Maybe they would score fewer threes in their first years but it's not that important. We would drop almost $20M a year from our payroll and long term they could develop into just as good or better all around players. I think Crabbe is not going to improve that much from where he is now.
Unless Crabbe suddenly develops a better handle, he is what he is. Other than improved 3FG%, he actually held constant, or digressed in all other areas. His rebounding and passing, which were never strengths to begin with, got worse, as did his STLs. His 2FG% and FT% were also down. All this shows why, in spite of his improved 3FG%, his advanced performance metrics (PER, WS/48, VORP, etc.) were all down. A lot of players make that leap between years 3 and 4. Crabbe did not. BNM
He was working on his ball handling last summer and it looked pretty good in drills. It could be that one more year in game play could help with that. Most of what he needs is confidence and game time where he can practice.
Does Crabbe's presence in the gym mean anything? Was he invited? Was he just their working out? Either one is probably a good thing. Of course Pat's presence pretty much destroys that hope.
A lot of things are easier in drills, and ball-handling would strike me as A#1 on that list. It could be that he needs just one more year, but that could be said every year. Without actually showing any concrete improvement, it's as much conjecture as it would be with any player in the league. I don't see Crabbe being moved this off-season, coming off an injury that required surgery, so I guess we can hope that one more year brings The Jump.
He had plenty of "game play" last year (over 2200 minutes) to show his "improved" handles and we saw no evidence of it. In fact, statistically, he created even fewer shots for himself and others, than he did the previous season. Again, other than 3FG%, he was stagnant or regressed in all areas of the game. Not a good sign for someone you hope to have a breakout year. Crabbe just doesn't seem to possess the drive to improve. He's very passive on the court and seems to be that way, in general, in his approach to the game. He doesn't have 1/10th the drive Wesley Matthews had. He seems perfectly satisfied to just keep doing the one thing he does well without any desire to improve his many weaknesses. But, given the $75 million contract he signed (with a potential $10 million trade kicker), that seems to have worked out pretty damn well for him. BNM
It's hard to work on new skills in the regular season. If Crabbe stays I hope he will push it in camp and pre-season. After that it is too late.
Well, he had all last summer to work on his game and we saw the exact same player in 2016-17 as we did in 2015-16. BNM
I really don't care how good Crabbe can shoot the 3. The bottom line he was averaging little over 10 point a game at 19 million a season. I believe we can find a player in the draft that can do that on rookie salary. That why I am eyeing Hart to get drafted at the 26 pick and some how trade Crabbe.
Impressive interview for John Collins. Seems pretty mature, confident and self-aware for a 19 year old. Has me trusting more that he'll put in the necessary work to develop into an NBA style PF.
Josh Hart won't average 3ppg next year. I don't like Crabbe that much, but it's funny how people think that a rookie like Josh Hart could come in and replicate his shooting...
Replicate what shooting yes Crabbe shot what 44 percent but he still only average 10 points a game. Hart is 4 year guy in winning program. But his overall game right now is better than Crabbe. Crabbe is rating one of the worst defender at his position he is below rebounder for his height. His handles is below average. He is a decent 3 point shot but he is passive about that in the game. Hart shoot about 37 percent from 3 he has decent handles and does attack the basket. He is above rebounder for his size and he is decent passer with a high basketball IQ. But this is my opinion but right now I would take Hart over Crabbe.
PORTLAND'S FIRST DRAFT WORKOUT HIGHLIGHTS OPTIONS AT POWER FORWARD (Sorry to interrupt a discussion of Crabbe to GET THE THREAD BACK ON TRACK...)
