The super Melo to Portland thread + The Big Blockbuster

[Pinwheel1]

Exactly. Harkless is a middle-of-the-road, jack-of-all-trades player. He's like Batum-lite. For some reason Blazers fans seem to hate these sorts of players. But IMO they are essential. Especially if they are as efficient as Moe was last season. People keep saying we need an upgrade, but you'd be hard pressed to find an obtainable upgrade at SF. If you find a better defender he'll be worse on offense. If you find a better shooter, he'll be worse on defense. But good luck finding someone who is better at either, let alone both.

Except Batum has handles and can pass. I prefer to have 3 ball handlers on the floor when teams pressure our guards. Harkless offers little help in this regard. Yes he cuts well to the basket and he is an adequate 3 point shooter. I just wish he played better off the bench because that is what I see him as.

But I am Ok if he stays and starts, I like him, I just think either our SF or our PF needs to be a more dynamic player to get us to the next level. Not both, but just one of them.

 

[Strenuus]

View attachment 15171

I assume that's his real account. The blue checkmark next to his name means the account is verified?

he's from new york....

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Oh, man. Worst play call in the history of sports.

It seriously was about as great of a sports moment as I've ever seen. I was maybe only more excited when the Giants clinched the World Series in 2010.

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[tester551]

View attachment 15171

I assume that's his real account. The blue checkmark next to his name means the account is verified?

This isn't anything new. His account has been like this for quite a while.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Harkless' biggest plus is that he provides good energy and with last year's improvement in shooting he is now at least modestly proficient at pretty much everything, which is more than can be said for the vast majority of our roster. He is only about average overall, but average can be an asset when there's that two way balance.

Couldn't the exact same thing be said about Aminu after the 2015-16 season when he shot .361 3FG% on 349 3FGA (compared to Mo's .351 3FG% on 194 3FGA in 2016-17)? I'd like to see a larger sample size for Mo before I'm willing to declare him an average 3-point shooter. I want to know if that .351 3FG% from last season is sustainable. It wasn't in the playoffs, were he shot .167 3FG%.

Here's a comparison of Aminu's 2015-16 performance vs. Mo's 2-16-17 performance.

Overall, they are pretty close. Mo has a higher 2FG%, but Aminu is a better rebounder, better passer and better FT shooter.

Until you get to the playoffs, where Aminu steps up and Mo disappears...

BNM

 

[Eastoff]

Except Batum has handles and can pass. I prefer to have 3 ball handlers on the floor when teams pressure our guards. Harkless offers little help in this regard. Yes he cuts well to the basket and he is an adequate 3 point shooter. I just wish he played better off the bench because that is what I see him as.

But I am Ok if he stays and starts, I like him, I just think either our SF or our PF needs to be a more dynamic player to get us to the next level. Not both, but just one of them.

Nurkic can pass from the post.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Since so many of you dont want to lose Harkless, and neither do I if we dont have to. I'd be curious to know how many NBA GM's would prefer Harkless over Anderson.

Contracts and money aside Anderson is more of a needle mover and it's Paul's money.

 

[BigGameDamian]

I wonder if Neil not wanting to include Harkless is holding up this trade from happening.

Hope not!

 

[Five Second Violation]

Couldn't the exact same thing be said about Aminu after the 2015-16 season when he shot .361 3FG% on 349 3FGA (compared to Mo's .351 3FG% on 194 3FGA in 2016-17)?

Here's a comparison of Aminu's 2015-16 performance vs. Mo's 2-16-17 performance.

Overall, they are pretty close. Mo has a higher 2FG%, but Aminu is a better rebounder, better passer and better FT shooter.

Until you get to the playoffs, where Aminu steps up and Mo disappears...

BNM

Sure. I actually like Aminu more than most and feel that he's pretty underrated on here. His problems mostly lie with health (in the case of last season) and his often poor basketball IQ which leads him to making unnecessary mistakes with the ball. But yeah, Aminu and Moe are about it for versatile wing talent on this roster, which makes both of them more valuable to me than adding another soft, jump-shooting big.

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[Natebishop3]

That's not happening.

 

[dviss1]

Couldn't the exact same thing be said about Aminu after the 2015-16 season when he shot .361 3FG% on 349 3FGA (compared to Mo's .351 3FG% on 194 3FGA in 2016-17)? I'd like to see a larger sample size for Mo before I'm willing to declare him an average 3-point shooter. I want to know if that .351 3FG% from last season is sustainable. It wasn't in the playoffs, were he shot .167 3FG%.

Here's a comparison of Aminu's 2015-16 performance vs. Mo's 2-16-17 performance.

Overall, they are pretty close. Mo has a higher 2FG%, but Aminu is a better rebounder, better passer and better FT shooter.

Until you get to the playoffs, where Aminu steps up and Mo disappears...

BNM

I give Mo a pass for his playoff performance. I also think he hates Draymond and he will use that experience as a tool to be better.

 

[Minstrel]

In general, I wouldn't really put that much importance on how the Blazers did in the playoffs, considering all their playoff games were against the Warriors and the Warriors were probably the best defense in the league by that point (finished nearly tied with the Spurs for the season for #1, but I thought they ramped their effort up in the playoffs). Even Lillard and McCollum struggled with efficiency.

 

[Natebishop3]

There's no way for the Knicks to get Bledsoe AND Harkless for nothing but Melo without totally fucking over the Blazers and Suns. It's not possible.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Sure. I actually like Aminu more than most and feel that he's pretty underrated on here. His problems mostly lie with health (in the case of last season) and his often poor basketball IQ which leads him to making unnecessary mistakes with the ball. But yeah, Aminu and Moe are about it for versatile wing talent on this roster, which makes both of them more valuable to me than adding another soft, jump-shooting big.

I'm not sold on the Ryan Anderson potential trade. I think that one is off the table. I like the trade I proposed last night that has us getting back Gordon, Ariza and Lin better. Not sure anything happens at this point, but my opinion of Aminu vs. Harkless has nothing to do with Ryan Anderson.

I think the thing most people here overlook about Aminu is the way he steps up during the playoffs. He simply plays better in the playoffs than the regular season. Sure, other teams play off him and dare him to shoot, but when he does he shoots well. He's a career .429 3-point shooter in the playoffs and has never shot below .400 3FG% in the post season. And, the sample size is significant. He's averaged 4.9 3FGA per game in the playoffs over the course of his career.

I think with additions of Swanigan and Collins, Aminu can go back to playing more minutes at SF. Which is why it wouldn't break my heart if we traded Harkless - as long as we get something worthwhile in return.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

In general, I wouldn't really put that much importance on how the Blazers did in the playoffs, considering all their playoff games were against the Warriors and the Warriors were probably the best defense in the league by that point (finished nearly tied with the Spurs for the season for #1, but I thought they ramped their effort up in the playoffs). Even Lillard and McCollum struggled with efficiency.

And yet Aminu stepped up his performance in the playoffs for the third consecutive season. I prefer guys who step up over guys who disappear in the post season, even if we are playing the best team in the league.

To me, Aminu and Harkless are roughly equal. They are both slightly below average two way players. If we move Aminu back to the 3, now that we suddenly have a bit of a log jam up front, he and Harkless become redundant - especially of we also have Turner, and possibly Crabbe vying for minutes at the 3. I'm not pushing for a Harkless trade, as I said yesterday, I'm pretty agnostic when it comes to Mo, but it wouldn't break my heart of we traded him - as long as we got something worthwhile in the exchange.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

I give Mo a pass for his playoff performance. I also think he hates Draymond and he will use that experience as a tool to be better.

I'll believe it when I see it. Mo has a history of being passive - not exactly the personality type that steps it up in the post season.

Again, I'm not down on Mo, but I would not hesitate to move him if the right deal came along. If the Knicks really want him, and we don't end up being part of MeloDrama 2.0, see what else we can squeeze out of them (or force them to take) by dealing directly with them. If it's not good enough, it never happened. Just walk away and keep a lid on it.

BNM

 

[BigGameDamian]

Couldn't the exact same thing be said about Aminu after the 2015-16 season when he shot .361 3FG% on 349 3FGA (compared to Mo's .351 3FG% on 194 3FGA in 2016-17)? I'd like to see a larger sample size for Mo before I'm willing to declare him an average 3-point shooter. I want to know if that .351 3FG% from last season is sustainable. It wasn't in the playoffs, were he shot .167 3FG%.

Here's a comparison of Aminu's 2015-16 performance vs. Mo's 2-16-17 performance.

Overall, they are pretty close. Mo has a higher 2FG%, but Aminu is a better rebounder, better passer and better FT shooter.

Until you get to the playoffs, where Aminu steps up and Mo disappears...

BNM

 

[Scalma]

I'm not sold on the Ryan Anderson potential trade. I think that one is off the table. I like the trade I proposed last night that has us getting back Gordon, Ariza and Lin better. Not sure anything happens at this point, but my opinion of Aminu vs. Harkless has nothing to do with Ryan Anderson.

I think the thing most people here overlook about Aminu is the way he steps up during the playoffs. He simply plays better in the playoffs than the regular season. Sure, other teams play off him and dare him to shoot, but when he does he shoots well. He's a career .429 3-point shooter in the playoffs and has never shot below .400 3FG% in the post season. And, the sample size is significant. He's averaged 4.9 3FGA per game in the playoffs over the course of his career.

I think with additions of Swanigan and Collins, Aminu can go back to playing more minutes at SF. Which is why it wouldn't break my heart if we traded Harkless - as long as we get something worthwhile in return.

BNM

Oh now you're making proposals for Gordon? After patronizing me, and anyone else who even mentioned his name?

Attention People of This Forum: Please stop proposing trade scenarios that include Eric Gordon to Portland. It's never going to happen, not in a million years. Neil Olshey is not going to trade for a player that called him a liar and unprofessional in the press. Eric Gordon wants nothing to do with any team that employs Neil Olshey and the feeling is mutual. Know your history people...

BNM

This is why I have a problem with a couple of you dickheads on here. And by problem I mean I have a good laugh about it.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Oh now you're making proposals for Gordon? After patronizing me, and anyone else who even mentioned his name?



This is why I have a problem with a couple of you dickheads on here. And by problem I mean I have a good laugh about it.

We're not allowed to change our minds, ever?

Jeezus, you beat me up about ALWAYS harping on Crabbe's 1-dimensionality and now I show a little flexibility in my thinking and I'm a dickehead. Well at least you're consistent. Consistently an asshole.

BTW, it was these two posts from TBpup that changed my mind about Gordon:

Checked back with the East coast. Morey doing almost whatever it takes to make cap space for 'Melo. Anderson fits with what Portland would give up but Blazers don't seem to want him. Olshey prefers his old buddy Gordon if a deal is made but there are players from the Blazers other teams don't want and the Knicks want Harkless.

Portland doesn't want Anderson....they prefer Gordon.

I trust his sources and if they say POR prefers Gordon over Anderson, I'm willing to reconsider. I'm not that staunch in my opinions. When new data becomes available, I reevaluate my positions. Not sure why that makes me a dickhead, but whatever...

BNM

 

[Scalma]

We're not allowed to change our minds, ever?

Jeezus, you beat me up about ALWAYS harping on Crabbe's 1-dimensionality and now I show a little flexibility in my thinking and I'm a dickehead. Well at least you're consistent. Consistently an asshole.

BNM

Yeah, no, changing your mind is not what makes you a dickhead. It's acting like a dick that does that. But it's ok I don't care enough beyond having a laugh about it.

 

[Natebishop3]

I'm not sold on the Ryan Anderson potential trade. I think that one is off the table. I like the trade I proposed last night that has us getting back Gordon, Ariza and Lin better. Not sure anything happens at this point, but my opinion of Aminu vs. Harkless has nothing to do with Ryan Anderson.

I think the thing most people here overlook about Aminu is the way he steps up during the playoffs. He simply plays better in the playoffs than the regular season. Sure, other teams play off him and dare him to shoot, but when he does he shoots well. He's a career .429 3-point shooter in the playoffs and has never shot below .400 3FG% in the post season. And, the sample size is significant. He's averaged 4.9 3FGA per game in the playoffs over the course of his career.

I think with additions of Swanigan and Collins, Aminu can go back to playing more minutes at SF. Which is why it wouldn't break my heart if we traded Harkless - as long as we get something worthwhile in return.

BNM

If I'm looking at these teams, I only see a few names that I would even consider.

Houston -
Ariza
Gordon

New York
O'Quinn
Lee

If we're talking about Brooklyn, there's really only Lin, and if we're talking about Phoenix, I guess I would take Tyson Chandler and maybe Jared Dudley. I don't see New York, Brooklyn, or Phoenix giving up any of their young guys, and it really depends on what we would be sending out. I'd love to add some veterans to this team, and I think guys like Ariza, Gordon, and Lee could be very helpful in elevating our team to an actual contender.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Where's Jason Quick when you need him?

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[Boob-No-More]

Where's Jason Quick when you need him?

Peeping through the blinds?

BNM

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

Exactly. Harkless is a middle-of-the-road, jack-of-all-trades player. He's like Batum-lite. For some reason Blazers fans seem to hate these sorts of players. But IMO they are essential. Especially if they are as efficient as Moe was last season. People keep saying we need an upgrade, but you'd be hard pressed to find an obtainable upgrade at SF. If you find a better defender he'll be worse on offense. If you find a better shooter, he'll be worse on defense. But good luck finding someone who is better at either, let alone both.

I hate to correct you here but.....
Batum is already Batum-Lite, so Moe would be Batum-Light-Lite or basically Coors Light. What the hell are you thinking?

 

[Boob-No-More]

If I'm looking at these teams, I only see a few names that I would even consider.

Houston -
Ariza
Gordon

New York
O'Quinn
Lee

If we're talking about Brooklyn, there's really only Lin, and if we're talking about Phoenix, I guess I would take Tyson Chandler and maybe Jared Dudley. I don't see New York, Brooklyn, or Phoenix giving up any of their young guys, and it really depends on what we would be sending out. I'd love to add some veterans to this team, and I think guys like Ariza, Gordon, and Lee could be very helpful in elevating our team to an actual contender.

I agree with this 100%. The 4-team trade I proposed last night had us getting Gordon, Ariza and Lin. I'd be thrilled if we also found a way to get Kyle O'Quinn, too. BOOM - instant bench!

BNM

 

[Nikolokolus]

Oh now you're making proposals for Gordon? After patronizing me, and anyone else who even mentioned his name?

This is why I have a problem with a couple of you dickheads on here. And by problem I mean I have a good laugh about it.

 

[BigGameDamian]