Whispers

What evidence do you have that Thybulle doesn't want to be here?

 

difficulty level: pretend haynes is full of shit.

 

The answer to the question is that we are tanking and having good point guards hurts that effort.

 

I think he was referring to Grant. Not DA.

 

Finally some damn respect!!!

 

could we also say you're completely missing the point? Yes we could.

The Blazers traded the franchise player so they could have hope again after he PUBLICLY DEMANDED A TRADE. Yes the return they received for him included Malcolm Brogdon, but most of the return value hasn't arrived yet.

STOMP

 

The hope that we draft a superstar. The hope that Shaedon becomes a superstar. The hope Scoot is an all star. The hope that we use the draft capital in trades to surround our superstars with the right talent. We hopefully make some good under the radar free agent signings. Hopefully we win a championship in the next ten years based on these types of things happening.

If you can't have hope, I feel bad for you.

 

If you don't have hope, why watch?

 

I couldn't tell. Doesn't look to me like either player is dogging it, but, if I had to say one or the other, it definitely wouldn't be Grant. He tries to put this team on his back sometimes. He dives on the floor. He works on the defensive end.

Ayton doesn't have Grant's contract, but I can see someone watching him at the offensive end and saying maybe he doesn't work hard to get open or dominate in the paint. He does, though, hustle to set screens and he works hard on defense even when a mismatch is created.

Generally, I just have a hard time following Bones' narrative on this one.

 

Grant is the only guy Joe signed to a large contract though.

 

I know. Just saying that neither player seems to fit the characterization of guys that got paid and now aren't trying.

 

that, I agree with.

 

I don't understand the interpretation of the quote from Deandre that got posted earlier today that so many are saying it means he isn't trying because he got paid. Deandre in that quote said he plans on continuing to be a max player, so he obviously plans on putting in enough effort to continue to receive max money beyond his current contract. If he said he didn't feel pressure because he got this contract and is set for life and didn't mention continuing to be a max player I could understand the uproar but as it is, this is just silly stuff.

Deandre is super talented but in my opinion Jerami and Ant constantly isolating has really hurt Deandre's touches (and everyone else's). Deandre hasn't found his place in this offense yet. He has been a much better deterrent on defense both in the paint and switching on all three levels than anyone else on the team with maybe the exception of Jabari (I'm leaving Toumani out because I don't think he presents opposing offenses with the same problems in the paint).

If Jerami is guilty of anything it might be trying a little too hard.

 

The 'has no motivation because of it' quote he made applies to DA, not Grant.

 

I'm not sure that's it...maybe. But Ayton didn't have problems last season with Booker (45% assisted FG rate & 31.8% usage rate) and Durant (50% assisted FG rate & 26.8% usage rate). Grant has a 58% assisted FG rate and a 26.1% usage rate, so he appears to be less iso than Durant. Simons has a 37% assisted FG rate and a 29% usage rate, so maybe more iso than Booker.

now, in Phoenix he was playing the CP3 and that's huge; and Booker + Durant are undoubtedly a better passing duo than Grant/Ant

If you look at Ayton's splits:



he was certainly a lot more efficient in the games Simons was out. Not sure that was from Ant's iso game though

 

Did you have any hope at all the last few of Dame's seasons here that they'd somehow put it together and be a legit contender? I sure didn't. Moving him for mostly future assets and putting things in the hands of young players sucks for the here and now, heck thats what most everyone acknowledged in the past offseason. The hope is that some of their talented youngins take advantage of their new opportunities to learn and grow into better players then they would have as Dame's followers and that some of the extra draft capitol coming turns into more real talent too. Today's drubbings are pretty expected, but I'm seeing flashes of what the future could hold. I'm hoping to see consistent progress, maybe even big steps forward next year from their young guys. It looks like they'll have two high picks in the next draft that hopefully can add something substantial to the mix. But it's almost certain to take a while, those seeking instant gratification will be disappointed.

STOMP

 

This just means you are due. You've had stuff before....no one is 100%. Appreciate anything you can throw out that has at least some type of source.

 

Word is he asked the Blazers not to match Dallas' offer.