Ok, then Collins isn't a foundational player... apparently Khris Middleton and C.J. McCollum aren't either?
I would say almost 0% chance it blows up. There’s almost zero financial risk He’s playing for his next contract If he is somehow a problem they’ll cut him loose. They don’t need him. The culture is so strong he will get in line or be gone. Period
CJ was playing behind a very good player && was injured so... Khris Middleton Im not really sure he is a foundational player, he’s borderline but he’s in the east and hasnt exactly lit it up... I guess its dependent on your definition of a foundational player.
Best case scenario is Collins gets to Middletons level. Took Middleton a couple years to crack a starting lineup and that was after spending multiple years in college.
Fair enough. I know its not neccesarily fair to expect every player to be an allstar, or to jump straight into the NBA and be Donovon Mitchell or Dame. Maybe Zach ends up being good maybe he doesn't. Edit: How many years is it fair to give a guy though? Like NO the last two years drafted in the 1st round and has basically had the luxury of well no one expects them to play so if they do then they are exceeding expectations. Seems like a good strategy if Im NO.
To me foundational player doesn't mean superstar like Freak/KD/AD/Lillard/LBJ etc. Collins ceiling is prolly around prime Ibaka. If he gets above that I'll be surprised. Players like Freak/KD/AD/Lillard/LBJ came into the draft you knew they were going to be great. Didn't know how great, or if they'd live up to the hype. But you knew they'd be on all-star teams. With All-NBA honors. I don't remember anyone saying Collins is on that level. He's young. Aminu > Collins right now.
I suppose. Like I said it kind of depends on your definition of foundational player. I could see him being a Ibaka type, and if thats what his ceiling is then I guess thats ok. I really believe that the Blazers if they’re gonna compete for a championship will need an upgrade at one or both forward positions. Maybe forcing Collins in there isnt an upgrade but they just arent good enough with both of those guys playing heavy starter minutes to beat the best teams in the NBA four times in the playoffs.
Honestly, if we could get Butler without giving up CJ (and obviously that's a massive "if") then I would try to flip CJ for someone like Middleton.
Your not taking the time to think about how players fit together. Butler, Harkless, and Aminu are a perfect defensive fit. Just like how you want a balanced offense with scorers, shooters, and playmakers, you also want defensive pieces that compliment each other as well as possible.
I like the thought. I love switchability and defensive versatility, and Middleton, Butler, and Aminu would all be switchable 1-4 in that lineup.
Houston showed last year that switchability and good versatile defenders is how you beat Golden State.
Its not that I havent thought about it. I think they’d be good, but Harkless is rarely turned on and Aminu is a good defender but neither of those guys are very dynamic, you’ll still run into teams saying were gonna overload your guards and see if your forwards can beat us. Now one great thing about that is Butlers size helps on both sides of the ball.
That trap works best when only one of Dame or Butler is on the floor, so it's best to have Aminu and Harkless play with the starters. Even if we had better forwards, we need to make better adjustments when teams trap the pick n roll. That's on the coaching staff, not personel.
Fair enough. That was so annoying to watch. Why they kept doing that same crap over and over.... Ugh...
