The curious case of Caleb Swanigan

His contract isn’t guaranteed after this season.

 

Except New York. Their fans boo every pick.

 

Yes I've completely given up. He is not an NBA player.

I would not pick up his option for next season. Plan on throwing him in a trade if possible. If not cut him after the trade deadline.

We're paying luxury tax on the Anderson Varego cap hit for acquiring the pick...

 

after the deadline is perfect and right around the time we’d convert a two way player to a standard contract.

 

In my opinion, not picking up a rookie option is usually a mistake. What happens if he plays okay? Not picking up the option kills his trade value (see Hezonja) and makes it very difficult to keep him past this year. I know that is the point some of you are making but he's only 7 months older than Collins is.

He does have some useful skills despite being slow. He positions himself well for rebounds, he's an okay passer, he can hit a jump shot, and he understands the game. I wouldn't completely give up on him after one season. Ideally I wouldn't mind him as our 5th big. I feel like people are blaming him for the lack of depth for bigs on the roster. It's not really his fault Olshey didn't acquire someone better or more ready.

 

He’s young, but it doesn’t really mean anything. Wheres the upside? In today’s game he’s a center, but he’s not a good rim protector. There are a lot of available players that can hit a jumper and rebound. Deyonta Davis for example. I mean I’d rather see Biggie on the court than Meyers, but we’re also stuck with Meyers until his contract expires. We don’t have to be stuck with Biggie.

 

I mean you're making those judgements off of a rookie year where he barely played because the team was good, G-League, Summer League, and a couple of preseason games? I'm not saying you're wrong but there are tricks to learn to compensate for being unathletic. If he was on Meyers type contract and we had an out I could totally see your point but his cost is cheap enough to not have to dump him.

 

It’s not really the contract, it’s the roster spot. We have enough dead weight as it is, I want guys that can actually contribute.

I watched every game he played in the g league and he was often overmatched despite some decent surface stats. If he couldn’t get his shot off against g leaguers how is he ever going to get it off against NBA players? And if all he’s going to bring is rebounding and a face up game, then there are much better options out there. Back to Deyonta. He can rebound. He’s got a jumper. But unlike Biggie, he can also defend, and is bigger and more athletic. It just doesn’t make any sense to me to carry Biggie when a guy like that is available.

 

I'm still optimistic. Regardless of the "he's not athletic enough and never will be" trope, he has had some VERY good games (in both summer leagues). My problem with him is that when he's good, he's good, but when he's bad, the other team goes on 19-0 runs with his mistakes runneth over. He's bad much more often than he's good.

 

The game is too fast for him and he's physically slow. That's about as bad a combo as you could ask for. I can't remember seeing any plays in the last year and thought "wow, he's a really heady player."

He's a tough worker who's size helped him at the college. In the NBA, he's just a slow, inconsistent shooter that is turnover and foul prone.

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/carmelo/caleb-swanigan/

 

He didn't look very good in the first 5 games in summer league but last 2 he played well. He hasn't look good this preseason due to he is slow on defense. Plus his decision on passing been very irritating to me. Right Leonard is ahead if him to play along Zach.

 

Well, the Blazers just picked up the 3rd year option on both Swanigan and Collins so there is no chance Biggie gets cut.

 

doubling down on an error....

 

Neil Olshey ladies and gentlemen.

 

Olshey locks his brain into a plan and just can't change it. A year ago, he planned to dump Ed after a year of Zach. The former had a better season than expected, and the 10th pick had a worse one than expected. But Olshey just can't change his plan once his mind is tracked into it. For the same reason, all his 2nd round picks are finally given minutes in their 3rd years. He is so predictable.

 

Olshey speaks of plans, but whether he actually has one is debateable. Or maybe he’s just not good at following through on those plans...

 

I respectfully disagree. Not picking up the 3rd year option is a mistake in my mind unless it is a complete failure of a player. You don't give up bird rights on a player before that player has even played a game in his 2nd season, especially for a young big man. If Swanigan can show any glimmer of hope then he maintains some possible trade value.

 

How did Zach have a worse than expected year? He wasn't even supposed to play last year and was thought of as a longer term project from the moment he was drafted.

 

Lol, you could be right, but its so much easier for me to dish it on NO because.... reasons.

 

Oh and besides just the messing around part, I really do believe he has a habit of doubling down on mistakes. I think we all know who Exhibit A is...