The Small Forward position

[Natebishop3]

I really see this spot as the main target going into this offseason. I like Aminu and Harkless, but I think Aminu is better suited as a backup and Harkless seems to be a project, which is fine. He's only 22 so he could still put it together.

I look at our team and I see Crabbe as our starting shooting guard. He's everything you want in a starting two. He has the size, he can shoot, he's athletic, and he plays decent defense.

Obviously point guard is solid, and I love our center rotation with Plumlee and Davis. Unless someone like DMC comes along, I'm not really concerned with the five spot.

Power forward is an enigma, but I like Vonleh and I think he'll continue to develop. I don't want to do anything to slow that progression unless it's for a star player. If we somehow end up with a killer draft pick and get someone like Simmons, so be it, but I like the potential of our power forwards.

Small forward just really seems like the weakness. I'd like to see more production out of that spot. More scoring. Consistent scoring. Whether that's going out and getting someone like DeRozan to play small forward, or trying to make a trade, I think that's where we need to focus. I was looking at the top scoring forwards (not just small forwards) and here is the list (in order of average):

Kevin Durant
Paul George
LeBron James
DMC
Glake Griffin
Anthony Davis
Carmelo Anthony
Kawhi Leonard
Andrew Wiggins
Jimmy Butler
Gordon Hayward
Rudy Gay
Paul Milsap
Ryan Anderson
Kevin Love
Danilo Gallinari
Dirk Nowitzki
Chris Bosh
Derrick Favors
Nic Batum
Thad Young
Kobe Bryant
Greg Monroe
Giannis Antetokounmpo
LMA
Tyreke Evans
CJ Miles
Pau Gasol
Al Horford
Evan Fournier
Marcus Morris
Will Barton
Khris Middleton
Tobias Harris
Zach Randolph
Draymond Green
Robert Covington
Kristpas Porzingis
Harrison Barnes

The list keeps going but Barnes is averaging 13.4 and the averages just keep going down from there. Obviously some of these guys are power forwards, but I'm curious who you guys would try to target.

 

[HailBlazers]

Funny I was thinking Aminu has the size, can shoot, is athletic, and plays great defense. Just needs some polishing on the offensive end but I think he can get there. Still not sold on Crabbe as a starting SG.

 

[illmatic99]

Putting my Grantland cap on, I still don't get the focus on positions. It really has to do with the geometry of the court.

We have Dame up top, slashing/driving/kicking/shooting. CJ does the same and occupies the same spots on the floor. Outside of that, we have no one else who takes up a particular spot on the floor, or a definite advantage against defenses.

We need to just get talent at this point. Regardless of position.

Guess what I'm getting at is, Aminu is a fine rotational piece and a good complementary player. If we have 3 other star players with him on the court, I'm okay with him flying around for putbacks/kickouts.

 

[Natebishop3]

Putting my Grantland cap on, I still don't get the focus on positions. It really has to do with the geometry of the court.

We have Dame up top, slashing/driving/kicking/shooting. CJ does the same and occupies the same spots on the floor. Outside of that, we have no one else who takes up a particular spot on the floor, or a definite advantage against defenses.

We need to just get talent at this point. Regardless of position.

I can't really argue with that line of thinking.

 

[e_blazer]

Get any of your top 3 guys and the Blazers are a contender.

Don't know how you're going to do it, but you have my permission.

 

[Natebishop3]

Get any of your top 3 guys and the Blazers are a contender.

Don't know how you're going to do it, but you have my permission.

Durant is a free agent. If I was Paul, I would move heaven and earth.

 

[e_blazer]

Durant is a free agent. If I was Paul, I would move heaven and earth.

That moving earth thing might have some merit. Move Portland to somewhere near LA and we might have a shot at him.

 

[Natebishop3]

That moving earth thing might have some merit. Move Portland to somewhere near LA and we might have a shot at him.

I think he'll leave OKC, but where will he go? That's the question. I honestly don't know.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

I think he'll leave OKC, but where will he go? That's the question. I honestly don't know.

Lakers draft Ben Simmons and sign Kevin Durant. Talk about a fast rebuild

 

[e_blazer]

I think he'll leave OKC, but where will he go? That's the question. I honestly don't know.

Yeah, I agree about leaving cow town. The Wizards would be a logical choice if moving home is a main consideration for him. The Lakers will offer him the moon to be a Kobe replacement, but I don't see him as being willing to go to that big of a rebuild situation. Portland would be sweet, but I doubt that he's going to give us another shot at him after we passed during the draft disaster.

 

[santeesioux]

Lakers draft Ben Simmons and sign Kevin Durant. Talk about a fast rebuild

I wonder if we were somehow able to get Simmons if that would make us at all more likely to get Durant? That would be a pretty good big three.

 

[Blazer4ever]

I really see this spot as the main target going into this offseason. I like Aminu and Harkless, but I think Aminu is better suited as a backup and Harkless seems to be a project, which is fine. He's only 22 so he could still put it together.

I look at our team and I see Crabbe as our starting shooting guard. He's everything you want in a starting two. He has the size, he can shoot, he's athletic, and he plays decent defense.

Obviously point guard is solid, and I love our center rotation with Plumlee and Davis. Unless someone like DMC comes along, I'm not really concerned with the five spot.

Power forward is an enigma, but I like Vonleh and I think he'll continue to develop. I don't want to do anything to slow that progression unless it's for a star player. If we somehow end up with a killer draft pick and get someone like Simmons, so be it, but I like the potential of our power forwards.

Small forward just really seems like the weakness. I'd like to see more production out of that spot. More scoring. Consistent scoring. Whether that's going out and getting someone like DeRozan to play small forward, or trying to make a trade, I think that's where we need to focus....

Small Forward is also our most versatile position, we can use Aminu, Crabbe, Henderson. Play small with Aminu at PF or Harkless at the 3, it gives us different options.
But I agree that if a Good trade for a higher level SF comes along you consider it.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Small Forward is also our most versatile position, we can use Aminu, Crabbe, Henderson. Play small with Aminu at PF or Harkless at the 3, it gives us different options.
But I agree that if a Good trade for a higher level SF comes along you consider it.

Crowded with mediocrity is not the same as "versatile." (Crabbe and Henderson are more of a 2 - you'd never want them guarding the Durants, Carmelos or Paul Georges of the world for instance).

 

[adrenalize74]

I like Harkless long term over Aminu. I feel Aminu is a little too selfish, too often he is looking for his own shot, especially on fast breaks. He makes too many bad decisions with the ball as well.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

We just need Project Pat to develop into JJ Redick 2.0, and then we can start him and Crabbe side-by-side at the wings.

 

[Blazer4ever]

Crowded with mediocrity is not the same as "versatile." (Crabbe and Henderson are more of a 2 - you'd never want them guarding the Durants, Carmelos or Paul Georges of the world for instance).

If you want a good one-on-one defender Aminu is a very good option. Both Crabbe and Henderson are better at the 3 than as playing the 2 next to just one of CJ or Dame. Between them we have three different type of players which makes for a versatile rotation

 

[BBert]

Lakers draft Ben Simmons and sign Kevin Durant. Talk about a fast rebuild

I hate you.

I mean...I hate your post.

 

[BBert]

Lakers draft Ben Simmons and sign Kevin Durant. Talk about a fast rebuild

Blazers draft Ben Simmons and sign Kevin Durant. Talk about a fast rebuild.

Now I feel better. Nobody wake me up.

 

[riverman]

I want in your face defense at the SF position and Aminu is very good at that...I want Aminu guarding Lebron ...he held Lebron to 11 pts in 3.5qtrs last time we played them. That's an accomplishment...we just didn't have a bench guy who could keep it up when Aminu was out.

 

[blue9]

Definitely agree that SF is our biggest weakness, and should be our main focus. I'd be looking to draft a SF because there aren't many currently in the league that are both desirable and available.

 

[Schilly]

I think we are gunning for the draft 1st then trying to swing a trade or land a free agent 2nd... And this draft is actually pretty well suited for our teams needs. Obviously if we land #1 somehow then it's Ben Simmons hands down and you move people as necessary to make room for him. Beyond that #1 pick there are mostly PF's and SF's and a couple centers. yeah there is a C or 2, but even then we could take a center and slide Plumlee to PF. I guess my thinking is this, with our starting lineup it would be hard to upgrade Dame, and PLumlee is looking very solid IMO. But the other 2 spots, I'm ok with each of those guys starting if one of the 3 doesn't matter which gets pushed to the bench because of a better starter. Example, I'm fine with CJ and Vonleh starting if Aminu is pushed to the bench by Brandon Ingram. Or Fine with Aminu and CJ starting if COnleh is pushed to the bench by Labissiere.... Or CJ pushed to bench by Murray.... etc...etc...

 

[riverman]

At work I watched UCLA beat Gonzaga the other day and their 6'9 260 lb forward Tony Parker was a beast...he owned Sabonis in the paint and scored, hustled and just impressed the hell out of me.

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

At work I watched UCLA beat Gonzaga the other day and their 6'9 260 lb forward Tony Parker was a beast...he owned Sabonis in the paint and scored, hustled and just impressed the hell out of me.

And since he's from UCLA, once his rookie contract is up he'll want to be a Laker.

 

[KingSpeed]

Aminu destroyed Paul George. Keep him at starting SF. He will get better.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Do you hear that?

That's Rasta with his Batum highlight video.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Should we just give it to Hark?

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Should we just give it to Hark?

You don't stop improving so if we bring someone in better than no. But over Aminu? Yes. We should.

 

[LuckyShot]

Have Aminu and Harkless keep working on their 3 point shots and I think we can win with them holding down the SF spot. I think a bigger weakness is in the paint.

 

[BBert]

If Harkless can become a triple threat -- corner three/drive to the basket/defense -- then yes, Harkless can be our SF. I think he can.

 

[kjironman1]

Get any of your top 3 guys and the Blazers are a contender.

Don't know how you're going to do it, but you have my permission.

I would have to include Anthony Davis in that statement.