Skal to the Blazers!!

[PCmor7]

IMO, Skal's floor should be Channing Frye. He could be a lot better than that. But, at the very least, he should be able to carve a decent niche in this league as a shooting big off the bench. Really should be better than Meyers in that respect; his shot is quicker and more natural.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Couldn't crack the rotation on a lotto team, got traded for an empty uniform, but he is going to be a contributor on a play-off team? Sorry, but this smacks of grasping at straws.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Couldn't crack the rotation on a lotto team, got traded for an empty uniform, but he is going to be a contributor on a play-off team? Sorry, but this smacks of grasping at straws.

Yeah young players have never gotten better!

 

[Sarni]

Couldn't crack the rotation on a lotto team, got traded for an empty uniform, but he is going to be a contributor on a play-off team? Sorry, but this smacks of grasping at straws.

Wouldn’t be the first time, wouldn’t be the last time. Some rejects, undrafted players and players who were turned down by multiple teams are now playing in the NBA Finals, even.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Yeah young players have never gotten better!

I'd find that argument more persuasive if people stopped using it for Leonard!

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

I'd find that argument more persuasive if people stopped using it for Leonard!

lol, ML did get better!

 

[oldmangrouch]

lol, ML did get better!

Shhh! Olshey will give him a max extension!

 

[BonesJones]

Couldn't crack the rotation on a lotto team, got traded for an empty uniform, but he is going to be a contributor on a play-off team? Sorry, but this smacks of grasping at straws.

So what was Jusuf Nurkic?

 

[oldmangrouch]

So what was Jusuf Nurkic?

One was acquired for our starting center, the other for our 13th man. Bit of a difference!

Or were you joking?

 

[BonesJones]

One was acquired for our starting center, the other for our 13th man. Bit of a difference!

No, Im talking about brb in terms of a guy who wasnt playing on a lottery team coming in and helping a playoff team. Thats exactly what Nurk was, so why cant Skal do the same...?

 

[dviss1]

Couldn't crack the rotation on a lotto team, got traded for an empty uniform, but he is going to be a contributor on a play-off team? Sorry, but this smacks of grasping at straws.

Wouldn’t be the first time, wouldn’t be the last time. Some rejects, undrafted players and players who were turned down by multiple teams are now playing in the NBA Finals, even.

Quinn Cook?

Jonas Jerebko?

Alfonzo McKinnnie?

 

[oldmangrouch]

No, Im talking about brb in terms of a guy who wasnt playing on a lottery team coming in and helping a playoff team. Thats exactly what Nurk was, so why cant Skal do the same...?

Because Nurk is a better player than Skal? Seriously, I just don't see the comparison. IIRC, Skal was even considered a disappointment in college. Maybe I'm crazy, but I would bet he turns out closer to Leonard than to Nurk.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Serious question (since I don't follow events in Denver that closely). Were people saying Nurk couldn't play - or were they saying he couldn't coexist with Joker?

 

[BonesJones]

Because Nurk is a better player than Skal? Seriously, I just don't see the comparison. IIRC, Skal was even considered a disappointment in college. Maybe I'm crazy, but I would bet he turns out closer to Leonard than to Nurk.

I'm you were simply talking about a player not playing for a lottery team isnt going to come on and help a playoff team. Weve seen it before with Nurk, so that logic is false to me.

Skal is extremely talented.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Serious question (since I don't follow events in Denver that closely). Were people saying Nurk couldn't play - or were they saying he couldn't coexist with Joker?

Im pretty sure the word is he could play, but not next to joker and then he started pouting because of it and let himself get out of shape and...

 

[Scalma]

Couldn't crack the rotation on a lotto team, got traded for an empty uniform, but he is going to be a contributor on a play-off team? Sorry, but this smacks of grasping at straws.

If you say some slick stuff like this ever again I’ll come and teach you a lesson you’ll never forget.

 

[PCmor7]

Because Nurk is a better player than Skal? Seriously, I just don't see the comparison. IIRC, Skal was even considered a disappointment in college. Maybe I'm crazy, but I would bet he turns out closer to Leonard than to Nurk.

Well, coming out of HS, Skal was considered a potential No. 1 overall pick and certainly high lottery. It's easy to be considered a disappointment when you are that highly rated to start with.

 

[riverman]

I like Skal and his skillset...Dame praised his talent after a practice session this last season..shot blocker!

 

[BBert]

Skal and Simons are the future

 

[stampedehero]

I like Skal. He can shoot a bit too. Good move. See I can give Olshey props too

 

[Scalma]

Whether Skal was a disappointment or not shouldn’t really matter. What matters is he has a skill set. Relatively speaking, he’s also new to basketball. So while he’s going on his fourth year in the NBA, he’s still got a significant ceiling. It looks like his body is catching up, and hopefully next year the game slows down for him and he can put it all together. There’s a reason he was so highly thought of at one point.

 

[BonesJones]

Whether Skal was a disappointment or not shouldn’t really matter. What matters is he has a skill set. Relatively speaking, he’s also new to basketball. So while he’s going on his fourth year in the NBA, he’s still got a significant ceiling. It looks like his body is catching up, and hopefully next year the game slows down for him and he can put it all together. There’s a reason he was so highly thought of at one point.

Seems like a Jermaine O'Neal type in terms of how he can be developed going forward. He's my pick as the next guy to "pop".

 

[Portland2014]

I wonder if it could come his time given our recent roster shake up.

Remember that he has the same age of Cameron Johnson, the 11th overall pick in this year draft of the Suns.

 

[Scalma]

That’s my PF. Dude looks massive and he’s going up against NBA bigs.

 

[riverman]

That’s my PF. Dude looks massive and he’s going up against NBA bigs.

That's what I'm talkin' bout! I'm interested in what Skal, Nassir and Hoard bring off the bench ..Skal could have his break out season.

 

[Scalma]

That's what I'm talkin' bout! I'm interested in what Skal, Nassir and Hoard bring off the bench ..Skal could have his break out season.

I just like Zach more at center and there will be plenty of minutes behind Whiteside. That would open a spot for Skal. Skal and Whiteside are more complimentary than Whiteside and Collins imo. Skal is a better shooter and has a wider offensive skill set. Zach’s strengths on both ends are in the post, not on the perimeter, even though he’s capable.

 

[BlayZa]

someone please assist me.

what is our rotation with and without nurk?

 

[riverman]

someone please assist me.

what is our rotation with and without nurk?

Nurk and Pau/Zach...Hassan and Mario/Skal/Tolliver?….foul trouble to change this up as well as rest for Pau every few games. Little might win a rotation spot...there's a lot of competition for minutes starting training camp. Also Hassan and or another player may be traded by the deadline ...lot of backstories this season. I think it's refreshing after several years of the same crew pretty much. I think Gasol will start at the 4 and play Noah Vonleh type minutes to start...not that many. Set the tone in the first and 3rd qtr and sub out.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I think Gasol will start at the 4 and play Noah Vonleh type minutes to start...not that many. Set the tone in the first and 3rd qtr and sub out.

I had not considered this. Seems hard to believe he could cover stretch 4's. Not sure Zach can either and he is a couple decades younger. Someone needs to make a list of every starting PF in the west so we know how many starting 4's actually shoot a lot of threes. Maybe there are not as many as I think.

 

[Reep]

Given Skal's anemic history, I don't want to get my hopes up too much, but his performance in game 82 was amazing. And, I don't believe Collins in the same game with the same minutes would have posted numbers like that. I think Skal could have a higher ceiling than Collins, but also has a lower floor.