So the Hornets just released Aaron Harrison who went to Kentucky: My quick impressions about him: Pros: -Good size at 6'6. -Good shooter. -Ok passer. -Strong enough to finish inside and can be creative with his scoring inside. -Only 22 yrs old. Cons: -Not quick enough by my eye test. -Is he fast or athletic enough to play SF in the NBA? a bad tweener?
He and his twin brother were PG/SGs coming out of high school into college. The Blazers need a defensive big much more than another wing who isn't that good at anything.
Ezeli is likely worth more for what he can bring back as an ending* contract than what we would get out of Harrison.
Interesting definition of "talent". My snarky response is: Sure, why not. The guy hasn't made a FG all season, he'll fit right in. A deeper dive shows the guy is a horrible shooter. In his limited PT over the last season and a half, he's a cumulative 5-23. That's a FG% of .217. Small sample size you say. OK, I'll buy that. So, let's go back to his final year at Kentucky: Games played = 39 FG = 146/370 = .395 FG% 3FG = 59/187 = .316 3FG% No thanks, if a guy shoots that poorly in college, there's little chance he becomes an even halfway decent shooter at the professional level. If we trade Crabbe for Noel, we'll need a wing that can hit an open 3-pointer to replace Crabbe. This isn't that guy. Cutting Ezeli before the trade deadline to sign this brick layer makes zero sense. With next year being a team option, Ezeli as a $7.4 million expiring contract has WAY more value than some guy who can't hit the broadside of a barn. BNM
Executive summary: He's a horrible shooter. He's not free. We'd sacrifice the trade value of Ezeli's expiring contract. BNM
Ezili's contract is our responsibility, even if we cut him. We have very little room under the LT. Why take a risk on a guy who won't get much PT? We have four guys who play SF now: Mo, Aminu, ET, and Crabbe. With Aminu back and healthy, there's already going to be a crunch for minutes.
If we do trade Crabbe for Noel, and maybe move Ezeli's expiring contract as part of that, or some other deal, I'd much rather replace Crabbe with someone like Anthony Brown who is 6'7" and tearing up the D League averaging 23.4/4.9/3.2 while shooting 48.1 3FG%. BNM
If he was his brother, he'd be worth it. His brother is a big PG with great defense who has played surprisingly well for Memphis while Conley was out. But he isn't: he's an undersized SG with a poor shot. Not an area of need for us.
So did Ezeli have that season ending surgery? Last I heard he was thinking about it but hadn't decided yet.
He's tearing up the D-league, but he's been less than impressive in his play for the Lakers & Hornets. It's crazy; I mean I understand that there's a massive difference in defense between the NBA & NBDL, but how does a guy hit nearly 50% from 3 in one, but sub-30% in the other?
Jesus, was not aware of those college percentages. His NBA stats are worthless (3mpg??). His stroke looks better now and i believe he improved his shot since college, but it is a leap of faith to think he'll be good/better than Layman for example.
Fairly small sample size at the NBA level. Probably a guy who needs more PT to adjust to the NBA game. So far, he's played an two pretty crappy NBA teams where he probably hasn't gotten many quality looks. Seems like the kind of player that would benefit from playing in Stotts' system next to quality players like Dame and C.J. Just look at all the wide open 3-pointers Crabbe, Harkless and Aminu get as teams focus their defensive attention on Dame and C.J. And, it not just the D League. He also shot .456 and .441 from 3-point range his last two seasons at Stanford. He's basically been a lights out 3-point shooter everywhere else he's played. I think it's much more likely a guy who has been an excellent 3-pointer at other levels eventually figures it out at the NBA level, than a guy like Harrison, who has shot poorly everywhere else, eventually becomes even average at the NBA level. BNM
