So after 2 games...

[hasoos]

I can tell you this after watching OJ Mayo try to play PG yesterday. Bayless is a better PG than he is. 3 posessions Mayo couldn't even get the ball over the half court line, let alone start the offense.

 

[LittleAlex]

I don't see a Neither option so I can't answer.

I would rather have Portland keep at least one roster spot open so they can sign a vet during the regular season.

 

[andalusian]

I would rather have Portland keep at least one roster spot open so they can sign a vet during the regular season.

You can always waive one of the rooks if this becomes a real big issue. What are we talking about here - part of the NBA minimum salary that goes to waste?

 

[Nikolokolus]

Can we trade Bayless and Miller for Tony Parker or Chris Paul and keep both?

In fact, let's compare both with Bayless:
Mills is quicker, but not as strong. Johnson is probably as strong but not as quick. BOTH have better PG skills. Johnson is a better defender (already). Neither is the scorer Bayless is, but Mills is the better three point shooter.

Mills: poor man's Aaron Brooks.
Johnson: poor man's Eric Snow.

If we trade for Parker using Bayless and Miller then I could see these guys playing passable backup minutes (though as rookies I'm not sure you'd want to push your luck here -- and yes I still consider Mills a rookie, having something like 30 minutes of NBA action to his name).

If you need instant offense/shooting and the matchups on defense allow it you could run Mills some, and if you need stops and ball pressure for a few minutes you could use Armon. I wouldn't want to project either as a starter if Parker went down though (I also wouldn't want to see Bayless start if Parker went down).

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

While Babbitt has yet to light it up from outside, he is shooting close to 50%. He was more active in the first game and may have been limited by the strained achilles for the second. Him not having the deer in the headlights look Martell had for every year he was here already makes me like him more.

Mills is looking good against Summer League competition, but so did Pooh Jeter. Would not be crushed if another team signed him. I like Johson, but would love to see them battle during the preseason.

I also like Johson's poise over Bayless.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I think our debate will be solved when some other team offers Mills a guaranteed contract after summer league. I think we would prefer Mills compete in training camp. But I think he will already be gone. So I choose AJ.

 

[andalusian]

I think I read somewhere that Mills has a non-guaranteed contract - that becomes guaranteed on July 23 if the team does not retract earlier - so it basically is up to the Blazers to make a decision if he is retained for next year or not, before another team can offer him a contract.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I think I read somewhere that Mills has a non-guaranteed contract - that becomes guaranteed on July 23 if the team does not retract earlier - so it basically is up to the Blazers to make a decision if he is retained for next year or not, before another team can offer him a contract.

Good to know. I had not heard that. I am glad we have control one way or another.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I think I read somewhere that Mills has a non-guaranteed contract - that becomes guaranteed on July 23 if the team does not retract earlier - so it basically is up to the Blazers to make a decision if he is retained for next year or not, before another team can offer him a contract.

Mills hasn't accepted nor signed the qualifying offer though. So there's nothing to become guaranteed ... right?

 

[andalusian]

Mills hasn't accepted nor signed the qualifying offer though. So there's nothing to become guaranteed ... right?

I do not know. I recall what I said above, but - my memory might be foggy.

 

[Idog1976]

Yeah, but Paul Allen > Nate McMillan, and PA likes himself some Patty.

That's a shame. Paul a bachelor all these years and still targeting the wrong kind of lady:

[video=youtube;iS0UEa1lEV4]

 

[Nikolokolus]

Not wanting to start another thread to rehash everything that's been said, but has anybody's opinion changed?

They both do some nice things, but I'm not sure either is going to really stand out at the next level. Armon does seem like he's got better role-player potential, but that's about all I can say at this stage.

 

[Natebishop3]

Not wanting to start another thread to rehash everything that's been said, but has anybody's opinion changed?

They both do some nice things, but I'm not sure either is going to really stand out at the next level. Armon does seem like he's got better role-player potential, but that's about all I can say at this stage.

Patty makes way too many stupid mistakes.

 

[LameR]

Armon fits our style of play better, and I like what he brings to the table more. If he had a 3 point shot he'd be perfect.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

After 4 games, Mills has slightly better point/assist totals, but I'm more interested in the following:

Mills (per game)--1.5 steals, 3.25 TO, 4.5 PF, 1.75 FTA
Johnson (per game)--2.75 steals, 2.25 TO, 1.5 PF, 4.25 FTA

Just seems to me that Johnson makes life difficult for the opponent, and Mills really doesn't. I like players that irritate the opponent.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Mills is much more dynamic, but I can't quite shake the feeling that what he's able to do just isn't going to work all that well at the next level. He's quick, but his lack of great hops means he kind of plays below the rim. He looks like he has a good basketball IQ and can see the court OK, but he seems to possess a number 1 option's mentality when he's never going to be the number 1 option on an NBA team.

I guess it boils down to this one thing: which player (if either) can I see stepping on an NBA court and having one bankable skill that they can bring to bear and have an impact. Mills can probably get his own jumper and would probably be able to run an up and down team that pushed it almost every possession. Armon on the other hand looks to be able to defend pretty well and could become a good defender in time, he also seems to have enough of a first step to get into the lane to pull up from 10 feet and has shown himself to be a willing passer (with some really bad habits of making a lot of jump passes).

I'd give Armon the edge, but I still think he's a third point gaurd at best his rookie season.

 

[Natebishop3]

Mills is much more dynamic, but I can't quite shake the feeling that what he's able to do just isn't going to work all that well at the next level. He's quick, but his lack of great hops means he kind of plays below the rim. He looks like he has a good basketball IQ and can see the court OK, but he seems to possess a number 1 option's mentality when he's never going to be the number 1 option on an NBA team.

I guess it boils down to this one thing: which player (if either) can I see stepping on an NBA court and having one bankable skill that they can bring to bear and have an impact. Mills can probably get his own jumper and would probably be able to run an up and down team that pushed it almost every possession. Armon on the other hand looks to be able to defend pretty well and could become a good defender in time, he also seems to have enough of a first step to get into the lane to pull up from 10 feet and has shown himself to be a willing passer (with some really bad habits of making a lot of jump passes).

I'd give Armon the edge, but I still think he's a third point gaurd at best his rookie season.

Patty just makes a lot of stupid mistakes. I watched him get a couple of and-1's yesterday that were completely avoidable, and should have been prevented. He's quick as hell and his jumper is nice, but a point guard who doesn't have the smarts to stop himself from committing a touch foul on a guy twice his size on a 1 v 1 fast break isn't someone I would like to see on this team.

 

[mook]

Maybe we should sign Mills with the intention of trading him later on this season. I think he's gained some value around the league, and if we don't pick him up somebody else will. Pick him up, stash him on the Stampede, let him run up gaudy statistics, and throw him in as a cheap value contract on a consolidation trade down the road.

He's clearly an NBA player. Just one who doesn't fit on this team.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Maybe we should sign Mills with the intention of trading him later on this season. I think he's gained some value around the league, and if we don't pick him up somebody else will. Pick him up, stash him on the Stampede, let him run up gaudy statistics, and throw him in as a cheap value contract on a consolidation trade down the road.

He's clearly an NBA player. Just one who doesn't fit on this team.

I get the feeling Mills has been auditioning for other teams this week and not so much the Blazers. I wouldn't be shocked to see a team like Indiana (who is starved for any kind of point guard) offer him the BAE for a couple of years; he'd fit in pretty well in Jim O'Brien's up tempo style.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Not wanting to start another thread to rehash everything that's been said, but has anybody's opinion changed?

They both do some nice things, but I'm not sure either is going to really stand out at the next level. Armon does seem like he's got better role-player potential, but that's about all I can say at this stage.

I'd be in favor of a new thread after the final summer league game today.

I like Patty Mills. He definitely has NBA quality speed and shooting skills. I think he could be a STARTING PG for a running team that wins 20-25 games. In that role he would be better than Johnson. However, for a playoff team like the Blazers, AJ would be better- actually, much better.

 

[Natebishop3]

I don't think AJ will ever be a starting point guard, but the guy could definitely be a Greg Anthony. I could totally see him come in and bother someone like Steve Nash or Chris Paul.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I don't think AJ will ever be a starting point guard, but the guy could definitely be a Greg Anthony. I could totally see him come in and bother someone like Steve Nash or Chris Paul.

It's awfully hard to say what he'll become, and I think after seeing so many PGotF's cycle through Portland and none of them sticking I'm going to reserve my opinions on his long term prospects ... but I like what I see so far.

 

[Natebishop3]

It's awfully hard to say what he'll become, and I think after seeing so many PGotF's cycle through Portland and none of them sticking I'm going to reserve my opinions on his long term prospects ... but I like what I see so far.

Come on Nik, let your balls hang out there... It's nice and breezy.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Come on Nik, let your balls hang out there... It's nice and breezy.

What's the over under on months before Nate crushes his spirit? Let's say 4 and I'll take the under.

 

[mook]

I'd like to see Portland move Fernandez for a future pick, and then sign both Mills and Johnson. Let them battle it out in practice.

 

[andalusian]

What's the over under on months before Nate crushes his spirit? Let's say 4 and I'll take the under.

Does not look like the kind of guy that Nate needs to crush. He does not throw the ball into the stands trying to look cool, he plays defense and he does not pout. If Nate crushes his spirit - something very strange happened to him between now and that time. Kid looks like an NBA player that knows what he can and can not do - and does not try to press where it does not make sense.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Does not look like the kind of guy that Nate needs to crush. He does not throw the ball into the stands trying to look cool, he plays defense and he does not pout. If Nate crushes his spirit - something very strange happened to him between now and that time. Kid looks like an NBA player that knows what he can and can not do - and does not try to press where it does not make sense.

I guess I should have made it clearer that I was kidding. Anyway, I actually agree with you. Armon seems to have a very good demeanor (competitive, quick to smile, and seemingly a pretty even keeled). I think the biggest issue with the guys who have cycled through here are that they were either too trigger happy and didn't look for teammates (Jack and Bayless) or there was a lack of commitment at the defensive end of the court (Sergio). If Armon takes defense seriously and is unselfish with the ball -- like it seemed he was this past week -- then I get the feeling Nate will be a little more forgiving of his mistakes and the growing pains he's going to go through.

He just has to do three things in my opinion to have a shot: 1) no dribbling the ball of his foot on the fast break (or stepping out of bounds), 2) no dribbling with his head down, and 3) he can't sag off of his man holding up a big red cape.