Well, I suppose I should at least say who I am before I ask a question. My name is Nate, and I've been reading this forum since 2012. I can't remember how I found it exactly, but I was on my first deployment (Marines) and I was trying to find out how lillard was doing (the Internet wasnt good enough to for videos). Somehow I ended up here, and I've been coming back ever since. Anyways, if Vonleh continues to improve this season, and shows no signs of slowing down. Then in the offseason we are able to get Whiteside, would that make us a contender next season? Dame/Cj Cj/Crabbe Aminu/Crabbe/Mo? Vonleh/Davis/Leonard Whiteside/Plumlee/Leonard
Welcome! It's great to have you here! Whiteside would be a great addition. Vonleh would have to really improve for us to reach contender status.
I will give this rook the benefit of the doubt because he is a vet like myself........ THAT SAID, going to take A LOT more then Whiteside to boost us to contender level.
I guess I should've clarified. "In the western conference" I feel like that team could be as good as last year's team. And I personally thought last year's team (before the Wesley Matthews injury) was a dark horse contender.
When you're putting the word contender next to this team the letters 2020 should come to mind. Let's not rush this, the journey is half the fun.
1) Welcome! 2) How good is Vonleh in this scenario? Like 14/10 with solid defense? If we set out for Whiteside this summer I'd like the Blazers to make some roster moves now to expediate the process. Start by dealing Hendo+Kaman (Maybe some other small pieces), Hendo+Frazier to Sacramento for Darren Collison, Kaman+Meyers to Chicago for Joakim Noah (out for season and expiring) and their lottery protected 1st round draft pick. Assuming we miss the playoffs, retain our pick (somewhere in between 8-14) on top of the Bulls pick (20-25?). Go into the draft looking to move up, if not just go ahead and take Sabonis (our pick)+ Valentine (Bulls pick). Grab Whiteside in free agency and try your damndest to get Harrison Barnes. Lillard / Collison / Montero McCollum / Crabbe / Connaughton Barnes / Aminu / Valentine Vonleh / Davis / Sabonis Whiteside / Plumlee / Alexander Wouldn't be a bad start.
Whitesides defense is so overrated. It's block or bust for him at the rim. He doesn't make players alter shots, and this is represented by his high Opp FG% at the rim. Another thing is usually blocked shots go out of bounds, where altered shots usually result in a defensive rebound. Essentially what I'm saying its people overrate him because of his block numbers. He's a good rebounder (He steals some though), and he's ok offensively. He's also a negative locker room presence. To me that equates to a non factor as a player. The Heat are well equipped with Wade, Bosh, Dragic, Deng, and a good bench. If he was as impactful a center as people thought he was, they'd be better than 23-20 or whatever they are. And to think, someone's gonna pay him over $20M... No thanks.
Not to mention that he doesn't pass (20 assists for his CAREER!), doesn't really have any post moves, and overestimates the effectiveness of his terrible jump shot. Offensively, he would be a terrible fit on a Stotts team.
Weren't you in the Army during the Bill Murray/Goldie Hawn era? Driving Winnebago's and living in condos.
Answer about Whiteside: First off thank you Nate for fighting for America and Welcome Second, No not in itself would the combination of Whiteside and Vonleh with a growth in basketball IQ equal the Blazers being a contender. It's a damn good start. Vonleh with some confidence and a little more initiative would be a sight to see...playing along Whiteside might very well help that. Still the Blazers as a team need to build a better identity. We need to trade Henderson/ Kaman for a solid backup pg or an upgrade at small forward. ( the Blazers need both of these plus the added ambition of Vonleh and Whiteside for a chance at the big time... That said Vonleh would really need to vastly improve. He has shown sparks of what could be. We need a solid 4 and he could definately be the guy. Though the Blazers play better with their offense not going through a big man, it helps to have a guy who can get the job done on the offensive boards and second chance fgs, I can see Vonleh in that Role. Also the Blazers should look at trading Meyers Leonard. Yes, Leonard stretches the floor and can put down a three at constant intervals, but he is allergic to the paint, and is a liabity when it comes to rebounding. Trade Meyers along with Henderson. Kaman, and Fraizer (hell he's Neil Olshey he can get them to take connaughton too) for a starting calliber small forward and a good backup pg, give Vonleh the key ( They really already have, starting him over Meyers) and go after Whiteside, and I like our chances.
