Sharpe's ceiling

[JfizzleBlazer]

I believe Shaedon will surpass Ant Edwards.

I'd be ecstatic if he could. I haven't seen anything close to being Ant Edwards yet though. I've been saying for years Ant is going to be a stud. Saying Sharpe will be better means Sharpe would have to be better than top 10 in the league, which is where I think Ant is at now. (Probably closer to 10).

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I believe Shaedon will surpass Ant Edwards.

That is pure wishful thinking. Edwards has the X-factor, the kind of thing that separates Jimmy Butler from every other #30 pick. That's rarer than hen's teeth. Shaedon has natural gifts galore but he hasn't got that unstoppable drive and ridiculous off-the-charts self-belief.

 

[STOMP]

I'd be ecstatic if he could. I haven't seen anything close to being Ant Edwards yet though. I've been saying for years Ant is going to be a stud. Saying Sharpe will be better means Sharpe would have to be better than top 10 in the league, which is where I think Ant is at now. (Probably closer to 10).

FWIW on a per game basis in my fantasy league's stats, Ant was the 20th best player in the league this past season. He was sandwiched between Haliburton & Kyrie.

Of course I'd be thrilled if SS levels off there or above in a couple years, but this season didn't give me confidence that he would. Following a rookie year where clearly he had things to clean up/work on, nothing was more obvious in it's need for addressing then his handle. I've no idea if he put in the work or didn't, but it was still the same glaring weakness in a shortened year 2. He's been blessed with amazing physical gifts, but it also takes obsession with the game to even approach greatness. I hope he was watching Ant dominating the Suns. I hope he sees his 2nd year as unacceptable.

STOMP

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Sharpe is the most valuable player on the team, but that's more an indication of the shit talent up and down this roster than an indication Sharpe is likely to become a star or anything.

Blazers have always had a more valuable player than Sharpe going back decades. Some might argue the 95-97 period between the Drexler trade and 2nd year Sheed was the last such period..... So about 30 years.

 

[KingSpeed]

I'd be ecstatic if he could. I haven't seen anything close to being Ant Edwards yet though. I've been saying for years Ant is going to be a stud. Saying Sharpe will be better means Sharpe would have to be better than top 10 in the league, which is where I think Ant is at now. (Probably closer to 10).

Anthony Edwards is way overrated. Top 10?? He was 47th in the NBA in PER this season. Behind Luke Kornet.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Anthony Edwards is way overrated. Top 10?? He was 47th in the NBA in PER this season. Behind Luke Kornet.

Ant is 22. PER is one tool to use, but it is not end all be all. If it were, then mark williams is a top 20 player in the league.

 

[KingSpeed]

Ant is 22. PER is one tool to use, but it is not end all be all. If it were, then mark williams is a top 20 player in the league.

Yes, it’s one tool but you can’t be Top 10 in the whole NBA if you’re 47th in PER. Embiid, Jokic, Shai, Luka, Giannis, Brunson, Halliburton, Tatum, Sabonis, and AD are all much better than Ant. His age doesn’t change this.

 

[KingSpeed]

Ant is 22. PER is one tool to use, but it is not end all be all. If it were, then mark williams is a top 20 player in the league.

Mark Williams is underrated by the way. He may be Top 20 in a couple years. He’s also 22.

 

[KingSpeed]

Mark Williams also shoots better than Ant and had a better RPM this season. There are some other tools

 

[BIG Q]

My thought is for Sharpe to reach his full potential Portland needs to stop having Simons, Brogdon and Grant closing out games and let the young guys have their shot. Only one way to learn, and that is to do it. Personally I would much rather see Shaedon putting up twenty shots and having opportinities at the end of games. Instead, he is forced to defer.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Yes, it’s one tool but you can’t be Top 10 in the whole NBA if you’re 47th in PER. Embiid, Jokic, Shai, Luka, Giannis, Brunson, Halliburton, Tatum, Sabonis, and AD are all much better than Ant. His age doesn’t change this.

I disagree on Brunson, Haliburton, Sabonis and AD. It's not definitive that they are better. The others I'll give to you.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Mark Williams is underrated by the way. He may be Top 20 in a couple years. He’s also 22.

Let's make a wager on which 22 year old is better next year between Ant and Mark Williams.

 

[KingSpeed]

Let's make a wager on which 22 year old is better next year between Ant and Mark Williams.

When did I say Mark Williams would be better? I said he was underrated and could be Top 20 in a couple years. But the point is Edwards is overrated. A 19 PER isn’t impressive no matter how you slice it. He certainly isn’t Top 10. Minnesota is a well coached team with vets like Conley and Gobert and Edwards is getting way too much credit because he dunks.

 

[handiman]

Anthony Edwards is way overrated. Top 10?? He was 47th in the NBA in PER this season. Behind Luke Kornet.

This fits the eye test for me. Edwards has big time highlight games, but he's pretty mediocre whenever I watch. That indicates that the truth lies somewhere in between, which fits with his average production being closer to top-50 than to top-10.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

When did I say Mark Williams would be better? I said he was underrated and could be Top 20 in a couple years. But the point is Edwards is overrated. A 19 PER isn’t impressive no matter how you slice it. He certainly isn’t Top 10. Minnesota is a well coached team with vets like Conley and Gobert and Edwards is getting way too much credit because he dunks.

I don't know how to respond to this.

Have a good night eric.

 

[AldoTrapani]

That is pure wishful thinking. Edwards has the X-factor, the kind of thing that separates Jimmy Butler from every other #30 pick. That's rarer than hen's teeth. Shaedon has natural gifts galore but he hasn't got that unstoppable drive and ridiculous off-the-charts self-belief.

Yup. Also Sharpe doesn’t seem to have that extreme hunger to be the number 1 player in the nba. He seems like a come in to work and clock out guy who can’t wait to get home. Good kid tho

 

[inconceivable]

Yup. Also Sharpe doesn’t seem to have that extreme hunger to be the number 1 player in the nba. He seems like a come in to work and clock out guy who can’t wait to get home. Good kid tho

Like Jokic

 

[Hoopguru]

My thought is for Sharpe to reach his full potential Portland needs to stop having Simons, Brogdon and Grant closing out games and let the young guys have their shot. Only one way to learn, and that is to do it. Personally I would much rather see Shaedon putting up twenty shots and having opportinities at the end of games. Instead, he is forced to defer.

Thus Simons needs to be traded or come off the bench. A trade for a front liner would be my preference.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

My thought is for Sharpe to reach his full potential Portland needs to stop having Simons, Brogdon and Grant closing out games and let the young guys have their shot. Only one way to learn, and that is to do it. Personally I would much rather see Shaedon putting up twenty shots and having opportinities at the end of games. Instead, he is forced to defer.

I don't agree with this, remove those guys and we have scrubs playing then Sharpe leads a team getting blown out. That's worse experience.

Blazers need talent, that will help Sharpe and other young guys.

 

[BIG Q]

I don't agree with this, remove those guys and we have scrubs playing then Sharpe leads a team getting blown out. That's worse experience.

Blazers need talent, that will help Sharpe and other young guys.

I didn't type anything about removing anyone. Maybe at the end of games leave Ant/Brogdon on the bench while Sharpe/Scoot figure it out. Put Grant in the corner to hoist a three if the shot clock is winding down and Sharpe/Scoot can't get their shot. This is basically what Ant does to Scoot, make him into a three point shooter at the end of the shot clock.

 

[kjironman1]

Yup. Also Sharpe doesn’t seem to have that extreme hunger to be the number 1 player in the nba. He seems like a come in to work and clock out guy who can’t wait to get home. Good kid tho

You know nothing about him but here you are taking his inventory.

 

[wizenheimer]

I don't agree with this, remove those guys and we have scrubs playing then Sharpe leads a team getting blown out. That's worse experience.

Blazers need talent, that will help Sharpe and other young guys.

I don't think that's any kind of real guideline. The circumstances can be one player is standing in the way of another player, taking all the air out of the room. That happens all the time. Ant is 'better' than Sharpe right now but Portland isn't contending. Monta Ellis was better than Curry when he was traded; Zach Randolph was better than LMA when he was traded. Those were necessary deals to create roster balance and open paths for younger players to bloom.

if Ant is the starting SG logging 34-35 minutes a game, he's in the way of Sharpe. If Ant is the starting PG he's in the way of Scoot. You can argue that Scoot and Sharpe have not shown enough to be given the keys yet, but there's a pretty low standard for issuing keys on a 21 win team. I don't find it persuasive to argue there are enough minutes for all three. One of Scoot/Sharpe will sit when we all know that the player most suited to come off the bench as a 6th man is Ant; and that's not going to happen

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I don't think that's any kind of real guideline. The circumstances can be one player is standing in the way of another player, taking all the air out of the room. That happens all the time. Ant is 'better' than Sharpe right now but Portland isn't contending. Monta Ellis was better than Curry when he was traded; Zach Randolph was better than LMA when he was traded. Those were necessary deals to create roster balance and open paths for younger players to bloom.

if Ant is the starting SG logging 34-35 minutes a game, he's in the way of Sharpe. If Ant is the starting PG he's in the way of Scoot. You can argue that Scoot and Sharpe have not shown enough to be given the keys yet, but there's a pretty low standard for issuing keys on a 21 win team. I don't find it persuasive to argue there are enough minutes for all three. One of Scoot/Sharpe will sit when we all know that the player most suited to come off the bench as a 6th man is Ant; and that's not going to happen

We just disagree on this. I hated the ZBo trade at the time and still do today. Championship level players like Sheed find a big role regardless of who else is on the court or starting in front of them. Sheed was coming off the bench the first year we made the WCF, probably was our best player even, those quality of players don't need what little talent is on a 21 win team removed in order to develop.

If Sharpe can't beat out mediocre vets like Brogdon/Grant/Ant then he just isn't a great starter.

Players need to go get that role themselves, they don't need the teams talent removed and a role gifted to them.

Since we haven't seen more than 2 of these guys healthy at a time, and often have had two injured, I think your massively overblowing how much they are in each other's way.

Honestly I'm not sure if any of the 3 are a long term starter. Let's wait until one of them proves it before we worry about all 3 of them being limited in bench roles.

 

[blazerkor]

We just disagree on this. I hated the ZBo trade at the time and still do today. Championship level players like Sheed find a big role regardless of who else is on the court or starting in front of them. Sheed was coming off the bench the first year we made the WCF, probably was our best player even, those quality of players don't need what little talent is on a 21 win team removed in order to develop.

If Sharpe can't beat out mediocre vets like Brogdon/Grant/Ant then he just isn't a great starter.

Players need to go get that role themselves, they don't need the teams talent removed and a role gifted to them.

Since we haven't seen more than 2 of these guys healthy at a time, and often have had two injured, I think your massively overblowing how much they are in each other's way.

Honestly I'm not sure if any of the 3 are a long term starter. Let's wait until one of them proves it before we worry about all 3 of them being limited in bench roles.

Yeah I also remember how well Jermaine O'Neal developed here with his ass on the bench because he couldn't beat guys out and then... Oh wait a minute, Jermaine couldn't develop here because of a lack of playing time and became an all star once a team cleared the runway for him.

The biggest problem isn't a guy like Malcolm, I think Malcolm would be good on this team but I think he probably carries more value on a team trying to win now. The biggest problems are Jerami and Ant because they iso and don't present opportunities for guys to develop no matter how much potential the guys have. Chauncey said several times this season that he was mad that Shaedon wasn't taking more shots but he then let Ant and Jerami clear the fucking floor and not operate within what Chauncey said the offense was supposed to be. We saw at the end of his rookie season that Shaedon is very capable of putting up just as big of numbers as Ant, with more efficiency when given the space to do so. We also saw this season that Ant and Jerami take Deandre completely out of the game.

It doesn't have to be the case but Chauncey treats Ant and Jerami differently than anyone else. I want to see those guys moved. I could see the argument for our young talent to have to earn their minutes if we were a contender but Ant and Jerami lead us to a shit ton of losses too.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Seeing all the forward draft prospects with similar or smaller measurables than Sharpe makes me wonder if he might play extensive SF minutes in his career. What do you all think?

Now I don't think we want him at SF for extensive minutes of a game the whole time with a short guard duo of Scoot/Ant. But I think he'd be fine with an average sized SG that's a good defender. That may allow us to look for more SG prospects in the draft as well as in trades.

Josh Hart is the same height or smaller and always plays SF for the Knicks, and started Tuesday at PF against Siakam in a playoff win.

 

[illmatic99]

Just a preference, but moving forward, i want physically imposing and atheltic/strong dudes at every position.

I want a size and athleticism advantage 1-5. Putting Shae at SF fulltime would not give us as big an advantage as him at SG fulltime.

 

[wizenheimer]

trying to compare Sharpe to Hart as SF's is like trying to compare Grant to Rodman as PF's. Hart and Rodman are unique players; unique enough that using them as templates for other players almost always fails. Hart and Rodman had/have motors that ran at 110% of full speed. And for me, right now, the biggest concern about Sharpe is his motor

here's the thing: if Ant wasn't on the Blazers there would be no chatter about trying to jamb Sharpe into the SF role. That is all about accommodating Ant as the starter. If the Blazers draft Knecht or Holland or Cody Williams, those guys would fit, mostly, into the SF position better than Sharpe; and could swing to SG occasionally themselves

 

[riverman]

I worry about Sharpe's motor as much as anything. I hope he has a breakout season because he's super talented but in the back of my mind I wonder.....the next Alan Crabbe? Scared me a bit when he interviewed and his favorite music is reggae and given he couldn't drink yet I wonder if he's hitting thee bong a bit too much, He's the oppositee of "high strung" like Josh Hart

 

[Ripcity4life77]

I am going to say this on Sharpe -- he has talent just not sure he is "wants" it -- I think he has some Ayton in him wants to be the man without showing he is the man.

 

[e_blazer]

This place is loony. I read through the comments here questioning Sharpe’s motor or “it” factor without seeing any recognition of the fact that he missed 50 games due to injury (and probably had his performance impacted in another 5-10 he did play). Might be that it’s a little premature to be making those kinds of conclusions.