I'd rather draft one of these guys: Great defender. Just park him under the basket and have him shouting, "Today is a good day to die."
Donvan Clingan compared to any white player that ever existed really. I see him as being like a 7'2 Mark Price.
I see him as a younger, taller, slower, white Allen Iverson without the same skills and playing a different position. barfo
it was a problematic Meyers loop. Why was a 7'1" Center, who was built like a truck, toeing the line and shooting feathery soft jumpers from 25 feet out? Is it because the Blazers drafted (then overpaid) a Center who had 0 hands, could not catch a pass while moving, and was graded low on basically every NBA big man fundamentals? I think Leonard dropped 30 in a losing playoff game. He was the only Blazer that could hit buckets on that night. The occasional "wow" game allowed a small following of Meyers fans to say Portland wasn't using him correctly.
Jokic does it all the time. Slow release and he's lethal. He was drafted in the 40's, was slow and lumbering.
what a great idea...draft a 7'3 C because of his rebounding and rim-protection and immediately start training him to get comfortable 25' from the hoop
Maybe so. But if he's only able or willing when he is wide, wide open, then it isn't really the benefit of opening the floor for a guard in a pick and roll that it would be from someone who can get the shot off quicker. Jokic is a threat and helps with spacing because he's capable of getting off a 3 quickly and with ok accuracy. Same with Brook. And because of that, a big stays a little closer than they might otherwise. Thus my Leonard comparison. He only took them when he was wide open because he generally just couldn't get that shot off otherwise.
1. His value on D is turning guys away from the rim — see Joel Przybilla when he slimmed down from bulking up. Already at 280, Clingan needs to get stronger — legs, leverage, core, upper — without too much additional weight. 2. Prz was allergic to the ball away from the rim in the paint unless it was a dunk — until he significantly improved on free throws and then he called for the ball (4th season in Portland at 68%). That’s not a problem for Clingan. Clingan’s free throws will come along, IMHO. His outside shooting can wait a couple years. 8-years-in for Brooke Lopez. Season 5 in Phoenix for Channing Frye (and a change of scenery). 3. Wherever he is drafted, let him be a Big and what he is for 2-3 years. EDIT: With that said, I’ll be extremely surprised if Portland drafts a center at 7, 14, or trades up for any center (other than Sarr).
This would be such a blazer move to make. Last year best play on team was a PG so they draft another PG. This year the best player is a 25 year old Center so lets draft another center. Why would we ever draft a player who fills a need when we can continue to take and take up a bench player.
Didn't ruin it at all, it WAs A great trade. #15 and #20 didn't last long in the league, and Zach became a starter. Had he not gotten injured, it would have been a spectacular trade.
c'mon now. Zach's injuries haven't made him less of a player. He's a marginal starter, at best, healthy or not, then or now and it doesn't matter a damn bit who was taken at 15 & 20. What matters is who was available. At 10, Portland could have drafted Donovan Mitchell or Bam Adebayo and then drafted Josh Hart or Derrick White if they would have stayed at 15 & 20, the Blazers could have come out of that draft with OG Anunoby, Jarrett Allen, and either Derrick White or Josh Hart. so then, Adebayo + Hart; or OG + Allen + White but...the Blazers got Zach + Caleb Swanigan. Portland strapped on the dunce hat and danced an idiot shuffle that draft
