We got to see some actual minutes from Patty C, Layman, Napier, Vonleh, etc. Did those minutes change your mind at all? Is Patty someone you would want to hold onto now? Should Napier be getting more minutes? Is Vonleh the pfotf? All three of those guys are going to be free agents after next season.
Napier needs to go. So does Quarterman. Vonleh is not the pfotf, but he's worth keeping. Keep Pat and Jake until the end of their rookie contracts.
Keep Vonleh. Nape needs more minutes. Pat is a good cheerleader and moral booster. The rest can go along with Meyers.
Some averages over the past two games: Napier - 28.5 ppg, 50% FG, 53.8% from three, 3.5 assists, 5 rebounds, 4 turnovers in 31.5 minutes per game. Patty - 17 ppg, 56.6% FG, 57% from three, 5 assists, 5.5 rebounds, 2 turnovers in 35.5 minutes per game. Vonleh - 12 ppg, 64.7% FG, 15 rebounds, 1 assist, .5 steals, .5 turnovers in 37.5 minutes per game.
Pat looks to me like he is going to evolve into a solid NBA backup wing. As for him sticking with the Blazers, I'd say that depends on what they decide to do with Crabbe. If they move him as part of a salary dump, I wouldn't mind Connaughton getting a shot next season. Napier has skills and I would like to see him get a few more minutes in relief of Lillard and CJ to keep them fresher. Doubt that happens in the playoffs though. Most coaches shorten their rotations. Vonleh shows flashes of being pretty good. I'd still like to see the Blazers get a proven starter PF for next season and continue developing Noah in a backup role.
Pat impressed with meaningful minutes he could stick and take over the role of which ever wing that gets traded on draft day. Napier shot the ball really well and ran the offense pretty smoothly. He will do well in the future if given the right situation. Not sold on vonleh as the future, but if he becomes aggressive on offense he has potential. The defense and rebounding are coming along nicely.
The crazy thing that sticks out to me is the shooting percentages. Napier, Patty and Vonleh all shot extremely high percentages in decent minutes. Layman stunk it up in the first game, but in the second game he shot 40% from the field and 40% from three, which wasn't horrible. Meyers shot well in the first game (71%) but he tanked in the second game (27%).
I'd wait and see; two games hasn't really changed my opinion that we need more time to watch them. Also want to see what happens as far as draft and trades.
Did not change my mind... Still think Pat is a good replacement for Crabbe - at 5% of the cost. I think Napier ought to be moved. He's an NBA player for sure - but not the skill set Portland needs as a backup PG. I hope Vonleh figures it out. I wanted to draft him out of UI. What worries me the most is he doesn't contribute many steals, assists, or blocks. He'd be a great BPFoF (Backup PF). Quarterman is gone. I don't think he's quite an NBA talent.
I disagree. This is the first time Pat has even shown a pulse..... and that includes summer league and preseason. He was also going up against the Spurs starters.
Vonleh is definitely a keeper. He kept improving this year so i think after next year we will know for sure if he is a long term starter. I keep Jake another year. Lot of Potential....and as we have seen numerous times players improve after their rookie year Pat is a decent end of the bench player. But it depends on who we draft when deciding if he stays or goes. I don't care either way. Napier is fine as well. The guy can flat out score and if Dame gets hurt he fills that role cheaply. But like Pat I don't care either way.
Patty C is coming along. He impressed me with these last few games. Napier needs to be given more minutes. He is talented, young, and plays the backup point guard well. Just look at ehat he did these last two games. Vonleh is developing into a hell of a player. He had a career high 16 boards, he scraps and plays with purpose. He may well be the of off Olshey said we will have three new players next year, I see Meyers, Quarterman, and Ezeli out the door, and there new faces taking their places next year. I think Olshey will hold onto everyone else.
TQ and PCs contracts are up, so it's very likely they're gone. Jake and Napier have another year on their contract, so they stay unless they're a throw in in a trade to make salaries match. Otherwise, we reevaluate after another year. None of their recent play has altered their trajectory enough to override the contract realities, especially when we could have 3 rookies coming in. Vonleh is our PFotF unless we find someone better. Until then, he stays.
I think there's definitely some positives to be taken from the past two games. One thing that I think we have to appreciate about Neil is that he has added a lot of talent to our roster and we have been developing it. A few years ago that was not the case. The biggest failure has been Leonard.... and I'm not sure if that's on the team or on him.... or both.
Connaughton has at least another year on his contract, but it's a team option. http://www.spotrac.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/pat-connaughton-17869/
Honestly don't know until they play more. Well, except for Vonleh. Pat will probably be a trade piece if he has any value. Napier will never get enough time to really make a difference. He probably deserves more minutes somewhere else. Three rookie contracts coming on doesn't help matters.
Which is what I think NO was hoping for when he traded for him. He'd back up LA and learn the ropes. But LA wasn't having it
