Schroeder Interviews Will Conroy

by Ben Golliver on Feb 23, 2010 9:38 AM PST in News

Will Conroy, former University of Washington point guard, is one of the potential names out there to fill the Blazers' 15th spot.

Scott Schroeder of Ridiculous Upside sits down for a great chat with Conroy. Here's an excerpt...

RU: Currently there are rumors that the Portland Trailblazers are looking for a backup point guard to help out their possible playoff push. Can you tell me if you or your agents have had any contact with the Blazers?

WC: Yes, I've heard my named linked to a couple Blazer conversations, but you know how that goes - Until it happens it's just speculation. It does feel good whenever you hear things like "your name is one of a handful of guys on a shortlist for an nba organization," especially in the Northwest because I was born in Portland, Oregon and lived there until I was 8 and I have a lot family there.

RU: What do you feel you could bring to a team like the Blazers?

WC: I think I could bring some solid back up minutes to Andre Miller and Jerryd Bayless. I'd also be able to give Bayless a chance to play off the ball where he seems real effective. I'm a basketball junkie, I watch like every team play on league pass, so I'm pretty familiar with the Blazers.

Also, Brandon Roy and I are still close and we text before and after every game. We've played a lot together, both in high school and at Washington together and I'm sure that would help the transition for me to learn the system very quickly.

Update (9:56AM): According to Marc Stein, it sounds like another name that the Blazers had been linked to, Dwayne Jones, might be headed elsewhere. Jones worked out for the Blazers earlier this season but the team opted instead for Shavlik Randolph.

Just filed to ESPNDallas.com: Mavs bringing in D-League rebounding machine Dwayne Jones in for audition later Tuesday and likely 10-day deal

Update (7:01PM): Stein now reports that Jones's workout for the Mavericks ended the same way his workout for the Blazers did: without a contract offer.

Mavs decide against signing Austin Toros C Dwayne Jones as fill-in for injured Dampier

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter

Tweet Comment 31 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Get it done!!!!

Bayless is not a PG, and never will be.

"Batum must be french for:
being at the right place at the right time"
- StudMuffin15 @ Rufus On Fire

"I don't always read blogs regarding the Trail Blazers
...but when I do... I read Blazers Edge."
- resurrect_ha28

by FiveOhThree-RipCity!! on Feb 23, 2010 9:41 AM PST reply actions

Conroy is a stud

Bring him over, please KP!

I'm not saying, I'm just saying.

by RyanRTE on Feb 23, 2010 9:42 AM PST reply actions

I really like Conroy

I watched him for his entire UW career, and saw him grow from a shoot-first (and not well) little kid, into a very good passer, decent scorer, defensive pest, and all-around hard-nosed and tenacious adult. I know that he’s not a great player – he’s had enough chances in the bigs to make that statement – but I think he’ll be a very good addition at a position of need.

And all that is before mentioning his relationship with Roy, which can’t hurt.

by gidons on Feb 23, 2010 10:24 AM PST reply actions

Maybe it will perk up Roy's mood!

by Natsthecat on Feb 23, 2010 11:40 AM PST up reply actions

Nothing like a cheery attitude to heal a hamstring injury!

by GMan83201 on Feb 23, 2010 3:22 PM PST up reply actions

i like it

Awesomeness (ô'səm-nes)
1. n. Something that inspires awe
2. n. Nicolas Batum

by thomasikehara on Feb 23, 2010 10:27 AM PST reply actions

point guard

With Bayless playing unevenly this year and not yet having proven that he has the distribution skills to be a point guard, and with Andre Miller only having 1-2 more good years of ball in him, point guard is still the shakiest position as far as Blazers long term success.

Also I have looked at some mock drafts and I see virtually no point guards on them, so I guess last year was the year of the point guards but this year they are few and far between.

In light of that, I would say the best choice for the final roster position would be to acquire a point guard. If the best player available, regardless of position, is Conroy, then it would seem to be a no brainer.

Have Bayless, Conroy, and Mills fight it out in the off season to see if one of them can emerge as the Blazer point guard of the future. (not sure how old Conroy is though).

I think Mills will be a free agent this summer so it seems possible some team will be interested in taking a gamble on him and offer him a good shot at the rotation, something that is a lot more iffy for him if he stayed at Portland.

But if there is a risk that Mills walks, then all the more reason to snap up another point guard with the roster spot that’s open right now.

by lsjogren on Feb 23, 2010 10:35 AM PST reply actions

Conroy

Another reason to get Conroy.

After these devastating losses in the last two games, Blazer fans need a new fairy tale to hang our hopes onto.

A “Blazers find savior in Conroy” fairy tale would seem to fill the bill, until and unless he craps out on the court.

At the very least it will give us something to mitigate the impenetrable gloom that currently pervades Blazerland.

by lsjogren on Feb 23, 2010 10:44 AM PST reply actions

Bayless

After this season, Blazers are going to have to once again address the question, what to do with Bayless?

It seems like the story is going to be exactly what it was last summer. We know the guy’s got talent but exactly where does he fit in such that his talent can translate into more success for the team as a whole.

If we still don’t have it figured out, it might be time to trade him. Here, we’ve got this guy who’s got talent, and that is well known around the NBA, any team out there want to take a crack at figuring out how to make productive use of this guy’s talent?

by lsjogren on Feb 23, 2010 10:52 AM PST reply actions

Remember this is Bayless' first full year of action

he was essentially a scrub last season. Also note that we knew Bayless was a project when we drafted him and that he is still just 21 with less than a full season of NBA games under his belt.

Not everyone can be an immediate stud like Roy. Some guys have to develop. I still envision Bayless and Roy as our back court of the future. Remember how effective it was in December when Bayless was scoring well?

by GMan83201 on Feb 23, 2010 3:25 PM PST up reply actions

Let Roy, Batum, and Dante bring the ball up the floor.

After that, a below average PG or PG who can’t hit shots is useless down the stretch of games for the Blazers. I don’t think it’s ideal, and perhaps those guys would have a hard time breaking a pressuring D, but having Miller in there is pretty pointless if Brandon is going to iso and pass it to Dre’ with 8- ticks on the clock. Weak. Dante would hit the 15 footer and Batum is solid from 3 in the corner while being the Blazers’ best candidate to guard the ball.

Meanwhile, you have LMA at the 4 or 5, with Camby, Rudy, Martell, and Juwan filling out the lineup down the stretch as need arises. J-Bay is not useful alongside Roy down the stretch of games until he gets a consistent jumper.

Getting an average PG is useless IMO.

And please note: I’m assuming the Blazers will continue to play Roy iso ball down the stretch, so don’t fight it—-work with it and get the best 5 out there.

I'm just not crazy about player nick names...

by Hipster Olympic Team! on Feb 23, 2010 10:55 AM PST reply actions

Could we please let Patty Mills get some minutes

before we forget about him ? Or do we have to wait for an injury first ??

Re-sign Travis Outlaw !

by Berkeley on Feb 23, 2010 11:00 AM PST reply actions

Man, I read "Dwayne Jones"

And for some reason my brain made me see “Dwight Jaynes”

That would have made an amusing signing.

I know less than half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.

by haildablazer on Feb 23, 2010 11:14 AM PST reply actions

I read "Dwayne Wade". Apparently we both need to get our eyes checked.

by krizzikinz on Feb 23, 2010 12:26 PM PST up reply actions

yours is at least wishful thinking.

Mine s scary

I know less than half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.

by haildablazer on Feb 23, 2010 1:04 PM PST up reply actions

I read Damon Jones

by Twith on Feb 23, 2010 2:20 PM PST up reply actions

i bet he will scrap

and do some things

Awesomeness (ô'səm-nes)
1. n. Something that inspires awe
2. n. Nicolas Batum

by thomasikehara on Feb 23, 2010 11:22 AM PST reply actions

a little "D" would be nice

Elizabeth had a partner and he had a rap from the cops, Him and Lenny Suckerpunch were just out Tooling around

by Lizzy Lowblow on Feb 23, 2010 11:52 AM PST up reply actions

Maybe he could "make some shots"....... :)

Blazer's Edge Ambassador to The Dream Shake Blog
I <3 LMA!!!! 27 Points and 12 Rebs!!!! Now that is more like it!!!!
41:11 Mins 12-22 FGs 4-7 FTs +12 4 Off 13 Rebs 3 Ast 1 Stl 28 Points - LMA vs Spurs 2-4-10 - LMA RULEZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The PENDERBEAST is on the Prowl Looking for an Opposing 4 or 5 to DEVOUR!!!!!!!!!!

by LaMarvelous on Feb 23, 2010 12:10 PM PST up reply actions

Thanks, Nate.

"Batum must be french for:
being at the right place at the right time"
- StudMuffin15 @ Rufus On Fire

"I don't always read blogs regarding the Trail Blazers
...but when I do... I read Blazers Edge."
- resurrect_ha28

by FiveOhThree-RipCity!! on Feb 23, 2010 1:57 PM PST up reply actions

I just don't get it - is Conroy really that much of an upgrade over Mills?

If he is why didn’t we just get him in the first place in stead of Mills?

….and what do we do with Mills if we do get Conroy?

I am lost – can anyone help me “get this”?

by LaMarvelous on Feb 23, 2010 12:14 PM PST reply actions

I was about to post

virtually the same exact questions.

" It was as if the Suns hatched a fiendish plot to ruin John Wayne's movie career by casting him as a cowboy." - Dave 2/10/2010

by jamon51 on Feb 23, 2010 12:23 PM PST up reply actions

because he went to washington

and thus he is awesome

Awesomeness (ô'səm-nes)
1. n. Something that inspires awe
2. n. Nicolas Batum

by thomasikehara on Feb 23, 2010 12:31 PM PST up reply actions

Conroy is a passer, Mills is an undersized shooter/scorer a la Aaron Brooks. Different profile.

by Norsktroll on Feb 23, 2010 2:04 PM PST up reply actions

thank you

And just in case anyone gets the wrong idea, Patty is light years away from Brooks in regard to NBA production

I don’t know enough about Conroy to form an opinion, but in addition to passing skills the Blazers need a backup PG who can make open shots out to 3 point range. If Conroy can’t do this, then I’d say it would be better to add a veteran PG (Jacque Vaugh, etc) who can “fill in” when Miller needs a rest and the half-court offense has stagnated (like that will ever happen…) If Vaughn can’t make open jump shots, at least he has years of NBA experience to offer that Conroy (etc) does not

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Feb 23, 2010 2:52 PM PST up reply actions

We're talking about the 15th spot on the roster, right?

Who ever it is, the team is in trouble if they’re seeing much court time.

by LaughingJon on Feb 23, 2010 12:25 PM PST reply actions

if KP decides to signs a veteran backup PG

that player could “vault ahead” of several of the younger players already on the roster and possibly become a more-important rotation member down the stretch and in the post season

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Feb 23, 2010 2:54 PM PST up reply actions

WOW

another pg, just what the Blazers need !!!

Why was Mills such a great choice for the 15th spot again???

Til the wheels fall off.... Marcus Camby

Go Blazers !!

by FrenchieFan on Feb 23, 2010 3:31 PM PST reply actions

Conroy

One thing about a 15th guy on the roster- I believe you can only suit up 12 players so with Oden and Przybilla the only guys out I believe that means either Conroy or Mills couldn’t be active players. I suppose they would send one to Idaho.

by lsjogren on Feb 23, 2010 10:22 PM PST reply actions

hey, here's a goal

" If Vaughn can’t make open jump shots, at least he has years of NBA experience to offer that Conroy (etc) does not"

I would suggest automatically disqualify from consideration anyone who can’t make open jump shots. The Blazers are missing so many open jumpers already, the last thing we need is another guy who has trouble making the open shot.

by lsjogren on Feb 23, 2010 10:31 PM PST reply actions

I'm just using Vaughn as an example

All things considered, I’d select the best all-around veteran PG that is available. But usually a “compromise” has to be made because there aren’t any “perfect” PGs available! Of the list that Maxey presented there probably is a better choice than Vaughn, I just would prefer someone with playoff experience over a D-league phenom. Portland already has one of “those” in Mills. Patty can shoot the lights out, but like Born said to Wendell

"If you’re making a playoff push and playing against a bunch of big boys down the stretch, is he [Mills] ready to handle that?" Born asked about the rookie point guard. "I would say there is a question mark to that at this point because of his lack of experience."

I’d say the same thing re: Conroy. Sure he has more experience that Patty (who doesn’t?) but not as much as Vaughn or one of the other names mentioned in the article.

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Feb 23, 2010 11:00 PM PST up reply actions