The thing about Paolo being "by far the worst defensively" of guys in the discussion for being drafted in the top 3 is a bit deceiving. Pretty much all those other guys are considered well above average defensive prospects, even if they aren't perfect. Paolo would only be adequate, but, with his scoring tools, that and maybe a little bit of improvement still projects as a borderline all-star somewhere down the road. There isn't a lot to project there, either; you really kind of know what you're getting with him and it's pretty good. It's Jabari Parker pre-injury. However, he's a guy that'll get exploited in switches on the other end of the floor and his 3-point shot is suspect. That's what holds him back.
They say Murray could be one of the better two way players in the draft. Seems to have an all around game, but like everyone has area's that need improvement. If he's there 6-9 he's be tempting.
Good all-around game, probably comes in and is a rotation player as quick as anyone but probably never is a star. Maybe like a poor man's Tobias Harris but a little better on the defensive end. Good complementary offensive threat and make-them-pay shooter from 3 -- like a Morris twin-level contributor I think as a realist peak. If Eason had a consistent shot, he'd be Murray.
Whomever we choose, it better not be based on the NCAA tournament. It better be based on the body of work of that player going as far back as possible. When Bam Adabayo asked some GMs why he wasn't picked higher, he was told they didn't think he had all the skills he showed when he got to the NBA. Bam said that a lot of his skills were lost in the college system. Jalen Duren might have better skills than he's able to show in the style of ball that his team plays and that lack of quality guards that he plays with. (Just an example, I'm not suggesting we pick him.) The other thing is choosing "best player available." What if you choose a player who can't get any playing time because of his position, and the team is in "win now" mode?
Duren's footwork is a joke from what I've seen. His fundamentals are rudimentary. He's being coached by a former NBA great and one of the greatest coaches of all time ... I don't what's the problem but every time I watch Memphis it looks like an AAU team. I'll take Bam at his word, but I think the biggest thing that was holding him back wasn't Calipari's system. It was that he was a tweener and the jury was still out on whether or not a guy his size could be a starting 5 on top team. Now the style of game has evolved into his skillset. You're right, though, at least the NCAA tournament can't be the only thing to judge a pick on.
I don't know if you remember, but "Jabari Parker pre-injury" wasn't exactly great. I love it when talent evaluators say "has the tools to be a good defender". Well, no shit. That makes the fact that he sucks, despite playing for Coach K, a huge red flag.
he's about to get a giant raise. 1st year will probably be in the 35-40M range. Be difficult for the Blazers to to make CBA requirements without being hard-capped. Probably impossibe
Dame averages 44M say Ant averages 26M; and LaVine averages 38M. That's 108M for 3 guards when next year's salary cap is 121M; the tax line 144M; and the apron 150M (which is the hard cap line. Setting aside for the moment the idiocy of committing 80-85% of the salary cap to three guards, all of who are shitty at defense, and none of whom are a 2-way wing...you still have to fill out the roster with at least 11 more players for less than 50M, and it could be that Nurk + Hart + Winslow eat up 35M of that. not only that, if you even could thread the needle of keeping under the apron, you'd very likely be giving up two lottery picks + 30M in TPE's to create a ridiculously unbalanced roster....and the last 8 years has show the folly of fielding an unbalance roster
You wouldnt have Ant but you could have Dame & Levine. You could still have one of the picks and maybe trade Hart & some for a position of need. Im not saying to do it, and I agree three guards a not addressing need. But we do need a stronger back court defensively and Levine is a good two way guard.
I guess I just don't see why he would leave Chicago to come to Portland. Chicago will do everything they can to keep him.
I am not sure what you mean. I just did and DeRozan is the highest-paid player at 26 Mil. Are you saying they are cheap?
They have 3 other players making big bucks and their center has one more year. Just thought with three guards they may sign and trade Z or ? They could have extended him I believe and have not.
