Well he is definitely is no "Big white Stiff". He has skills and size. No one is suggesting he will be a star in the NBA but it looks like he can play. I remember watching him in his first Summer league in SLC. He was more of a tall SF. Very active with good hops, but did not play down low at all. He was still a kid then. It is nice to see how he has transformed his game. Get him over here for 2012-13.
http://www.blazersedge.com/2012/2/1...-buchanan-responds-to-report-of-joel-freeland According to this, him signing with his Euro team sounds like it doesn't affect whether or not he will be pursued by the Blazers. As Buchanan says, it's "insurance" for Freeland, but he could still be bought out which sounds like a common process.
Buchanan is just saying that to keep the bipolar lunatics on this board from acting hasty or doing anything irrational (well.... anything more irrational than their typical, sub-standard behavior).
Apart from that one missed dunk, he had a good game against one of the better Spanish teams: [video]http://acbtv.acb.com/video/4980-lacb-20112012-liga_regular-33-293-unicaja_se_la_jugara_a_una_ultima_carta[/video] (Nedzad - #22 - gets in a tippy-toe dunk, too.)
So your sources think he will stay in Europe? Or do they think our team will be shitty enough, and fail miserably at our retooling to have him starting or being the first big off the bench?
I have to admit that I'm perplexed by the Blazers' big man situation. LA, Hickson & Freeland all are true PFs who can play a bit at the 5 spot. Thabeet looks to be a bust, so other than re-signing Przybilla, the Blazers don't have a true 5 or even the prospects of one. Not much in the way of good prospects in the draft, unless you want to take a flyer on Cody Zeller. No real help in the free agent market, so that leaves trades. Dave on Blazers Edge is talking about Emeka Okafor, but that would be a spendy option. It looks to me like it's either a move like that or just decide to play small with Przybilla and a bunch of PFs.
Spencer Hawes would be my choice if they were going after a center in free agency. Followed by Omer Asik. Assuming as a rational person would that Hibbert will be matched by the Pacers. Maybe JaVale McGee and Robin Lopez after that, assuming the price was good
It seems we have no shot at Hibbert. So... http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1148358-nba-free-agency-2012-breaking-down-best-landing-spots-for-javale-mcgee#/articles/1148358-nba-free-agency-2012-breaking-down-best-landing-spots-for-javale-mcgee/page/4
McGee is scary because he's batshit crazy, but surrounding him with Joel and maybe another solid vet could do wonders?
Get me some Crazy McGee! Ha, Ha! I'm ready for his kind of crazy on our boring team. At least he's not Whirled Peas or Rondo nuts. Those guys I'd pass on. I liked that Rasheed was a little crazy. It was the fact he was such a DICK that was the problem.
