Why? Layman especially was a huge contributor last year for 71 games. Just baffling why we let him walk for an inferior replacement who is 10 yrs older.
I look at Mario as Turner's replacement. Compared to Turner, he can shoot, but it is fair to say that he is far from a good shooter.
It was more the Leonard and Turner end of the quote I was ribbing him about, and I'll admit that both of those guys had value to what the Blazers achieved last year. I just couldn't resist the opportunity for the dig. I think re-signing Layman was strictly a contract issue. I think NO values Bazemore's ending contract and the flexibility it provides as much as he does his playing contributions. (I do have to point out that he was injured last year, so that 11.9 PER is skimpy compared to the 14.5 he had the season before, but he's been up and down as a player throughout his career.) NO did the trade, I suspect, thinking that the TPMLE was going to be used on Kanter and that he'd lose Hood. Once the trade was done and the re-signing of Hood occurred, the number of wing players was pretty stocked. Adding Jake's contract, plus the additional luxury tax that would have come with it, simply wasn't in the cards for a GM that wants the flexibility to have cap space next summer if he wants.
I think inconsistent is a more appropriate way to define Hezonja’s shooting than “can’t shoot.” Hes had two years with a TS% above 54% and two below 50%. The two above would be considered above league average, while the other two are well below. That’s quite a contrast. By comparison, since I see Mario as his direct replacement, Turner has never had a season above 52%(league average.) Mario has also been a good free throw shooter and came into the league with a positive reputation as a shooter, so there are reasons to be optimistic. So, I wouldn’t dismiss him as a shooter, but then again, I wouldn’t put money on it either. We will see.
Mario passes the eyeball as a shooter. Stats for young players can be deceiving. For example how many shots were contested? Aminu and Harkless were decent set shot shooters.......... when wide open. ET was pretty good off the dribble in the lane, but a horrible set shot shooter even when all alone. Granted the number of games I have seen Mario play are drastically smaller than the other three, but I refuse to believe he can't shoot better than them until I see it with my own eyes next season. I am ok with this thread being bumped next spring.
Just looked it up cuz I was curious. Stats from last year. 3pt Shots classified as WIDE OPEN (no defender within 6'): Hezonja: 26% on 1.4 attempts per game Bazemore: 36% on 2.6 attempts Hood: 44% on 1.5 attempts w/CLE, 36% on 1.7 attempts w/ POR Tolliver: 45% on 1.1 attempts Curry: 51% on 1.5 attempts Meyers: 47% on 1.4 attempts Aminu: 37% on 2.2 attempts Harkless: 32% on 1.2 attempts Turner: 25% on 0.6 attempts Sorry, but Mario cannot (and should not) shoot.
Yeah to put it another way, if you didn't know their stats and the ball got kicked out to Hezonja for a 3 you wouldn't cringe.
Yeah, I'm sure that Olshey just overlooked that. Bummer. They probably did something really stupid like examined his shooting form, historic shooting %, considered his age and the crappy team he was on last year and then totally overlooked the obvious conclusion that he just can't shoot.
I think his slashing and playmaking will be more impactful than his (non)-shooting. My %s were addressing @Pinwheel1 's eye test. Not sure what he's seeing.
Sheesh, yall are quick to defend Mario (and Neil) these days. lol what did I say that was so egregious? A lil salty for the dog days of summer. That said, our basketball operations team is the same one that thought Evan Turner could suddenly turn into a shooter in our system just three years ago.
I’m just busting balls no biggie. But when did they say Turner would turn into a shooter, because his attempts certainly didn’t reflect the idea?
I would agree that I don't see Mario as a guy who plays the Curry role by spotting up for threes only (good thing). But, I think he will shoot a respectable % from out there, while being a much greater threat to score in some way--I hope. It was painful to watch teams leave Harkless and Aminu open because they knew neither would beat them. Mario seems to have a bit more of a mean streak and I hope he will cause some chaos when teams double Dame.
No doubt they got a big F on that one, but I think that was more about saving face by signing someone "valuable" than thinking ET was going to be a shooter.
What I saw from him was a guy who can hit a pull up mid range jumper off the dribble. (52% from 10-16 feet last year) and a 80% career FT shooter. I admit his 3pt percentage is worse than I thought because in the games I have seen him play he has looked pretty good, so I have hopes that this 24 year old will improve his percentage in that area. He has decent form from deep. He was jerked around last year playing 4 different positions, while playing in his fewest number of games. Not the best recipe for a young player. Hopefully Terry does not do what he did to Jake last year and just lets him settle in at SF. I still like Simons, Hood and Mario playing together off the bench.
