Did the last two games change your mind?

Yes, I know. We could have 3 rookies and we need spots. FE and TQ give us 2. It's possible we keep Pat, but it's very likely we don't.

 

I think Noah is the perfect compliment to Nurk (if he can consistently hit his outside shot.)

 

Napier can play.

I'd like to see a nothing-to-lose-ultra-small-ball lineup at crunch time vs. Golden State of Napier, Dame, CJ, Harkless Aminu, running some kind of trap zone D and shooting the lights out.

 

I'm not worried about this because I don't think there's a chance in hell that our roster stays intact. I could see any combination of players being gone before next season, including:

Crabbe
Turner
Harkless
Aminu
Davis
Leonard

At this point I would be surprised if we traded one of Dame/CJ/Nurk, but you just never know. I also find it highly unlikely that we have three rookies coming in. I think it's more likely that we package those picks with a player to try to either move up or acquire another major piece that can contribute.

 

I understand and agree. However, what I find unlikely is that we do any PURE salary dumps. I think we're going to get a player back in every trade we make. Will we package a pick or two with a player? Maybe. But, if this draft really is as deep as is popular opinion, then Neil will seriously consider keeping all of the picks. Personally, I'm coming around to the opinion that he should do just that, but that of course depends on what's coming in.

 

Wow. seriously? can you expand please? I think he has proven himself a more than capable backup PG and can run the starters if an injury occurs. I place his value pretty high considering our limited ball handlers. The only way I see him going is if we decide Turner is our backup PG. Then IM fine, but Napier will probably bring something decent back, where as Turner we would be lucky to get fair value back.

 

I liked Napier until the last two games. He's pretty good when he doesn't try too hard. He had way too many sloppy, unforced turnovers for my liking. He's perfectly adequate for the very end of the bench, but as a rotation player? I have my doubts...

 

You liked him until he put up 28.5 ppg over those two games, while shooting 50% from the field and 54% from three?

Napier - 28.5 ppg, 50% FG, 53.8% from three, 3.5 assists, 5 rebounds, 4 turnovers in 31.5 minutes per game.

The low assists and high turnovers is definitely not great, but in terms of being a sparkplug guy off the bench, I think he could be perfect.

 

Napier is definitely a keeper for a backup at pg.

 

Patty had 7 turnovers last night. Layman had 4. Turner had 3. Shabazz had 4.
Game #81, Evan Turner... 3 TO's. Shabazz 4.


Dame average TO for the season: 2.6. Last Season - 3.2. His rookie Season, 3.

Rest of league:

Harden... 5.73
Westbrook...5.41
John Wall...4.14
LBJ...4.09


Looks like you can average aprox 4 turnovers a game and still be an all star.

I dont see him having that many sloppy TO's at all and think you are being too harsh on the kid that just got his first real burn with us.

 

Napier impressed but call me old fashioned, I prefer assists over huge points. Dame is Dame. He can do both. Napier not so much.

He might be a SG in a PG body which worries me a little. We have plenty of those types that do it better.

Now this doesn't mean I am looking to move him, but I also not ready to hand him 12+ minutes a game until he gets people involved.

Of course you could say who does he have to pass to?...

 

Even if we keep all three draft picks, we'll have plenty of roster spots. With the new CBA, rosters expand to 17 with two floater contracts to seamlessly move players between the NBA team and the G League.

So, waiving Ezeli saves us $6.4 million and frees up all the roster spots we need to accommodate three rookies.

BNM

 

Quarterman doesn't have a guaranteed contract. So, he's likely be the first to go - of needed. Ezeli is also gone. As mentioned above, that gives us more than enough room to add three rookies.

Pat, Layman and Vonleh are all cheap. So, keeping them around another year makes sense, unless you need to include one to facilitate a trade.

Here's my thoughts on Connaughton (and a little about Vonlehh's improved play after the all star break) in another thread.

BNM

 

These last two games did one thing.
Prove me right as to why Napier isn't getting run with CJ/Lillard consistently.

 

He may not have had a lot, but nearly all of the ones he did have were sloppy and unforced. I just want him to stay in his lane, and if he can't do that, show him the door.

What's his contract status? Will he be a free agent?

 

With Lillard and McCollum out, his "lane" was to score points and fill that "lead guard" role on the team.

 

And in doing so, he made several turnovers that made Meyers Leonard's ineptitude seem miniscule by comparison.