OT Question about Whiteside

[Nate]

Well, I suppose I should at least say who I am before I ask a question. My name is Nate, and I've been reading this forum since 2012. I can't remember how I found it exactly, but I was on my first deployment (Marines) and I was trying to find out how lillard was doing (the Internet wasnt good enough to for videos). Somehow I ended up here, and I've been coming back ever since.

Anyways, if Vonleh continues to improve this season, and shows no signs of slowing down. Then in the offseason we are able to get Whiteside, would that make us a contender next season?

Dame/Cj
Cj/Crabbe
Aminu/Crabbe/Mo?
Vonleh/Davis/Leonard
Whiteside/Plumlee/Leonard

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Welcome! It's great to have you here!

Whiteside would be a great addition. Vonleh would have to really improve for us to reach contender status.

 

[THE HCP]

I will give this rook the benefit of the doubt because he is a vet like myself........ THAT SAID, going to take A LOT more then Whiteside to boost us to contender level.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

No.

 

[Nate]

I guess I should've clarified. "In the western conference" I feel like that team could be as good as last year's team. And I personally thought last year's team (before the Wesley Matthews injury) was a dark horse contender.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Need backup backcourt plus experience playing together in a system

 

[brendanjames]

When you're putting the word contender next to this team the letters 2020 should come to mind.

Let's not rush this, the journey is half the fun.

 

[THE HCP]

Let's not rush this, the journey is half the fun.

The wife just told me this 15 min ago!

 

[brendanjames]

The wife just told me this 15 min ago!

Good thing you play more attention when I say it

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

1) Welcome!

2) How good is Vonleh in this scenario? Like 14/10 with solid defense?

If we set out for Whiteside this summer I'd like the Blazers to make some roster moves now to expediate the process. Start by dealing Hendo+Kaman (Maybe some other small pieces), Hendo+Frazier to Sacramento for Darren Collison, Kaman+Meyers to Chicago for Joakim Noah (out for season and expiring) and their lottery protected 1st round draft pick. Assuming we miss the playoffs, retain our pick (somewhere in between 8-14) on top of the Bulls pick (20-25?). Go into the draft looking to move up, if not just go ahead and take Sabonis (our pick)+ Valentine (Bulls pick). Grab Whiteside in free agency and try your damndest to get Harrison Barnes.

Lillard / Collison / Montero
McCollum / Crabbe / Connaughton
Barnes / Aminu / Valentine
Vonleh / Davis / Sabonis
Whiteside / Plumlee / Alexander

Wouldn't be a bad start.

 

[BonesJones]

Whitesides defense is so overrated. It's block or bust for him at the rim. He doesn't make players alter shots, and this is represented by his high Opp FG% at the rim. Another thing is usually blocked shots go out of bounds, where altered shots usually result in a defensive rebound. Essentially what I'm saying its people overrate him because of his block numbers. He's a good rebounder (He steals some though), and he's ok offensively. He's also a negative locker room presence.

To me that equates to a non factor as a player. The Heat are well equipped with Wade, Bosh, Dragic, Deng, and a good bench. If he was as impactful a center as people thought he was, they'd be better than 23-20 or whatever they are.

And to think, someone's gonna pay him over $20M... No thanks.

 

[dviss1]

When you're putting the word contender next to this team the letters 2020 should come to mind.

Let's not rush this, the journey is half the fun.

2020 are numbers...

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Whitesides defense is so overrated. It's block or bust for him at the rim. He doesn't make players alter shots, and this is represented by his high Opp FG% at the rim. Another thing is usually blocked shots go out of bounds, where altered shots usually result in a defensive rebound. Essentially what I'm saying its people overrate him because of his block numbers. He's a good rebounder (He steals some though), and he's ok offensively. He's also a negative locker room presence.

To me that equates to a non factor as a player. The Heat are well equipped with Wade, Bosh, Dragic, Deng, and a good bench. If he was as impactful a center as people thought he was, they'd be better than 23-20 or whatever they are.

And to think, someone's gonna pay him over $20M... No thanks.

Not to mention that he doesn't pass (20 assists for his CAREER!), doesn't really have any post moves, and overestimates the effectiveness of his terrible jump shot. Offensively, he would be a terrible fit on a Stotts team.

 

[BlazerWookee]

The wife just told me this 15 min ago!

About 14 minutes too late, right?

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

I will give this rook the benefit of the doubt because he is a vet like myself........ THAT SAID, going to take A LOT more then Whiteside to boost us to contender level.

You're getting soft.

 

[Natebishop3]

I will give this rook the benefit of the doubt because he is a vet like myself........ THAT SAID, going to take A LOT more then Whiteside to boost us to contender level.

Weren't you in the Army during the Bill Murray/Goldie Hawn era? Driving Winnebago's and living in condos.

 

[Natebishop3]

Footage of HCP during basic training.

 

[BBert]

You're getting soft.

In more ways than one.

 

[Chris Craig]

Answer about Whiteside:

First off thank you Nate for fighting for America and Welcome

Second, No not in itself would the combination of Whiteside and Vonleh with a growth in basketball IQ equal the Blazers being a contender. It's a damn good start. Vonleh with some confidence and a little more initiative would be a sight to see...playing along Whiteside might very well help that.

Still the Blazers as a team need to build a better identity. We need to trade Henderson/ Kaman for a solid backup pg or an upgrade at small forward. ( the Blazers need both of these plus the added ambition of Vonleh and Whiteside for a chance at the big time...

That said Vonleh would really need to vastly improve. He has shown sparks of what could be. We need a solid 4 and he could definately be the guy. Though the Blazers play better with their offense not going through a big man, it helps to have a guy who can get the job done on the offensive boards and second chance fgs, I can see Vonleh in that Role.

Also the Blazers should look at trading Meyers Leonard. Yes, Leonard stretches the floor and can put down a three at constant intervals, but he is allergic to the paint, and is a liabity when it comes to rebounding.

Trade Meyers along with Henderson. Kaman, and Fraizer (hell he's Neil Olshey he can get them to take connaughton too) for a starting calliber small forward and a good backup pg, give Vonleh the key ( They really already have, starting him over Meyers) and go after Whiteside, and I like our chances.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Why is it that whenever I hear his full name, I think of this?

 

[Pinwheel1]

I think we can find someone cheaper to play 24 minutes a game at center than what Whiteside is going to demand. I would prefer a center by committee. Mozgov might come cheaper and he could split time with Plumlee.

SF is where the money should go IMO. If we get the right SF, then the other pieces will fall into place. You can always find vets to add as backups (i.e back up PG) if they think we have a shot at winning. But to get to that point we need to upgrade the SF position in order to make us contenders IMO.

 

[brendanjames]

2020 are numbers...

Shit

 

[Nate]

Thanks for all the feedback, I've really only seen Whiteside highlights. I should start watching some of their games!

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Well, I suppose I should at least say who I am before I ask a question. My name is Nate, and I've been reading this forum since 2012. I can't remember how I found it exactly, but I was on my first deployment (Marines) and I was trying to find out how lillard was doing (the Internet wasnt good enough to for videos). Somehow I ended up here, and I've been coming back ever since.

Anyways, if Vonleh continues to improve this season, and shows no signs of slowing down. Then in the offseason we are able to get Whiteside, would that make us a contender next season?

Dame/Cj
Cj/Crabbe
Aminu/Crabbe/Mo?
Vonleh/Davis/Leonard
Whiteside/Plumlee/Leonard

The problem is that you really only have half of a scenario, here. We have 4 quality bigs, but none are difference makers. If you add a big, you need to move another big. IMO, if you want to go after Whiteside this summer and you think you can get him, then you trade Biebs and some combo of draft pick/Hendo/Kaman for a strong rotation player at the deadline. So, my question to you is... who is this other player you want to bring in? Because as you have it the roster is pretty unbalanced.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Well,
1. We will have a shitload of money
2. We really need to improve our defense
3. Especially "rim protection"
4. Whiteside is a UFA, and due a huge payday
5. He's a great shotblocker.

Sounds like a match made in heaven. I have two caveats:
1. He's known as a headcase. That's why he had to take a detour through the D-League, despite being a prime physical specimen in college. Who knows what he'd be like (a) without Pat Riley around to glower at him, and (b) with a massive guaranteed contract.
2. He is historically awful at passing.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Well, I suppose I should at least say who I am before I ask a question. My name is Nate, and I've been reading this forum since 2012. I can't remember how I found it exactly, but I was on my first deployment (Marines) and I was trying to find out how lillard was doing (the Internet wasnt good enough to for videos). Somehow I ended up here, and I've been coming back ever since.

Anyways, if Vonleh continues to improve this season, and shows no signs of slowing down. Then in the offseason we are able to get Whiteside, would that make us a contender next season?

Dame/Cj
Cj/Crabbe
Aminu/Crabbe/Mo?
Vonleh/Davis/Leonard
Whiteside/Plumlee/Leonard

The only right answer to your questions is this.

Unknown...

I think it would taked more than just Vonleh. Crabbe has to become a legit 6th man, Leonard needs to be more consistent with his outside shooting and screening and Harkless needs to take over Hendersons output as of late.

So in other words if Crabbe can get up to about 18ppg, 4 ast as our 6th man, Harkless gets up to about 12ppg and 6 rpg, then we would have a shot at contending.

I dont think these numbers are too far out of reach either if given the minutes.

 

[Orion Bailey]

The problem is that you really only have half of a scenario, here. We have 4 quality bigs, but none are difference makers. If you add a big, you need to move another big. IMO, if you want to go after Whiteside this summer and you think you can get him, then you trade Biebs and some combo of draft pick/Hendo/Kaman for a strong rotation player at the deadline. So, my question to you is... who is this other player you want to bring in? Because as you have it the roster is pretty unbalanced.

If we get Whiteside, Kaman is the odd man out because of age.

Not that unbalanced.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

If we get Whiteside, Kaman is the odd man out because of age.

Not that unbalanced.

Kaman doesn't play... Someone like Vonleh (and maybe even Ed Davis) probably need more minutes next year not less. If we get Whiteside then I am fine with moving one of our other bigs due to the minute crunch.

 

[TBpup]

To add to what Rasta posted above:

1. We will have a shitload of money - Yes but so will about 25 other teams as the cap skyrockets this summer.
2. We really need to improve our defense - Yes but Hassan Chop's Defensive #'s aren't great, just his shot-blocking.
3. Especially "rim protection" - See above. For all his blocks, his rim protection isn't that good.
4. Whiteside is a UFA, and due a huge payday - Exactly and I think he gets that offer from a number of teams.
5. He's a great shotblocker. - Absolutely...and finishes very strong around the rim but has very few offensive moves.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Well,
1. We will have a shitload of money
2. We really need to improve our defense
3. Especially "rim protection"
4. Whiteside is a UFA, and due a huge payday
5. He's a great shotblocker.

Sounds like a match made in heaven. I have two caveats:
1. He's known as a headcase. That's why he had to take a detour through the D-League, despite being a prime physical specimen in college. Who knows what he'd be like (a) without Pat Riley around to glower at him, and (b) with a massive guaranteed contract.
2. He is historically awful at passing.

I would love to get this guy, I just want to make sure a center is our 2nd priority for our cap space and not our first.

If this guy was Drummond or Cousins I would say use all our cap space. But in retrospect using it on players like Hibbert or Kanter is probably not the best use of our cap space. Use most of our money for a SF playing 30 + minutes a game, not a center who plays half the game.

Fill a center roster spot with one of your big Euros you keep coming up with who can play 20 minutes a game. (That is all Kanter is playing)