Exclusive All Things Brandon Miller

something like that is probably the best of both worlds. It gets some veteran help for Dame while not mortgaging any of the future (no, I don't consider Ant the future)

 

Bad, to me, is getting embarrassed in the first round over and over. This is the last 5 years (half decade)



Obviously COVID made things interesting, but we actually would not have made the playoffs if not for COVID. The bubble saved our season. But as you can see, one good season where we went to the WCF, two crap seasons where we got decimated in the playoffs, and 2 seasons where we tanked. We haven't been good in a while now.

 

I'm well aware of what Portland has done. Just like I'm well aware of the reasons

 

You said we were 3 seed twice in the last five years and I don't think that's right. Only one time.

SGA - I have no idea if he's good enough to elevate that roster. I'm not really sold on ANY player that doesn't shoot threes in this modern NBA. I think that's what scares me about Scoot.

Giannis - he was 26 when they won a ring. Almost 7 years younger than Dame. My point is that we haven't been that good the last five years, and players don't typically get better as they age into their mid-30s.

Luka - I don't like Luka. He's not going to be a good example to use with me. I think he's arrogant and a bad teammate. He's the anti-Dame. With that said, he's only 24 years old and they have been to a WCF. Still lots and lots of time left....... unlike Dame.

Davis - the guy can't stay healthy. He can't do it. He's extremely good when he's on the court but he can't stay healthy. The Lakers were able to ride his one healthy season to a ring (although I think it was probably rigged because that was the year Kobe died.)

All that to say that your last comment is pretty much correct. That's how I feel.

Yes, our team failed Dame. Yes, our GM was a moron. But I also think Dame is partially responsible for keeping Stotts and CJ and Neil around for so long. But it's not a coincidence that we haven't been very good. Dame has been getting hurt. He used to be an iron man but he's in his 30s and he can't do it anymore. He has been hurt pretty much every season for the past four years. But putting together a winning team seems like such an insurmountable task at this point for a myriad of reasons.

• Dame's age
• Our shitty coach
• Injuries
• Lack of a legit second star
• A quality bench

It's interesting that you mentioned all those guys though, because of those four players, only Giannis really had a second star on his team. It's a lot easier to fill in a team around two stars. Luka hasn't really had a second star until they got Kyrie, and that was just such a horrible pairing. The Mavs are in the same boat that we're in. They need a second star with Luka or he's going to leave. Davis didn't really have a second star until he got LeBron. He had Boogie for part of a season before one or both of them got hurt (I can't remember which). SGA doesn't have a second star. Maybe Chet will be that guy. Hard to say. But all the teams who actually competed for a championship this year had multiple stars.

LeBron/Davis
Tatum/Brown
Butler/Bam
Jokic/Murray
Durant/Booker
Embiid/Harden

Who are the teams who struggled?
Grizzlies - Morant/???
Kings - is Sabonis or Fox really stars?
Bucks - Giannis was hurt
Cavs - Mitchell/??
Knicks - who is even really a star on that team?
Nets - Bridges/??
Hawks - Trae/??

The Warriors are the only weird outlier. They have Steph and a bunch of other talented guys, but not really a true second star. Wiggins is inconsistent, Klay is not what he used to be, Draymond was never a star in my book. They're just a really well constructed team.

So to be truly considered a threat next season, we would need at the minimum these things:

• A true second star player
• A healthy season
• A better bench.

I'm not really convinced that Chauncey can coach a playoff team, but I'm not seeing him getting fired yet.

 

Siakam is fine as a role player contributing to the finals, but he ain't leading a team anywhere, just look at where the Raptors have gone the last few years.

They won the title because Kawhi is a dominant two way player way more impactful than Dame or Siakam, plus contributions all over that roster - FVV, Lowry, Gasol, Ibaka, Danny Green, etc.

Blazers don't have a best player at that level nor the depth. If they trade the #3 pick, Ant, etc for Siakam they lose assets to make other additions. Dame Grant Siakam will all be on huge deals so there is no luxury tax space to add other contributors much less another star either.

Yes Siakam might help the Blazers win some more games, but he's not making them a contender, nor getting them a move away. It's just not a smart addition with where this roster is currently at. It's a very Neil Olshey style move of mediocrity.

 

You keep saying this but OKC made the playoffs in 2020 that's not 7 years ago. OKC has the same 3 playoff wins in that time as the Blazers. They since made the lottery twice and playin once. Blazers made the lottery twice.

 

I wouldn't bet on it. He's been sick and hasn't played basketball for a bit and he's out of shape a little. His lack of athleticism scares me but it sounds like he's already pretty good defensively.

I think the Blazers are uncertain about this guy's prospects more than Sharpe. Not to mention his legal troubles.

If we take him, I'm hoping for the best but I understand the reservations behind picking him.

 

Because they added Chris Paul for a cup of java.

 

I'm gonna disagree that Kawhi Leonard is way more impactful. On defense, YES! That Toronto team was real good all around. They had Siakam, Lowry at his best, Norman Powell. Marc Gasol wasn't totally done then. A shot making Danny Green. Kawhi was surrounded by players who were playing at a high level. Since then Kawhi has struggled to stay healthy, and not sure he cares that much. But you under estimate how great an offensive talent Dame is. And is getting better and more efficient. Kawhi's not as good an offensive player as Dame. Just isn't.

 

Betting sites now have Miller above Scoot. Back on 5/25 in the Scoot thread I posted how it was the opposite with Scoot about 40 points above Miller for pick #2.

betonline.ag
#2 pick - Miller at -175 (more likely) Scoot +110
#3 pick - Scoot +100 (more likely) Miller +135 Amen +350

Draftkings similarly has Miller a bit higher than Scoot but not as significant.
#2 Miller -130 Scoot -110
#3 Scoot +105 Miller +110 Amen +500

 

Interesting looking at the draftkings betting favorite for each pick slot with who is 2nd most odds of that slot (excluding prior pick favorites)

#1 Wemba -20,000 Scoot +4000
#2 Miller -130 Scoot -110
#3 Scoot +105 Amen +500
#4 Amen -155 Ausar +450
#5 Ausar +250 Whitmore +250 Walker +275 Hendricks +1600 Black +3000

Seems to be a clear top 3, heavy favorite of Amen at #4, then not much difference between picks #5-7, finally a big dropoff to pick #8.

 

Well sure, but they made the playoffs the year prior when Westbrook was there, and the year prior, and the year prior, and the year prior. Then the year before that Durant was injured for the year and they missed it. So no - OKC has not been tanking for 7 years as you've falsely claimed many times. The CP3 trade wasn't for Java, it was for Westbrook which they got picks on acquiring him and then picks trading him to the Suns.

 

By impactful I meant to the game of basketball which includes both offense and defense. Lillard is the superior offensive player I'd agree, although Kawhi was still excellent as well, and harder to trap or scheme against in the playoffs. But Dame is a significant defensive liability while Kawhi is a great defender. Kawhi injuries since have nothing to do with his impact in Toronto - which my post was about in terms of showing how superior Kawhi impact was to Siakam's for that Raptors team to win the title.

Pairing Dame with Siakam here isn't going to give the Blazers the success that Toronto team had, the Blazers are missing nearly all of the strengths that lead the Raptors to that title.

 

@AmirIcon

 

I like it!

 

For those that don't want Miller, why?

His legal troubles?
His game?
His ceiling?

I'm curious to hear from the people who are out on him.

 

Mods can you add a poll to this thread? I'd like to know how many people would take him if he drops to 3.

 

Miller looks like he has a pretty high floor because of his shooting and at-least-decent defense.
I think the only reason for the Blazers not to draft him is they see a higher ceiling with another player.

 

Agreed. His finishing around the rim is a concern... although it's a small concern.

I see Miller in the LMA light. Decent rebounder & defender. Very good spot up shooter. Fringe all-star type player, who people will over-rate because they score lots of points.

 

The funny thing to me though, is that we have a player with an insane ceiling in Sharpe.

Miller seems like a plug-n-play guy who can step in immediately and contribute. His shooting is a skill that translates immediately. If he bulks up a bit, he would be a great pick-n-roll guy with Dame or Sharpe.

The concern for me is his legal situation.