Who's our fifth starter?

[Rastapopoulos]

So, we have 4 mortal locks to start:
Dame
Nurk
Grant
Ant
Who's going to be #5?

 

[Freshtown]

I hope it’s Little.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

(Of course, we all know it'll be Jabari Walker by the end of the season. Meant to put him in there...)

[Edit - thank you, anonymous Moderator]

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I'll do it if no one else wants to.

 

[Scalma]

Here is Nas last season when he was a consistent rotation player vs Hart's career.



It's gonna come down to one of these two imo, so the question is who is the best fit with the other 4? Harts career 3 point % is 35%. Nas was 33% last season, but could probably be better than that.

Measurements

Hart: 6'5.5" in shoes, 6'8.5" wingspan, 8'3" standing reach

Nas: 6'6" in shoes, 7'1.25" wingspan, 8'8.5" standing reach

My conclusion is that Nas is the better fit just because of his length since everything else is pretty comparable. I also think Harts a better creator, making him a better fit with the second unit where he can be more of a featured player along with Ant.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Nas vs. Winslow:
Nas gives us better shooting
Winslow has much better ball skills and BBIQ
Both good defensively.
Both brittle as glass.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Hart DESERVES it but it would make us super small. I can honestly see Ant being shopped for a forward at some point, if everyone stays healthy.

 

[Wade Garrett]

Here is Nas last season when he was a consistent rotation player vs Hart's career.

View attachment 48713

It's gonna come down to one of these two imo, so the question is who is the best fit with the other 4? Harts career 3 point % is 35%. Nas was 33% last season, but could probably be better than that.

Measurements

Hart: 6'5.5" in shoes, 6'8.5" wingspan, 8'3" standing reach

Nas: 6'6" in shoes, 7'1.25" wingspan, 8'8.5" standing reach

My conclusion is that Nas is the better fit just because of his length since everything else is pretty comparable. I also think Harts a better creator, making him a better fit with the second unit where he can be more of a featured player along with Ant.

As I stated before, I love the defense the Hart/Winslow combo showed.
I'm on an island where, to me, Nas is the 9th or 10th guy on this team, but until Jabari truly pops, Little, should be the starter.

 

[blazerfan11]

I hope we end up with enough healthy talent at forward that Grant isn't any better than anyone else. Then we can trade him or let him go or offer a backup-level salary to give that playing time to younger players like Walker and Little.

 

[blazerfan11]

As I stated before, I love the defense the Hart/Winslow combo showed.
I'm on an island where, to me, Nas is the 9th or 10th guy on this team, but until Jabari truly pops, Little, should be the starter.

I love how those two consistently push the ball on offense. It catches the other team off guard many times for easy scores.

 

[Scalma]

I do wonder what position they have in mind for Walker. Because from what I've seen so far hes shown he can slide with smaller players. And he has shared the court with Brown and Watford where he was the three. It's not like Nas is some great ball handler either, so if Walker can stick with wings defensively, he might be an option at the three as well. His size/length is clearly superior to either Nas and Hart and hes probably gonna be a better shooter.

 

[Wade Garrett]

I love how those two consistently push the ball on offense. It catches the other team off guard many times for easy scores.

One of the few memories I have from last season is it seems Hart/Winslow were always trapping somebody, leading to the steal, and the pushing the ball you refer to.
I call it "Chauncey-Ball".
It's gonna be fun to watch.

 

[blazerfan11]

What I am worried about with Grant is that he seems entitled already even though he hasn't proven anything as a Trail Blazer.
Of course if he hustles like our hustle players he'll deserve any playing time he gets.

 

[B-Roy]

Nas because he’s lower usage than Hart and has better size. Why use Harts playmaking and ball handling in the first unit?

 

[riverman]

I voted Little but it could very well be Winslow...I see Hart running the second unit with Payton by his side.

 

[blazerfan11]

I do wonder what position they have in mind for Walker. Because from what I've seen so far hes shown he can slide with smaller players. And he has shared the court with Brown and Watford where he was the three. It's not like Nas is some great ball handler either, so if Walker can stick with wings defensively, he might be an option at the three as well. His size/length is clearly superior to either Nas and Hart and hes probably gonna be a better shooter.

Good point. I hope our coach is thinking about all these options for this season and moving forward.
Walker seems like a lot more than just a good rebounder. He's very team-oriented and has a high basketball IQ for his age.
He could be compared to Nicolas Batum as to how he affects the team, maybe with a more consistent motor.

 

[Wade Garrett]

I voted Little but it could very well be Winslow...I see Hart running the second unit with Payton by his side.

Man, I keep forgetting they have Payton...
Holy Shit!
They may only win 40-45 games, but it is gonna be so much fun watching these guys take the fucking ball away and just run with it.
I'm thinking that's gonna be their identity.

 

[blazerfan11]

I voted Little but it could very well be Winslow...I see Hart running the second unit with Payton by his side.

Winslow is the Nurk whisperer. He might be able to turn Nurk into an All Star level center if they play together.
Winslow is also great at getting a pass from a guard and throwing it back to them for a more-open shot.
And he knows how to hit cutters. Including Nurk. Nurk cutting to the hoop not having to take a dribble with his man trailing is a guaranteed bucket.
Edit: this is where Nurk shines, more than in the pick and role where the defense knows what's coming.

 

[blazerfan11]

Man, I keep forgetting they have Payton...
Holy Shit!
They may only win 40-45 games, but it is gonna be so much fun watching these guys take the fucking ball away and just run with it.
I'm thinking that's gonna be their identity.

Playing consistently hard on defense will win you a lot of regular season games.
Add to that, Damian Lillard and Simons cutting hearts out down the stretch.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Before we got GP2 I wanted Hart to start at SG and Little to start at SF (if he was fully recovered by training camp) and bring Ant off the bench for a nice 3-guard rotation. (and no I do not give a shit about his new salary-Ant would have been fine doing that for at least this year)

Now it seems like they have Hart slated for SF. Sizewise he is short for the position but not small at 215 lbs. he plays bigger than his size, and he would give us another ball handler on the floor.

So to start the season I see a Dame, Ant, Hart, Grant, and Nurk starting rotation.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I voted Little but it could very well be Winslow...I see Hart running the second unit with Payton by his side.

I see Ant running the 2nd unit even if he starts. He will come out around the 6-minute mark and start the 2nd qtr.

 

[Wade Garrett]

Payton, Hart, Winslow, Eubanks, Watford.
Seems like a well balanced second unit?

 

[Pinwheel1]

Payton, Hart, Winslow, Eubanks, Watford.
Seems like a well balanced second unit?

Not to me. Not enough offense which is why I think Ant will be in with that unit. (Even if he starts)

 

[Scalma]

Good point. I hope our coach is thinking about all these options for this season and moving forward.
Walker seems like a lot more than just a good rebounder. He's very team-oriented and has a high basketball IQ for his age.
He could be compared to Nicolas Batum as to how he affects the team, maybe with a more consistent motor.

I dont even know who to compare him to. Going into summer league I thought he was a stretch four that could rebound. Well, from what hes shown so far, he could be A LOT more than that. Like the way he can slide with smaller players defensively is eye opening. His fluidity for his size is intriguing, classic stretch fours cant create the way hes shown he can. His bball IQ is intriguing. I said it a couple days ago, but I see flashes of Sheed in his game, especially defensively.

 

[illmatic99]

i want it to be little, but think we might have promised hart.

 

[Wade Garrett]

Not to me. Not enough offense which is why I think Ant will be in with that unit. (Even if he starts)

Possibly.
I too, think Anfernee would be a great 6th man.

 

[Scalma]

Payton, Hart, Winslow, Eubanks, Watford.
Seems like a well balanced second unit?

Ant
Payton
Hart
Grant
Watford/Eubanks

Thats how I see the second unit, for now. Walker (and Sharpe) could definitely enter the mix though.

Also, I keep forgetting about Winslow, and probably shouldn't. If hes healthy and actually on the roster hes gonna play imo

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Part of me wants it to be Hart, because he has the most experience, is the most proven, but another part doesn't want him because he's not big enough.
Part of me wants it to be Little, because he has the most prototypical skillset, but another part doesn't trust him to stay healthy.
Part of me wants it to be Winslow, because he's the best facilitator, but another part doesn't want him because he can't shoot.
Part of me wants it to be Walker, because he has the best size for the position, but another part worries whether he has sufficient perimeter skills to play the 3.
Part of me wants it to be Sharpe, because he has the most star potential, but another part says he needs way more experience before he can play serious minutes.

If it were my choice, I think I'd start Nas, holding my breath with every play, and being prepared for the inevitability of needing to replace him due to injury.

 

[Wade Garrett]

Ant
Payton
Hart
Grant
Watford/Eubanks

Thats how I see the second unit, for now. Walker (and Sharpe) could definitely enter the mix though.

Also, I keep forgetting about Winslow, and probably shouldn't. If hes healthy and actually on the roster hes gonna play imo

So, you have Justice starting?
There really isn't any wrong answers here...For now, anyway.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Speaking of Little, what is his latest timetable for beginning to work out in the weight room and in the gym?