What to do with Allen Crabbe...

[Natebishop3]

Last 5 games -

17.4 ppg, 3.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists and he's shooting 44/37.5/69.

He's finally getting minutes with Dame out. Over the last five he's averaging 31 mpg.

Should he be starting? What kind of contract would you offer him this summer? How do you see him fitting with Dame/CJ long term? Can he play small forward?

 

[KeepOnRollin]

He doesn't need to start. He should take all of Henderson's minutes once Dame is back though (that would keep his minutes close to 30. I think he should average 26 personally). And yes of course we should keep him. I would pay him up to 10 MIL a year for 4 years. I know you said you could see him get more than that but I can't see it being much more. He will return imo.

And ya he can play SF but really isn't a need. I keep saying it but Harkless needs more minutes there (who I would also like to bring back).

 

[TBpup]

I like him as a guard so we aren't so small in the backcourt all the time. Henderson will be gone soon so even with Dame back, there is still good minutes for him.

PG: Dame - 34 / CJ - 14
SG: CJ - 20 / Crabbe - 24

 

[RR7]

One thing's for sure, he's going to get paid well this offseason, by us or someone else. But I look at Khris Middleton last season, getting 5 year, 70 million. It's always tough to compare players on teams, because of the roles they play. You don't know if Crabbe is more a catch and shoot guy because he is poor with the ball, or because he's better in that role. But a generic look at the 2 guys, Middleton last year, Crabbe this year, and they're fairly comparable. Middleton the better rebounder/playmaker. There's likely better comparable players, I just use him because of his recent deal.

I agree with the above, you keep him and give him all the backup SG minutes, and some SF minutes as well.

 

[Natebishop3]

I really like Crabbe, so I don't really care who's starting as long as he, Dame, and CJ are able to share the minutes.

 

[Natebishop3]

One thing's for sure, he's going to get paid well this offseason, by us or someone else. But I look at Khris Middleton last season, getting 5 year, 70 million. It's always tough to compare players on teams, because of the roles they play. You don't know if Crabbe is more a catch and shoot guy because he is poor with the ball, or because he's better in that role. But a generic look at the 2 guys, Middleton last year, Crabbe this year, and they're fairly comparable. Middleton the better rebounder/playmaker. There's likely better comparable players, I just use him because of his recent deal.

I agree with the above, you keep him and give him all the backup SG minutes, and some SF minutes as well.

14 a year wouldn't surprise me, sadly. With all the teams with money this offseason, and the cap going up, I could see him getting an offer like that.

 

[illmatic99]

Not sure if you guys caught Crabbe's postgame comments. He kept mentioning how this system is perfect for his strengths. Haven't looked at the numbers but Middleton seems like he cretes for himself way more than Crabbe does.

We'll keep him. I wanna see a lineup with him at SF and Aminu and Meyers upfront tho. Have a feeling like it's our best lineup.

 

[julius]

If we've learned anything as Blazer fans, it's that the team has to trade players before they leave. So obviously, trade him while his trade value is high!

 

[MickZagger]

A year ago at this time everybody had given up on CJ and Crabbe. They were D-League talents.

Exactly why we should be patient with Vonleh who is way younger than both.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

I love crabbe as a player. I like the crabbe, Cj and dame backcourt. Our main problem is we need an elite big.

So yeah, I think you keep him, but I wouldn't overpay. $10 million sounds about right

 

[riverman]

Crabbe has cracked the rotation...doesn't matter what we do, he's done what he needs to. I don't see us moving him.

 

[illmatic99]

What's the point in developing them if you don't pay them to keep them?

We have so much leftover $. If Crabbe gets to the point where he warrants 10+ mil deals, then we pay him and keep him. Can just give up young talent because they make too much.

 

[riverman]

10 mil is not going to break the bank next season. It's less than we paid Batum

 

[BBert]

What to do with Allen Crabbe...

Match

.

 

[HolyBackboard]

I like him as a guard so we aren't so small in the backcourt all the time. Henderson will be gone soon so even with Dame back, there is still good minutes for him.

PG: Dame - 34 / CJ - 14
SG: CJ - 20 / Crabbe - 24

This.

There are plenty of minutes to go around for a three-guard rotation.

Lillard, McCollum, and Crabbe are arguably Portland's best three-guard rotation since Stoudamire, Smith, and Wells in 2000 or Drexler, Porter, Petro in 90/91. Roy was amazing but we never had a great running mate with him and the Lillard/Matthews duo was missing their third wingman as well. Overall, I'm thrilled about the future of Rip City's backcourt.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Right now I say he comes off the bench at SG, but I am sure there will be plenty of scenarios where we need 3 shooters on the floor at the same time.......and we go small with Dame, CJ, and Crabbe. Who the other two are on the floor with them, will probably alternate on the match ups and who is playing well that particular game.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Three guard rotation. Move Hendo, keep Frazier, lock in CJ and Crabbe. Focus on improving our front line.

 

[illmatic99]

One thing's for sure, he's going to get paid well this offseason, by us or someone else. But I look at Khris Middleton last season, getting 5 year, 70 million. It's always tough to compare players on teams, because of the roles they play. You don't know if Crabbe is more a catch and shoot guy because he is poor with the ball, or because he's better in that role. But a generic look at the 2 guys, Middleton last year, Crabbe this year, and they're fairly comparable. Middleton the better rebounder/playmaker. There's likely better comparable players, I just use him because of his recent deal.

I agree with the above, you keep him and give him all the backup SG minutes, and some SF minutes as well.

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/6603/jeremy-lamb

He got 3yrs, 21 mil last year.

Think that's a great comparison for AC.

 

[Sinobas]

The Blazers won't let him go, they have more cap space than anyone in the league.

 

[ThugginPaulyGAllen]

One thing's for sure, he's going to get paid well this offseason, by us or someone else. But I look at Khris Middleton last season, getting 5 year, 70 million. It's always tough to compare players on teams, because of the roles they play. You don't know if Crabbe is more a catch and shoot guy because he is poor with the ball, or because he's better in that role. But a generic look at the 2 guys, Middleton last year, Crabbe this year, and they're fairly comparable. Middleton the better rebounder/playmaker. There's likely better comparable players, I just use him because of his recent deal.

I agree with the above, you keep him and give him all the backup SG minutes, and some SF minutes as well.

Middleton is a WAY better defender. That was a BIG reason he got paid.

 

[blue9]

I keep saying it but Harkless needs more minutes there (who I would also like to bring back).

I agree with everyone saying that we should keep Crabbe - we've developed him, let's reap the rewards. (Unless a great trade offer is made, but that should go without saying.)
What I really wanted to comment on is this statement about Harkless. I totally agree - we need to be giving him a consistent 20mpg at SF - and more as he improves. He's been very hot/cold, but he's also been suffering from the Terry Yank Around. But it's clear that he has way more potential than Aminu. Maybe Harkless never develops consistency, but at least there's something worth taking a look at with him. With Aminu he's as developed as he's ever going to be - and he's not very good. Let's see if we can't turn Harkless into a reliable player.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

I agree with everyone saying that we should keep Crabbe - we've developed him, let's reap the rewards. (Unless a great trade offer is made, but that should go without saying.)
What I really wanted to comment on is this statement about Harkless. I totally agree - we need to be giving him a consistent 20mpg at SF - and more as he improves. He's been very hot/cold, but he's also been suffering from the Terry Yank Around. But it's clear that he has way more potential than Aminu. Maybe Harkless never develops consistency, but at least there's something worth taking a look at with him. With Aminu he's as developed as he's ever going to be - and he's not very good. Let's see if we can't turn Harkless into a reliable player.

I not as down on Aminu as you but I do think Aminu needs just as many PF minutes as SF minutes. And Harkless needs more SF minutes ALL the time (playing Aminu at PF at least half the time opens up some more minutes for Mo).

 

[Natebishop3]

The one thing that's nice about Aminu is that he can guard multiple positions. That's something that we needed to replace after trading Batum. I don't see Harkless filling that need.

 

[KingSpeed]

This.

There are plenty of minutes to go around for a three-guard rotation.

Lillard, McCollum, and Crabbe are arguably Portland's best three-guard rotation since Stoudamire, Smith, and Wells in 2000 or Drexler, Porter, Petro in 90/91. Roy was amazing but we never had a great running mate with him and the Lillard/Matthews duo was missing their third wingman as well. Overall, I'm thrilled about the future of Rip City's backcourt.

Petro hardly played. It was Porter/Drexler/Ainge.

 

[illmatic99]

All this Terry bashing later, we're sitting here with CJ as an emerging star, Crabbe as a definite starter, Leonard showing flashes as a consistent role player, and Plumlee, et al honing their skills. Maybe the guy knows what he's doing? The player development I've seen with this regime (Neil/Terry down) has been nothing short of amazing tbh. Give him a bit of time with Hark... I see the skills there, but his aggression is nowhere near consistent.

His 20mpg will be set in stone once Henderson is gone.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I agree. Harkless needs an opportunity. His 3 pt shot is a little "weird" but so far is effective.
He does force things at the basket, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. (He got fucking robbed last night not getting the call on the dunk attempt in the 4th.- That play totally gave Denver new life)

Another plus for Harkless is he can cover stretch 4's, (as can Aminu). And every team has them so there is a big need. He is very strong and very explosive. Always a nice combination. He has Jerome Kersey potential.

 

[blue9]

The one thing that's nice about Aminu is that he can guard multiple positions. That's something that we needed to replace after trading Batum. I don't see Harkless filling that need.

Aminu's defense is overrated. He can guard multiple positions, but he's not great at guarding any position - depending on the match-up he hovers between mediocre and good. But any way you slice it he's no Allen/Battier/Prince/Posey/Batum.

 

[Natebishop3]

Aminu's defense is overrated. He can guard multiple positions, but he's not great at guarding any position - depending on the match-up he hovers between mediocre and good. But any way you slice it he's no Allen/Battier/Prince/Posey/Batum.

Batum's defense was overrated as well.

 

[Chris Craig]

We should keep him...we need to trade Henderson and give backup SG and SF minutes to Crabbe and Harkless....when both these guys get good minutes we seem to play at our best.

 

[Natebishop3]

We should keep him...we need to trade Henderson and give backup SG and SF minutes to Crabbe and Harkless....when both these guys get good minutes we seem to play at our best.

Or.... we need to continue to hide the two of them until after we sign them to extensions this summer. Hendo is our smoke screen.