. PF 6-10 240
17 Jordan Bell Oregon Jr. PF 6-9 225
18 DJ Hogg Texas A&M Soph. PF 6-9 220
19 Tim Kempton Lehigh Sr. PF 6-10 245
20 Gary Clark Cincinnati Jr. PF 6-8 225
21 Nigel Hayes Wisconsin Sr. PF 6-8 240

 

[Boob-No-More]

You seem to not like Aminu at the 4.....I think he'll thrive next to Nurkic without the need to score when CJ or Dame are doubled because Nurkic can do that..with Plumlee, you would hold your breath when he tried to score in the paint.

He's fine off the bench, but we need more 2-way players that are above average at both ends of the floor. He also has zero upside. He is what he is. Last year will probably end up being the best of his career. He plays hard, and I like his length and defensive effort, but he's just not a very skilled player. Role player, yes. Starter on a team that hopes to contend, no.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

Posted this in the draft thread but it's useful here I think

It's like a smorgasbord. I wish I could have Markkanen's shooting, with Williams' defensive and Swanigan's rebounding...

Just out of curiosity, is the Tim Kempton on that list, perhaps, the son of the Tim Kemptom that was a center for Notre Dame back in the 1980s?

BNM

 

[riverman]

For a later first rounder I really like Jordan Bell...he's a smart player..number one defensive player in the Pac 12 this season..got the start of an NBA body and good instincts....could put on 15 lbs of muscle but an interesting prospect

 

[Mediocre Man]

While I'm nervous to post this due to the ridicule I may receive, here it goes.

The NBA has changed, obviously, but look at the great teams. Most have a very good to great defender up front. Maybe we need to take a page out of the 90's and add the roght role player at PF. Buck was the missing piece for us back then because he played tough D and rebounded. We have shooters. It's all but impossible to find a great combo guy like Lebron or Green. We need to focus on, and only on a, defensive minded, get under your skin, don't come in my fucking lane, that screen you set on Dame was too hard, elbows up PF. I have no names, just a thought.

 

[riverman]

While I'm nervous to post this due to the ridicule I may receive, here it goes.

The NBA has changed, obviously, but look at the great teams. Most have a very good to great defender up front. Maybe we need to take a page out of the 90's and add the roght role player at PF. Buck was the missing piece for us back then because he played tough D and rebounded. We have shooters. It's all but impossible to find a great combo guy like Lebron or Green. We need to focus on, and only on a, defensive minded, get under your skin, don't come in my fucking lane, that screen you set on Dame was too hard, elbows up PF. I have no names, just a thought.

need fo sheed!

 

[riverman]

Maybe we should be drafting PFs from other sports like rugby or heavy weight boxing ...find that Derrick Coleman or Oakley beast

 

[Sinobas]

I was really down on Vonleh last year, but this year he's shown a bit more explosiveness. He clearly has a lot of physical tools but is very unproductive. We certainly cannot bank on him to even be a worthy backup.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Do we give Vonleh the honeymoon period most of you gave John Holmes?

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

Any way we can sign Taj to the MLE?

 

[Mediocre Man]

Jordan Bell would be interesting. Not sure he'll be 1st round guy though. Have to buy a 2nd

 

[Boob-No-More]

While I'm nervous to post this due to the ridicule I may receive, here it goes.

The NBA has changed, obviously, but look at the great teams. Most have a very good to great defender up front. Maybe we need to take a page out of the 90's and add the roght role player at PF. Buck was the missing piece for us back then because he played tough D and rebounded. We have shooters. It's all but impossible to find a great combo guy like Lebron or Green. We need to focus on, and only on a, defensive minded, get under your skin, don't come in my fucking lane, that screen you set on Dame was too hard, elbows up PF. I have no names, just a thought.

Actually, I agree 100% and posted something similar a month or two ago. Whenever the Blazers have been good, we have had a physical, enforcer type at power forward who rebounded played defense and absolutely did not back down from anyone. First, it was Luke on the championship team, then Buck on the early 90s team and then Brian Grant on the late 90s teams. His playoff battles with Karl Malone were epic and the key to us getting by UTA and making the Conference Finals two years in a row. Grant/Malone was like a Lucas/Dawkins rematch.

So, who like that is available, either via trade or in the draft? I like Robert Williams' defense, and Caleb Swanigan's rebounding.

BNM

 

[riverman]

Jordan Bell would be interesting. Not sure he'll be 1st round guy though. Have to buy a 2nd

I really love his defense and he's unselfish but good around the rim...strong as an ox..after watching a few guys this season, to me he stood out.

 

[riverman]

Do we give Vonleh the honeymoon period most of you gave John Holmes?

I'm still optimistic about Vonleh because I just think he lacks the maturity at his age to match up with the skills...I think he has skills and I think playing with a real center will help mold his game..