Victor Claver

[Fez Hammersticks]

Looks good so far this season. Here is a game from November 10th:

[video=youtube;4h4EXwMFp0g]

19 pts 4 assists 3/7 from beyond the arc.

Dare I say the SF of the future?

 

[MrJayremmie]

The backup QB is always the most popular player on the team until he has to start.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

He moves very well for a player 6'10"-6'11"

Kinda reminds me of Rashard Lewis when he was in Seattle.

 

[hasoos]

He looked good during those highlights. I was a little surprised about his defense, he kind of reminded me of Kirilenko in the way he played, but he has better range.

 

[Luther]

Reminded you of AK? That's a little bit of a stretch. Andre in his prime was locking down some of the best NBA players...this is not NBA talent..He looks good though. We'll see what happens.

 

[hasoos]

Reminded you of AK? That's a little bit of a stretch. Andre in his prime was locking down some of the best NBA players...this is not NBA talent..He looks good though. We'll see what happens.

No he desn't remind me of AK defensively, that probably came out wrong. He reminds me of him offensivly. The way he drives and uses his length, and uses the baseline. It reminds me of AK a lot.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I can't wait for him to join the team. But with Martel & Batum, someone will have to go.

 

[hasoos]

I can't wait for him to join the team. But with Martel & Batum, someone will have to go.

Who are you kidding? It won't matter because Nate will play the "vets". Look at Steve Blake. That guy can't play his way out of a paper bag right now, but Rudy and Bayless can't get past him. And they have been here a couple of years.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

In the future I can see this being the frontcourt rotation

Sf: Claver / Batum
PF: Aldridge / Cunningham
C: Oden / Pendergraph (or Freeland)

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Now here's a thought... Rudy will probably leave when his contract is up. Webster can go to back up SG and that leaves Claver & Batum to the SF spot.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I just wish the Webster experiment will end soon. He has flashes but is just way too inconsistent. He's been in the League now for (going on) five years and inconsistency is the only thing he's consistent with.

If Rudy leaves that will open up more time for Batum who can play SG as well. In fact, he was the starting SG for France this summer.

 

[hasoos]

I just wish the Webster experiment will end soon. He has flashes but is just way too inconsistent. He's been in the League now for (going on) five years and inconsistency is the only thing he's consistent with.

If Rudy leaves that will open up more time for Batum who can play SG as well. In fact, he was the starting SG for France this summer.

Hell why Parker was out he was playing PG.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I just wish the Webster experiment will end soon. He has flashes but is just way too inconsistent. He's been in the League now for (going on) five years and inconsistency is the only thing he's consistent with.

If Rudy leaves that will open up more time for Batum who can play SG as well. In fact, he was the starting SG for France this summer.

With all due respect, I think Webster will be a fine player. He's not the star type, but I see him as a very good complimentary player for this team. He's coming off a missed season. He'll improve if Nate gives him consistent minutes.

 

[Kaydow]

Will Claver ever play a game for Portland? That's what I wonder.

 

[Luther]

I guess I'm not surprised somebody is already penciling Claver in as our "SF of the future"...I'm not saying its impossible but to say that he is better than Batum/Webster isn't real smart considering the guy has never played a minute in the NBA. I like Clavers game but the NBA is a lot different than ACB. Look at the players he's playing against....

 

[VanillaGorilla]

I don't know if his game will translate to the NBA that well. I hope so but I have my doubts.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

In the future I can see this being the frontcourt rotation

Sf: Claver / Batum
PF: Aldridge / Cunningham
C: Oden / Pendergraph (or Freeland)

Neither Pendergraph nor Freeland are natural centers.. I don't know how much I would like that.

 

[B-Roy]

SF of the future? When he hasn't even played a single game in the NBA?

 

[Luther]

Neither Pendergraph nor Freeland are natural centers.. I don't know how much I would like that.

Yea if we had Pendergraph playing backup center we would be in trouble. Freeland hasn't even played a game in the league and is not a center anyway so I'm not sure why we would ask him to play C...

 

[Pinwheel1]

Who are you kidding? It won't matter because Nate will play the "vets". Look at Steve Blake. That guy can't play his way out of a paper bag right now, but Rudy and Bayless can't get past him. And they have been here a couple of years.

Like Batum and Rudy last year? Those are enough minutes.

I think it is safe to say between Cunningham and Claver, KP did all right last June.

 

[drexlersdad]

Claver freeland and koponen are the future! Or meh!

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Neither Pendergraph nor Freeland are natural centers.. I don't know how much I would like that.

After summer league Jason Quick mentioned that the team views Pendergraph as a backup Center for the second unit as McMillan wants a faster tempo with the second unit.

At 6'10" 250 lbs, I think he can handle it.

 

[Further]

I would not write off Freeland as a C. He is not a huge center like Greg, but he is a strong PF, the kind who could play some C. Athletic and strong, I think he could play there. That's not to say he is good enough for the NBA, I just don't know that until I see him over here, but position-wise, I think that C is not out of the question.

 

[1 Eye Jack]

Wow, the defense in that league sucks. No help defense no on ball pressure. Hard to get a feel for how good Claver can be from those highlights.

 

[andalusian]

Not sure why anyone would look for a SF of the future unless they know that Batum's shoulder is messed beyond repair.

We already have the SF of the future - and he fits with our team great. He is long, he is tough, he is a very good perimeter defender, he can shoot the 3. Claver looks nice here, but it's hard to really gauge one's worth based on a 4 minutes highlight reel.

 

[Natebishop3]

I'm not sure where Rudy's head is at long term, but I really hope we can keep him. He's probably one of the top two most exciting players on our team. He puts butts in the seats. I would love for him to continue to be our sixth man. I'm just not sure whether he's going to be one of those guys who wants to start, and if he can't start here, he's going to want to go somewhere else.

 

[MrJayremmie]

He puts butts in the seats.

He is exciting for sure, but with or without Rudy, I don't think we would have a problem selling out games.

Moreover, I don't think that opposing fans buy tickets to the game to see Rudy.

If Rudy wants to leave because he wants 40mpg instead of playing 25-30mpg on a championship contender, then that is fine with me. I don't want someone here that doesn't want to be here. I'd want to trade him though, and not just let him walk.

Though I do hope he stays here. I really like him.

 

[oldmangrouch]

I'm not sure where Rudy's head is at long term, but I really hope we can keep him. He's probably one of the top two most exciting players on our team. He puts butts in the seats. I would love for him to continue to be our sixth man. I'm just not sure whether he's going to be one of those guys who wants to start, and if he can't start here, he's going to want to go somewhere else.

Bingo. If he doesn't want to be a Blazer long term, he is worth more to the team as a trade chip.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

The comp is weaker in comparison to the NBA but the ACB is the second best league in the world.

At nearly 6'11" with his jumper, basketball IQ, and mobility I think he has the tools to become the starting SF in the future.

in fact, KP mentioned just that during the post-draft press conference.

 

[Mediocre Man]

his DNPCD's will look great when he gets here.