Patty Mills, Ima Udoka, or Jarron Collins who is best for now & latter?

by prof.mike on Oct 18, 2009 11:50 AM PDT

With the Patty Mills signing Portland now has to make a choice between 3 players all at different spots all bring different abilities and talents. This is a list of what each has to offer.

Jarron Collins an extra Big, not very likely to play at all, except if injuries hit Oden or Prisbilla or if we are really ahead and the scrubs play the 4th quarter. But he does bring other +'s to Oden experance, I believe the best thing with Jarron Collins would be a staff position of assitant to Big Lucas, he's very smart has played under Slone which has always had good big men.

Ima Udoka, bottom of a SF rotation so not likely to play as above, except is not that far beneath the skill level of the other player, and is a very popular with the fans. So could play, also has played with the Spurs, and could help on defense.

Patty Mills, has a great up side, but a broken foot, broke at summer league training camp so we have not even really had a chance to take a real good look at him. But he did have his foot broke on the Blazers behalf. Those who saw him play against the U.S. in the games say that neither CP3 or Williams could keep in front of him. So could be extremely great find for us at a 55th pick. Odds are that only 4% of picks at that spot ever make anything of themselfs in the NBA.

Poll

If it was your choice who would you give the 15th spot to?

Patty Mills

149 votes

Ime Udoka

39 votes

Jarron Collins

52 votes

240 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

If your looking for just who makes us better down the line

Patty. Not because he’s younger, better, or has more potential. He’s better for us because he gives us something to practice against every day that we struggle with once he’s healthy again.

A speedy point guard.

by DephlatorMouse on Oct 18, 2009 11:56 AM PDT reply actions

I'd like to see the Blazers take a flyer on Mills,

but if they do, it makes me think that Jerryd or Steve won’t be with the team next summer. Not that I think Mills is going to blow-up, but I don’t see Jerryd breaking into the rotation until either Andre or Steve is gone, and we would need a #3 PG then.

by MiledAnimal on Oct 18, 2009 12:15 PM PDT up reply actions

I'd say Mills

just over Collins, for the reasons you cite. Blake is in the last year of his deal, and Miller is 33 now with a team option after next season, so Mills could be useful down the line. Either would be a good choice for the 15th spot, I just don’t see it being Ime given the number of players (Nic, Martell, Travis, Roy, Rudy) Portland has who can play on the wings.

I hate Comcast.

by blazeraddict on Oct 18, 2009 1:36 PM PDT up reply actions

Mills for sure

Both our point guards are getting old. Bayless might not pan out to be a PG. We need point guards.

by Seven06Renault on Oct 18, 2009 12:55 PM PDT reply actions

Patty's potential is to good to let go of.

but Jarron could help us if injury happend.

by prof.mike on Oct 18, 2009 12:56 PM PDT reply actions

keep them both

trade outlaw for a #1 pick in 2 years with a filler contract who we can cut

by winnerwinner on Oct 18, 2009 2:28 PM PDT up reply actions

Jarron's presence

could hae a sneaky good effect on oden’s deelopment. More of a sure thing than Mills panning out. Not necessarily a reason to choose him, but somehting to think about

by momomoses7 on Oct 18, 2009 2:21 PM PDT reply actions

Can't they stash Mills over seas for a year or two?

I love me some Ime Udoka, but bigs are more likely to get injured and they already have a glut of decent 3s. The chances of Mills seeing any time this year are slim to none. Bayless needs all of the minutes that the Blazers are able to give him without blowing games. Jarron Collins is the most logical choice but it would suck to see Ime go.

by Benjamanic on Oct 18, 2009 2:55 PM PDT reply actions

Yes, they can..

if Mills is willing to play along. But because he signed the non-guaranteed contract offer, that option is now no longer available. Mills is essentially forcing the Blazers’ hands at this point – either waive him, making him a free agent, or else pay him the minimum salary for the year – not bad for a guy who is injured. It’s a smart move on his part.

How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009

by douglast on Oct 18, 2009 3:53 PM PDT up reply actions

Do they have to put him on the roster if he gets the salary?

Could they have not signed him and kept his rights? If the Blazers’ hands are tied, what do you think was their motivation for signing him? Seems like a dubious prospect that could pay off big but wasn’t necessary given the fact that there are already 3 pgs on the roster. (I’m not well-informed on this whole process, so don’t take any of these questions as rhetorical/sarcastic.)

by Benjamanic on Oct 18, 2009 8:04 PM PDT up reply actions

no

they have to at least offer him a contract to keep his rights. they had to do it by Oct. 15, which they did. At that point, they can try to persuade him NOT to sign it, and go play overseas instead, in which case they would keep his rights. however, he chose to sign it instead, which means that they either have to waive him, releasing his rights, or keep him.

How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009

by douglast on Oct 18, 2009 10:28 PM PDT up reply actions

Wouldn't be possible to send him to the NBADL?

by Benjamanic on Oct 19, 2009 12:52 AM PDT up reply actions

That'd be only if Patty Mills makes the 15-man roster, which is doubtful to happen here.

Stupid people have stupid ideas.

by AK1984 on Oct 19, 2009 1:27 AM PDT up reply actions

Mills

Udoka is behind Roy, Rudy, Batum, Martell, and Outlaw at the wing positions. Add to that the fact that Bayless can play some ‘2’ and Dante some ‘3’, and you have to have at least 3 guys out hurt before you really need Ime.

Collins would be nice insurance to have, but he won’t play unless BOTH Greg and Joel are out injured – not out of the realm of possibilility for sure. If just one or the other of them are hurt, we will likely make due with Howard and LMA playing the ‘5’ – just like we used ot do with Frye.

so, since neither of these guys is in the long term plans, and both would only see any meaningful minutes if we had signifcant serious injuries at the same time, I’d rather take a long-term flier on Mills.

How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009

by douglast on Oct 18, 2009 3:51 PM PDT reply actions

Can I choose "none of the above"?

Nothing against any of these 3 guys, but I’d rather see KP make a deal than “settle” for one of these options. I’m hoping there’s a team out there who needs some bench scoring from the forward position and who are interested in Outlaw for that role. KP could either get a decent daft choce for Travis or strengthen the backup PF/C positions with a better vet than Howard or Collins. Maybe there will be a team that has to “make a decision” about their roster who will make a good trade partner in a couple of weeks

If #25 was traded on the eve of the season, then Nate could get his wish and keep Ime. If no trade is imminent, then I guess I’d select Jarron with hopes that he never sees the court and is replaced later in the season with a better backup PF/C

I strongly doubt Portland is going to keep Mills around until he’s healthy in January. Bad luck, mate. You’ll have to pursue your NBA dream elsewhere. I get the feeling that Patty was more of a “KP pick” than someone that Nate was jonesing for, anyway

When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Oct 18, 2009 4:08 PM PDT reply actions

Nate watched him play with the U.S. team and has kept an eye on himever since. Mills shamed the best in the NBA

by prof.mike on Oct 18, 2009 8:30 PM PDT up reply actions

you really think so?

OK then. Yes, Patty had a nice game in Beijing against the USA. But what NBA skills does he really have?

Mills has great straight-ahead speed on the dribble which helps when he’s trying to break a press (which the US was using in the Olympics, to rattle the Euros) but rarely do PGs ever face full-court pressure in the Association

Mills doesn’t have a great cross-over, doesn’t run the PnR well, doesn’t finish at the rim (Damon Stoudamire?) and doesn’t set up his teammates like a real PG. He’s a tiny SG in a PG’s body (again, smaller even than Damon) which means he’ll get posted up on defense and bodied on penetrations by bigger PGs.

Nate said he lke Taurean Green at the beginning of the ’07 season, but then he never played Green much and Taurean was soon traded away

But Nate thinks he has a future role for Patty in Portland? Sorry, but I’m not buying it

When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Oct 18, 2009 9:38 PM PDT up reply actions

Patty Mills=Taurean green

I love him, but he’s a borderline NBA player at this point. It’s going to take a lot for him to even stick in the league, much less get playing time on a deep playoff team.

I choose Udoka, just because he’ll be happy with limited playing time unlike, Outlaw, Webster, Batum, Rudy, Roy. He’s the perfect sort of third SF to have around and makes a consolidation trade down the road way less painful.

by Nick Van Excellent on Oct 18, 2009 4:26 PM PDT reply actions

I, too, chose Ime Udoka, with my reasons mirroring your rationale here.

Stupid people have stupid ideas.

by AK1984 on Oct 18, 2009 5:35 PM PDT up reply actions

+1

exactly what I was thinking

I don't hate the Lakers, I hate their stupid fans.

by In Walks Rudy on Oct 18, 2009 5:35 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree w/ the above also, plus...

I love Udoka’s toughness on our team. We could use that definitely, especially when we need to bring someone in to back off the other team a little.

by Coastie07 on Oct 19, 2009 8:24 AM PDT up reply actions

Is patty small enough

that we could use him in our 6 man lineup and the refs wouldn’t notice him?

Disclaimer: everything I know about basketball I learned on Blazersedge.

by pualo on Oct 18, 2009 4:42 PM PDT reply actions

Jarron is HORRIBLE

I know we “need?” a 3rd stinger big man… but Jarron should not be it. He’s gotten worse every year in the league…

I don't hate the Lakers, I hate their stupid fans.

by In Walks Rudy on Oct 18, 2009 5:48 PM PDT reply actions

A vote for Mills

A player that has an athletic skillset that would be unique on our team. Would be used this year in practice and very special circumstances. With time playing in the D League this year, he could become very useful for the Blazers in two years.

by Rick_D on Oct 18, 2009 7:34 PM PDT reply actions