Wow. You guys simply do not want to hear anything that might be negative and honest about a drafted player around here. This guy is a project. Simple as that. He has to work hard and improve quite a bit to see the court. Just the way i see it at this point.
It's not just the way I see it. The scouts praise Swanigan's BBIQ and work ethic. Hell, he's already had a documentary made about how hard he has worked to overcome adversity. One of the main reasons Cliff Alexander was let go was his inability to learn the basic playbook. I don't think we're ever going to see a documentary about Cliff's legendary work ethic. He was a top 5 recruit in high school and has failed to live up to expectations. His own college coach questioned his motor. Not the same at all... BNM
How is that not a comparison? You compared their foot speed, and gave the advantage to Meyers, did you not? Now, you just compared their jumping ability. It may be an applesranges comparison, but it's still a comparison. BNM
Did someone just compare Nard's lack of post game(aka footwoork/lateral quickness) to Caleb's post game? Oh my... I'm not sure I know what to say to that.
Tha That reminds me that when a bunch of guys were comparing Collins to Leonard, I was thinking that athletically and defensively, that there were more similarities between Swanigan and Leonard.
It's all about balance. I acknowledge there are big weaknesses in Swanigan's game. Yes, he will need to work his but off to see the court. After that, it's an educated guess. I'm a fan, so I like to lean towards the Zach Randolph and Kevin Love comparisons. Although I give it slim odds that he will ever be that good. Yes, he can be compared to guys like Alexander and Diogu, but my eyes tells me those comps don't line up as well as some of the better players. In reality, Swanigan will probably be somewhere in between. I'm just hoping for the upper range of that projection.
Okay. And at this point Meyers has a 40 inch vertical and is way more athletic and physically faster down the court and back. But still not a good comparison as he is a total buffoon on the court. So what is you point? Meyers time is past here. A 7 footer that needs a new situation. Swanigan still needs to fill some major holes in his game to see any extended minutes in the NBA. That is fact.
It seems to me that Swanigan is a guy that people can have legitimate and difering opinions. It appears that NBA GM's have differing opinions. So I wish we could discuss it without getting so sharp with each other. All of us want him and the Blazers to do well.
I agree he's a project....I think you misunderstand what I disagree with.....that he's finite....won't be able to play anything but small ball 5 and probably not that...this I disagree with...we're talking about a homeless kid who finished high school in 3 years here...not a street baller who dropped out and quit..his work ethic is stellar...nothing says to me he's not going to improve from day one with good coaching and better competition in the gym...let him bang against Nurk and Ed Davis and learn about post play....from what I've seen, he'll embrace it.
I'm wrong more often than right when it comes to guessing who will be a bust or a steal. I guess, it's cause I always seem to think every Blazer drafted will be a steal. I really like Swanigan. In business class they say there is no better predictor of future growth than past growth. Same goes for bball. Look at someones past attitude, past work ethic, past improvements and that should shine a light on what's to come. But then again I thought Nard was going to be incredible, so never-mind me.
Hopefully he does but I also know Stotts he going with player he is comfortable with and that why he use players up with to many minutes.
Weren't Swanigan's vertical numbers that are being referenced from the 2016 combine, ya know, before he worked his ass off to improve his conditioning? Isn't z-Bo's vertical like a sheet of printer paper? He had a long successful career and looks like he could play to 50. I read several of his pre-draft reports, and they all refer to his lack of later quickness and athleticism, as well as his weak defense.
Collins looks like a project. This guy can contribute off the bench immediately. I think it may be awhile before Collins is really useful, but Swanigan can be a role player for a long time. I don't see a ton of upside though, and he's probably never a high level starter.
I'm cheering for the kid....honestly didn't know anything about him but once I started digging into film and articles I'm super impressed with his ...get ready.... "potential"....there, I said it
Has anyone mentioned the thought that the Blazers may be going back to Myers as center and back up Nurk. Maybe the stretch four has been scraped. Maybe he is ok at it until Zack is able to do the work. Myers bridges the gap till Zack bulks up and accumates to the NBA. Maybe Myers is traded at the deadline.
Meyers has to have almost a MIP season for me to gain any respect for his game...not saying he couldn't but he's got to learn basketball instincts in 2 months or he's done in my view
Of course Swanigan is a project. My guess is he will be playing very limited minutes for awhile. I believe Zach will get the first shot to break into the regular rotation. Swanigan’s weight issues were a concern, until; I got to know about him, his past and work ethic. One thought just entered my senile old mind. Maybe the Blazers should hire Swanigan’s mentor/father figure, Roosevelt Barnes, as an asst. coach or trainer. About Leonard, I wanted to draft him and really liked his college game. Wish he had brought that game with him instead of constantly trying to re-invent himself.
