Exclusive All things Amen Thompson

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by SharpesTriumph, May 19, 2023.

  1. theprunetang

    theprunetang Shaedon "Deadly Nightshade" Sharpe is HIM

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    Plus, even when healthy, one of the biggest issues Simmons had was lack of aggression offensively and hesitation at attacking the hoop. Amen doesn't seem to have that same hesitation.
     
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  2. BankTeller

    BankTeller Well-Known Member

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    Simmons has always had that lack of love for basketball concern dating back to college. During his LSU days, people questioned whether he ever wanted to actually be great. Compare that to Amen, who I think will be a great floor general and locker room leader one day. That’s why I hope the goal for the organization is to draft Amen, so he can play under Dame for a few seasons.
     
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  3. BIG Q

    BIG Q Well-Known Member

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    I know, straight from high school to college with huge NIL deals with having done nothing. Then one and done in college and lotto pick. The truth is, if there wasn't so many every day peoples jobs on the line we wouldn't look so deeply at these guys. Now ball boys, janitors and and office personnel are vested in the success of these players. Look at Bowie over Jordan.
     
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  4. tykendo

    tykendo Don't Tread On PDX

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    No way i give up # 3 to Orlando without Franz coming back in the deal. Carter Jr. is good, but not great. Can't do it without Wagner.
     
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  5. tykendo

    tykendo Don't Tread On PDX

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    But if you got back Wagner ( need ) , you could get a couple nice talents with the #6 & #11 picks. I like what i see in Lively ( Jarrett Allen?), and Cason Wallace can really defend and his shooting stroke bodes well for him in the future. Ant has a better shooting stroke than any of Orlando's guards. Ant and Scoot would solve their backcourt problem of inconsistent scoring.
     
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  6. Hoopguru

    Hoopguru Well-Known Member

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    Its all a big marketing machine and Sports Two is part of it.
     
  7. BankTeller

    BankTeller Well-Known Member

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    I don’t think we’re going to see ORL give up Wagner to move up to #3. Wagner is for sure one of their two cornerstones. They also have three PG sized guys that play that position on that roster, would be hard to believe ORL giving up on their SF for the next 5+ years for a guy that can only play PG and nothing else, meaning a clogged rotation between 3 guys becomes a clogged rotation of 4 guys.

    ORL would really have to be convinced that Scoot is that guy, and also believe there’s no one worth taking at #6 that can improve their team. I don’t know if Nas + #3 + #23 could even get Wagner + #6. If Wagner was on the table with #6, take the deal and then either settle with Ausar or land Amen at #6 on draft night. But that seems like a pipedream.

    ORL remains a good trade down partner even if Wagner isn’t included. Getting rid of Nurk’s contract for a cheaper and more reliable C, an intriguing one year rental in Bol, and both lotto picks isn’t a bad settling point.

    If we wanted Lively, we could have a C rotation of WCJ/vet C/Lively/Bol and not have to worry about that rotation for a few seasons. #6 will still grab one of the Thompsons.
     
  8. Pinwheel1

    Pinwheel1 Well-Known Member

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    [QUOTE="BankTeller, post: 5527766, member: 30331"

    ]I don’t think we’re going to see ORL give up Wagner to move up to #3. Wagner is for sure one of their two cornerstones. .[/QUOTE]

    I agree.......unless there is someone at #6 that they think they can replace Wagner with by year 2. Which is why I never believed we could get Wagmer and #6. Maybe #11th
     
  9. BankTeller

    BankTeller Well-Known Member

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    I agree.......unless there is someone at #6 that they think they can replace Wagner with by year 2. Which is why I never believed we could get Wagmer and #6. Maybe #11th[/QUOTE]
    At that point, I’d settle for WCJ, Bol, and the two lotto picks, or see if DET would let go of Duren for #3. My only desire to trade down would be to get other assets in addition to one of the twins, having #11 at our highest pick pretty much takes us out of that range.
     
  10. BankTeller

    BankTeller Well-Known Member

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    Watching Amen more and more, imagining all of the ways he can be used.

    I seriously think drafting Amen gives Shae the best chance to succeed as a player. We’ve been talking about Shae flashing the potential to be an All-NBA and All-Defense guy, but he has a better opportunity to do that when he eventually doesn’t have to guard the best player every night. Amen is that guy who can take the best player every night, he can also initiate the offense and has the physical gifts to make teams pay when they double Shae.

    Dame/Shae/Amen/Grant/Nurk
    That lineup has potential to be a great lineup. Between Dame and Amen facilitating the ball, I’d rather Nurk just do the things he’s good at like setting good screens for Dame and Amen, preserving his availability by taking more catch and shoot 3s, and trying to protect the rim. Amen is going to be coming into the league with a reputation for his defensive potential, just let him take the toughest matchup every night with Shae switching on from time to time or bringing in Thybulle to be the POA defender in place of Amen.

    Dame/Ant/Amen/Grant/Nurk
    If we decide to accept the growing pains early, we can get to a point where Amen is good enough on defense that he starts by the end of the year, even before Shae. Amen as a POA defender, Grant plays help side. Dame, Ant, Grant, and Nurk provide enough shooting for Amen, Amen would immediately be an elevate version of what Winslow lovers though he would be starting at SF.

    Dame/Shae/Amen/Grant/Horford
    Later in the year, if Amen or Shae show they are ready to be a full time starter, we can find a way to find guys who fit. Horford makes $10m/yr for two years, he’d be a very good backup C for us and if he was ever available.

    Amen/Shae/3-D/3-D/Lively
    I’ve posted about the potential of this down the line where we have a lineup that locks down the perimeter and at the rim. If Lively were a possibility at the end of draft night, he’d be great as a guy that can catch lobs, protect the rim, cover space well, and possibly be a decent shooter down the line.

    PG/Shae/Amen/3-D/C
    I find that guards are easier to find than wings. With the size to play SF, Schmitz can just grab the BPA every year to fill out this roster. But with Shae and Amen as the starting backcourt or wing duo, it would be possible to eventually find another electric shooting PG like Curry or Dame and still maintain a defensive identity.
     
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  11. illmatic99

    illmatic99 formerly yuyuza1

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    My two biggest hangups with Amen are:
    1. his age
    2. his competition.

    If i can get past these issues, I can totally see his merits. His highlights look good and I like his floor game -- guys can learn how to shoot.

    Just don't know how to translate OTE to the nba. Even Schmitz might have difficulty with this one. How many help defenses do you think this guy saw while playing in this league? AAU seems as organized.
     
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  12. Freshtown

    Freshtown Well-Known Member

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  13. AmirIcon

    AmirIcon Well-Known Member

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    How did you leave off shooting? That's the #1 issue. He won't be able to play in crucial moments if he can't put together a shot. His free throw % suggests he's a long ways off from putting a decent jump shot together.
     
  14. illmatic99

    illmatic99 formerly yuyuza1

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    as i said in the sentence following, guys can learn to shoot. and his athleticism and burst somewhat mitigates his lack of shooting to still be effective. but his age being a worry is also sorta built into his current stage of development. at 20 and with the resources he's been afforded, he should definitely be a better shooter than he is.
     
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  15. Freshtown

    Freshtown Well-Known Member

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    What if this guy is Tony Wroten with better passing?
     
  16. JDC

    JDC Well-Known Member

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    I find the competition talk funny. Both the twins were top of their class and dominated high school and EYBL before going to OTE.
     
  17. AmirIcon

    AmirIcon Well-Known Member

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    I wouldn't be confident in him learning to shoot. The free throw percentage is the indicator as to why.

    This is not the same as Scoot who has an excellent midrange game and shoots well at the line. He will most certainly improve his three point shot.
     
  18. Hoopguru

    Hoopguru Well-Known Member

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    Athletic Evan Turner a second pick. He never learned the three ball.
     
  19. blazerfan11

    blazerfan11 Well-Known Member

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    People continue to say what if he's "so-and-so" with better passing.
    That becomes a completely different player.
    Find a better comp.
     
  20. illmatic99

    illmatic99 formerly yuyuza1

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    Amen was ranked 22nd by ESPN and 38th by Rivals
    Ausar was ranked 23rd by ESPN and 40th by Rivals

    So the "top of the class" comment is simply false.

    And "dominated" is questionable considering they were both at least a year older than competition at nearly every level.
     

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