I was more referencing your "hatred" towards LMA than anything, but nonetheless, I liked the explanation!
Leonard and Connaughton are going to be the best passers on the team..both those guys can paint the corners with a ball
Wow. You're not kidding. They don't even mention any Blazers among their 23 "Other Candidates." Maybe we're going to be worse than we think this year. On the other hand, you really have to wonder why McCallum isn't on that last. Anybody who watched his performance in the playoffs last year had to see that he's on the verge of becoming a very good NBA player.
I doubt he reaches LMA's potential this year, but if you look at them at age 22, Meyers compares fairly well, at least if you look at the Per 36 numbers. Per 36 seems to me to be a fair comparison, given that when LMA was 22 he was given the starting job to replace Randolph's role. He got lots of shot opportunities and minutes, unlike Meyers. Given his ludicrous shooting percentages last year, the physical specimen that Meyers presents (in terms of size/strength/athleticism) and the massive gaping hole Aldridge is leaving for him to fill, it seems really bizarre to me that basically nobody is giving him recognition as a potential breakout player this year. No matter how bad we've been, you have to go back a long time to find a Blazers team without a pretty decent starting power forward. I don't see Meyers departing from that tradition this year.
those per 36 stats are impressive, he kills lamarsha on the boards and while not getting as many points is a far more efficient shooter. and he doesnt even demand a robin lopez to box out his man for him so he can get uncontested boards and pad his stats
He definitely better on the boards than LA. If Myers get the minutes he will be double digit in rebounds I don't think he will match in points but who knows.
While I don't think he'll fill the role that LMA had (main option), I think it's likely that he will be a better player - even if it's a long-shot this season. By "better player" I mean that he'll do more for the team than LMA ever did. As you already noted, rebounding is one area in which he could/should be better. Others include setting screens, passing, help-defense, and being more efficient. I don't ever expect Meyers to be our #1 scoring option, but I do think he'll be a much better "big" than LMA ever was.
Even in the "Other Candidates" section, NO Blazers? FUCK SB Nation! More like SOME BULLSHIT Nation! Dion Waiters? EXACTLY! How did this ass-clown get in their top 10? IF by "breakout" they mean averaging this yr.: FG 36%, FT 67%, REB 2.1, AST 1.2, PF 3.0, TO 1.8, PPG 13.1 (last season's #'s: FG 39%, FT 62.5%, REB 2.9, AST 1.9, PF 2.0, TO 1.3, PPG 12.7)... then they're right! He will have a "breakout" season! Just look ^ @ what he did for OKC when he was suppose to do so awesome for them? He had his chance w/ OKC & he blew it & blew in a BIG way. I've ALWAYS hated his "game;" he's a chucker & a bad 1 @ that. Harrison Barnes? Barnes shows up EVERY yr. on some douchebag's most poised for a breakout list or whatever; some ppl think Barnes is held back by being on GS, when the truth is that IF he were given a bigger role, he'd be exposed & his crappy #'s would actually drop. He should thank his lucky stars he's on GS; if GS was smart, they'd trade him this yr. (contract yr.) getting someone to overpay (which another team will), leaving someone else holding the bag (it'd be a bag of shit)!
Let's not turn everything into an Aldridge-bashing. The chances that any frontcourt player for the Blazers will become anything like as good as Aldridge has been are remote. Here's a name not on that list (as far as I recall): Anthony Bennett. It's odd for a #1 pick to be so forgotten, and I think he's likely to get what minutes he might have had stolen by Bjelica, but he's been much better for Canada - he seems focused and lighter. He's exactly the kind of player I can see Olshey looking to trade for.
These are the only trades I would do w/ Minny for Bennett (I've always been 1 of those not high on this guy; I'm not willing to risk much/we need to get a lot back to take such a big risk w/ Bennett): 1. Henderson & Miller (the salaries work here BUT if they need Alexander or a draft pick also, this is still worth it to me bc the guys I really want in this trade are LaVine & Dieng!) for LaVine, Bennett, & Dieng (Dieng is more expendable now that they've got Towns, before Towns the price for Dieng would've been much higher) or... 2. Henderson for LaVine & Bennett (either proposed deal would b a steal but this 2nd option would b a fleecing!) W/ Bennett low on everyone's list, A. Payne (THIS is the guy that I would say is a Neil guy & THE guy that I would love to have; I think this guy's gonna turn out pretty good!) becomes pretty untouchable. LaVine w/ us could join Dame in the backcourt; this would be a sweet pairing! LaVine's (he can become a decent scorer in this league w/ the right team; I see him very comfortably w/ 16ppg while cranking out those assists! LaVine's already a decent defender & he'll only get better; w/ scoring, he makes his way already a lot to the basket for freethrows, so that's awesome/easy way to pad ur scoring #'s that he's already got down & will also improve upon) an excellent size PG & could play fine @ SG a lot of times (DEFINITELY @ least on D) ; he & Dame would both kinda be combo guards w/ Dame mostly @ the SG for offense.
I'd be fine w/ that, do a 3 team trade to push Rubio onto some1 else. Just as long as we get what we want... don't care who/what's (w/ respects to the other team(s)) involved
