||Draft|| TJ Leaf?

[Fez Hammersticks]

Why the Blazers take TJ Leaf: Leaf seems to be a player that is currently being undervalued by NBA teams. Which doesn't make a whole lot of sense as he figures to be a face up four that fits into today's spread-the-floor style perfectly. Leaf is a skilled, finesse power forward who could fit well with their terrific backcourt and bull in a China shop brute in the paint, Josep Nurkic.

NBAdraft.net



6'9.75" | 222 lbs | 8'11" reach
16.3 ppg | 8.2 rpg | 1.1 bpg​

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

The HCP freaks.

 

[ripcityboy]

Nah. I'll pass. I watched that UCLA team quite a bit last year and he never stood out to me enough to where I was like, "Wow. My team needs this guy!" Apparently, Lamar Ball thought so too. (Yuck yuck yuck!)

 

[handiman]

Whenever I watch him, my thought process goes something like, "He could be really good. Why doesn't he have more impact?"

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

Shows how much basketball I watch these days. I clicked the video and was like "a white guy?"


If that's wrong of me I'm just being honest about my first thought.

 

[JDC]

Pretty safe bet to be a 4th-5th big as an offense-only 4, but I think it'll be hard for him to be a valuable rotation player on a contending team in today's NBA.

Bad frame/strength plus little rim protection and switchability defensively is pretty hard to overcome unless your elite offensively and able to handle a sizable USG%.

 

[ripcityboy]

Shows how much basketball I watch these days. I clicked the video and was like "a white guy?"


If that's wrong of me I'm just being honest about my first thought.

You just got to wait until they talk in interviews.... If they have speak with an Eastern European dialect, they are the right kind of white people.

 

[BonesJones]

Who's Josep? Did he mean to say Joseph?

We need two-way players, and Leaf has 0 chance of becoming that. Pass.

 

[ripcityboy]

Who's Josep? Did he mean to say Joseph?

We need two-way players, and Leaf has 0 chance of becoming that. Pass.

Something something Zack Collins.... I know you too well!

 

[oldfisherman]

There are too many red flags to Leaf’s game.

I doubt he can make an impact on O in the NBA. He is too easy to guard, plus his D sucks everywhere on the floor. Just a so-so FT shooter, which does not indicate last season’s 3PT shooting streak will continue.

I believe many of the PFs in this draft are overrated, not underrated. This includes Leaf, and especially Markkanen who I would not even draft in the second round, and is a much better shooter than Leaf. Neither player is worth a roster spot on a contending team.

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

You just got to wait until they talk in interviews.... If they have speak with an Eastern European dialect, they are the right kind of white people.

So fucked up, where the hell is the new Larry Bird?

 

[BonesJones]

Something something Zack Collins.... I know you too well!

Except you don't because I barely talk about him.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I am not going to defend him again except to say I think he and Vonleh would both give us some versatility at PF. Their skills are opposite. Both seem like a good fit next to Nurk. Leaf in particular would fit in next to Nurk and a SF (i.e Harkless or ET) who are not good outside shooters. Because he will make up for it. His moves are a little mechanical but he is still fundamentally sound with good handles and passing for a big guy. I prefer him at 20 though...not 15

 

[ripcityboy]

So fucked up, where the hell is the new Larry Bird?

Maybe playing Lacrosse.

 

[Minstrel]

So fucked up, where the hell is the new Larry Bird?

Kevin Love is the new Larry Bird, such as it is. Well, really, it was Dirk Nowitzki, but I assume you wanted it to have a "Made in America" tag.

 

[ripcityboy]

Kevin Love is the new Larry Bird, such as it is. Well, really, it was Dirk Nowitzki, but I assume you wanted it to have a "Made in America" tag.

Whenever I think of Larry Bird, I think of Kenny Daglish in soccer or Wayne Gretzky in hockey. Guys that dominated their sport despite being average physical specimens. They all had a vision and speed of thought that was probably unmatched in their respective disciplines.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I say we get Zach Collins, TJ Leaf and another tall white stiff. Let's go all in

 

[dviss1]

Ewwwwww... No....

 

[Boob-No-More]

Ewwwwww... No....

Perhaps you'd prefer who draftexpress has us taking in their latest mock draft:

#15 - Ike Anigbogu
#20 - Harry Giles
#26 - Tyler Lydon

I'm not high on Leaf (ha!), but he currently has two more good knees than Giles.

Portland drafting Tyler Lydon would tick off all of Mediocre Man's boxes (white, American born, from Syracuse).

Personally, I can't think of a worse way to waste three first round picks in a deep draft.

BNM

 

[Minstrel]

Whenever I think of Larry Bird, I think of Kenny Daglish in soccer or Wayne Gretzky in hockey. Guys that dominated their sport despite being average physical specimens. They all had a vision and speed of thought that was probably unmatched in their respective disciplines.

So Steph Curry? Probably the closest thing to an "average physical specimen" that dominates in the NBA.

 

[santeesioux]

Maybe it's just because he's also a white American, but his comparison is Nick Collison. I guess I would be cool with that at 26 if we kept our picks, no higher than that though.

 

[ripcityboy]

So Steph Curry? Probably the closest thing to an "average physical specimen" that dominates in the NBA.

Yeah. That is a good comparison.
Steph probably doesn't have the measurable of some of the other guards but fakes them out or shoots the lights out.

 

[Trackjack]

Leaf would be alright he kind remind Kevin Mchale with his long reach and some of his moves. His flaw would be on defense side of the ball.

 

[RipCityDSCPL]

NBAdraft.net



6'9.75" | 222 lbs | 8'11" reach
16.3 ppg | 8.2 rpg | 1.1 bpg​

People whine and complain about the white guys we already do have on the roster, why would we want another one?

 

[TBpup]

People whine and complain about the white guys we already do have on the roster, why would we want another one?

Who is whining about The Bosnian Beast? I want their names now and they will be turn over to Papa Nurkic.

 

[WillG]

As liberal as the west coast is, I really hope the Blazers just say no to Leaf!

 

[Pinwheel1]

People whine and complain about the white guys we already do have on the roster, why would we want another one?

We also whine about players on the roster who can't shoot. Yet we never stop drafting them.

 

[handiman]

We also whine about players on the roster who can't shoot. Yet we never stop drafting them.

Who have we drafted recently that can't shoot? It seems like all we draft is guys who can only shoot.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Who have we drafted recently that can't shoot? It seems like all we draft is guys who can only shoot.

If you want to talk recently then let me change that to "signed". Our biggest recent free agents (all who I like ) can't shoot.
ET, Aminu, Harkless, and Davis .

Bottom line is we need players who have multiple skills so they can stay on the court. Leaf has offensive skills
Why are we convinced that Leaf is a poor defender?
Because he is not strong? He can get stronger.
Is he slow? No
Is he short? No
Is he not athletic? No
Is he white? ..............

 

[RipCityDSCPL]

Who is whining about The Bosnian Beast? I want their names now and they will be turn over to Papa Nurkic.

I will have the list ready for you after the All Star break.