Harkless resolves after Crabbe decision?

Because the Blazers have more deserving players than they have minutes.

Harkless will mostly see time at SF and PF.

We have Turner and Crabbe and Aminu at small forward. It's going to be hard enough to find minutes enough for Crabbe coming off the bench.

At power forward we have Aminu, Davis, and Vonleh. Possibly even Layman. We don't NEED to play Harkless. You're talking about Ben Gordon, but Ben Gordon was a huge part of the Bulls' rotation. Harkless drifted in and out of the rotation last season. He was a big part of our playoff run, but we also added a key player at his position.

 

How do you get that I agreed with you out of that post?

We don't need Harkless.

We have multiple players that need minutes at SF and PF. Players that are just as deserving as Harkless. So if he's not going to commit to the team long term, fuck him.

 

Yeah I guess the more and more I think about it, the more it seems like he won't be back. They have a certain amount they want to allocate to Harkless and if there is an offer that goes over........he's gone. I wonder what that number is. I am sure Harkless would not mind coming back, but at the same time he probbaly is not too excited about the log jam at the SF spot.

 

Well, also it's better to hold onto his bird rights. He might not have much of a market next summer either. He's thinking he's going to get some massive payday and he just hasn't done enough to warrant it. He did well enough last season to entice us, and get just about everyone excited about his potential, but his track record is not good. The Magic gave him away for practically nothing. I think he got greedy. I wish we had some idea of what he's looking for.

 

We also went from a situation where he would probably return as the starter, to now we have Turner at that spot, and there's very little chance he's going to supplant Turner as the starter. PG, SG, and SF all look pretty locked up at this point. PF and C are still questionable, but I don't see Harkless as a full-time PF. Aminu is taller (6'10) and longer, which suits him better to be a starter at that position.

We don't want to let him go because he can play three positions, and that's the kind of player that Neil is looking for, but if he's looking for a starting role, or a massive payday, it probably won't be here.

 

He played the 3/4 spots last year and he will have the chance convincing Stotts this upcoming season during training camp and preseason.

 

I am not worried about the log jam either. I am saying he is probably not overly excited about it.

 

I was worried about a log jam once, but a little milk of magnesia fixed that right up

 

Yeah, he went from a starter in the playoffs to a guy fighting for minutes. Probably not something he's psyched about coming back to.

 

My guess is that Harkless sees a lineup that's full of versatile wing players (Turner/Crabbe/Aminu) and he's concerned about his future on this team. He wants Neil to make a sizable commitment to him to solidify his place in the rotation.

Neil is probably looking at Harkless as a utility player who can step into three positions and fill any role asked of him, but he doesn't want to pay him a large contract because he's still fairly unproven. This is a guy we picked up off the discard pile a year ago and Neil was probably hoping he'd be a bargain, but now Harkless wants to get paid. Neil is probably trying to convince him that the money is gone and most of the suitors have left the dance floor. We're the only one still dancing with him.

 

Stotts pretty much said in the Ezeli introduction that Aminu will play the 4...he's way better there than the 3 so I don't see him taking minutes from Mo there at all

 

Mo can back up Turner while Crabbe backup CJ. Harkless seen Crabbe contract and he believe he is as good as Crabbe. Overall as a player he might be justify. We know Crabbe got over paid even Dame knows Crabbe got over paid. That why Dame rolls his eyes when they mention Crabbe contract.

 

I'm saying that he COULD play minutes at the three. Considering we have Davis and Vonleh at the four, we might need to open up some minutes.

 

I agree with this and I want to see this.......but I am sure there could be match ups where Aminu might be needed at the 3. Cleveland twice a year, GS depending on where they play Durant and if the others get in foul problems. But yeah for the most part he should be playing the 4.