Zach Lowe 10 Things (Noah Vonleh, showing stuff)

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18985014/zach-lowe-10-things-like-featuring-nikola-jokic-nba

6. Noah Vonleh, showing stuff
You hear a version of the refrain from team execs all the time: "The hardest thing to do in the NBA is be patient."

Vonleh is finishing his third season, and second as something of a token starter in Portland. He has looked for large parts of that time like a bust. Charlotte hasn't sweated flipping Vonleh for Nicolas Batum, even as Batum has dropped off during the first year of a mega-deal.

But Vonleh would show flashes: a smooth long jumper, good footwork switching onto point guards.

The flashes have appeared more over the past two weeks, including in three straight double-digit scoring games. That doesn't sound like much, but Vonleh is still just 21. The NBA is hard for young big men who don't get the ball, and have to cycle through a bunch of rapid-fire decisions on every defensive possession.

Vonleh looks more comfortable posting up smaller guys after switches:

That sideways hook doesn't look pretty, but it works. He's getting more confident passing, the area of his game in which he has the furthest to go; Vonleh has just 55 career dimes:

Portland trusted him to guard Antetokounmpo for parts of Tuesday's game, and it's using him more as a backup center. He's rebounding at a career-best rate.

Vonleh is still raw. His jumper is unproven, though the Blazers hope he can eventually hit open 3s. But he looks like he should grow into a useful rotation player.

 

There are a couple video clips the text is referring to, but you will have to click the link to see those.

Hoping Noah can keep this upward development trend up and that Stotts keeps giving him a chance to play.

 

This Meyers injury (his play aside) has been a godsend. It forced Stotts to play Noah at what IMO is likely his best position in today's NBA - the stretch 5. Having him eat up those backup 5 minutes and assimilate into a Nurkic-Lite role is huge for his development and where I envision him really having an impact. Don't get me wrong, I still think him and Nurkic can start together. I just this at his highest potential Noah would have the biggest impact while playing center.

 

I don't want him living out there, but if Noah is the starter at the 4, being able to hit the open three and also cut to the rim would be huge.

 

This kid play solid defense and his rebounding very well and now he show aggressiveness on the court to me that usually the hardest to due with young player coming in this league so now he the hard part down. Lets him this off season and work on his shooting and then he will be pretty much will our future 4.

 

Other than the acquisition of Nurk and Dame's post-AS play, the improvement of Vonleh has been my only comfort in this season of suck.

I agree with several that because of the improvement of Vonleh, the biggest need for the team is a starting SF, not PF.

 

Very happy for Vonleh, now give him as many minutes as possible for the remainder of the season.
He is coming out of his shell, and needs room to grow.

 

He has the range. He was hitting them in the summer league. I think it's a confidence issue, more than anything else.

 

I like what I'm seeing from Noah. It would be nice if he could pick up a couple of Zach Randolph moves around the basket so he doesn't get stuffed so much.

 

Vonleh has improved a lot. Plays nice defense, rebounds really well and seems to be a hard worker

 

And he's still younger than Jermaine O'Neal was when we traded him to the Pacers.

BNM

 

Vonleh straight up shut down porzingis last night. Locked that ass up. I remember porzingis making literally one jump shot on him, and even that was contested. Vonlehs combination of lateral movement and strength was fucking Porzingis up. His defense, specifically when switched on the perimeter, is a huge development.

 

I also like the idea that it could shorten the rotation a bit if it works out long term because he seems to play better when he can get in a rhythm

 

Unlike FA signings and draft picks, I feel great about NO trades.

Have any backfired?

 

It depends on how you define fail. Many here consider the Barton + Claver + TRob for Afflalo + Gee trade a failure. It was a situational trade. We had a great starting 5, but a weak bench. Afflalo was supposed to be our 6th man, but then Wes ruptured his Achilles, Afflalo hurt his shoulder and it all went to hell in a hand basket.

Until about two weeks ago, many here considered the Batum for Vonleh + Henderson trade a failure. My how perceptions have changed. the 21-year old Vonleh is showing signs of significant progress and Batum, in the first year of his 5-year $120 million contract has gone from hero last year to goat this year in Charlotte. Which is humorous to me, because his scoring, rebounding and assists are all up slightly from last year. The difference is CHO is currently 11th in the East this year after finishing with the 6th seed last year. The team is underperforming, someone needs to get blamed and the passive Frenchman is an easy target. When he's on, he makes things look so easy, everyone always expects more from him. He's paid super star (or at least all star) money (18th highest paid player in the leahue this season with steady increases for four more seasons), but he's not a superstar and has never been, nor ever will be, an all star. He's a great role player, but if he's any more that your third option (better still, 4th option), you're going to be disappointed. Great role player that got star player money.

In the end, since in both the Vonleh and Nurkic, it will still be a few years before we can fully evaluate those trades. In both cases, we traded older, established players for youth. Nurkic has enjoyed immediate success, but is still only 22 with a lot of room for improvement. And, as mentioned, the 21-year old Vonleh is showing signs of significant improvement. There is always risk attached to trading proven talent for youth. Much like the draft, you are trading for potential. Many players never live up to their potential, some far exceed it. Only time will tell. The Nurkic trade is looking like an absolute steal and the Vonleh trade is starting to look like it may eventually work out in our favor. Plus, we also have that first round pick from DEN. Who knows what that could turn into.

BNM

 

I noticed this, too.

 

Seriously! For all the talk about his vertical, he has ZERO ability to elevate with the ball in his hands. If he can't learn to use his power, he needs to learn how to be quick and crafty to avoid getting stuffed under the rim.

 

Vonleh hoisting his trophy -

The nicest thing to see I see his passing. That was a great drive and dish in PHX. I think his defense has always been above average for his age so I've never been tripping about that, I still think if he hits his ceiling he will win DPOY. He's coming around quicker than I expected, so that is really nice to see. His improvement is definitely reinsuring, as a fan seeing and hearing about how hard of a worker he is it makes you feel like he's going to make it to the level he is capable of.