Truehoop: The Best Free Agent Nobody Is Talking About

Fanning the Ramon Sessions flames...

over 2 years ago GonzoFan 26 comments 3 recs |

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I really don't see

Why we haven’t gone after him.
Maybe we KNOW the Bucks will match whatever we offer?

by TheThinWhiteDuke on Jul 18, 2009 12:33 PM PDT reply actions

I was just thinking of writing a post on that article

Mind you, I am not the most brilliant basketball mind out there – or even a moderately brilliant mind, to tell the truth – but after reading that article and watching the interview I am wondering why we haven’t heard anything about us pursuing him as an option. I understand that his 3-ball is weak and that he is a restricted free agent, but it seems like with his age and versatility he might be able to be a nice fit here long term. Until he develops more of a long ball we could just still let Brandon handle the crunch time minutes with more shooters around him like we did last year.

I guess ultimately it is too early to know what exactly we are doing, but are there any reasons unknown to me why we wouldn’t want him?

by blazed on Jul 18, 2009 12:56 PM PDT reply actions

Last Chance

Signing Ramon Sessions is probably the last viable option as far as free agency. I don’t see any other logical choice out there. Either Ramon Sessions or a lopsided trade from now until the trading deadline.

by Balian on Jul 18, 2009 1:41 PM PDT reply actions

If we get Sessions

I’ll feel like we missed out on Hedo and Milsap, just so we could get something better. Sessions is an upgrade over Bayless at pg…especially in knowing how to run a team and see the floor. That we know. If he develops a jumper, like many other young guys do (see Outlaw), he will be dynamite next to Roy. As it is, he runs the second team better than Bayless.

by JasonT on Jul 18, 2009 2:03 PM PDT reply actions

Did Sessions agent talk with Mike Barrett?

In Mike’s blog he wrote about speaking to an agent who said, “I’ve got the backcourt help Portland needs. I’ve got the answer. I just need them to listen to me.” Could Ramon Sessions be this point guard? He just might be worthy of serious consideration. He is a true point guard unlike Jerryd Bayliss who is trying to develop into a point guard. Bayless is great at bringing in energy and changing the pace but he is more a scorer than dropping dimes to teammates.

by KA-Oregon on Jul 18, 2009 2:24 PM PDT reply actions

That could've been Miller's agent also.

I’ve read statements made by him claiming that Andre Miller would put the Blazers squarely into championship contention.

"The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."

by GonzoFan on Jul 18, 2009 5:35 PM PDT up reply actions

and one time he made the statue of liberty disappear

what cant a FA without a contract do?

Life is exhausting when you are this stupid.

I will talk about DeJuan Blair no more forever

by jonestr on Jul 18, 2009 6:59 PM PDT up reply actions

TrueHoop sold me...

I didn’t realize Sessions’ numbers were THAT good. A 23 year old point guard with those adjusted plus minus and PER numbers? I think you have to take a hard look at him.

I think Portland’s not going to look at him because B-Rex needs to see the court. I am a Bayless fan, but I remain skeptical about his PG skills. Is it easier to develop a jump shot or develop court vision? Clearly the former, right?

I don’t think the Blazers should rule Sessions out just because he can’t stroke the three yet. The kid can play. He’s proved it.

Q: Is Greg favoring his knee?
Frye: He favors dunking on your head, that's what he favors.

by KP Corleone on Jul 18, 2009 3:27 PM PDT reply actions

Kevin Pelton

weighed in on him a few weeks back with some mad love from advanced stats

Life is exhausting when you are this stupid.

I will talk about DeJuan Blair no more forever

by jonestr on Jul 18, 2009 7:00 PM PDT up reply actions

Sign Sessions!

Seriously, I’ve been wanting this since the playoffs cs. the Rockets when Blake showed that he’s no better than a backup. I still think Bayless could be the PG of the future, but he’s not there yet and might not be for another couple years. Sessions is a pass first PG, while Bayless is still too much of a shoot first guard.

While we’re at it, we should sign Pops Mensah-Bonsu to a contract. He could be a decent backup to Aldridge and would be so much cheaper than a lot of other names flying around these boards (Millsap, Lee, Odom, etc.).

by ericking on Jul 18, 2009 3:58 PM PDT reply actions

Nevermind about Pops

I just realized that his qualifying offer was extended so he’s no longer a restricted free agent. I’ve always liked his game. Oh well.

by ericking on Jul 18, 2009 4:17 PM PDT up reply actions

QO

just means you retain your rights, but you have not necessarily retained that player. Sessions also has a QO.

Life is exhausting when you are this stupid.

I will talk about DeJuan Blair no more forever

by jonestr on Jul 18, 2009 7:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Frustration setting in...

B Roy cannot carry the playmaking load himself and needs some help. Hedo would have done that.

Bayless is proving that he is not much of a creator, Rudy can pass, but is not a guy who can create offense.

Sessions has the proven ability to create for his teammates and would fit in with the youth of this Blazer team. The time is now….sign Ramon Sessions.

by Rip City Reign on Jul 18, 2009 4:25 PM PDT reply actions

I think Summaer League has confirmed for Nate that he needs another PG going into next seasons

What sold me were the statements that Sessions was smart, playing solid NBA basketball, making the smart play. Also that he can defend 1s and 2s. His great PER numbers and youth make up for his weak outside shooting.

The trouble is he does not fit the picture the Blazers seem to have in their head of what our team should be. If KP is true in his commitment to get the best players and let Nate make it work out, he could do a lot worse than acquiring this promising young PG.

by LaoTzu on Jul 18, 2009 5:36 PM PDT reply actions

his commitment to get the best players and let Nate make it work out

You could also look at that like this…KP already “got” Bayless and Rudy last offseason and now he’s expecting Nate to make the two of them “work” as a backcourt that can come off the bench and be effective

I’m not saying I think that this combo will thrive or that it would be the course that I’d select, but from listening to Nate and reading the tea leaves I think they see Rudy and Jerryd as being a “complimentary” pair of guards…Rex is the penetrator who can get into the lane at will, while Rudy has the great outside shot and (with the experience he gained last year) can help run the offense and keep the ball moving in the half court. Cleary they both will provide an “increase in tempo” coming in off the bench. It’s an ambitious experiment with no guarantee of success, but if KP doesn’t acquire another “true” PG to back up Blake then it’s the best “explanation” I can come up with at this time

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

by two4larue on Jul 18, 2009 7:07 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't see it.

Poor defender and a poor three point shooter. Sort of kills it for me.

When you are adding like the 4rth or 5th option to a team you want them to compliment the best player. The point is, fit in this case is just as important as talent. What Roy needs is a good defender and a good shooter. Having a guy who can’t really do either doesn’t exactly take pressure of him. The Blazers still get killed on perimeter defense,, which keeps Oden in foul trouble, and Roy still gets doubled.

There are guys who are cheaper and just as effective (for this team), if not as exciting.

by Nick Van Excellent on Jul 18, 2009 7:07 PM PDT reply actions

I dont get the poor defender knock on him

he has never been described as a lock down defender, but I have never heard of him being a poor defender. The lack of outside shot is a legitimate complaint, but I would be interested to see his shot chart (couldnt get it to work on nba.com) as he may be a Sam Cassell type of player where he is not great from the the NBA 3, but has good range inside the arc.

You also have the option of taking pressure off Roy by letting a guy like Sessions create, especially early in the game by running pick and rolls with the bigs, and getting to the rim and opening up stuff for Roy and other perimeter players.

His price is pretty cheap all things considered.

All in all, I can see the logic in both not signing and signing Sessions

Life is exhausting when you are this stupid.

I will talk about DeJuan Blair no more forever

by jonestr on Jul 18, 2009 7:21 PM PDT up reply actions

I have seen him play awful defense.

by Nick Van Excellent on Jul 18, 2009 11:01 PM PDT up reply actions

I have seen Chris Paul play awful defense

True, Sessions doesn’t always play against starters, but he has a better value keeping opponent PER down at 14 (i.e. below average) according to 82games than Paul, Rondo, Harris, etc. who all have a value above 15 or even significantly higher. Of course they also produce more offensively, but being above 20 at Sessions’ age is very good. He had about the numbers of Harris and Miller at age 23, with better passing. He might never become so good, but he has the ability. At worst, he would be one of the best backups in the league.

by Norsktroll on Jul 19, 2009 7:43 AM PDT up reply actions

That might all be true.

But he’s still a weak defender. He’s good at keeping his opponent PER below 14 because the people he plays against have low PERs. Makes sense. He’s not usually guarding the better guys on the floor like Harris, Rondo, and Hinrich tend to do.

I don’t watch the Bucks a lot, big surprise, but he has always seemed like a mediocre defender at best. Maybe a year with Skiles has changed that. I just don’t see why the Blazers would waste a big portion of their cap space on a guy who would probably end up being a terrific backup on this team.

If you want one of the best backups in the league then just keep Blake on the second unit and replace him with someone better.

by Nick Van Excellent on Jul 19, 2009 8:37 AM PDT up reply actions

If you want one of the best backups in the league then just keep Blake on the second unit and replace him with someone better.

Totally agree with this, if the Blazer don’t think that Ramon is a significant upgrade to Blake, or that he would be a great fit alongside Roy, then there’s no point in pursuing him

Like I’ve posted elsewhere, I think they want to try Bayless and Rudy as a bench backcourt combo, so they’ll probably just bring in an insurance #3 PG like Tyronn Lue to use “in case of emergency”

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

by two4larue on Jul 19, 2009 9:38 AM PDT up reply actions

I think the problem with Roy and Bayless

is that they would be a terrible backcourt for getting the ball to Oden in the block.
We NEED someone to get Greg some easy hoops and feed the post.

by TheThinWhiteDuke on Jul 18, 2009 9:31 PM PDT reply actions

Agreed

This is the best argument for bringing in Sessions, his ability to play P&R and either get fouled or feed the big men when they’re on the move to the basket. The Blazers were targeting Hedo for this same skill, it’s just that Turk would’ve brought it from the forward position.

Like I wrote above, I think the Blazers want to try Rudy-Jerryd in an uptempo backup 1/2 guard combo, and leave Roy and Blake matched up as the starters. So if they bring in another PG it will be a veteran insurance #3 similar to Lindsay Hunter, etc

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

by two4larue on Jul 18, 2009 10:06 PM PDT up reply actions

We seem kind of obsessed with outside shooting ability.

It’s why we don’t even consider Andre Miller or Ramon Sessions.

I don’t agree with this approach, I think there’s a lot of ways paths to victory than packing the court with as many shooters as you can, but that seems to be our approach.

by howlingfantods on Jul 18, 2009 9:45 PM PDT reply actions

yes it does

Portland even likes their big men to be able to shoot, as Henry Abbot pointed out earlier this week

It’s really all about “who will play the best alongside Roy?” and if the Blazers don’t think Sessions is the right fit, they won’t make an offer to Ramon. I do think they’re looking for another “creator” otherwise they wouldn’t have targeted Hedo. But they don’t seem to want to add another PG who can’t knock down threes, so Miller and Sessions are being passed over

As Rick Kamla said the other day, Lamar Odom makes a lot of sense. If you were interested in Turk for his playmaking skills, you should be just as interested in LO

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

by two4larue on Jul 18, 2009 10:12 PM PDT up reply actions

SESSIONS

Had a solid triple double against the ~~lakers~~ last year, dropped 44 on the pistons, scored 26 pts and had 13 asts vs. the rockets, put up 24 pts 11 asts and 4 steals against the nuggets and basically killed all our rivals like he was meant to be a Blazer. Check for yourself. Go to nba.com, click players, Select Ramon Sessions, and then click Game logs, and you’ll see this guy is serious and would be a great fit!!!!!!!

by blaze1 on Jul 19, 2009 1:20 AM PDT reply actions