Seriously consider. Start Dante Cunningham.

Just let him take Nics 15-20 minutes a game. Let him start. That way, nothing really messes up our rotation. The starting 3 only gets 15 or so a game, not a huge part of the offense. Simple replacement of the starting small role 3. It worked for us last year. Lets try it again!

And I hate to say it, being as Batum is my favorite Blazer, DC might be a better all around player right now.

 

Uh...no.

 

I like your thinking. It might be a bit overwhelming for Cunningham to be a starter this soon, but we do have quite a bit of depth at small forward, and we're going to be fine without Batum. Cunningham MAY be an even better player; I like what I've seen from him so far.

 

Don't get too ahead of yourself. Let's see him play in a regular season game before we anoint him serious time, let alone starting.

 

No way DC is better than Batum right now... that's delusional...

 

cunningham doesn't have the Defense. I think he should split PF back up games with Howard though. If a team is over .500 then have Howard be the back up PF. If a team is under .500 have Cunningham be the backup PF

 

And Batum never had the Offense.

 

But the other starters had the offense to make up for it. There is not enough defense in the starting unit now. Greg and...? Roy could play more defense, but he won't have gas left in the tank at the end of the night.

 

No. Way.

DC's not ready to play meaningful minutes in the nba and you want him to start???

 

If Webster can't handle starting, then his extension is a bust. This is what he is getting paid for in case of injury, and I think he'll be up to the challenge.

Nic Batum has lottery talent. Cunningham is a 2nd-rounder with the physical limitations associated with it.

 

A second-round pick starting for a team that wants to contend for the WCF and Finals? Eh.. not yet. Develop him slowly. That'd be too overwhelming for the kid.

 

Cripes. I like what I've seen from Cunningham so far. He may already be a better shooter and rebounder than Batum.

 

You like what you've seen from Cunningham in limited minutes against players that didn't make rosters?

Far be it for me to call out a silly idea, but starting Dante Cunningham is a silly idea.

 

Batum is a nice defensive player, and an athletic guy who can run the court, but DC brings other things that Batum doesn't--mainly, offense and rebounding.

I frankly never saw a whole lot to get excited about in Batum's game. I kept hoping he would get better, and I still do, but DC has shown me just as much potential as Batum has.

 

People with a better case for starting before DC does:

Everyone on the roster except Pendergraph and Mills.

 

This is exactly what I was thinking. Do people not remember last year starting Batum after he sucked it up in summer league and preseason? How did that turn out? I'm not saying start him either, but for the people saying its delusional or thinking its ridiculous, think about last year.

 

i can't see cunningham ever being successful at the small forward position. he might be a decent backup pf, but he absolutely shouldn't start anywhere and shouldn't play sf at all.

 

Dante Cunningham is not Nic Batum, and Batum dropped only because of the "heart issue" that spooked team.

Come on now.

 

DC has plenty of college experience. He is older and knows how to play the game better. Nic might have more potential and have more skill, but that doesn't mean DC isn't better than Webster or Outlaw.

You were all saying this about Nic starting last year too. That he couldn't do it and he wasn't good enough.