Very encouraging

[Natebishop3]

Hickson.. Flynn..... even Babbitt.... I like these young guys. I just don't know if we'll be able to keep Flynn. The guy is a UFA and I don't know what kind of market he'll have.

Hickson is a solid big and those don't just grow on trees.

Flynn has a great feel for the game. I like how he plays, and he's only gotten better with more minutes.

Babbitt is actually looking like a player... who knew?

I'm just wondering how much it would take to keep Flynn or if he even wants to stay here.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

We move up one spot in the standings.

Fuck!

 

[B-Roy]

12 million/3 years for Flynn should do the trick. They should try to get him under contract as soon as possible though. If the Blazers don't draft a point and don't get Williams I could see Flynn as the interim starter next year.

For the rest of the season though, start Flynn and Hickson, bring Babbitt off the bench as 6th man. See what they can do.

 

[Natebishop3]

12 million/3 years for Flynn should do the trick. They should try to get him under contract as soon as possible though. If the Blazers don't draft a point and don't get Williams I could see Flynn as the interim starter next year.

For the rest of the season though, start Flynn and Hickson, bring Babbitt off the bench as 6th man. See what they can do.

It appears we will be trying to make the playoffs... therefor Flynn will not be starting. So annoying. I REALLY wish they had traded Felton.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I can live with Flynn as the starter ... for a year or so. I don't know if I love the idea of him being the full-time starter with his physical limitations on defense -- eventually that could turn into a real problem. But fuckit, for now I think he's fine.

 

[crowTrobot]

They should try to get him under contract as soon as possible though.

can't happen until july 1 and won't happen until we know what we're doing with other FAs.

 

[B-Roy]

can't happen until july 1 and won't happen until we know what we're doing with other FAs.

I meant once FA started, of course, to prevent a influx of other offers flowing in.

We're not making the playoffs either way. I want to tank, but if we end up with the 12-13th pick...whatever, I'm fine with Lamb or Marshall since I really like both guys anyways.

 

[Natebishop3]

I don't want to lose the guy, honestly..... I know we need all the cap space we can get, but if we wait to make him an offer I think he'll go somewhere else.

 

[B-Roy]

Hickson is an RFA right?

 

[Pinwheel1]

I am encouraged by Babbitt's 3pt range. (25-26 feet.)

 

[Nikolokolus]

Hickson is an RFA right?

Yes

 

[illmatic99]

4mil a year for Flynn is wayyyyy too much. That's Ridnour/Blake level money. I don't think he's that good. Especially considering the lack of demand and high supply of PGs.

 

[illmatic99]

I am encouraged by Babbitt's 3pt range. (25-26 feet.)

WHERE DID THIS COME FROM?!!

Dude is pulling up from 30' with confidence and knocking down Js left and right.

 

[B-Roy]

4mil a year for Flynn is wayyyyy too much. That's Ridnour/Blake level money. I don't think he's that good. Especially considering the lack of demand and high supply of PGs.

4 mil is a dime in the bucket as far as salary cap goes. We have a bunch of cap anyways, and getting a role player for 4 million really isn't a bad deal.

Of course, they'll likely start with something smaller....like 2.5. I bet he signs for around 3 million. (Wherever he may go)

 

[Nikolokolus]

WHERE DID THIS COME FROM?!!

Dude is pulling up from 30' with confidence and knocking down Js left and right.

No more of this every time he makes a mistake.

 

[Natebishop3]

It's amazing what can happen to a guy's confidence when there's no Nate McMillan around...

 

[B-Roy]

It's amazing what can happen to a guy's confidence when there's no Nate McMillan around...

I guess I can't really blame Nate for not letting Babbitt take 30 footers....

But who knew he could make them so consistently though? Jesus christ!

 

[Duckhook]

It's amazing what can happen to a guy's confidence when there's no Nate McMillan around...

This...

 

[KingSpeed]

Babbitt's confidence grew because GW got traded and regular minutes opened up for him.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Babbitt's confidence grew because GW got traded and regular minutes opened up for him.

That is true. He was on the bench because we had three guys ahead of him that were better.

Blaming Nate for player's shooting confidence is ridiculous. These guys are not in grade school. It's not like Nate was screaming at them when they made mistakes. Other coaches are much worse at that.

The bottom like is fans trashed yet another player pre-maturely before he got a chance to play. Young players often get better after 2 years in the league. Not sure why we can't all remember that.

Now I am not saying Babbitt will ever be a starter, but he will have a role as long as he can shoot.

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

I'm shocked that people are shocked that Babbitt can play.

Dude probably only went to Nevada cause he was from Reno. He was offered scholarships by Arizona, Ohio State, Michigan, UCLA, Washington, Gonzaga, USC and UNLV.

[video=youtube;R0_PCqoB0aI]

 

[Natebishop3]

That is true. He was on the bench because we had three guys ahead of him that were better.

Blaming Nate for player's shooting confidence is ridiculous. These guys are not in grade school. It's not like Nate was screaming at them when they made mistakes. Other coaches are much worse at that.

The bottom like is fans trashed yet another player pre-maturely before he got a chance to play. Young players often get better after 2 years in the league. Not sure why we can't all remember that.

Now I am not saying Babbitt will ever be a starter, but he will have a role as long as he can shoot.

Nate didn't need to yell or scream. He had the quickest hook in the league for young guys. It's hard to be confident or get into the flow when you're constantly worried about getting pulled from the game. One bad pass, shot, missed assignment, etc and you were out. That wreaks havoc on a young player's psyche. We saw it with Sergio, we saw it with Batum, and we saw it with Babbitt.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Nate didn't need to yell or scream. He had the quickest hook in the league for young guys. It's hard to be confident or get into the flow when you're constantly worried about getting pulled from the game. One bad pass, shot, missed assignment, etc and you were out. That wreaks havoc on a young player's psyche. We saw it with Sergio, we saw it with Batum, and we saw it with Babbitt.

I keep reading that and I don't agree. He did with Sergio, but he did not with Batum or Roy, or LMA, or Martel, or even Travis. Hell you should have seen Sloan and Deron Williams his rookie year. That was way worse.

 

[PapaG]

Hickson is an RFA right?

The only concern with Hickson is his cap hold during the initial FA process. If you want Deron Williams, the cap holds on Hickson and Batum may be an issue. Do the Blazers extend a Q.O. to him? It's going to be a tough decision, but it appears that they're letting him play to give him a try-out.

 

[PapaG]

Babbitt's confidence grew because GW got traded and regular minutes opened up for him.

Yep. Was Nate supposed to play Babbitt over Wallace and Batum at SF, or Wallace and LMA at PF?

 

[PapaG]

Nate didn't need to yell or scream. He had the quickest hook in the league for young guys. It's hard to be confident or get into the flow when you're constantly worried about getting pulled from the game. One bad pass, shot, missed assignment, etc and you were out. That wreaks havoc on a young player's psyche. We saw it with Sergio, we saw it with Batum, and we saw it with Babbitt.

What a ridiculous statement. Nate was actually good at getting rookies minutes. Those that could prove themselves worthy played a lot of minutes. Hell, Roy won Rookie of the Year for Nate and was only the 7th pick in the draft, yet he had the entire offense created around him his rookie season once Randolph proved to be a Stat Beast.

 

[B-Roy]

The only concern with Hickson is his cap hold during the initial FA process. If you want Deron Williams, the cap holds on Hickson and Batum may be an issue. Do the Blazers extend a Q.O. to him? It's going to be a tough decision, but it appears that they're letting him play to give him a try-out.

You can offer the QO, negotiate with Williams, then take back the QO if Williams decides to sign.

 

[PapaG]

You can offer the QO, negotiate with Williams, then take back the QO if Williams decides to sign.

Um, no. Hickson would have to accept or refuse the Q.O. prior to the FA period. It's a different time period. You have to offer the Q.O./cap hold before the FA period begins.

 

[Natebishop3]

I keep reading that and I don't agree. He did with Sergio, but he did not with Batum or Roy, or LMA, or Martel, or even Travis. Hell you should have seen Sloan and Deron Williams his rookie year. That was way worse.

Outlaw was already in his third year by the time Nate took over, and he still didn't get much PT because he was so raw. Batum absolutely had a short leash, and spent many a 4th quarter on the bench even though he was the starter. There have been entire threads about Nate not playing Batum enough and sticking to his stringent rotations. Even Aldridge barely played his rookie season.

Roy was an anomaly. He was a 4 year college grad and Nate already knew him from his time in Seattle. Not to mention he pretty much had no choice other than to play him. Roy always played beyond his years. Have you ever seen a rookie with his poise and handle for the game? He was special.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Outlaw was already in his third year by the time Nate took over, and he still didn't get much PT because he was so raw. Batum absolutely had a short leash, and spent many a 4th quarter on the bench even though he was the starter. There have been entire threads about Nate not playing Batum enough and sticking to his stringent rotations. Even Aldridge barely played his rookie season.

Roy was an anomaly. He was a 4 year college grad and Nate already knew him from his time in Seattle. Not to mention he pretty much had no choice other than to play him. Roy always played beyond his years. Have you ever seen a rookie with his poise and handle for the game? He was special.

Roy was way special in a number of ways. Many say he was the one who ousted Zach so LA could start, then he petitioned Nate to start Batum instead of Outlaw (which even a blind man could see since Outlaw blew goats as a starter but played pretty well as a bench guy).

So basically, Roy was the reason Nate played half of the young guys he played. If a player got the Roy stamp of approval, Nate would play him. Gotta keep the big guy happy.