Another great Blazers article: http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i...er_development.html#incart_river_mobile_index This piece highlights the fact that we only see the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what goes into converting talented young draft picks into quality NBA players. Olshey and Stotts have built an excellent staff and culture here. People should remember that when they’re so quick to call for a new coach or GM every time the team has a bit of adversity.
Nice and it shows how we make the best of what we have but the fact remains that we are, from an overall perspective, talently challenged.
We definitely need more fully developed quality talent. I don’t know if we know yet what the overall talent level looks like in 2-3 years when players like Nurkic, Collins and Swanigan begin to mature. I don’t see that superstar guy anywhere on the roster, but there are a bunch of players who can be really good. That may be enough for a contending run in the Lillard era, or maybe a couple of those really good young guys will end up being packaged for a top player who’s in a disgruntled state on another team and demanding a trade.
"transforming second-round risks into NBA starters (Allen Crabbe and Will Barton)" it's more like: "if you can't do it here, try with other coach".
Barton obviously benefited from regular playing time - but has Crabbe done anything to warrant being a starter on anything other than the Nets?
Barton showed plenty here (see: playoff performance vs Spurs) to give the coaching staff the benefit of the doubt on player development. We swung for the fences with a trade that didn't work out, and Barton was the prize that made that possible. That right there tells you that his development hadn't gone unnoticed. We're sort of the poor man's Spurs or Packers, developing homegrown, underrated talent. We just haven't found the 1st ballot hall of famers to elevate the process above middle of the pack.
