Who is the most explosive scorer?

[RoyToy]

Like come to a snap judgement like you have believing that these unproven college kids are better then an up and coming SF like Nic?

If you say so.

 

[Natebishop3]

The point is, we need someone who can get to the line. Batum only got 2.7 FTA last season, and he's at 1.7 for his career. That's terrible. Maybe he'll step it up next season. Maybe he's ready to turn a corner, but for right now he's a free agent and it's likely he's going to demand in the neighborhood of 9 or 10 million per season. That's an awful lot to pay for someone who hasn't shown us much.

 

[Natebishop3]

Not to derail the bickering about Nic, but . . .

I'm starting to wonder if taking Lillard at 6 makes perfect sense (assuming Drummond isn't there). You would have to put him up against NBA talent to see if he can compete, but I love his balance. Shoots well from outside, penetrates, draws lots of fouls, handles the ball, has solid size for a PG, and supposedly has a great work ethic and attitude.

24.5 pts/g on 15.5 fga/g

41% on threes on 7+ attempts/g

and near the top in the nation at FTA/g, and leading Rivers by quite a bit.

Is there no chance he'll be there at 11?

 

[porkchopexpress]

Yeah, Wroten is such a mixed bag of super talent and crap. Parts of his game you love and other parts look like they could keep him from ever being a player.

I don't think his lack of shooting will be what holds him back. He doesn't ever have to have a great shot to be a great PG in league. With his size, athleticism and court vision, a nice J would be nice, but isn't mandatory. Imagine a 6' 5" Rondo. I think the number one thing he has to work on his his control on the court. Too many stupid mistakes all of last season.

 

[Blazer Freak]

Not to derail the bickering about Nic, but . . .

I'm starting to wonder if taking Lillard at 6 makes perfect sense (assuming Drummond isn't there). You would have to put him up against NBA talent to see if he can compete, but I love his balance. Shoots well from outside, penetrates, draws lots of fouls, handles the ball, has solid size for a PG, and supposedly has a great work ethic and attitude.

24.5 pts/g on 15.5 fga/g

41% on threes on 7+ attempts/g

and near the top in the nation at FTA/g, and leading Rivers by quite a bit.

He's been the guy I've wanted since the get-go. It would soothe some of my doubts to hear he performs well against talent in workouts, but I think he would be a great fit next to Batum/LA.

It gets harder to say if Drummond is still there though, if he is and Ross doesn't shoot up as high as I think he will, I'd really like a Drummond/Terrence Ross draft.

 

[Reep]

Is there no chance he'll be there at 11?

I keep hearing that if he had gone to a major college he would be top 5 for sure. I think when people see him in workouts against other talent, the small school stigma will fall off.

Typically guys fall if they show a weakness in workouts. Lillard sounds like he is doing well and will move up if anything. I would love him at 11, but I don't think he will be there. If he and Beal were both there at 6, I would prefer Lillard. In two more years of college Beal may have become as good as Lillard is. I believe Lillard is only an inch shorter and a bit slighter in build, but Lillard is a PG (score first, but he is a PG) and nobody is calling Beal anything but a 2.

 

[Natebishop3]

He's been the guy I've wanted since the get-go. It would soothe some of my doubts to hear he performs well against talent in workouts, but I think he would be a great fit next to Batum/LA.

It gets harder to say if Drummond is still there though, if he is and Ross doesn't shoot up as high as I think he will, I'd really like a Drummond/Terrence Ross draft.

We'll just have to see what happens over the next month. I think things will shift big time.

 

[RoyToy]

I keep hearing that if he had gone to a major college he would be top 5 for sure. I think when people see him in workouts against other talent, the small school stigma will fall off.

Typically guys fall if they show a weakness in workouts. Lillard sounds like he is doing well and will move up if anything. I would love him at 11, but I don't think he will be there. If he and Beal were both there at 6, I would prefer Lillard. In two more years of college Beal may have become as good as Lillard is. I believe Lillard is only an inch shorter and a bit slighter in build, but Lillard is a PG (score first, but he is a PG) and nobody is calling Beal anything but a 2.

Lillard shows a much quicker first step as well and more athleticism.

Seriously don't get the Beal hype.

 

[Reep]

He's been the guy I've wanted since the get-go. It would soothe some of my doubts to hear he performs well against talent in workouts, but I think he would be a great fit next to Batum/LA.

It gets harder to say if Drummond is still there though, if he is and Ross doesn't shoot up as high as I think he will, I'd really like a Drummond/Terrence Ross draft.

If they end up getting a PG in free agency, then that draft would be pretty good.

 

[Natebishop3]

If we could get Drummond at six (big if) and Lillard at 11 (another big if) that would be a very good draft imo.

 

[Reep]

Another reason why we need a GM and coach (not to beat a dead horse).

If you are running an offense with a lot of motion, then Lillard and maybe Henson or PJIII make more sense. But, if you are running a PG centered, iso-driven offense, then maybe Drummond/Marshall makes more sense.

 

[Natebishop3]

Another reason why we need a GM and coach (not to beat a dead horse).

If you are running an offense with a lot of motion, then Lillard and maybe Henson or PJIII make more sense. But, if you are running a PG centered, iso-driven offense, then maybe Drummond/Marshall makes more sense.

If you're running an iso, wouldn't you want the more explosive scorer at the point?

 

[Reep]

If you're running an iso, wouldn't you want the more explosive scorer at the point?

Depends on how you set it up and who is doing the iso. I'm thinking of the slog it into Oden type of iso. All you need is a good entry pass.

I'm hoping for a ball movement system and I think Lillard would look really nice in that, given that he is not a chucker, but still scores efficiently. He reminds me a bit of Tony Parker, but with a better outside shot.

But, if you are running a motion offense, where everyone needs to know where to be, do you really want a big center, who has yet to show that he really understands the game? Maybe someone more versatile would be better (Zeller?).

 

[Natebishop3]

Depends on how you set it up and who is doing the iso. I'm thinking of the slog it into Oden type of iso. All you need is a good entry pass.

I'm hoping for a ball movement system and I think Lillard would look really nice in that, given that he is not a chucker, but still scores efficiently. He reminds me a bit of Tony Parker, but with a better outside shot.

But, if you are running a motion offense, where everyone needs to know where to be, do you really want a big center, who has yet to show that he really understands the game? Maybe someone more mobile would be better.

Is Drummond the kind of guy that you dump the ball into a lot? I think he has potential, but he's nowhere near a #1 option.

 

[Blazer Freak]

Is Drummond the kind of guy that you dump the ball into a lot? I think he has potential, but he's nowhere near a #1 option.

Potentially down the road I think he could be. Another thing to think about with Drummond is the fact that he is still only 18. Centers do not usually hit their prime or really round into form until their are 24-25 (see Bynum).

Having him develop next to LA for the next couple of years and start at center in a year or two would allow us to have a go-to post player when LA is hitting the tail end of his career. 7 years from now LA would be 33 and Drummond would be 25. Obviously we are talking waayyyyy down the road, but something to think about nonetheless.

 

[Natebishop3]

Potentially down the road I think he could be. Another thing to think about with Drummond is the fact that he is still only 18. Centers do not usually hit their prime or really round into form until their are 24-25 (see Bynum).

Having him develop next to LA for the next couple of years and start at center in a year or two would allow us to have a go-to post player when LA is hitting the tail end of his career. 7 years from now LA would be 33 and Drummond would be 25. Obviously we are talking waayyyyy down the road, but something to think about nonetheless.

Yeah... centers are so hard to predict though. They get a free pass because of their height all the way to the NBA if they're any good, but a guard has to work his ass off just to get to D1.

 

[craigehlo]

Is Drummond the kind of guy that you dump the ball into a lot? I think he has potential, but he's nowhere near a #1 option.

I think he's potentially like a Hibbert. Not dominant all the time, but could be for stretches.

 

[Blazinaway]

The point is, we need someone who can get to the line. Batum only got 2.7 FTA last season, and he's at 1.7 for his career. That's terrible. Maybe he'll step it up next season. Maybe he's ready to turn a corner, but for right now he's a free agent and it's likely he's going to demand in the neighborhood of 9 or 10 million per season. That's an awful lot to pay for someone who hasn't shown us much.

Agreed, we have to have someome who can take it inside and also be able to dish out to shooters or make the bucket and/or draw fouls, Wes and Nic just do not have that ability. Maybe EWill can but we just have not seen enough. We'll have to see how the workout and Chi combine goes and of Lilliard ends up being a top 10 consensus pick.

 

[Blazer Freak]

Yeah... centers are so hard to predict though. They get a free pass because of their height all the way to the NBA if they're any good, but a guard has to work his ass off just to get to D1.

Oh don't get me wrong, I wholeheartedly agree with you. Just pointing out that we were to take Drummond, the timing could potentially work perfectly.

Personally I love Lillard. I think he is getting a bad rap for not being a "pass-first" PG, but look at the squad he was on. Also, look at many of the top PG's today, Derrick Rose, Westbrook, John Wall, they are all explosive point guards with a scoring mentality. I'm not comparing Lillard to any of these players, just simply stating that the need for a true "pass-first" PG like Marshall is often overstated. Especially when Lillard's ability to get to the basket and ability to score the ball I think will open things up more for LA than having a PG like Marshall (with little offensive game).

The important thing I think, is if we take Lillard, you've got to start him right away and get his development going. He is 22, and IMO PG's develop much better and faster when thrown into the fire (see Conley, Westbrook, etc.)

 

[MickZagger]

Lillard. The more that I think about it, the more I want Lillard and a big. Lillard can be dynamic.

 

[cdub503]

I'm curious if we could trade the 11th pick and someone maybe a future first to Toronto or Detroit if lillard goes up too high to be 11 but too low to draft at 6. I have a feeling the hornets will draft him or marshall when it comes to the draft.

That is if we swing and miss on a pg in free agency.

 

[Blaze01]

I think Rivers is an explosive scorer and more importantly a CLOSER....POR needs more (one?) player who actually WANTS the ball at the end of games....

 

[Blazer Freak]

I think Rivers is an explosive scorer and more importantly a CLOSER....POR needs more (one?) player who actually WANTS the ball at the end of games....

Yes, I agree, but at the same time Rivers will likely measure in at 6'3 and does not have the mentality to be a PG at all. I think he'll end up being a great combo/scoring guard off the bench, but I don't like him with either pick and personally think he will be picked in the 13-18 range.

 

[Natebishop3]

It's so hard to predict who will be a closer at the next level.

 

[Blaze01]

Part of being a closer is actually WANTING the ball in your hands at those moments....That is a problem with LA right now....and NO one else on the team wants the ball....

 

[Natebishop3]

Part of being a closer is actually WANTING the ball in your hands at those moments....That is a problem with LA right now....and NO one else on the team wants the ball....

Nope... not our soon to be 10 million dollar man either.

 

[PapaG]

Part of being a closer is actually WANTING the ball in your hands at those moments....That is a problem with LA right now....and NO one else on the team wants the ball....

I think LMA 'wants' the ball, but operating out of a pick and roll as the screener, or low post as an offensive player, isn't the same as being able to ISO and break down the defense. I don't really blame LMA for not being an elite closer. The only real PF I can think of who is an elite closer is Dirk, and that's because he can create offense from a wing or high post position as well as many SFs or SGs.

 

[Blaze01]

I don't necessarily blame LA either , he has gotten better, and a lot of times at the end of games teams tried to double or force the ball out of his hands, and why wouldn't they? Make Matthews or Felton beat you, and they couldn't....

Part of what makes a team like OKC so good is that they have 3 guys who can beat you at the end of games, much harder to take one out without opening yourself up to another to score\create against you....POR needs two more players who want to and can deliver at the end of games...

 

[PapaG]

I don't necessarily blame LA either , he has gotten better, and a lot of times at the end of games teams tried to double or force the ball out of his hands, and why wouldn't they? Make Matthews or Felton beat you, and they couldn't....

Part of what makes a team like OKC so good is that they have 3 guys who can beat you at the end of games, much harder to take one out without opening yourself up to another to score\create against you....POR needs two more players who want to and can deliver at the end of games...

Roy was a closer in terms of late game offense. So was Miller, although to a much lesser degree, simply because he didn't trust his outside shot. Crawford and Felton were disastrous in that role.

 

[Run BJM]

I think Nic is probably the most overrated player by fans in the history of this franchise.