Vonleh

[julius]

God willing, it's Aminu and/or Turner who get traded, and they go with an actual PF at the PF spot.

 

[Scalma]

Point is other guys, just as young, are getting PT and being productive. It's not like Collins is buried behind some stud PF. Last year, PF and back up center were our biggest weaknesses. Those happen to be the same positions Collins is ideally suited to play. He was drafted to fill those needs.

I see the potential in Collins, and I'm fine with the pick. I'd just like to see him work with a REAL big man coach with a proven record of coaching guys up.

BNM

This entire franchise is buried behind Aminu at PF.

 

[handiman]

I was thinking the other day, can't we just get Kim Hughes to legally change his name so he can be brought back into the fold under the radar? We can all chip in for a disguise if he needs to sit on the bench during games.

He's supposedly the guy on the staff who works with our bigs, but that doesn't make him a proven big man coach. Exactly what big men has he coached up? Compare his resume to Kim Hughes, the last actual big man coach we had.

Zach Collins ahead of schedule???? No way. The guy was a lottery pick. Yes, he has shown flashes of his potential, but isn't coming close to providing consistent results. Lauri Markkanen is the same age, 1 and done college player, 7-footer and he's killing it in CHI. Compare their numbers and it's not close. Also, compare our Collins to John Collins, also 20 years old:

Zach Collins: 4.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg, PER = 7.6
Lauri Markkanen: 15.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, PER = 16.0
John Collins: 10.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg, PER = 21.1

Two of those guys are ahead of schedule. One is not. Bam Adebayo, Jarrett Allen, Jordan Bell are also outproducing Collins.

If Vonleh has gotten better every year, it's been in VERY tiny increments. He's in his 4th year in the league and still doesn't have a single reliable offensive move. He's always been an excellent rebounder and a solid defender. but he still struggles to score 4 ppg, even when he starts. We're basically playing 4-on-5 on offense when he's on the floor.

Nurk was MUCH better last year, but this year he's pretty much the same player he was in DEN. The only difference is he is our starting center by default. His shooting percentages are HORRIBLE, especially for a big man who rarely shoots from beyond 10 feet. Of qualified players, he's 127th of 132 in TS% (all those ranked lower are guards). He turns the ball over way too much. Of the top 50 players in TOVs, only Dwight Howard has fewer assists than Nurk. For a guy who isn't creating for others, he has WAY too many unforced TOVs. These are things that can be corrected. It's not too late.

Meyer's was actually making progress under Kim Hughes and has been a trainwreck ever since Hughes was fired.

Davis actually put up better numbers in LAL and his best year in POR was his first. He's actually declined under Moran.

Plumlee was all about energy and a high motor. He lacked even the most basic offensive skills. He had zero low post moves (got almost all of his points in transition) and couldn't even make a wide open 10-foot jump shot (or a FT). Moran did NOTHING to coach him up, or add to his skill set.

The fact that Vonleh, Nurk, Collins and Swanigan are all 23 or under is EXACTLY why we need a proven big man coach with a record of coaching players up. Hell, even Ed and Meyers could benefit.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

I was thinking the other day, can't we just get Kim Hughes to legally change his name so he can be brought back into the fold under the radar? We can all chip in for a disguise if he needs to sit on the bench during games.

It can be like one of those lame ass All State commercials where we hire his twin brother Tim Hughes.

BNM

 

[blue9]

Our roster is completely imbalanced. It's why we NEED a trade.

Whose minutes would you cut to play Noah?

Turner/Aminu/Ed/Pat

 

[blue9]

This entire franchise is buried behind Aminu at PF.

This. This is what's slowly killing the team.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Blazers should hire this guy to be their big man coach.

 

[Orion Bailey]

How do we get someone in the media to lefgit ask Stotts point blank why he is not starting Aminu/Noah at the 3/4?

How? I want to know WHY Stotts has not gone back to the best lineup we saw last year?????
Yes I know Hark was at the three then, but Aminu would be better.

 

[BlazerWookee]

you have to remember I'm on the fire stotts bandwagon, so I wasn't saying what I felt was a legit reason, just his hairbrained reason.

Vonlehs defense was good, and unlike Aminu or Turner, he doesn't try to do something well outside of the scope of his talent level.

Sincere question: Is it hairbrained, or harebrained?

 

[Boob-No-More]

Our roster is completely imbalanced. It's why we NEED a trade.

Whose minutes would you cut to play Noah?

Easy question: Turner.

Move Aminu to the starting 3 and start Vonleh at the 4. Moving Aminu to the 3 means fewer minutes for Turner and more minutes for both Vonleh and Collins at the 4.

BNM

 

[BlazerWookee]

God willing, it's Aminu and/or Turner who get traded, and they go with an actual PF at the PF spot.

From your lips to Olshey's ears...

 

[illmatic99]

Easy question: Turner.

Move Aminu to the starting 3 and start Vonleh at the 4. Moving Aminu to the 3 means fewer minutes for Turner and more minutes for both Vonleh and Collins at the 4.

BNM

It is easy, but we know Terry hates the idea of Aminu at SF for some reason. He doesn't even try it anymore. I wish he would. Would give us more size and physicality.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

It is easy, but we know Terry hates the idea of Aminu at SF for some reason. He doesn't even try it anymore. I wish he would. Would give us more size and physicality.

And it isn't easy at all to move Turner.

 

[illmatic99]

And it isn't easy at all to move Turner.

Disagree. Moving Turner to the bench and gluing him to it is quite easy.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Disagree. Moving Turner to the bench and gluing him to it is quite easy.

Not for Stotts.

 

[handiman]

And it isn't easy at all to move Turner.

Maybe those are the mysterious marching orders many assume is influencing Stotts' rotations and media session unhappiness? E.g., he has to play Turner in a featured role to justify the contract, and that means not playing Aminu at SF.

 

[SportsAndWhine]

It is easy, but we know Terry hates the idea of Aminu at SF for some reason. He doesn't even try it anymore. I wish he would. Would give us more size and physicality.

Not having a third "ball handler" to help CJ and Dame means they get doubled off the pick every time. That was the entire reason we signed Turner. It didn't work (which is why ball handler is in quotes there), but that's why we don't have Aminu at SF. He's got handles that make Will Barton look like CP3.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Not having a third "ball handler" to help CJ and Dame means they get doubled off the pick every time. That was the entire reason we signed Turner. It didn't work (which is why ball handler is in quotes there), but that's why we don't have Aminu at SF. He's got handles that make Will Barton look like CP3.

Well, once we get into the half court, our offense is supposed to rely on ball movement and player, not dribbling excessively and trying to back your man down (which is why Turner is such a poor fit). Dame and C.J. can handle bringing the ball up the floor and initiating the offense.

For the times when we need another ball handler, we have Shabazz (for now).

The real reason we brought in Turner was to use him off the bench so C.J. wouldn't be on an island when Dame went out. Terry disliked playing a smaller 2nd string PG with C.J. (look how few minutes Frazier and Brian Roberts got when they were here and how few minutes Shabazz got last year) and wanted a larger guard who could let Dame and C.J. play off the ball when one of them sat. Turner was brought in to be an additional ballhandler/backup PG off the bench, not our starting small forward.

BNM

 

[stampedehero]

My guess is that he can't hit a 3/isn't a threat from deep and thus is worthless in Stotts mind.

Tho that doesn't explain why Turner continues to gets minutes.

Turner gets minutes because he pays Stotts to play. He's got enough money to do that.

 

[Scalma]

Well, once we get into the half court, our offense is supposed to rely on ball movement and player, not dribbling excessively and trying to back your man down (which is why Turner is such a poor fit). Dame and C.J. can handle bringing the ball up the floor and initiating the offense.

For the times when we need another ball handler, we have Shabazz (for now).

The real reason we brought in Turner was to use him off the bench so C.J. wouldn't be on an island when Dame went out. Terry disliked playing a smaller 2nd string PG with C.J. (look how few minutes Frazier and Brian Roberts got when they were here and how few minutes Shabazz got last year) and wanted a larger guard who could let Dame and C.J. play off the ball when one of them sat. Turner was brought in to be an additional ballhandler/backup PG off the bench, not our starting small forward.

BNM

70m for a bench player? If so, I should probably be directing this at Neil instead.

Personally I think he was the backup/panic plan in case they didn’t sign Parsons.

 

[stampedehero]

Well, once we get into the half court, our offense is supposed to rely on ball movement and player, not dribbling excessively and trying to back your man down (which is why Turner is such a poor fit). Dame and C.J. can handle bringing the ball up the floor and initiating the offense.

For the times when we need another ball handler, we have Shabazz (for now).

The real reason we brought in Turner was to use him off the bench so C.J. wouldn't be on an island when Dame went out. Terry disliked playing a smaller 2nd string PG with C.J. (look how few minutes Frazier and Brian Roberts got when they were here and how few minutes Shabazz got last year) and wanted a larger guard who could let Dame and C.J. play off the ball when one of them sat. Turner was brought in to be an additional ballhandler/backup PG off the bench, not our starting small forward.

BNM

It seems stupid they paid him that kind of money to be a backup! He ought to be capable of playing every position and be two coaches for the money he makes.

 

[SportsAndWhine]

Well, once we get into the half court, our offense is supposed to rely on ball movement and player, not dribbling excessively and trying to back your man down (which is why Turner is such a poor fit). Dame and C.J. can handle bringing the ball up the floor and initiating the offense.

For the times when we need another ball handler, we have Shabazz (for now).

The real reason we brought in Turner was to use him off the bench so C.J. wouldn't be on an island when Dame went out. Terry disliked playing a smaller 2nd string PG with C.J. (look how few minutes Frazier and Brian Roberts got when they were here and how few minutes Shabazz got last year) and wanted a larger guard who could let Dame and C.J. play off the ball when one of them sat. Turner was brought in to be an additional ballhandler/backup PG off the bench, not our starting small forward.

BNM

Sorry for expressing myself so poorly you had to explain to me all of that. I'm just trying to say why Aminu isn't our SF. It's because he can't dribble and can't pass, and for whatever reason Stotts doesn't like that.

 

[ripcityboy]

Well, once we get into the half court, our offense is supposed to rely on ball movement and player, not dribbling excessively and trying to back your man down (which is why Turner is such a poor fit). Dame and C.J. can handle bringing the ball up the floor and initiating the offense.

For the times when we need another ball handler, we have Shabazz (for now).

The real reason we brought in Turner was to use him off the bench so C.J. wouldn't be on an island when Dame went out. Terry disliked playing a smaller 2nd string PG with C.J. (look how few minutes Frazier and Brian Roberts got when they were here and how few minutes Shabazz got last year) and wanted a larger guard who could let Dame and C.J. play off the ball when one of them sat. Turner was brought in to be an additional ballhandler/backup PG off the bench, not our starting small forward.

BNM

That was a panic buy. And it becomes more apparent with every passing year. Neil comes off like the captain of the Hindenburg when he tries to convince us that landing him in that free agency period was a good idea.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

70m for a bench player? If so, I should probably be directing this at Neil instead.

Personally I think he was the backup/panic plan in case they didn’t sign Parsons.

Just to backup @Boob-No-More a bit, I remember seeing a "position (white) board" in the background during one of Olshey's
interviews this past summer, and it distinctly had ET as our backup SF - no one was in the starting SF position (I think Harkless hadn't signed yet).

 

[Boob-No-More]

70m for a bench player? If so, I should probably be directing this at Neil instead.

Personally I think he was the backup/panic plan in case they didn’t sign Parsons.

Paid more than that for Crabbe, and he was always going to be a bench player in Portland.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

It seems stupid they paid him that kind of money to be a backup! He ought to be capable of playing every position and be two coaches for the money he makes.

It was the summer of Monopoly money. Many thought the cap would keep going up and the contracts handed out at the time would eventually become the norm.

I remember arguing at the time we paid way too much (matched BRK's offer) for Crabbe, our 6th man, but was told in a year, or two, that would be the standard going rate for a 6th man.

BNM

 

[Wizard Mentor]

It was the summer of Monopoly money. Many thought the cap would keep going up and the contracts handed out at the time would eventually become the norm.

I remember arguing at the time we paid way too much (matched BRK's offer) for Crabbe, our 6th man, but was told in a year, or two, that would be the standard going rate for a 6th man.

BNM

Bubbles burst, markets correct. I didn't see it coming, but several on here did. I'm curious as whether any team that had money last summer
wasn't screwed. Certainly, Memphis was, Denver was ($90mil/3 years to 32yo Milsap + Plums), Sacramento was. I would argue the Clips were (because IMHO BGs contract is the worst in the nba).

It was the only time we'd have FA cash, and it seems like it was a very bad time to have it.

 

[julius]

Sincere question: Is it hairbrained, or harebrained?

I think both are ok

 

[jlprk]

Sincere question: Is it hairbrained, or harebrained?

Just practice spelling dum dum by humming it, and someone will hire you.

God willing, it's Aminu and/or Turner who get traded, and they go with an actual PF at the PF spot.

I didn't know you're Muslim! Cool!

 

[Labinot41]

Hopefully we can bring him back for cheap money, i'm done with Aminu. Noah was so good for the Knicks for a good part of the Season