Trade Larry Nance Jr traded to Portland

The Freak is in his 8th year. he used to be an absolutely atrocious shooter. His free throw percentage has actually dropped.

 

IIRC he led that team in scoring and assists. He was a great 2-way player. The questioned specified a defensive specialist.

 

Do you honestly believe Simmons is on the same level as Giannis?

 

Bill was able to keep players from going to the hoop just as good as Rudy. He could cover the weak side block the shot and had a knack for keeping it inbounds. Yep the best passing center to ever play and best outlet passing 5 after a defensive board.
Bills scoring extra topping.
The league feared his d in the paint.

 

Now? No.
In 5-6 years with decent coaching? You never know?

 

This for sure.
Sabonis was pretty good as well.

 

why does being a defensive specialist mean you cant also score?

 

Pippen was a defensive specialist, And he could score.
Klay thompson is/was a defensive specialist aNd can score.

i would think a defensive specialist is someone who can guard just about anyone and be a plus at it.

i wouldn't think just because they can also score, it would minimize their defense from being special or elite.
Ben can certainly score in the right system with the right players around him. Its already been proven.

 

I don't consider a guy who is a strong 2-way player a "specialist." Specialization and versatility are mutually exclusive. Walton (for example) may have been an elite defender, but he was still highly versatile and made his team better at both ends of the floor.

As for Simmons - we'll just have to agree to disagree.

 

It's no secret that I am not the president of the CJ fanclub - but we need to be realistic.

Flip CJ and Simmons and the Blazers get better on defense and worse on offense. You just have to hope the former outweighs the latter.

On an individual level, it is a good bet that if you flip the 2 CJ remains a very good scorer while increasing his assists. Conversely, Simmons remains a poor shooter/limited scorer whose assist total will drop. I would love to trade CJ for a good 2-way player - but IMHO he and Simmons are both "specialists" who only make the team better at one end of the court. (albeit opposite ends)

At this point people are so emotionally invested in the issue it seems we are all talking past each other.

 

Fair enough. I just think he is still young and can improve offensively in the right system.
Next to Dame, if he were to even become acceptable on offense that would significantly improve this team i think.

 

You must be new here.

 

Preach on brother, preach on.

 

I don’t believe this to be a “CJ (offense) versus Ben (defense) issue at all. Rather, we must ask ourselves if Dame/CJ is an NBA Title backcourt. I personally would like to see Dame / Powell / Simmons over Dame / CJ / Simmons if given such opportunity.

 

yes you are. And its not normal.

 

I would think the second is better.... but I also wouldn't be shocked if it was worse.

I'm not sure Nurk+Simmons fit in the same lineups.

Simmons could look worse outside the 6ers environment.

Dame might not be as effective without CJ.

Simmons personality could clash, he decides he doesn't want to follow Dame, he wants to go to a different market, etc.

Overall I make the trade, but its not a guaranteed improvement.

 

Jajajajajajaja

 

just fyi, nance has never played in more than 67 games in a season in his career.