I find your opinion on this really hard to believe considering previous comments about watching Turner, Aminu, and Harkless play basketball the last 3-4 years.
My opinion on young players is pretty consistent unless theyve actually done something its who knows. Thats how I felt and still some what feel about Zach. Its how I feel about most young players, all were judging it by is our eye test and our judgement of potential. Theres a few young players that have proven they belong, Simons and Thybulle havent yet. So, its just a guess as to which one is going to work hard enough to get better and cover up the holes in their games.
Okay, let's say for discussion it is 50/50 who will be the better player (not trying to put words in your mouth). Wouldn't you lean towards keeping the player who was drafted already to your team, is 2 years younger, and arguably has a higher ceiling?
Sure? I said neither team would do a trade straight up. Both teams would probably argue their guy has a higher ceiling too. That's why I voted I'm torn.
I suggested we take him at 25 when the projections were that he would still be available. There were a few that disagreed at the time. None the less I would not trade a scorer like Simons for him.
Sure. Im torn because both so far are barely NBA players. Theyve done nothing, and have proven nothing at the NBA level and the eye test says they both have a long ways to go to determine if they belong long term, but you know that, that is the reason for what I said.
Due to defense is about effort and just make your mind up I want to do it and watch film and find out who you are guarding and find out what that player likes to do and try take that away from them. Now Simons is young and I seen him play positioning defense against his guy so that tells me he is capable to be a good defender. But now he needs to put the other 2 things I mentioned in his defense. Now there been bad shooters in the league at beginning of there career but end being decent shooters. I wouldn't make this trade due to Simons already a pretty good shooter and he needs makeup his mind up if he wants to play defense or not. But Simons in my mind is not untradable though he might in Olshey mind though. Just CJ is not untradable to me but as long Olshey is still the GM I don't see either player going anywheres.
People always say defense is just effort and it's just not true. Defense is a skill like passing: it requires court awareness. You can get a bit better by trying, same as with shooting threes, but there is a ceiling and some players just cannot be very good no matter how much sincere effort they put into it, otherwise every borderline NBA player would turn into Bruce Bowen.
Still feeling good about my, "I'm Torn" vote. Thybulle is in a great situation and is a disruptive defender. Simons... Let's just hope he figures it out eventually I guess cause the Blazers need one of their young guys to pop.
Whew!!! This thread did not age well. Thybulle not only is a really solid defender and ball hawk but he also now shoots the three better than Ant. If only we could have made that move.
No. Defense is about hustle. You can always find people with drive. Scoring is about skill. You cant always find skilled players. They are more valuable.
