Totally disagree. He grew up playing PG, so he's still learning how to play C - the opposite end of the spectrum. But I think he has a better feel for the game than LMA as evidenced by his ability to tear down a rebound, turn up-court and immediately fire an outlet pass to a guard. He also knows to keep the ball moving on offense - if he's not shooting off the catch he takes a quick look at all the options and makes a quick pass. He's starting to develop a couple decent moves around the basket, and has a great soft touch. In the MEM series we saw him fake the 3 to send his defender flying past him, then he put the ball on the floor and took it to the basket...before having the ball slip out of his hands and off his knee. And his defense has really come a long way - at least his man/defense. If he can learn team-defense (and I think he can...maybe with a new coach who knows how to teach it?) then he's a complete player. So yeah, I think he has a pretty good feel for the game - he's just trying to learn a position that's least like the position he use to play. Beyond that, regarding the roster, stars, etc, I would really like to see us build a team in the mold of Larry Brown's Pistons. The players we have today remind me of that sort of team - no standouts, but a bunch of guys who can do a little of everything and a defensive specialist. I think we'll need a new coach to implement the right system, but I think that's going to be our best bet.
Even after he's gone, you still take pot shots at LMA in just about every post you make. Can you let it go?
Trading for Kanter and Derozan gets us way closer to the playoffs than Aminu and Vonleh will the next few seasons. Dame is the Alpha of that roster and you fit above average talent around him. In fact adding Kanter and Derozan (I understand the defensive liabilities here) gets us a younger roster similar to what we just lost. Aminu then becomes way more valuable as the wing defender that team needs. Not a perfect roster, but one I'd feel way more confident in the ability to turn into a consistent winner.
Looks great in the highlight for sure. All of those created by other players. I'd need to see passing out of a double team, weak side defense and consistent rebounding not predicated all on his athletic ability. Here's the thing. He may put up stats as a role player but what happens when he hits 35 minutes a night as option 2 on offense? His game is a lot to do with athleticism. We all know your legs go after playing big minutes... And big minutes every night. At that point, body positioning for a tough 4th quarter rebound becomes way tougher when you aren't jumping over people anymore. Lopez was tremendous with that sort of thing. He'll be missed in that way, along with his rim protection.
Only way to find out is if we give him that shot, no? He's certainly earned it after that playoff series.
Meyers Leonard looks like he has the skillset to be a solid NBAer. My only issue with him is that he has a rather slow release. He has a Danny Ferry-like set shot. He's not going to be going around screens and firing up quick shots too often, unless he retools his shooting motion. He's going to be need to be stationary and wide open. That still has value, but limits his ceiling a bit.
They also lost Len Bias, who would have been a franchise player. But you nailed the formula that works even for the Blazers: 1) Holdover star (Lillard) 2) Big trades (have cap space and expiring contract) 3) Draft picks.
Golden State 08/09 29 and 53 09/10 26 and 56 (Curry's Rookie Season) 10/11 36 and 46 (Klays Rookie Season) 11/12 23 and 43 (.348 pct Lockout season) 12/13 47 and 35 13/14 51 and 31 14/15 67 and 15 They didn't "bottom out" but they sucked for several years.
I agree with this! After this season we'll have way more of an idea about what he is. I know I have a reasonable chance of being wrong about him, and I'll be as thrilled as anyone if I am!!
Agreed, I just don't think it requires tanking to do that. I would be wary of dealing away draft picks, though. I'm also not sure that cap space is as valuable at this moment in history, when the coming cap explosions mean lots of teams will have cap space (and there will be a paucity of elite free agents to fill it). In general, though, I've felt that cap space is overrated. It's an asset and it can be powerful, but you have to be lucky to have it right when a star is disgruntled and a team needs to trade him before he leaves for nothing.
The Warriors were bottomed out for over 20 years! Even from the we believe team in 2007 when they were an 8 seed who had a lucky matchup, it took 6 years and 4 coaches and a new owner just to get back to the playoffs and it wasn't til this year that anyone took them seriously. Gsw is NOT the model to follow; I had talked myself into thinking players like Monta, Dunleavy, Joe Smith, and Vonteego Cummings were going to bring them back to respectability and it sucked. Ok, maybe I knew vonteego was no good but I just liked saying his name.
Aflallo isn't a star, but he did put up 18/3/3 for Orlando as a full time player. Neil was able to score him down the stretch for scraps and pick. Boston got Ray Allen for a #5 pick and almost useless bench players.
I feel like that's the NBA at this point in time. There are very few bona fide elite players in the league - and even some of the elite players are a little lacking (Durant, Melo). It seems like we're in an in-between phase, waiting for an injection of new talent in the league.
My biggest fear for Meyers is that he just becomes another Spencer Hawes. Although I guess before this year, Hawes was considered a decent player.
Afflalo is a little overrated. When he was scoring 18 efficient PPG with strong defense, he was quite a good player. His defense has declined steadily the past few years and his scoring efficiency has always been hit-or-miss. He wasn't worth a first-round pick, though I understand why Olshey made the trade; it was a panic move, but the "right" kind of panic move, the kind you use to try to keep together a dark horse contender. It didn't work, obviously. More to the point, though, you can sign players of Afflalo's level for the MLE (Afflalo himself went for more to the Knicks, but I consider that in the class of "overpays" this offseason that is directly related to how the cap is set to jump by large amounts--not a common occurrence). You don't need to do anything special to get players of that ilk and even Portland can sign such players. I'm still very much in the camp that it's better to be a good team and try to build towards great rather than tear it all down and try to build greatness from lottery picks and cap space.
