Exclusive All Things Brandon Miller

Yeah I just meant a 15mpg vet minimum center, probably should have said that instead of a specific name.

 

Oh wait, this is BRANDON Miller. My bad.. Carry-on.

 

Yes, that was a good analysis. Thanks for posting.

One small comment that caught my eye was this statement: (only because a couple of posters seem to disagree, and I never understood why)

"His form is fluid and quick, he has deep range, decent hips while moving to the right, and real confidence to pull even over the top of closeouts.

 

He reminds me of Keegan Murray. Not sure either of those players will end up being superstars. They seem like borderline stars who can step in and help right away. Obviously Miller would be the better immediate help if we keep the pick.

Based on the defensive analysis, I wonder if Miller is actually a four.

"The concerns come in biomechanically when Miller has to face smaller guys. He’s a guy who tends to bend with his back instead of his hips/ waist, resulting in several possessions where he looks really hunched over. Reacting to dribble moves is difficult in that stance, and the result is him opening up his hips and biting on jab moves or changes of direction."

 

I think he’s more of a 4 too. He just need to add muscle and he will be fine there. Even better there at the 4 than the 3

 

So my biggest question... how does Miller compare to Jerami Grant?

Would we be essentially drafting a Grant clone and then paying Grant a huge contract in the same summer?

 

Don't worry - yes, we'll be signing Grant to a huge contract, but we'll be trading the pick so it won't be a problem!

 

People keep saying this... what if the pick doesn't net us Siakam or Brown or Bridges? We're not going to just dump the pick to dump the pick.

 

that isn't me....that's actually been the thinking of at least 4 trade-Dame advocates I've engaged with here. And of course it fits with NBA history. It took Lebron 9 years before his first championship; Giannis 8 years; Jokic is in his 8th season right now. Kawhi won in Toronto in his 8th season.

Curry was the fastest winning in his 6th season, but the Warriors were a unique circumstance and Curry had spent 4 years playing in college; and he was 28 when they won, well into his prime, like all those other guys. It will be 8 years before Sharpe is 28, and there's no guarantee he'll be a top-10 player, or that he'll still be a Blazer

 

How about Wagner? Would you consider that as dumping the pick? I honestly don't know. I am primarily going off his performance against us, which is not a good measuring stick. (and a few articles about him) But what I saw was a skilled SF who apparently grew after he was drafted. Is he really now 6'10 220?
I don't know if that is true but I like his all-around game. Is he one of those guys you trade for before he blows up?

 

Just Wagner? Or Wagner and a pick?

 

I'm obviously in the don't-trade-Dame camp. But even before the lottery I felt that there was a better than even chance Portland would keep the pick. When they got the 3rd pick, I felt that the odds of keeping the pick went up, not down

a lot of factors informed that hunch. One was that the trade value of draft picks is at it's lowest ebb ever because of the blockbuster trades over the last year. Of course, those are generally mid to late 1st round picks being passed over like crazy. It's hard to pin down the value between a 3rd pick and three picks around 22-25. I'd think the 3rd pick has more value, but maybe not. So I've been thinking the asking price for those 3 players you mentioned will be too high, and even though Cronin has been trashed a lot around here, I don't think he's an idiot and the reports are that Toronto was asking way too much for OG before last season's draft and even Dame thought the demands were ridiculous

another factor is the shitty position that Olshey left the Blazers in. If a team is asking for a future first, along with the 3rd, maybe in a bigger trade, in order to have that first to trade the Blazers would likely have to send the 23rd pick to Chicago. To send out one future first would cost Portland two first's and that's expensive. Fucking Olshey

and another factor is Shaedon Sharpe. The Blazer saw up close the value available in a 7th pick. So did Dame. They have to know they might get another player with as much, if not more value than Sharpe.

I don't know how it will play out. Dame may have already asked quietly for a trade. Or, he may never ask for one no matter what. I think the latter is more likely but it's not certain at all

 

Sure I want the pick, but let's just say Orlando wants to keep it to replace Wagner. Yes were are talking about trading #3 for what was #8 two years ago.
On paper, it looks like we lose on that deal. But Franz IMO is now a proven player. (and only 21) and #3 is still a risk at this point in time. Not all drafts are created equal.

 

Portland has a TPE big enough (Payton) to absorb Wagner's salary. But asking for Wagner + 6 + 11 (which I've seen several times) is too much IMO.

but if Orlando wants Scoot (or Miller) that badly, maybe 3 + 23 for Wagner + 6 + 11. Or even get greedy and make it Wagner + Wagner + 6 + 11. Keep the brother together

or, maybe better, Little + 3 + 23 for Wagner + Bol Bol + 6 + 11. Then, I'd wonder what Nurkic + 11 could fetch; or Ant + 6

I doubt Orlando cooperates with any scenario though unless they are really high on Scoot

 

I think Mo might be a free agent. So if the brothers want to play together, he could always sign here. (He only made 1.8 last year)

 

Funny how you left out Kawhi winning finals MVP in season 3 - but include him winning it later with Toronto.

Those other eventual MVP players you list all went to a bunch of teams that werent trying to win now. If the Blazers have Dame/Grant/Ant/Sharpe/MLE along with Miller and some more vets they should be trying to win sooner. That sounds more like Kawhi in year 3 then Curry being drafted by a 29 win team, or Jokic being drafted by a 30 win team, or LeBron with a 17 win team.

Yeah those 3 guys all took a long time to contend - but their team were absolute garbage and needed many years to build around them. If the Blazers aim to trade Dame and build with Sharp yes they can do the same longer rebuild - that would be winning titles when Sharpe is 25-28 with Dame out of the league at over 40 years old.