Zombie Derrick Jones to Portland

If DJJ isn’t a complete moron he will back cut when Dame/CJ defender steps up leaving a wide open alley oop.

 

I don't think I even brought up the trap, let alone harped on it. I was more focused on Dame/CJ having space in the lane after coming off a screen and/or better passing windows when Nurk has the ball at the high post.

I know I probably sound super down on DJJ, and I don't mean to, but I feel like there a bunch of folks way over-valuing his skill set. Below average shooter, ball handler, and passer will not get missed when teams scheme us defensively.

 

Ideally, this would be the case. This assumes Nurk's defender isn't in the key. I suspect Nurk will actually be the one throwing the most lobs to DJJ of anyone. Dame isn't known for being a terrific lob passer, but maybe that's due to a lack of targets.

Time well tell if we can put together a system where he deserves to be a full time starter and/or play 24+mpg. Obviously Miami and Phoenix did not feel that way.

 

You realize that this destroys the premise of your previous post. You were saying that there can't be floor spacing if only two guys can hit the three and then you admitted that three guys can hit the three. Obviously that will give us spacing to see lanes open up for a slasher or leave a really good big open under the hoop. Dame will be dishing dimes to Jones and Nurk a lot this season. If CJ will pass when he sees one of those two with a path to the hoop instead of locking in on iso... then this team will be really dangerous on offense. Also with all of this Jones talk it's important to remember that the guy is a freak on defense and we need guys who can defend the perimeter.

 

Are people really that high on DJJ? I think some of us are cautiously optimistic but I don’t see anyone that is really claiming he changes the trajectory of the team.

 

This. That's where some of these super-athletes fail. Their muscle exists 100% from their necks down.

We'll figure that out real quick with DJJ. And that will tell you a lot about what his potential is.

 

I said you might be right about how teams will defend Covington. There were times where teams wouldn't leave Aminu open, but would help a little extra off him or close out a little slower in order to shrink driving/passing lanes for Dame and CJ. I still think that's very probable.

I'm excited to see Jones on defense, like you.

We'll know by the end of the season if these guys are more offensive threats than liabilties. Again, I liked the Covington move, I'm just not in love with DJJ as much as others.

 

My impression is a lot of people think he's significantly better than Harkless/Aminu where as I think his productivity will be somewhat in that neighborhood.

It appears you've warmed up to him since your first couple posts in this thread where you seemed to be lower on him than I am.

 

I’ve warmed up to him, some perimeter D and someone who actually plays above the rim might rub off on a few others.

I guarantee if he throws one down in LBJs face no one will call it a bad signing.

 

I’m putting him on the same level as Harkless. I don’t expect him to get more than 24 mpg so it’s whatever. He’s a depth piece. I think that’s how a lot of people are seeing him right now.

I don’t see anyone saying he’s going to be better than Harkless or Aminu.

 

As I originally said, there were people here saying they liked the move because he wasn't going to be a starter. Now, he might be a starter, which made me ask the question if they still liked the move.

There are at least 5 different people in this thread who make the case that this is an improved starting wing pairing than 2018-19. I certainly wouldn't say it's worse, but I'm not ready to say it's better, for the reasons I've listed. I would much prefer to give up some of our forward depth in place of a forward we could count on to pair with Covington. Maybe a guy Miami didn't pick over Meyers is the best we could get with our MLE, or maybe Miami made a dumb move, who knows.

 

Not sure who you have in mind here, but forwards that defend and shoot the three well are in high demand, and don’t hit the trade market quite often. In case you hadn’t noticed, we just traded two firsts for one.

Looking up and down the league most teams don’t have more than one if they’re even lucky enough to have one. And the ones who defend and shoot the three AND also play make are max contract players.

I honestly think our wing depth is better than 18/19. At least now we have one 3 and D, one D and no 3, and one 3 but no D (Hood). Instead of two D and no 3 and one 3 but no D. Marginally better, but still better.

 

Just for the record, I think he will be better than either of those guys were for us. His shot is nice, he just needs to take it at the right time, with his feet set and space and it will fall. It's not a myth that Stotts' staff and offense makes guys better three point shooters. This guy will be like Aminu except when he puts it on the floor it will be a good thing and end up with a dunk instead of a turnover. He'll be just as reliable as either of them on defense but I think he'll be more of a ball hawk. I'm not saying he'll be an all-star just that he'll be a more complete role player than Moe or Chief and I actually liked those guys. It also doesn't hurt that a lot of the time he does play he'll be playing across from RoCo who is much better than either of those two former Blazers forwards.

 

And yet some fans are proclaiming Olshey a genius for the signing.

 

At the end of the day it's all going to hinge on Stotts. If they want to try him out as a starter with RoCo at power forward, that's fine, but the problem with Stotts in the past is that he was way too slow to adapt. In the playoffs it took him forever to start playing Rodney and Zach instead of Hark and Aminu. He's so stubborn about his lineups and he clings to some players like they're his binky.

We have the depth to change things up if something isn't working. Will Stotts utilize that? I have my doubts.

 

When traps occur, it is nice to be able to throw the ball anywhere near the rim and have someone finish. Offensive rebounding is also needed on this team, as well as having someone who can finish on the fast break. This should help

 

If the dude has a high motor and is constantly moving and cutting, he could be a huge advantage, but it's on Dame/CJ/Nurk to find him.

 

^and RoCo, crazy this guy has 10 more pages.

 

Don't worry about his motor, he's like Shawn Marion Jr on the fast break. And like Marion, he's a dude that likely has some room to grow with the outside jumper as he gets more usage.