Forum Game Who's the 9th man in the rotation?

[Wizard Mentor]

In the interview in SL game 3, Neil specifically talked about a "looking to make trades to bolster the top 9 guys in the rotation."

Here it is, started when Neil is talking:


Who are the "top 9 in the rotation?"
The top 8 have got to be
Lillard/CJ/Harkless/Aminu/Nurk
Curry/ET/Collins

Who's #9?
Candidates: Biggie, Leonard, Trent, Simons, Baldwin, Layman, PapaG, Stauskas

I'm pretty sure he doesn't mean Biggie, Trent, Simons, Baldwin, PapaG. So, that leaves
That leaves (gulp) Leonard, Layman, Nik.

As far as I'm concerned, any of these 3 would be a disaster.
Leonard - sucks
Layman - can't dribble
Nik - relying too much on Curry and ET to be ballhandlers.

It SHOULD DEFINITELY be Baldwin, but I'm quite sure he's not talking about Baldwin. Baldwin was noticeably absent when he, twice, talked about ballhandling in the 2nd unit (he mentioned ET).

Who do you think Neil was talking about?

 

[Orion Bailey]

Baldwin

Baldwin

Ohh Baldwin

 

[Orion Bailey]

No poll? Fail!

 

[RR7]

I don't believe that he was thinking of a specific 9 individuals. I think he was generically thinking in a normal basketball game, how most coaches go with a 9 man rotation.

So instead of looking at ways to bolster 10-15, guys that won't generally play a ton, he's saying we need to find trades to improve our actual game rotations.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

No poll? Fail!

I was hoping someone would just say "It's obvious that it's..." and everyone would agree, and I'd be a bit embarrassed, but would learn the answer to my question.

 

[BBert]

Anyone not named Damian Lillard.

 

[Orion Bailey]

I was hoping someone would just say "It's obvious that it's..." and everyone would agree, and I'd be a bit embarrassed, but would learn the answer to my question.

So maybe my post will get 30+ likes and that will be that!

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I don't believe that he was thinking of a specific 9 individuals. I think he was generically thinking in a normal basketball game, how most coaches go with a 9 man rotation.

So instead of looking at ways to bolster 10-15, guys that won't generally play a ton, he's saying we need to find trades to improve our actual game rotations.

Don't mean to be a contrarian, but I don't agree at all. Neil has always been very careful and very intentional about what he says. I think he has 9 specific players in mind.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

So maybe my post will get 30+ likes and that will be that!

I liked it to make you feel better! I can't add a poll now

 

[RR7]

Don't mean to be a contrarian, but I don't agree at all. Neil has always been very careful and very intentional about what he says. I think he has 9 specific players in mind.

But if he's looking to make a trade or trades to bolster the top 9, that would imply that the trade target would be in the top 9 of the rotation, not that we'd add a guy and he'd then be 10. So in that matter, it doesn't matter who "9" is right now, it's who it(hopefully) is after a trade

 

[TBpup]

I'll take the conspiracy approach and say he specifically didn't mention Baldwin because he hasn't guaranteed his contract yet and doesn't want to drive up the price in an extension negotiation.

Interview mystery solved.

 

[Orion Bailey]

I liked it to make you feel better! I can't add a poll now

You liked the wrong post.

It’s all about Baldwin

Baldwin

Or it could be Balwin?

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Quite sure he's not talking about Baldwin.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Quite sure he's not talking about Baldwin.

He is but you didn’t add butler to the list after he trades CJ/hark and a pick for him.

 

[Propagandist]

In the interview in SL game 3, Neil specifically talked about a "looking to make trades to bolster the top 9 guys in the rotation."

Here it is, started when Neil is talking:


Who are the "top 9 in the rotation?"
The top 8 have got to be
Lillard/CJ/Harkless/Aminu/Nurk
Curry/ET/Collins

Who's #9?
Candidates: Biggie, Leonard, Trent, Simons, Baldwin, Layman, PapaG, Stauskas

I'm pretty sure he doesn't mean Biggie, Trent, Simons, Baldwin, PapaG. So, that leaves
That leaves (gulp) Leonard, Layman, Nik.

As far as I'm concerned, any of these 3 would be a disaster.
Leonard - sucks
Layman - can't dribble
Nik - relying too much on Curry and ET to be ballhandlers.

It SHOULD DEFINITELY be Baldwin, but I'm quite sure he's not talking about Baldwin. Baldwin was noticeably absent when he, twice, talked about ballhandling in the 2nd unit (he mentioned ET).

Who do you think Neil was talking about?

To me it is absolute a joke that we are even talking about ET over (?!!) Baldwin. Baldwin is already better than Turner!

 

[PCmor7]

Obviously it's Nunnally.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Obviously it's Nunnally.

Neil didn't say. Maybe he thinks it's Nunnally our business....

 

[Wizard Mentor]

After some soulsearching, I think it's Nik. Baldwin will have to beat out Nik.

 

[BBert]

I interpreted it to mean he is looking for a trade - of anyone on the team - the outcome of which would be that our top 9 rotation players - whomever they will be - will comprise a better team than our current top 9 rotation players -- whoever that is.

In other words, stating the obvious

 

[BBert]

In the interview in SL game 3, Neil specifically talked about a "looking to make trades to bolster the top 9 guys in the rotation."

Here it is, started when Neil is talking:


Who are the "top 9 in the rotation?"
The top 8 have got to be
Lillard/CJ/Harkless/Aminu/Nurk
Curry/ET/Collins

Who's #9?
Candidates: Biggie, Leonard, Trent, Simons, Baldwin, Layman, PapaG, Stauskas

I'm pretty sure he doesn't mean Biggie, Trent, Simons, Baldwin, PapaG. So, that leaves
That leaves (gulp) Leonard, Layman, Nik.

As far as I'm concerned, any of these 3 would be a disaster.
Leonard - sucks
Layman - can't dribble
Nik - relying too much on Curry and ET to be ballhandlers.

It SHOULD DEFINITELY be Baldwin, but I'm quite sure he's not talking about Baldwin. Baldwin was noticeably absent when he, twice, talked about ballhandling in the 2nd unit (he mentioned ET).

Who do you think Neil was talking about?

Ok so IMO the current 9th player to round it out is clearly Wade Baldwin, if that's the question.

 

[riverman]

I'm going with Layman as that guy depending on the matchup..

 

[TBpup]

I'm going with Layman as that guy depending on the matchup..

I'd be surprised if Layman made that jump but would like to see it happen. He has a certain fluidity to his game, ridiculous athleticism, a very good looking shot (and it's finally going in), is a solid rebound and can handle the ball on the break probably better than any SF we have other than Turner.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

In the interview in SL game 3, Neil specifically talked about a "looking to make trades to bolster the top 9 guys in the rotation."

Here it is, started when Neil is talking:


Who are the "top 9 in the rotation?"
The top 8 have got to be
Lillard/CJ/Harkless/Aminu/Nurk
Curry/ET/Collins

Who's #9?
Candidates: Biggie, Leonard, Trent, Simons, Baldwin, Layman, PapaG, Stauskas

I'm pretty sure he doesn't mean Biggie, Trent, Simons, Baldwin, PapaG. So, that leaves
That leaves (gulp) Leonard, Layman, Nik.

As far as I'm concerned, any of these 3 would be a disaster.
Leonard - sucks
Layman - can't dribble
Nik - relying too much on Curry and ET to be ballhandlers.

It SHOULD DEFINITELY be Baldwin, but I'm quite sure he's not talking about Baldwin. Baldwin was noticeably absent when he, twice, talked about ballhandling in the 2nd unit (he mentioned ET).

Who do you think Neil was talking about?

I think you have the top 8 correct, and the 9th man--in Neil's mind--is yet to be acquired.

 

[riverman]

I'd be surprised if Layman made that jump but would like to see it happen. He has a certain fluidity to his game, ridiculous athleticism, a very good looking shot (and it's finally going in), is a solid rebound and can handle the ball on the break probably better than any SF we have other than Turner.

I like his game a lot....for a 3rd year big..he's looking like a solid bench player....not afraid of contact...a banger with a really good form and seems to have a good hoops IQ...

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[Pinwheel1]

The way Trent and Baldwin and Simons (potential) look in summer league, they might be helping Neil get into trade talks. Those 3 and next years 1st, plus a vet......that is a decent package.

 

[BigGameDamian]

The way Trent and Baldwin and Simons (potential) look in summer league, they might be helping Neil get into trade talks. Those 3 and next years 1st, plus a vet......that is a decent package.

Mo Harkless, Jake Layman and a first round pick for Khris Middleton?