Platoon them. Whiteside was able to average over 12 points and 11 rebounds in about 23 min and a per of over 23. I'm not sure if you get that production with Harkless and Leonard combined. Very solid move.
Definitely upgrades us at center until Nurk is back, and really Nurk will unlikely be himself for the entire upcoming season. Love that he's expiring so we can trade him if he continues to be a headcase even around Dame. But the guy averaged a double-double and almost 2 blocks a game in just 23 minutes last year. Could be huge if he's properly motivated... and since he's in a contract year I think he will be.
Makes one wonder if Paul Allen was the one holding back Neil from making trades/changes. With all due respect to PA. Of course.
So Collins has to be our 4, unless we’re doing something else. I think thats Olshey’s back up plan, but I also think he’ll be trying to see if he can grab someone decent for that position like Morris somehow. Dame/Simons - CJ/Baze - Hood/Hezonja/Little Morris/Collins/Hezonja - Whiteside/Collins Until Nurk gets back would make me feel pretty damn good in all honesty. Whiteside aint great but he’ll have some huge nights and our spacing with Dame and CJ might help him be a lot better, especially with how we tend to get the best out of guys who struggle elsewhere typically for effort/emotional reasons like Whiteside (also I definitely forgot about Hezonja, even better). Our defense does seem pretty shaky tho now with Harkless and Chief gone.
I have to give Olshey credit. He figured out that as long as Aminu/Hark/ET were on the roster Stotts was going to give them the bulk of the minutes.
Why couldn't WE be the ones to end up with Josh Richardson? Oh yeah, because we didn't have Jimmy Butler...
I think he is really good he was competing against another good center in Miami and he only played 22 minutes per games , give him more minutes and with shooters and playmakers like Dame and CJ you have awoken a beast
Who knows what would've happened if he didn't? Maybe we would've SWEPT GOLDEN STATE AND MADE THE FINALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've wondered whether Jody is carrying out Paul's wishes re the Blazers in his honor. Why not? They can afford it. Let's win a 'Ship for Uncle Paul!!
We'll be looking for a power forward in the scrap heap and in Summer League. But I'm guessing that's about it.
I think the bet NO is taking is that the organization can bring out the Good Hassan. If you look at the past few years, players here have generally played better than they have elsewhere (with some notable exceptions--cough--Afflalo--cough---ET). We're asking him to rebound, defend and put back. Dame will feed him when the defense gets too aggressive on the perimeter. I'm sure if I were black and rich, few lifestyle changes would suck more than MIA to PDX, but in terms of basketball, Whiteside will feel like he's been let out of jail.