Trail Blazers' Pat Connaughton visits Baltimore Orioles' extended spring training

[THE HCP]

Unlike some people in this motherfucker, I'll post a link to the story.

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i...zers_pat_connaughton_reports_to_extended.html

 

[Natebishop3]

I think he'll end up playing baseball. I don't think he's very good at basketball.

 

[DaLincolnJones]

Good for him. I think he is a great kid and I wish him all the best.

 

[barfo]

Last year when LMA left it lead to losing 3 other starters.

If Pat leaves will we lose other players from the end of the bench?

barfo

 

[Strenuus]

I think he'll end up playing baseball. I don't think he's very good at basketball.

I thought he was the worst of the bunch through the first part of the season... but the little time we did see him later on in the year, he showed some promise.

 

[Haakzilla]

...at least his basketball rookie cards have potential for having some value down road, assuming he pitches well enough to do good things and have a long career in "the bigs"

 

[Sinobas]

I could tell back in summer league that Pat wasn't going to last in the NBA. I'm surprised he even made the team. If the summer league were a tryout, rather than him being someone we traded for, he would not have made the team.

He was an intriguing prospect on paper with his shot and vertical (which was bogus), but baseball is his game.

 

[Scalma]

Did any of you actually read the article?

That being said, I doubt he lasts in the nba much longer anyway.

 

[Orion Bailey]

I thought towards the end of the season he showed a peak potential of a Danny Ainge type player. Thats who he reminded me of anyhow.

 

[HolyBackboard]

I wonder if he received the coaching staff and front office's blessing to go pursue baseball during the offseason?

 

[e_blazer]

I think he has the goods to make it in the NBA.

 

[e_blazer]

Connaughton's time in Florida will be brief. He is set to participate in NBA summer league in Las Vegas in July and will likely be back in Portland for pre-summer league practices in June.

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

I thought towards the end of the season he showed a peak potential of a Danny Ainge type player. Thats who he reminded me of anyhow.

Right? I mean Danny Ainge did have mad hops. Or because he is white and a baseball player?

 

[ripcityboy]

Good for him. Premium starting pitchers make shit loads of money. Check out the Strasburg contract? $$$$ Only problem is that he'd actually PLAY baseball. And let's face it, baseball isn't cool.

It's boring. It's old. It's a part time and not a real sport..... /s

Wait.... I got to ESPN and listen to the latest celebrity columnist bash baseball. God! I love being part of a mob!

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I really like his skillset but right now he doesn't have a position.

Remember, his last year at Notre Dame he played his best at PF.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Pat hasn't been given a chance yet - way too early to write him off.

 

[BonesJones]

If Pat was 6'9 he'd be an all star PF

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

My question is, can we hold his rights still if he decides to give baseball a serious go?

I actually love his skill set.

 

[HailBlazers]

I thought towards the end of the season he showed a peak potential of a Danny Ainge type player. Thats who he reminded me of anyhow.

Yea its too bad his shot wasn't more reliable. If he was a good shooter he could stick.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

If Pat was 6'9 he'd be an all star PF

If he were 6'9 he'd be a more athletic Jared Dudley

 

[BonesJones]

If he were 6'9 he'd be a more athletic Jared Dudley

exactly

 

[BlazerWookee]

I thought towards the end of the season he showed a peak potential of a Danny Ainge type player. Thats who he reminded me of anyhow.

Danny Ainge with EWill hops?

 

[noknobs]

Jesus, it's not like he's going to be doing that all summer long, read the article... And it's way too early to write him off. I thought he showed promise in his very limited time. Maybe he didn't shoot real well but it's hard to shoot well and in rhythm when you play 2 minutes every other week.

 

[CommodoreG]

I don't see much in that article that signals he's done with basketball. If he wants to go visit the team that owns his rights and maybe practice a little baseball, I say good for him. As long as they also fit training in, off-season is for the players to do their own thing, even if the situation is a bit questionable from our view. So, you won't see me blow any whistles on them. I'll give our Blazers the benefit of the doubt (until they show up fat when the regular season starts).

Also, like others in this thread have said, we have seen hardly any of Connaughton this season to see if he "belongs" in the NBA. It's too early to tell. I'll be looking forward to see how well he does this coming summer league.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I really like his skillset but right now he doesn't have a position.

Remember, his last year at Notre Dame he played his best at PF.

Terry Porter played small forward at Wisconsin Stevens-Point.

Connaughton played at the pf spot because he is athletic, a very good rebounder and Notre Dame played with a small lineup. I wouldn't put too much into what position he played in college.

 

[Trackjack]

There just got over it time to get away from game and go relax and that going out relaxing with baseball players that find. It didn't saying he was playing I believe Neil made that point when they sign him. Believe he said that it will be all basketball at this point we will look it later down the road about baseball.

 

[riverman]

Wes Mathews used to box in the summer...PC will probably throw a couple innings every other day in the minor leagues...this doesn't mean he's done in Portland by any stretch

 

[jlprk]

Did any of you actually read the article?

The Orioles selected Connaughton 121st overall in the first round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft.

Only problem is that he'd actually PLAY baseball. And let's face it, baseball isn't cool.

What kind of a sport has 121 picks per round?

 

[ripcityboy]

What kind of a sport has 121 picks per round?

He was picked in the fourth round of the 2014 draft, the 121 selection overall. The amateur baseball draft picks players out of high school or those who are eligible after a collegiate career. It's not like the NFL or the NBA where the cream rises to the top and pretty much most of the rookies will make the squad. Amateur baseball players are at different stages of development both athletically and technically, so the larger amount of picks betters the odds. They have to play in the minor leagues for years, but play at various levels for different periods of time. Draft pools are fixed by overall pick selection and the total amount of draft bonuses paid the previous year. Small market teams can trade "competitive market picks" but not outright slotted picks. Most draftees get paid very little outside of their original bonus and less than 10 per cent make the majors.

But it's a shitty boring game anyway.... so who cares, hunh?

 

[BonesJones]

Jesus, it's not like he's going to be doing that all summer long, read the article... And it's way too early to write him off. I thought he showed promise in his very limited time. Maybe he didn't shoot real well but it's hard to shoot well and in rhythm when you play 2 minutes every other week.

Read the Thang, Then Post!