Sure, I agree. It's completely subjective. But my point is that IF the Blazers think that Scoot is the BPA they should not pass on him because they have Dame. Going back in time, maybe the team didn't think Paul was better than Webster. Maybe they didn't think Paul was better than Bassy (lol). Obviously we have the advantage of hindsight.
I don't see anything with Scoot , other than he dunks a lot, that blows me away. You want defense, draft Cason Wallace. Dude looks like Jrue Holiday on D. Plus he has a nice shooting stroke. Scoot may be great. But the Blazers have bigger needs at the wing position. I get Portland passing on Jordan, because of Clyde. But i find it hard to believe Bowie passed the physical , when Bowie himself said he wasn't healthy at the time. Makes me really wonder if the Doctor really gave him a big time physical. Coulda, shoulda, woulda.
Trading 3 is a huge risk. BPA, Tiers … that’s where the percentages are best for stars getting picked — higher is better. Trading 3 whether down or out carries serious risk of missing out on star players when they don’t get a vote (most of the time they don’t get to choose … Kobe). The bigger risk is not getting a 2-way-stud-forward to add to Grant, Sharpe, and Dame. And if that gets done — even overpay — it’s the surer, quicker path to success with proven players. IMHO. That’s why they trade 3.
I think it's easier to compensate for a limited offensive player than to cover a gaping hole in your defense. Think military battle strategy.
He has great athleticism, great finishing ability around the basket, an excellent mid range game and is a dynamic playmaker. But he plays 0 defense, shoots a vast majority of his 3pt shots short, and is a short guard. He definitely has more than dunks though
He's like a better passing Fox. Can get to anyplace he wants to on the floor. Defense definitely suspect but he has the physical tools.
You keep banging this drum, but he was basically playing on an exhibition team. Why play hardcore defense? The games don't matter. Have you ever watched how Dame plays in the preseason or in the All-Star game?
If this is your position, how can you take ANY of his numbers seriously since he was “basically playing on an exhibition team”? Further, how do you know how he will play when he’s forced to actually play defense AND offense? As for your question, if someone is fighting for the #1 spot in the draft (in which Scoot said he was), then he better work his ass off on defense and not give scouts ANY reason to question his “effort”. And frankly, if you’re treating 2 entire seasons as an NBA all-star game when you haven’t accomplished a fucking thing yet, then I REALLY question if I want that player on my team because that is fucking terrible leadership AND shows horrible effort. Also comparing all-star game effort in a league where you’re constantly flying from game to game and playing 82games (and where you’re acknowledged to be one of the best in the league) to the fucking “rigors” of G league is suspect at best. Don’t forget, Scoot was also being paid, really well … so that’s one reason you should play defense to try and win some damn games. So, forgive me if I critique what he has put on film. And once again I’ll ask: Find ONE scout // draft expert that says, “wow this guy is a really impressive defender!” OR one scout // draft expert that says his ACTUAL defense (not potential) is a strength and not a weakness. I don’t get why you think it’s me banging this drum. Literally everywhere you look people talk about his piss poor defense. And if what you say is true and he’s actively not trying (for two seasons) that is a much, much worse knock on him than being bad at defense.
I mean.... yeah...... the G League is a different animal. You absolutely have to call into question stats. Just like how we REALLY have to call into question any stats that Amen Thompson put up against a bunch of kids. Or the stats that Wemby put up over in Europe. They're all different. The Ignite are a completely different kind of team compared to the other G League teams. It's a team designed to develop talent. That's why it exists. The primary goal isn't to win games. It's a different experience than college, or Europe, or anything else. But we get to see how he does against full grown men. You have to take it all with a grain of salt. But to your point, I haven't heard any scout or analyst say he's terrible at defense. It's definitely something he can improve on, but your statement that he plays ZERO defense is false.
Keeping Dame for a year or two to mentor any of these guys WOULD make sense, at least in my head. Scoot and Sharpe Amen and Sharpe Multiple rookies and Sharpe Any lineup of guys that the FO believes will be the future, playing with Dame for a few years would very much make sense. Rookies need a leader to show them how to professional and conduct themselves the right way. Rookies also benefit from playing with guys who will make life easier on them. Dame’s gravitational pull is going to help any of the young guys that we draft. Dame just built a new house here, as far as I’m concerned, anything he says in the press or on social media is all smoke and mirrors. He’s done this for a third straight season and nothing has come of it. If he never puts in a trade request, then who cares. We obviously need to let him know we aren’t leveraging our future and we are going to go in the direction that makes sense for the future. If Dame wants out, he should be free to do so. If Dame is happy with mentoring young guys until he can ride their coattails to a ring, that’s fine too. Unless he just falls off next season, teams will still want him next year, and trade offers will still be out there.
I've not seen you question his offensive stats or abilities a single time. But when he's proven to be a ghost defensively, you question if he's trying. Here's Fran saying "I've heard the knock on him ... and I've seen the video, he's invisible defensively" That took me all of 2 minutes to find. If you really can't find scouts or analysts saying he's horrible defensively, I question if you've done any research... and if you haven't done the research, you're using the eye test in which you see him be terrible defensively (unless you're the only person on the planet who thinks he's good defensively) but you're writing it off because "g league, lol". And technically, yes. my statement is false because he does run back on defense but that's about it. So slightly better than zero defense.
Let Miami, SA, or hell even the Warriors have him and I would put money that he can play defense after a year or two. If a player, especially one with length has any athleticism at all, he can play defense in the right system. The coaches will teach it and demand it.
All last summer, i kept wondering why all the media were hyping up Jabari when Paolo seemed like the obvious #1 pick. i'm left thinking the same this year of why so many sources have Miller as #2 when Scoot seems like the better prospect. In the end, I think Charlotte does the obvious thing despite of all the posturing about Miller. We're gonna be left with a choice of Miller or someone else and then have to scramble to trade because the pick will have less value if Scoot is off the board.
