Players about to become all-stars (besides Harden)

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by Rastapopoulos, May 7, 2012.

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  1. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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    James Harden is revealing that he's better than the third best player on the Thunder and will very soon be better than the third best SG in the league. But apart from him, what are the other young (ish) players who look like they've got it and are about to become great? To make it interesting, don't include people like Kyrie Irving or Ricky Rubio who came in with a splash, but pick players who struggled or flew under the radar originally.

    I think an obvious candidate is Evan Turner. He was looking like a total bust in his rookie year, and still might not pan out, but since given the ball and more freedom has finally looked like the player he was at Ohio State. He could finally grow into the "Next Brandon Roy" tag.

    Philly also has Jrue Holliday - another player who initially looked lost, and may not be a PG, but has definitely shown up (now Rose is gone).

    Goran Dragic has had boom AND bust and re-boom cycles. And he's no longer under 25. But I think, given the right situation, he's going to do well. (Funny that another candidate, Kyle Lowry, going down gave Dragic a chance.)

    Will Derek Favors every really put it together, or will he be an Amir Johnson-style perpetual tease? Will he get a chance in Utah's ridiculously crowded frontcourt? (Time for another poison pill offer from Portland?)

    Nikola Pekovic certainly exploded this season. As did Ersan Ilyasova, although I have my doubts whether either can sustain it.

    Of course, the main reason for this post is to suggest players the Blazers could target. Ideally, of course, James Harden would be a UFA at the same moment that the Blazers are ready to say "come be our franchise player! Take this Max offer!" But sadly there's plenty of time for the Thunder to keep the Big Three together. And of all of the above, only Ilyasova and possibly Dragic are gettable in free agency.
     
    Rastapopoulos, May 7, 2012
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  2. EL PRESIDENTE

    EL PRESIDENTE Username Retired in Honor of Lanny.

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    Bold prediction: none of the above will ever become All-Stars.


    probably going to be there, but I guess they were all pretty high picks.....John Wall, Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry, Brandon Jennings.
     
    EL PRESIDENTE, May 7, 2012
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  3. RR7

    RR7 Well-Known Member

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    Would love Harden, but seems unlikely. Turner as well, though I imagine after their season is over, they will commit to him and Jrue, and move Iguodola.
     
    RR7, May 7, 2012
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  4. Mediocre Man

    Mediocre Man Mr. SportsTwo

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    Is what I think will happen
     
    Mediocre Man, May 7, 2012
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  5. blazedanugz

    blazedanugz Well-Known Member

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    When is hardens contract up?
     
    blazedanugz, May 7, 2012
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  6. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    Utah will have to trade someone. They have too many good frontcourt players.
     
    Natebishop3, May 7, 2012
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  7. Fez Hammersticks

    Fez Hammersticks スーパーバッド Zero Cool

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    -DeMarcus Cousins
    -John Wall
    -Jrue Holiday
    -Jeremy Lin
    -Greg Monroe
    -Ricky Rubio
     
    Fez Hammersticks, May 7, 2012
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  8. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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    Agreed. I still love Iggy, but he's getting older. If we packaged Batum for somebody else (Rajon Rondo, say), I would be in favor of using our cap space to absorb Iggy...
     
    Rastapopoulos, May 7, 2012
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  9. Run BJM

    Run BJM Heavy lies the crown. Staff Member Global Moderator

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    Greg Monroe probably makes an all-star team at some point. Josh Smith still hasn't yet has he?

    Homer dark horse candidate: Klay Thompson.
     
    Run BJM, May 7, 2012
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  10. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    Does Jeremy Lin become the new "Automatic All-Star" because of the Chinese vote?
     
    Natebishop3, May 7, 2012
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  11. The_Lillard_King

    The_Lillard_King Westside

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    Batum
     
    The_Lillard_King, May 7, 2012
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  12. PapaG

    PapaG Banned User BANNED

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    Harden never gets doubled, is the third option on offense, and isn't exactly a shut-down defender. I'd like to see what he can do on his own, but I think he fits the role needed of him in OKC perfectly. The question is whether or not OKC will pay max money for their third-best player.
     
    PapaG, May 7, 2012
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  13. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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    They already have.
     
    Rastapopoulos, May 7, 2012
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  14. MickZagger

    MickZagger Well-Known Member

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    Harden will be an AS next year. Book it.
     
    MickZagger, May 7, 2012
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  15. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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    Harden will.

    Jennings won't, Evans won't. Curry would if he could stay healthy: bold prediction - he won't.
     
    Rastapopoulos, May 7, 2012
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  16. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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    Sigh. He has the talent. He needs to be put in the right environment, though, with a coach who really (a) believes in him and (b) will drive him constantly. After having seen what Stan Van Gundy did for Turkoglu - could he put Batum in that role?
     
    Rastapopoulos, May 7, 2012
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  17. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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    That was a popular myth about Yao. Chinese voters tended to go for Tracy McGrady. They watched the Rockets because of Yao, but like Americans went for style over substance. And I don't think it was Chinese people who made Lin's jersey the top-seller for most of the year.
     
    Rastapopoulos, May 7, 2012
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  18. EL PRESIDENTE

    EL PRESIDENTE Username Retired in Honor of Lanny.

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    yeah, Harden should make an allstar team. Serge Ibaka probably should at some point too.
     
    EL PRESIDENTE, May 7, 2012
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  19. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    Myth? The guy was voted to the All-Star team all eight seasons that he was in the league. He was voted an All-Star starter as a rookie with numbers like 13.5 ppg and 8.2 rebounds per game. Are those the numbers of an All-Star starter?
     
    Natebishop3, May 7, 2012
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  20. PapaG

    PapaG Banned User BANNED

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    Harden, who had a 21 PER as a role player, is better than 23 PER Westbrook, or 26 PER Durant?

    LOL

    OK
     
    PapaG, May 7, 2012
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