Yeah DeRozen probably won't make sense because we can just sign him outright for the max next summer. Getting him sooner would cost us a young asset; hurt our draft pick and still have us pay him the max.
Especially if the move was during the season. However there is an outside chance that if we got him this summer and he "bonded" with Dame, that we would have the inside track for signing him next summer. (He will have multiple suitors) But then again if the experience is bad, then we would have no chance next summer.
Sure but are we giving up Vonleh and something else for that benefit? Toronto isn't dumping him for 2nd round picks or 3rd string prospects. DeRozen is more accomplished than Batum and coming off a better season. I'd rather just see how our youth plays the first month of the season. Also see what other teams are disappointments but with assets to trade; then evaluate making a move.
I don't know what the plans are, but I would love to see the Blazers pull in 4-5 development coaches. At least one for shooting mechanics and one for post skills. Not game guys, but guys who spend 100% of their time working with these raw prospects. Some of these guys have amazing talent/physical attributes. I don't think they will get very far with standard set drills and the like.
Been watching vids of this guy, and I think the T-Rob comparisons are misplaced. He's more of a ground-bound widebody from what I can see. I'm thinking more of a Chuck Hayes type. I just hope he can develop the defensive fundamentals to fill that role. As an aside--I think @jlprk is going to love the way this guy plays.
How long before he and Vonleh get into a fight in practice from trying to push for position. Both guys have really sold legs and seem to know how to use them.
Dunno, but I'm excited about the prospect of those two developing together. They could be good complements to one another.
Article today on Alexander: http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i..._know_trail_blazers_forward_cliff_alexan.html "But 90 percent of the reason he did not get drafted is not about basketball," Alexander's high school coach Mike Oliver told the Chicago Tribune in June. "He had too many people in the boat. If you have too many people in the boat, it's going to sink."
You realize the difference between an undrafted rookie project and a max-contract guy who fancies himself a franchise player, right?
I saw in a draftexpress video that he compared himself to Amare Stoudemire. I can see that. He is an inch shorter, but his standing reach is an inch higher, and wing span almost two inches wider. I hope his IQ is good enough to let him develop. Looks like he has some very nice tools. One of the closest players he measures up against in height, weight, wingspan and reach is . . . Noah Vonleh.
