Game Thread 2024-25 PRESEASON - BLAZERS @ KINGS - OCTOBER 13, 2024 - SUNDAY - 3:00 PM PST - NBA LP, Blazervision

I am ok with trading Grant as well based on his age and contract. I think a Camara-Deni frontcourt with Ayton is well-rounded.

But IMO Deni's value is being a "connector" so I am not too concerned with his shot chart. Off the top of my head last night, I remember him making a sweet pass in the lane in the lane to DA and a perfect 3/4 court pass to (someone) for a layup. But he does need some shooters for his skills to be effective. So if they did trade Grant and started Camara, then my guess is he will fit nicely with Ant, Shae, and DA.

 

I see some positive in this game and some negative. The positive they allow the kings only shoot 17 percent from the 3 and kings 27 turnovers and we put 33 points off though turn over and that's was a difference in the game. Negative free throws shooting 65 percent is not good enough and we had 20 turnovers that to improve and points. Now we had 23 assisted like to see that around 30 a game and we held our own on the boards nice to see. But overall there was improvement from game 1 and that's what you want to see.

 

I know this is really tough, but we have no choice but to be patient with Scoot. It will take another season or two to determine if he will be a major part of our rebuild. Unfortunately, in Shaedon's absence the attention falls solely on him. And we will continue to nitpick every play.

That said, I'm ready to eat crow on my disdain for the Clingan pick. The upside is very obviously there, and we can extrapolate fairly easily from preseason.

 

Scoot looks huge out there... is he going through a growth spurt?

 

Make no mistake, the team valued him as a tick more than a connector. That's what the two firsts were for.

If Deni is back to ~5-7 attempts per game, well, that'll be something. Last year when he bumped up his volume later in the season he was at around 13 shots a game.

 

Not saying he won't be shooting it, just that he is a 2-way player who can do other things on offense than just shoot. (i.e driving to the basket and finding the open man) He should not be standing in the corner. I see him as the 3rd option on offense but he will get those 13 shots every night. He only played 20 minutes last night and took 8 shots. He will be playing around 34 minutes IMO.

 

You talking about 'The Block Lobster" !

 

Not sure if he has that much time.

Unless we get number one, or we really like Ace Bailey, there's a good chance we end up with a point guard in this draft.

 

I think Clingan's been coached extremely well in college. You don't win 2 championships by accident. I really want to know what he will be like in 5 years.

 

Agreed….which is exactly why I expect highs and lows. I’ll give him a couple YEARS , not games to decide if he is a “bust”.

 

Ha. yeah basically.

 

I don't see this as an issue. It's about BPA. If Edgecombe or Traore project to be better, you draft them. Scoot has not shown it yet, and if he blows up on another team because we draft his replacement, then that's a reality we have to live with

 

Doesn't everyone?

 

Yep. First to one team, then to the other.

 

Well, two separate issues...... or three I guess.

1. We end up with ANOTHER guard and that would in theory diminish both Scoot's and Ant's value in the trade market.

2. PT crunch

3. A lot more pressure on Scoot to perform.