The Dante Cunningham Fan Club

[The Professional Fan]

I'm the founding member. Or not. Either way, I'm in the club. To me, he's untouchable in trade talks. I am so in love with this guy's game. 2nd rounder? Rookie? Really?! Once again, KP proves he has an exceptional eye for talent. Just unreal. I love this guy. New man crush for sure. Not a superstar, but an EXTREMELY viable player that works his ass off, knows his role, and executes his role to perfection.

Dante has a long and fruitful future with the Blazers.

 

[TripTango]

I hesitate to make the "long and fruitful" call too early (that is, after all, what she said), but I have been damn impressed with the kid's hustle. One more little piece of silver lining discovered in our season's rough first half.

 

[The Professional Fan]

I hesitate to make the "long and fruitful" call too early (that is, after all, what she said), but I have been damn impressed with the kid's hustle. One more little piece of silver lining discovered in our season's rough first half.

If he continues to develop, is humble, and executes his role on the team, then yes - he will (should) be a contributing member of this team for a long, long time. Guys like this, these days, are valuable. He's my new Kersey. Not in style, but in substance and impact. Love that.

 

[XXPrimusXX]

Sign me up. DC is awesome!

 

[jwhoops11]

Dante is crazy solid, also props to the coaching staff for putting him in places and situations on the floor to help him succeed. Had no idea how athletic he was until the last few games when we've seen his mad hops on the defensive end.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Young Joe Smith.

 

[Buzz Killington]

shorter, buffer and slower version of Outlaw!

 

[EGame]

Untouchable? This is getting ridiculous. >_<

 

[Nikolokolus]

Young Joe Smith.

I was thinking more Jerome Kersey with a jump shot.

 

[The Professional Fan]

Untouchable? This is getting ridiculous. >_<

Fair enough. Perhaps "untouchable" isn't the right word. But what he is, IS VALUABLE. Long term value. Long term effort. Long term high end role player. Would I trade him for a superstar? Of course. Would I use him as a "throw in player" for a superstar? Yes, of course. Would I trade him for any thing less, or "throw him in" for any thing less? I don't know. I don't think so. He's the kind of player I love. He's the kind of player a team needs to be successful. A guy that knows his role in this league, and excels at that role, is valuable to me. Especially when said guy is willing to do the dirty work, willing to sacrifice, and has fuckin' talent. That's Dante.

So, no - I suppose you're right. He isn't "untouchable."

 

[Entity]

Yeah... that's from the dashes:

[video=youtube;faiUWqzr2_g]

 

[The_Lillard_King]

If he continues to develop, is humble, and executes his role on the team, then yes - he will (should) be a contributing member of this team for a long, long time. Guys like this, these days, are valuable. He's my new Kersey. Not in style, but in substance and impact. Love that.

This . . . good role players who care more about winning and contributing than personal glory are hard to find.

Never heard a word or saw bad body language from DC while he rode the pine and JP was the new flavor of the week. He continued to work hard, keep a good attitude and took advantages of opportunties that came his way.

Would love to see this guy continue to improve

(Really starting to like these 4 year college guys)

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

He athletic but Kersey was a freak.

[video=youtube;rnGDt849Wo0]

 

[The Professional Fan]

(Really starting to like these 4 year college guys)

Yep. Me too. Putting high value on the 4 year player is paying dividends. Obviously a team will need more than a 4 year 2nd rd pick, but to underestimate their value is a huge mistake IMO.

 

[Nikolokolus]

http://www.basketball-reference.com...m=0&p1=kerseje01&y1=1985&p2=cunnida01&y2=2010

Jerome was more of a dunker, and Dante is a pick and pop guy mostly, but kind of a fun comparison of their rookie years.

 

[BBert]

Check my sig.

Dante is very very solid and he contributes in so many ways.

 

[barfo]

(Really starting to like these 4 year college guys)

Blazers should hire me. I spent way more than 4 years in college.

barfo

 

[Nikolokolus]

It should be said, that if 'Joe Smith' is Dante's ceiling, that's still pretty fucking great for a second round pick.

 

[The Professional Fan]

It should be said, that if 'Joe Smith' is Dante's ceiling, that's still pretty fucking great for a second round pick.

Great point.

 

[BlayZa]

Dante is awesome.

gritty
scrapper
banger

aka

awesome

 

[Boob-No-More]

shorter, buffer and slower version of Outlaw!

Horrible comparison. Outlaw has about the worst basketball IQ of any player in the NBA. Cunningham is the EXACT opposite - amazing court sense for a rookie.

BNM

 

[Nikolokolus]

Horrible comparison. Outlaw has about the worst basketball IQ of any player in the NBA. Cunningham is the EXACT opposite - amazing court sense for a rookie.

BNM

Could. Not. Agree. MORE. about the only thing those two guys have in common is being slightly undersized for the power forward position, and they both like to shoot jumpers. In terms of court awareness and defense though? There's not much to compare.

 

[The Professional Fan]

Horrible comparison. Outlaw has about the worst basketball IQ of any player in the NBA. Cunningham is the EXACT opposite - amazing court sense for a rookie.

BNM

Simply put. Word.

 

[Nate Dogg]

He's got the same last name as me. So getting a jersey just fits right.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Dante Cunningham fan page on facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dante-Cunningham/187807047043?ref=nf

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Shorter Jeff Green?

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Shorter, smarter Cliff Robinson.

 

[maxiep]

Shorter Jeff Green?

GREAT comparison. Of course those few inches make all the difference.

 

[mook]

Cunningham is better than Webster at this point. (How depressing is that, after all the years spent developing Martell, the contract, passing on Chris Paul, the missed season...)

Webster gives you three point shooting (has Dante taken one this year?) but that's about the only advantage he has. I'm far more confident in Cunningham making a 17 footer than Webster making a 3, though, so even there I'm not sure Webster really spaces the floor better.

And the nice thing about Cunningham is that you don't have to have a convergence of perfect circumstances occur to get efficiency out of him. You want him to play 6 minutes? Fine, he'll be productive in 6 minutes. You want to give him 25, he'll be efficient in 25.

He's right there with Aldridge as the best midrange shooter on the team.

 

[LittleAlex]

I am a big fan of bringing in 4 year guys in the late first round and second round. They know how to play so they don't need as much teaching. They are probably not going to be as gifted but the history of the NBA is filled with physically gifted players who just couldn't get it done and were washed out of the league.

The Blairs, Cunninghams and Roys of the world should prove that point but gm's keep trying for the home run instead of 4 singles.