Zombie Time to evaluate

[B-Roy]

I read some Sanders articles and he's prepping for a return...read a rumor Olshey had called him. That guy is a rim protector. Michael Jordan quit basketball to play baseball....that doesn't bother me

Link on Olshey? I haven't heard that one.

 

[Natebishop3]

I read some Sanders articles and he's prepping for a return...read a rumor Olshey had called him. That guy is a rim protector. Michael Jordan quit basketball to play baseball....that doesn't bother me

Or Michael Jordan was suspended for a year because of gambling and they didn't tell anyone because it would damage the brand, if you believe the rumors.

 

[blue9]

So here is a hypothetical.... Which would you rather have? Ryan Anderson, or Meyers Leonard and Roy Hibbert.

Meyers & Roy and it's not even close.

 

[riverman]

Link on Olshey? I haven't heard that one.

That was a rumor mill...probably read it on ball don't lie or one of the sports sites around the trade deadline...looked for it and haven't found the link yet. The rumor said Portland made calls about Sanders after Sanders said he was about to return...I think it was early Feb. Olshey doesn't let things leak out generally so I was surprised to read it.

 

[B-Roy]

That was a rumor mill...probably read it on ball don't lie or one of the sports sites around the trade deadline...looked for it and haven't found the link yet. The rumor said Portland made calls about Sanders after Sanders said he was about to return...I think it was early Feb. Olshey doesn't let things leak out generally so I was surprised to read it.

Hmm, I'll take your word for it, but if Olshey is interested that makes feel a bit better about Sanders.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Hmm interesting.... Anderson hasn't quite had a 20ppg season, career average is 13.1ppg or 18.1pp36 with a career usage of 22.6%. Meyers on the other hand has a higher effective FG% (And better 2pt% and 3pt%) for his career, better rebounding and assist numbers, better at blocking shots and Drtg. From a stats standpoint the only ANderson has had a better career PER and takes about 5 shots more per game. Give Meyers 939 fga in a season and let's see how his scoring is. Yeah I get the whole eyeball test thing, but there is also the concept of Moneyball and statistical evaluation that is fact, not opinion as well.

Now all that said I'm not saying Anderson is a worse player, but I am saying is people in here are seeing Anderson as being greener grass.

Youre right, he averaged 19.8 ppg in a injury shortened season. And this year he averaged 17ppg, but his per 36 numbers were 20.2.

Still substantially more proven and dependable than leonard imo.

 

[riverman]

Anderson is a career 13/6 guy...27....injury prone..he's going to get overpaid and I hope it's not us

 

[riverman]

Meyers shoulder might be a question mark but the organization will know what's going on with that...good to see him shooting left handed freethrows after surgery though...seems to have a good work ethic. I'll trust Olshey to know what to do with the Meyers option

 

[Hobbesarable]

Youre right, he averaged 19.8 ppg in a injury shortened season. And this year he averaged 17ppg, but his per 36 numbers were 20.2.

Still substantially more proven and dependable than leonard imo.

Agreed. I'll take the guy who can take tough shots and make them under pressure vs. someone scared by a broken down Paul Pierce.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Anderson is a career 13/6 guy...27....injury prone..he's going to get overpaid and I hope it's not us

His first three years in the league make his numbers worse, as most young guys do.

Calling him a 13/6 career guy and using that as a deterrent is laughable.

 

[riverman]

His numbers were up because Davis couldn't play much also

 

[riverman]

His first three years in the league make his numbers worse, as most young guys do.

Calling him a 13/6 career guy and using that as a deterrent is laughable.

laughter is good medicine...I didn't come up with the stat..hey...you like him and see value, that's your choice...personally I find it funny how he's being valued.

 

[B-Roy]

Ryan Anderson seems primed to be a Houston Rocket. Volume three point shooter who plays no defense. Rockets are gonna have some money to spend after they strike out on Durant.

 

[blue9]

Ryan Anderson... Volume three point shooter who plays no defense.

Sounds awful. We don't need MORE 3-point shooting - especially from our front-court. Double-especially when that guy will also be our most expensive player, and doesn't really do anything else. If we're spending big bucks on a player they need to have a skill-set that diversifies the team's skill-set, rather than quadrupling down on the only thing the team currently does.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

I realize some people don't like to admit it because Meyers Leonard didn't live up to being an elite center or even a fulltime starter, but I think to deny that he actually moves pretty well and can hold his own in the low post against some of the physically stronger centers in this league to the point that he actually gets under their skin is being willfully and completely blind to the truth. But the most physically-gifted player in the world -- and I am not saying Meyers Leonard is that -- can only do so much when he doesn't have the mindset, instincts and experience to use those raw tools.

Sorry but just no.. Leonard is not very athletic for an NBA player. He can't move side to side well at all, it takes him half of the court to get to a sprint, and he can't jump off two feet for shit, which is extremely important for a big man. And I did admit there's a few guys he defends well, because they don't exploit Leonard's lack of foot speed he he has no problem using every ounce of his strength to push on and wack the people he's guarding, which is why he fouls so much.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Sorry but just no.. Leonard is not very athletic for an NBA player. He can't move side to side well at all, it takes him half of the court to get to a sprint, and he can't jump off two feet for shit, which is extremely important for a big man. And I did admit there's a few guys he defends well, because they don't exploit Leonard's lack of foot speed he he has no problem using every ounce of his strength to push on and wack the people he's guarding, which is why he fouls so much.

I might be one of the biggest supporters of Meyers here but VG is absolutely right. Those that think he is athletic is like saying Arnold Schwartseneger is athletic.

Just because youre lean and limited on body fat with muscles ripping doesnt mean your athletic. Draymond Green is way more athletic and he looks out of shape most of the time.
Meyers has zero side to side movement.

With that said, at the right price, I think he serves a purpose on this tea moving forward the next few years.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

I might be one of the biggest supporters of Meyers here but VG is absolutely right. Those that think he is athletic is like saying Arnold Schwartseneger is athletic.

Just because youre lean and limited on body fat with muscles ripping doesnt mean your athletic. Draymond Green is way more athletic and he looks out of shape most of the time.
Meyers has zero side to side movement.

With that said, at the right price, I think he serves a purpose on this tea moving forward the next few years.

I'm definitely not one of the biggest supporters of Meyers but I do agree that, for the right price, he can be valuable as a limited minute guy when we have a favorable matchup.

 

[Schilly]

So we are complaining about Meyers athleticism, or who will we have him guard.... But advocating Ryan Anderson? Ohh and we can discount Andersons 1st 3 years in the league since it takes Bigs a while to adjust....What about discounting Meyers 1st 3 years and giving him a bit of a pass for an injury riddled year?

 

[blue9]

So we are complaining about Meyers athleticism, or who will we have him guard.... But advocating Ryan Anderson? Ohh and we can discount Andersons 1st 3 years in the league since it takes Bigs a while to adjust....What about discounting Meyers 1st 3 years and giving him a bit of a pass for an injury riddled year?

Cognitive dissonance.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

So we are complaining about Meyers athleticism, or who will we have him guard.... But advocating Ryan Anderson? Ohh and we can discount Andersons 1st 3 years in the league since it takes Bigs a while to adjust....What about discounting Meyers 1st 3 years and giving him a bit of a pass for an injury riddled year?

Im not discounting meyers first 4 years. Bigs usually take longer. My issue was saying anderson was a career 13/6 player to try and discredit what he currently is putting up. Hes not the same player he was in his first three years. Leonard still hasnt made the leap. Anderson has.

Ive said meyers could make the leap, but he hasnt proven so.

 

[Schilly]

My bigger point isn't that I think Meyers is all that great, but that Ryan Anderson isn't a significant upgrade, nor is he really the difference maker.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

So we are complaining about Meyers athleticism, or who will we have him guard.... But advocating Ryan Anderson? Ohh and we can discount Andersons 1st 3 years in the league since it takes Bigs a while to adjust....What about discounting Meyers 1st 3 years and giving him a bit of a pass for an injury riddled year?

"we"? I'm the one talking most about Leonard's lack of athleticism, and I haven't said one word about Anderson.

 

[Strenuus]

My bigger point isn't that I think Meyers is all that great, but that Ryan Anderson isn't a significant upgrade, nor is he really the difference maker.

It'd be like we're just getting more silverware just to have more, even though we already have plenty for the household we have.

 

[stampedehero]

Let's be real for a minute here. This team was not built with the intention of making the playoffs this season, Olshey and Stotts have both alluded as such. Making the playoffs was a surprise and very encouraging for the 2nd youngest team and the team with the lowest payroll in the league. This season was a huge success that saw players win awards, Stotts be in the running for COY etc..etc.. But let's be honest. We got through the Clippers in large part because of the injuries they suffered... I'm not saying we might not have won anyway, but having 2 all stars out certainly weighted things in the Blazers favor. On to round 2 and again we are relying on injuries to the other teams best player to keep our hopes alive. This playoffs has been evidence that sometimes it's best to just be lucky. This team though in reality is not built for a legit playoff run, it wasn't intended to be either. So it's hard to take anything away from this season as a collective negative.

The beauty of the playoffs is it exposes everything about a team, character, mental toughness, strengths weakness' etc...etc... I think it's pretty clear that we are sorely in need of a reliable 3rd scorer on this team, either at the PF or SF position. To me our bench is fine, but if you look at GS (Curry, Thompson, Green) or a healthy LAC (Paul, Griffin, Reddick), or the Spurs (Leonard, Aldridge, Parker) they all have at least 3 reliable scorers, but more than that they have experienced players that can settle a game down and keep composure. What I have seen of the Blazers is a lack of that ability. Sure Dame can step up and make big shots but he also takes risky shots trying to get things going. Most of the rest of the team though kinda goes into "pressing" panic mode. You see a lot of out of control play and shots that are long or hit the rim hard because of adrenaline. So much of that is age and experience.

All that said I feel really good about this team. I am very confident in the GM, coach and the core that is here, we need an addition to the mix though. Not sure where that comes from, but if we can keep the core (including Meyers) then I think we are in good shape for the coming years... Hopefully a FA sees that too.

> In the GS series game 2, we were ahead in the fourth. Overall we can play 3 out of 4 quarters with them. No reason to stop believing even though we were dismissed before the playoffs started. For the remainder of the series perhaps Vonleh, Crabbe and Harkless can step up for an additional 4-6 points more per player average per game

 

[Schilly]

His first three years in the league make his numbers worse, as most young guys do.

Calling him a 13/6 career guy and using that as a deterrent is laughable.

"we"? I'm the one talking most about Leonard's lack of athleticism, and I haven't said one word about Anderson.

Somebodies feeling guilty

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

My bigger point isn't that I think Meyers is all that great, but that Ryan Anderson isn't a significant upgrade, nor is he really the difference maker.

Im not even really advocating for anderson. Hes an upgrade over meyers at this time though. And tbh, i was a major meyers homer at the beginning of the year. But i just dont believe in him anymore. His beginning of the year play was bad.

Anderson is better today though, and i feel can be counted on to score more than meyers can right now. His defense does suck, ive never said that it doesnt. Our team needs a dependable 3rd scorer, which i think anderson would be next year sans injuries.

Plus, anderson is the level of free agent we could obtain. Imo horford is a pipe dream.

 

[blue9]

Plus, anderson is the level of free agent we could obtain.

Though I don't disagree with your assessment, that's a horrible reason to sign him.

If you're only option for a wife was [insert awful example here], wouldn't you just stay single instead? If our only option for a Free Agent is Ryan Anderson I don't sign ANYBODY and just make trades to address the team's needs.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Though I don't disagree with your assessment, that's a horrible reason to sign him.

If you're only option for a wife was [insert awful example here], wouldn't you just stay single instead? If our only option for a Free Agent is Ryan Anderson I don't sign ANYBODY and just make trades to address the team's needs.

Im not arguing that either. Im sure stotts would love him. And perhaps olshey views him differently than you. Because he would provide us with a 3rd scorer.

I dont think he is the answer either. But i could see him being a target

 

[oldfisherman]

If Olshey is going the trade route this off-season, hope he talks to the Hawks about Millsap. Horford is probably moving to another team, so the Hawks might be ready for a full retool.

If Horford is gone, they will need a C. Bazemore is probably not going to be re-signed by the Hawks, so they need a SF. And if they move Korver to the bench (age 35), they will also be looking for a SG.

Wonder if the Hawks would do a Millsap trade for Davis, Aminu and a first round pick to kick-start their retool? That would leave them with plenty of cap space to sign free agents this off-season, or the next which has a much better FA class.

Dame, Roberts (re-sign)
CJ, Crabbe (re-sign), Connaughton
Harkless (re-sign), Crabbe, Montero
Milsap, Vonleh, Alexander
Plumlee, Leonard (re-sign if price is right)

That leaves 3-4 open spots for FAs.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

If Olshey is going the trade route this off-season, hope he talks to the Hawks about Millsap. Horford is probably moving to another team, so the Hawks might be ready for a full retool.

If Horford is gone, they will need a C. Bazmore is probably not going to be re-signed by the Hawks, so they need a SF. And if they move Korver to the bench (age 35), they will also be looking for a SG.

Wonder if the Hawks would do a Millsap trade for Davis, Aminu and a first round pick to kick-start their retool? That would leave them with plenty of cap space to sign free agents this off-season, or the next which has a much better FA class.

Dame, Roberts (re-sign)
CJ, Crabbe (re-sign), Connaughton
Harkless, Crabbe, Montero
Milsap, Vonleh, Alexander
Plumlee, Leonard (re-sign if price is right)

That leaves 3-4 open spots for FAs.

Take out davis and insert plumlee and they might listen.