Queen would make me sad. I’ve missed on multiple prospects though. Hated Roy pick. Loved Bayless pick, etc. we just don’t need any more non athletic bigs. We have one already
I wouldn't be looking forward to that pairing on either end at least with the current roster. On offense Portland's roster lacks perimeter threats to keep the court spread for a guy like DQ to operate inside and pairing him with Clingan wouldn't help. Defensively he'd have to be matched up on wings as you wouldn't want DC primarily on them and that would basically concede open looks from 3. As others have mentioned, his lack of conditioning is a legit concern. I'd have to feel good that this would change to pass on some of the other talents that will be available. I really value getting plus defense from Bigs, so between the conditioning issues and the lack of D he's not my favorite prospect... I'd have to feel there are levels of game he's capable of reaching to draft him. STOMP
Sorry, I didn't mean having them on the court together. I meant an offense/defense substitution pattern.
I like Knueppel, Coward & Fleming. Id consider trading up a few spots to get Knueppel. Fleming could be the surprise of the draft.
1. Athleticism comes in different flavors. Queen doesn't jump high or run fast, so in that respect he's like Clingan, but Clingan has elite timing and Queen is incredibly mobile and downright balletic in the post. 2. Clingan is elite defensively but pretty inept offensively. Queen is very ept offensively. Again: not saying I want Queen as the pick, because he's not high on my wishlist, but if you want an optimistic comparison for a Clingan/Queen pairing that worked, it's Marc Gasol/Zach Randolph.
I love Fleming but I think he would be the surprise of draft night if we reached for him at 11. Maybe I'm wrong and he'll start to climb draft boards during the workout process but I think if he's our guy, that we should be able to move back and still get him... or if we do end up trading Ant to Orlando and part of the package is pick 16, I'd feel better about taking him there.
I agree but a reach I'd feel much more comfortable with. I don't think he's really in play if our only pick is at 11. That being said I really like him. He knocks down open threes, he finishes strong around the hoop. He looks like he can defend anyone inside or on the perimeter. I don't think he'll be an all star... he just isn't a guy who gets himself or others baskets (not a creator) but he does finish and make shots when he's set up and he's pretty damn ferocious on the glass and defending wherever he is. Yeah we can't take a super role player with pick 11 but if we get another pick, we can definitely take him and we won't regret it for a second. I think with a 9'1" standing reach and at over 230lbs he can play as a stretch big... especially in Chauncey's system as a nice complement when making opposing teams change shit up when we have Clingan sit and bring a guy like this in for him.
espn, other sites, Listen to Locked on Jazz about DQ, the whole episode is VERY interesting. He's the most unathletic player in the draft.
The Cronin/Schmitz Blazers definitely have a type. With the possible exception of Scoot or Thompson (and one could make the case that Scoot's athleticism, strength, and huge mitts bridged the gap over Amen's length), they've shown they prioritize size and length over just about anything. Murray, Rupert, Dalano, Deni, Clingan, Cissoko, McGowens ... even the Remix roster is constructed that way. I don't think they're married to the concept entirely, but I think if things are close, the Blazers right now value that aspect over any other. I think that makes Demin a more likely direction than Queen, not even getting into Demin gives you more positional flexibility and we have four players on the roster already that are 5s if we don't move someone.
