The Thread About Nikola Topic

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Rastapopoulos

Rastapopoulos

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They've just updated the rankings on ESPN.com:

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I think the biggest reason he's dropping is the lack of a decent wing-span.
 
I've watched some video of him and he's a blast to watch. He's not especially fast or athletic, but he can get a layup any time he wants and has GREAT finishing at the rim. He has great interior passing, too, which also helps as teams are rightly scared of him dumping off to a cutter as he penetrates.

BUT: he can't shoot. He can't defend. And he doesn't do much off the ball. So he better be your starting point guard, and if he is, you've got yourself half a Jason Kidd. Or a taller Sergio Rodriguez. He's going to be a fan fave wherever he gets minutes, I bet.
 
Not sure Portland can gamble here at 14. Certainly not at 7. They have Sharpe and Scoot being young and needing to develop. Ant being young and still on the roster. Granted Brogdon only has this next season and should be gone by trade deadline but who knows. Portland needs talented bigs first and foremost with any talent they can find second. I would be good with Portland drafting Topic at 14 for another team as part of a trade down that moves a contract Portland does not need, gets a 2024 pick back and a future unprotected pick. Not for a future protected which is not needed.
 
BIG Q said:
Not sure Portland can gamble here at 14. Certainly not at 7. They have Sharpe and Scoot being young and needing to develop. Ant being young and still on the roster. Granted Brogdon only has this next season and should be gone by trade deadline but who knows. Portland needs talented bigs first and foremost with any talent they can find second. I would be good with Portland drafting Topic at 14 for another team as part of a trade down that moves a contract Portland does not need, gets a 2024 pick back and a future unprotected pick. Not for a future protected which is not needed.
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Yeah, Banton is better anyway.
 
BIG Q said:
Not sure Portland can gamble here at 14. Certainly not at 7. They have Sharpe and Scoot being young and needing to develop. Ant being young and still on the roster. Granted Brogdon only has this next season and should be gone by trade deadline but who knows. Portland needs talented bigs first and foremost with any talent they can find second. I would be good with Portland drafting Topic at 14 for another team as part of a trade down that moves a contract Portland does not need, gets a 2024 pick back and a future unprotected pick. Not for a future protected which is not needed.
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In any draft, anything at 14 is a gamble! And this is a particularly shitty draft...
 
Brandon's wingspan wasn't shorter than his actual height, and wasn't presented as being 7'
 
Replace T with a J, and the P with a K and we’re in business.
 
inconceivable said:
I didn't realize Roy had short arms, but damn he was awesome when healthy
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What made Roy so great is that he was sneaky strong, had an amazing first step and could go to the left just as well as the right.

He was Paul Pierce except ambidextrous.
 
His wingspan is not a selling point. It is 0.25” less than his height and more with shoes at around 6’7 … and even Jerryd Bayless had a positive wingspan (but was 4 inches shorter at 6’1.75”).

At 14, it’s an easy call for me if the knee is back and good to go in Season 2. Take and keep him. By then, we’ll have a better idea about Scoot.
At 7, it’s a reach by the Blazers. But at 6’5.75” … and with his current skills and abilities … I’m not against swinging away.
 
has their been an updated mock draft since Topic's agent submitted he has a knee injury? He was ranked in the top 4 before that headline surfaced
 
BIG Q said:
Not sure Portland can gamble here at 14. Certainly not at 7. They have Sharpe and Scoot being young and needing to develop. Ant being young and still on the roster. Granted Brogdon only has this next season and should be gone by trade deadline but who knows. Portland needs talented bigs first and foremost with any talent they can find second. I would be good with Portland drafting Topic at 14 for another team as part of a trade down that moves a contract Portland does not need, gets a 2024 pick back and a future unprotected pick. Not for a future protected which is not needed.
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Totally disagree - the Blazers having unknowns like Sharpe/Scoot is the the reason they DO NEED to gamble here. They need to hit a couple big risks to build a contender. If the Blazers already had a couple allstars there would be an argument to be conservative if they were very close to contending.
 
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Topic is not the risk to take
 
SharpesTriumph said:
Totally disagree - the Blazers having unknowns like Sharpe/Scoot is the the reason they DO NEED to gamble here. They need to hit a couple big risks to build a contender. If the Blazers already had a couple allstars there would be an argument to be conservative if they were very close to contending.
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I agree

I can imagine Scoot & Sharpe ending up with a dozen all-star games combined. I can also imagine then with none

Blazers can't assume they have their stars yet and stop looking
 
I don't think this was a particularly interesting topic to start a thread about.
 
MickZagger said:
What made Roy so great is that he was sneaky strong, had an amazing first step and could go to the left just as well as the right.

He was Paul Pierce except ambidextrous.
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Roy’s pace to his game is what stood out to me. He could get to his spot anytime he wanted. Silky smooth
 
Talent is talent measurements especially hand size, wing span, vertical are slightly overrated to me. There has been a ton of players who don’t look the part physically that end up being good players.

high risk high reward and in a week draft I’d have no problem taking big risk this year
 
SharpesTriumph said:
Totally disagree - the Blazers having unknowns like Sharpe/Scoot is the the reason they DO NEED to gamble here. They need to hit a couple big risks to build a contender. If the Blazers already had a couple allstars there would be an argument to be conservative if they were very close to contending.
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Respect the opinion but Topic is not a good shooter at this time and will not be improving while out rehabbing, which has yet to be scheduled. I’d rather gamble on bigs and give Scoot/Sharpe every opportunity to prove themselves. Just an opinion.
 
I remember reading about the Run-TMC Warriors, and how when Chris Mullin used to get the ball in isolation, Tim Hardaway would just yell "layup!" because Mullin could get to the hoop and finish despite being so white and slow. Well...:



Wouldn't it be nice to have a guard who can get bumped and still finish?
 
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