Last I checked the dude didn't have a no trade clause. I mean I hope Neil offered the same package he offered up for PG, because it would've been nice to weaken Minnesota as much as possible... instead Minnesota got Jimmy AND a draft pick... for an injured LaVine, an extremely underwhelming Dunn, and a 7 foot shooter.
I'm sure he has a chance to turn out to be a great player but I just struggle seeing what type of player that would be given his skill set. Mostly because I only watched maybe 2-3 Gonzaga games and he didn't play much in either. It seems to me his wing span and vert were good but not great and at 7'0 he should be a good shot blocker but not great. I don't see him being a guy that can create his own shot off the dribble (KP) or a guy that can be a bruiser down low (Nurk). Already has a good shot so he should be a floor spacer, is his ceiling a knockdown shooter who can defend the rim a la Serge Ibaka? I'm honestly asking, I haven't seen him play enough to see where his potential lies.
To the critics: have you considered why they do Summer League right after the draft and not give the players a month to prepare????? Maybe it is in part so that they can see what they need to work on over the summer to be prepared for the NBA in October. Maybe?
I didn't interpret the OP as Mediocre Man being down on the player. I interpreted it as him being down on the pick. As in, MM seems to be saying that although Collins is likely to be a fine player in a few years, he thought that after paying the price to obtain the No. 10 pick, he would have preferred that the Blazers pick someone who could contribute in a significant way, immediately. I don't know who that player would have been, but I bet we'll know by the end of the season. Unless I'm completely wrong: I don't mean to speak for the guy. If so, please disregard.
I think Ibaka is a pretty good comp actually. Ibaka could block (all-defensive 1st team 3 straight years) and added a 3pt shot but wasn't afraid to bang down low on offense or defense. Fringe All-Star player.
I will wait until the end of the season to judge Collins. As long as he is unanimous NBA finals MVP, I will be ok with the draft pick. barfo
and a couple of late 1st/early second guys like some of us here liked a lot (Semi and Bolden) are looking pretty decent
Sounds like his defense is on par with the teams expectations. Summer league is a guard oriented game, always has been. Not worries about Collins in the slightest. He will develop into a solid player from what I've seen from him. Especially if the blazers get an elite big man coach
He'll get stronger just by bodying and pushing Nurk and Caleb down low in practice. Talk about a workout.
Our summer league guards are so bad that i cannot really blame Zach and Caleb if they don't do well. I think garbage is not enough to describe our SL guards.
Jumpin' the gun a bit? To be clear, this is not only directed towards u but anyone else that's already "given up" on OUR guys ALREADY? Do the answers to the following really need to b spelled out (WE ALL know the answers to the following questions, & YES I AM including u & the others I was referring to here Many posts by others have spelled out the following & then some)? Is summer league for bigs? Have all players that have played well in SL gone on to b superstars? Have all those that have played poorly in SL gone on to b busts? How old are Collins & Swanigan ESPECIALLY how old are they vs. THE bigs u are referring to? Etc. PATIENCE! I'm not pleased w/ both our rooks performances so far BUT I'm actually not disappointed either; I like the fact that they r getting run/experience (THIS is all I care about w/ SL ) regardless of play. I never take too much stock in how a player plays in SL w/ the exception of Tatum. Tatum shows u things that aren't about SL (granted he's posting some nice #'s), it's how he handles himself on/off court, personality, poise, footwork, etc. MOST players are NOT Tatum; w/ what I've seen of our guys before they even played in SL, I KNEW they weren't Tatum or even close, so however they played/what they've shown/will show in SL, these are just stepping stones & we've just got to be patient. I'm not @ all worried about OUR 2 guys; @ least give them 1/2 the time Mild LeoTARD has gotten before u give up on them.
What I don't understand is why these guards are so completely clueless about summer league. Neil said it - we don't care about your offense. We already know you're not good enough offensively to be in the NBA or you already would be. They're looking to see if these guys can make NBA plays. See NBA passes. Play NBA defense. But nope... these morons are jacking up shots because they think if they hang 30 points in a summer league game, they'll get noticed. If I was going into summer league as the point guard of the Blazers, and I saw that their top 2 picks were both power forwards, and their two returning guys are spot up shooters, I would be passing the damn ball. I'd be passing the damn ball all day. I'd be running the PNR. I'd be making sure I could do an entry pass into the post. I don't get it.....
This isn't direct towards u, those whom this IS directed towards, u will know who u are EXACTLY as HailBlazers said^, the chances Collins would b immediately ready are/were damn near zero; so as long as we knew/know ^, I wasn't/I'm not disappointed/surprised; I'm fine w/ everything. IMO, the HUGE difference between Mild LeoTARD vs. Collins is that LeoTARD was a question of IF he'd develop (I'd say that's a BIG NOPE!) & Collins is a question of WHEN he develops
We don't know that.... we don't know what could have been available. I'm just saying I was hoping we'd acquire some consistent guys. We have so many young, inconsistent players on this team. Vonleh, Harkless, Crabbe, Meyers.... it's an entire team of young prospects with potential. I just want a couple of guys that I know will contribute on a nightly basis. Is that so much to ask?
In summer league big guys rarely even touch the ball...it's always a guard chuck fest like the D league was...as to Collins, he's worth the pick...he'll need weight training and cardio...he's gassed halfway through these games and only played 17 minutes a game in college...rookies get beat up playing summer league...I'm just glad neither of ours got injured....Crabbe did last year and CJ before that...they are playing with teammates that won't be Blazers and Collins has a high IQ for the game...he'll be fine...I think Swanigan will crack the rotation..let's at least give them a training camp with guys they'll play with all year and see how it works out..
Jake Layman is just trying to show he has earned some burn with the big guys. Same with Patty, same with RJ Hunter, same for all of the players on the roster right now they all know Portland has one non guaranteed contract (PC) they are trying to show they are worth a spot in another teams training camp or land a contracts overseas. Frankly, I think RJ Hunter has been much better than PC in the summer league this year and it might get Pat cut. But it's not hard to understand the mentality of some of these guys, they are playing for their livelihoods and dreams. I would say to them: ball out fellas, dont let the ball stick, play the right way, but if the shot is yours, take it.
