2010 Las Vegas Summer League Preview
by Ben Golliver on Jul 9, 2010 4:31 PM PDT
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No question about it: Summer League has taken a serious backseat to free agency this year, both here in Portland and league-wide. While the mantra around the Blazers has been "it's time to improve through trades and free agency" don't lose sight of the fact that they added two first round picks, a highly-touted second round pick and are bringing three roster players from last year into Las Vegas. Add that all up -- even taking into account an injured Elliot Williams -- and it would be foolish to overlook this year's Summer League entirely.
There are a few obvious storylines. What have Dante Cunningham and Jeff Pendergraph added to their games? How do Patty Mills and Armon Johnson look and are they battling for a roster spot? Does Luke Babbitt look ready to step in and play real minutes behind Nicolas Batum this year? Are Johnson -- who the team sees as a one -- and Babbitt -- who the team likely needs to play three -- able to handle the demands of those positions?
Keeping Dave's Summer League primer in mind, it's unlikely we'll get definitive answers to all of those questions. But what goes on during the five games in Las Vegas gets added to the team's portfolio on all of these guys. With a new GM coming in, every player on the roster will be re-assessed. That exercise will be valuable for us as well.
The goal of this preview is two-fold. First, I'll look at where Pendergraph , Cunningham, Babbitt, Johnson and Mills are as players right now. Then, I'll take a look -- with the help of Summer League coach Kaleb Canales -- at where the team wants these guys to be heading into next season.
For a slideshow of images from this week's practices, click here.
-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter
PS If there is anything in particular that you would like to see from this year's Summer League coverage from Las Vegas -- games begin Sunday, coverage begins Monday -- do not hesitate to shoot me an email.
Jeff Pendergraph
Where's He At?
Jeff Pendergraph was one of the nicer surprises last year, as no one -- himself included -- expected him to play many minutes. But injuries to Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla opened up a crevice in Portland's frontcourt and Pendergraph responded admirably when called upon.
Pendergraph brought energy every night but not always consistent quality or impact. He finished very well around the basket, often with emphasis. He was extremely coachable and anxious to learn, both from his teammates and the coaching staff. He was fearless in mixing it up with opponents (as pictured above).
The Blazers have always questioned whether Pendergraph is a power forward or an undersized center at the NBA level. He saw some time at both spots and he displayed some clear limitations. His overall lack of polish and range on the offensive end limited his impact to that of a rebounding specialist. His lack of height and elite length/timing led to a lot of fouls on the defensive end to the point where he struggled to stay on the court at times.
For more on Pendergraph, check out Brother Wendell Maxey's post from earlier this week.
Where's He Going?
With the mid-season addition of (and contract extension for) Marcus Camby and the expected return of Oden, Pendergraph is set for a big fight for minutes this year. He's the team's fifth big man right now and that's not including the injured Joel Przybilla.
His path to minutes is pretty clear: add wrinkles on offense and cut down on the fouling. Canales said the Blazers will look to get the ball to Pendergraph in half-court play to test his development on the offensive end. "There will be court time for him to expand his game. Offensively the challenge is scoring out of the post. Back to the basket, face up, and get his reads off of that." In other words, jump hooks or step throughs from Pendergraph will be good signs. Collapsing a team's interior defense and finding the open man will be an added bonus, as will drawing fouls and getting to the free throw line.
While fouling out really isn't a problem in Summer League given the 10 foul limit, the Blazers will keep an eye on how he handles opponents in one-on-one situations. Canales made it clear that the team doesn't want Pendergraph -- or any of the players -- to worry about fouls, but that the goal for Pendergraph on the defensive end is "to be aggressive without fouling."
Dante Cunningham
Where's He At?
Luke Babbitt
Where's He At?
Putting up obscene numbers at a smaller school that didn't have a ton of success, Luke Babbitt was a polarizing prospect for a lot of NBA scouts. Can he play small forward? Is he more of a stretch four? Can he defend anyone? Those are open questions. But no one doubts his ability to shoot the ball. He can stroke it and he has been able to find his own shot up to this point. He's also known as a worker, a smart kid and he comes across extremely eager. There are always certain NBA players that have a "living their dream" vibe. He's one of those guys.
After watching practices this week, I think Babbitt is the biggest question mark for the team this year. Put it this way: there wouldn't be talk about Wesley Matthews or Roger Mason if the team was completely convinced that Babbitt was ready to step in and play big minutes at the three or potentially start should Nicolas Batum go down to injury. Those kinds of expectation are tough for any rookie on a team that expects to win 50+ games.
Honestly, at times this week he's looked exhausted and a little confused. He's been grabbing for his shorts and getting extra instruction from coaches afterwards. But his shot is pure money. And, throughout the portions of play we've been able to see, he hasn't hesitated to shoot it.
While Canales had very specific goals for both Pendergraph and Cunningham, his hope for Babbitt was much simpler. "I'd just like to see Luke play. Play to his strengths, come out and have fun, and take it game by game. Be aggressive. Both offensively and defensively. Get up and guard some people."
Personally, I want to see Babbitt come out gunning. I think there will be some players that are really looking to test him on the defensive end and I'd like to see him answer that doing what he does best, and doing it confidently. I'd much rather we come out of next week asking "Should he pass more?" rather than "Is he too passive?" It boils down to whether he trusts his skills at this level. That's what will earn him playing time and Nate McMillan's trust.
Defensively, Canales admitted that "it's going to be a challenge" for Babbit given the different types of players the Blazers will ask him to guard. He noted that Babbitt has been guarding Reyshawn Terry, a dynamic offensive player with "good size and strength", this week and that's served him well. "He might see speed guys too," Canales said, sounding more prepared than worried. "For him it's going to be a daily challenge. But he's been great this week." Given that Babbitt will see far more reserve players than starters next season, the big keys will be effort and positioning. Regardless of the results, is he trying hard and doing the right things?
Armon Johnson
Where's He At?
Patty Mills
Where's He At?
Mills has felt like a square peg in a round hole here in Portland, given the differences between his skillset and McMillan's philosophy. Canales said there will be plenty of minutes for Mills to show he can do what McMillan will ask of him. "Patty just needs that court time and confidence, to get more comfortable on the court and his game will continue to grow. His speed and his shot -- his shot has really improved a lot. We're looking for him to be even more aggressive with that."
A best case scenario for Mills is that he impresses enough that another NBA team decides he should be their backup point guard. His skill level is such that fighting for third string minutes here in Portland is not ideal. Barring that, playing big overseas might afford him a better opportunity than another year buried in Portland. But that's looking a little too far ahead, at least for now. His first and longest look will come from the Blazers. If he shows the ability to run an offense, limit turnovers and handle things defensively, Portland's interest will perk up. If not, hopefully he will at least provide some of the offensive fireworks that were reserved for NBDL fans last season.
-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter
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It will be interesting to see how the point guards play
I know the summer league doesn’t matter but I think it’s important that the Blazers find the point guard of the near future ASAP.
Hiiiiii Tommy!
there’s a bobblehead live action video in the fanshots which I enjoyed, because I like imagining other people’s lives, but mostly it screamed to be redone by you as a play-dohquel.
hope you are well
"its tough to play with one eye, unless you're a pirate." Delonte West
"una canasta a Pau en la cara" Rudy
by Honka Playboy on Jul 9, 2010 6:36 PM PDT up reply actions
Agreed
As much as I like what Bayless brings, I’m now firmly in the ’he’s not the answer at starting PG for the Blazers’ camp. The start of my transition into this camp was last year in Summer League, where you could literally see in his eyes that he was trying too hard to think about what to do next. It’s not in his nature to be a pass-first PG all the time. I’m not saying he can’t be a distributor off the bench – he can. And I think his best role is that first guard off the bench, playing either the 1 with Roy (who will run the offense as a 2) or as a penetrating 2. But put him into the position where he feels that he HAS to distribute, and he’s out of his comfort zone and ineffective. As I said, it all began with Summer League – not the final answer, but an important indication. This year’s might bring the same.
I don’t know if there’s room for both Mills and Johnson, so let them compete! I am not putting faith in either to be the ‘PG of the future’, but then again…
C'mon Kramer
by the end of the Sun’s series Jerryd had lost most of that hesitation and was running the team confidently when ‘Dre was out of the game. I was seriously down on Bayless-as-PG after last summer, but he had to be the team’s most-improved player last year, hands down. Let’s give Rex a chance to play alongside Roy (without another PG out on the floor) for half a season at least before “moving on” and anointing Mills or Johnson as the next big thing
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
considering the most improved player award
was limited to two guys basically because everyone else’s development was cut short due to injuries that is not saying too much! but I take your point. I just look at Jerryd and see 2 guard. Trying to make him a 1 just not play to his strengths. Picking up those skills will improve his overall game, but can he ever be better at point than as a 2? Don’t we want players playing to there strengths? that seems to be the formula to success, getting players that play to their strengths that, in turn, as a team meshes into a real contender. Forcing talented players into roles that are not their strengths does not really seem to be the formula for success over time.
"Oh Yeah!" ~ Kool Aid Man
I don't follow your logic.....
Why make up your mind based on year old information that wasn’t all that reliable or predictive to begin with? Whatever your impression of the six games played in SL last summer with a group of scrubs, including two SGs who were something like 3-28, why would that outweigh his performance in the playoffs against Nash and Dragic?
Bayless had a PER of 15.7 in the freaking playoffs. Shot 45%, 40% from three, had an AST% of 27.9 and an AST/TO of 3:1. If you close your eyes to new information you draw the wrong conclusion.
by upper left corner on Jul 10, 2010 7:31 AM PDT up reply actions
Logic is overrated.
I’m going strictly off emotion from now on — a gut feeling if you will — and my gut is telling me that Bayless a great backup 2 guard who can pass a little bit (but not too much!) and that LMA, Oden and Batum will not profit playing next to a guy who isn’t comfortable passing in the post, likes to finish at the rim more than kick it out and whose one definable (as in elite) NBA skill is his ability to get to the free throw line.
If he could either shoot at a higher percentage from deep, was a brilliant passer or if he wasn’t hindered by those short arms on defense I could maybe see him as a kind of Mo Williams type “point” guard in the starting lineup where he wasn’t really responsible for running the offense, but right now he’s a driving guard with poor to middling court vision and he overlaps too much with Brandon to be complimentary (spacing is already an issue).
My gut also tells me that it’s time for breakfast.
by nikolokolus on Jul 10, 2010 8:12 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Bayless is a Point Guard
1) “You are what you can defend.” Bayless defends PGs.
2) You may not like the style of game he plays, but he is clearly developing as a PG. His turnovers have come down significantly and his assist% has been increasing steadily.
3) IMO, it is fine to say you don’t like scoring PGs, or that you don’t like certain aspects of his game, or you think he needs to work on developing this or that skill, but blindly insisting that he isn’t a PG and failing to acknowledge that he is going to develop further as a player is either folly or intransigence.
by upper left corner on Jul 10, 2010 8:28 AM PDT up reply actions
I know you are not fond of facts.....
……but let me point out one more:
For all of you who think Bayless is “shoot first,” please note that his Usage rate in the playoffs was actually lower than Miller’s. If you put him on the floor with more of the first team guys, he will defer to others.
by upper left corner on Jul 10, 2010 8:31 AM PDT up reply actions
Skip the snark please
You’re making this slightly personal when it absolutely isn’t.
by nikolokolus on Jul 10, 2010 10:16 AM PDT up reply actions
Humor?
I thought it was a play on the title of your previous comment.
by upper left corner on Jul 10, 2010 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions
No worries
I must have mis-read your intent.
I judge point guards differently than I do other players
I think it’s perfectly legitimate to point out how Bayless improved, but considering the baseline he set in his rookie year he didn’t have anywhere to go but up
But the only question I really care about in my point guard is this: Does he make his teammates better and does the team function more smoothly/effectively with him on or off the court. The answer to that question is pretty easy to decipher in a couple of stats at 82games.com 1) the offense was 2 points per48 minutes worse with him on the court and 3 points per48 minutes worse on defense.
http://www.82games.com/0910/09POR5.HTM
Regardless, I know better than to try and convince you that Bayless isn’t the answer, what’s more important is that the team seems to have already made that decision if the drafting of Williams and Johnson and pursuit of Farmar and now Lowry are any indication of what they think of his chances to play the point guard role for the Blazers.
Unless they're after a new backup PG
It could be that they have confidence in Bayless and are interested in moving into the starting position after Miller expires, leaving a vacancy at that 2nd PG spot.
There exists a quality which is nameless.
I think Rudy is gone for sure
Meaning Bayless can easily slide into that off-gaurd, backup 2 guard slot behind Roy and he played pretty well when paired off with Miller last year.
People are probably inclined to think that I’m bagging on J-Bay. ABSOLUTELY NOT!! I love his fire, I love his fearlessness and as a Vinnie Johnson “microwave” type off-the-bench scorer I think he’s got a real future in the league, but he’s just not a point guard.
by nikolokolus on Jul 10, 2010 10:24 AM PDT up reply actions
Maybe you're right,
but maybe you’re wrong. If there’s any way Bayless can fit the need, that needs to be explored. I don’t know that he’ll be happy coming off the bench forever, and rightfully so—he’s a starter, whether for us or someone else.
There exists a quality which is nameless.
Your logic is underated
and so are your gut instincts. I argue with the stat line people as well, and I share your opinions about Bayless and the (still hidden) importance of a true point guard as the missing piece to the next level.
There has been a trend of sorts to shift the value of a point guard and declare that combo guards are the new answer to todays game…my contention is, the point guard (as a floor general), is not replaced so easily.(unless you continue to diminish or redefine this position by throwing in everything except the most important aspects ..when you adopt this form of play, you leave your team without a “heartbeat” that supplies the lifeblood to the entire team.. the missing element on this team and thanks for your comments ,
Does he make his teammates better and does the team function more smoothly/effectively with him on or off the court.
How can this definition be discarded and given such little respect. A simple view of the game can give you more answers than a stat line and affords you the opportunity to evaluate without prejudice. Don’t ever let anyone diminish your gut instincts by attempting to disqualify them with so called objectivity…watching the game and understanding the play can give you much better insight into “team” play and how you chose to offer up and use an “individual” stat line. We don’t ignore the facts we simply put them into a definition that doesn’t compromise what our eyes tell us…. think “team” and then comment on what’s missing.
[Good defense "releases" your offense]
Relying on +/- is certainly not convincing, IMHO.
Consider:
Bayless played most of his minutes in one of two situations:
1) He started for Roy for the 14 games he was out. It isn’t exactly a news flash that the team is not as good with Roy out.
2) He played with a back-up group that struggled at both ends. Juwan Howard, bless his soul, was not up to the job of anchoring the interior defense for the second unit. On the other end, I’m sure Bayless bares some of the blame, but given that Martell and Rudy collectively shot less than 35% after the All-Star break when Bayless took over PG duties, I certainly don’t think he deserves it all.
I’m not saying that the stat you point out is worthless, but I do think it is far from definitive. Again, the real question we should be asking is has Bayless shown enough to warrant being trusted as the second unit PG for the coming season? He had the fifth highest PER of any back-up PG in the league. He was even better in the playoffs. I think the logical answer is that he has earned more time to show what he can do. After all, he is still the second youngest guy on our roster including the rookies. If he continues to develop at the pace he showed last season, he may very well develop into our starting PG. If he doesn’t, then we can try to make a trade at the trade deadline.
Trading now, unless you get a no-brainer like CP3 at a fair price, doesn’t make much sense to me. Parker or Harris maybe, but most of the deals that have been suggested are pretty much horizontal moves that involve using assets without much upside potential.
by upper left corner on Jul 10, 2010 2:18 PM PDT up reply actions
He just doesn't look like a PG out there.
He sees the hoop, not the floor and the spaces players will be as the play develops. Watch the other players while J-Bay has the ball—they tend to stop moving bc they know dimes are not his thing.
He’s a sweet young player, but I question whether he will ever be able to open up the floor for others with passing and be a reliable, smart defender. PG or not, you need a guy next to B-Roy who can do those things, especially when you consider how poorly LMA’s passing from the double team is.
I'm just not crazy about player nick names...
by Hipster Olympic Team! on Jul 10, 2010 10:08 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
LMA's passing...
is atrocious out of the double team, but that’s nobody’s fault but his.
There exists a quality which is nameless.
Those of you in the Baylo-skeptic camp never cease to amaze me:
You act as if a 21 year old player, who was the most improved player on the team, has stopped developing and will never get better at anything.
PER
2009: 8.2; 2010: 14.3; 2010 Playoffs: 15.7
TOV%
2009: 19.3; 2010: 13.8; 2010 Playoffs: 9.6
AST%
2009: 18.2; 2010: 22.1; 2010 Playoffs: 27.9
You act as though Bayless’ court vision and decision making will never improve, when it has already improved substantially. Given his limited experience playing PG, both in college and with the Blazers, is it surprising that it is taking a while for him to understand what is going on? He is like a rookie quarterback in the NFL, he needs enough time on the floor for the game to slow down.
by upper left corner on Jul 10, 2010 2:31 PM PDT up reply actions
My analogy was flawed
Bayless is more like a guy who was a High-School All-American QB in high school and who then got shifted to RB for one season of college and is now in the NFL trying to play his original position.
by upper left corner on Jul 10, 2010 2:39 PM PDT up reply actions
good points
and welcome to the “we need a floor general” camp.
[Good defense "releases" your offense]
Why?
It’s not necessary for Portland to draft and develop a PGoTF—and they haven’t historically been very good at it. The best PGs in the PritchardMcMillian era have come via trade (Blake/Miller) and the new GM will have an opportunity to acquire the next Blazer starting PG via trade or FA signing anytime in the next 2 weeks to 2 years.
There is absolutely no rush to change the starting PG, unless you have a built-in aversion to Andre’s game/personality and think that each day that passes with ‘Dre still on Portland’s roster is the bane of your existence, of course
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
armon johnson = pg of the future
Michael Jordan is the Nicolas Batum of America
marty>babbitt
by thomasikehara on Jul 9, 2010 9:37 PM PDT up reply actions
for the Idaho Stampeders?
I’m not saying the Hammer was a bad choice, but he’s got a long way to go before he’ll even be as good as Jarrett Jack was. I’d rather have a veteran #3 PG who could fill in, in case of emergency than either Mills or Johnson on the active roster
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Step 1: Hire Chuck Person and have him work with Hammer in the offseason, with Armon playing in D-League during the regular season, barring a major injury
Step 2:???
Step 3: Profit!
Well, Idaho Stampede head coach Randy Livingston would love him some Armon Johnson.
Yet, with that said, I do agree Johnson isn’t who I’d want on the roster of a ballclub that’s supposedly progressing forward from being a one-and-done playoff team to a legitimate contender.
Definitely not this year
In another year or two? Who knows.
You always need talent in the pipeline
I’m not saying you count on Johnson to be your starter in 2 years, but if he can be a reliable backup then you can at least feel comfortable with that part of your rotation covered.
Time (as always) will tell.
PG situation is by far the most interesting.
I really like Armon’s attitude. Seems like just the kind of guy the Blazers would want around, but his lack of shooting compared to Mills sounds disappointing. But on the other hand, Mills seems like he should be playing a fast game, is small, but can shoot, which is what the Blazers want.
I wish I could watch summer league, but I’m not paying $15.
Of couse I realize everything I say here means nothing.
In K.P. I STILL trust.
Travis Outlaw fan from the beginning.
Sweet! might get to watch next weekend then.
Of couse I realize everything I say here means nothing.
In K.P. I STILL trust.
Travis Outlaw fan from the beginning.
by llamaiguana on Jul 10, 2010 12:05 AM PDT up reply actions
Mills seems like he should be playing a fast game, is small, but can shoot, which is what the Blazers want.
Yeah, I joked last year that Mills and Roy would be the ultimate odd couple backcourt. Brandon likes to mosey while Patty prefers to run, even after made baskets, etc. Mills could play off of Roy as a spot-up shooter I suppose, but the 2 of them would be absolutely brutal, defensively
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Wow- our "new" mantra
“While the mantra around the Blazers has been “it’s time to improve through trades and free agency”
Why havent we been following the mantra? As far as I know, we havent made a single trade other than Martell for the draft pick, and weve picked up not a 1 single free agent. What are we waiting for?
The Dude: Hey, careful, man, there's a beverage here!
by cavejunctionblazer on Jul 9, 2010 4:54 PM PDT reply actions
I'm mostly interested in...
1. PG play- Mills and Johnson
2. Babbit’s game—-. I’ve only seen you tube highlights. I want to see this shooting we keep hearing about and try to envision him in those moments last season where we could’ve used somebody to confidently hit those shots.
3. Cunningham’s offensive improvement. I felt like he missed enough layups and easy put backs to other the back of my mind.
...
One reason I miss Travis
He took some stupid shots, but at least he would shoot.
Of couse I realize everything I say here means nothing.
In K.P. I STILL trust.
Travis Outlaw fan from the beginning.
by llamaiguana on Jul 10, 2010 12:08 AM PDT up reply actions
I'm excited about Cunningham too.
If Dante could hit a solid 3 pointer and go to the rim at least a little, I almost feel bad for the other teams.
Of couse I realize everything I say here means nothing.
In K.P. I STILL trust.
Travis Outlaw fan from the beginning.
by llamaiguana on Jul 10, 2010 12:07 AM PDT up reply actions
Canales said that Dante is going to attack the rim at SL
can’t wait to see DC’s improved handles, maybe he could be Nic’s primary backup? It would sure be a low cost way to cover the 3 position
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
by two4larue on Jul 10, 2010 12:28 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Any games on TV yet?
As much as I like reading about guys, I like seeing them on the court much more… Any TV schedule for this yet? Thanks..
also
will these games stream on nba.com like they’ve done in the past?
by JMLakaShotCaller on Jul 9, 2010 6:12 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't know if my cable is special,
but I get NBATV on channel 416, and they’ve been showing all the games in Vegas and Orlando.
There exists a quality which is nameless.
Didn't the Blazers ban players from wearing Hyperizes?
Bad Patty…
Being a Blazer fan is not exactly healthy.
The "new" "new" (old) mantra
Trust in GO to stay healthy.
by jiminut on Jul 9, 2010 6:16 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
at times this week Babbitt’s looked exhausted and a little confused. He’s been grabbing for his shorts and getting extra instruction from coaches afterwards.
Not a good sign. I know it took awhile for Batum to adjust back in ‘08, but Luke’s inexperience (WAC competition) is all the more reason for the front office to add a veteran backup at the wing this month. Hopefully they’ll have dinner with Raja Bell at the same Vegas restaurant where they met with Andre, last July
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
He's only been offered $1.8M/yr by the Lakers, who he turned down.
Essentially we could beat that with the BAE, and IIRC is $2.08M? or even with a partial MLE.
I’d offer the full MLE but I’m getting a tad bit worried about his age/health but would still love to have him.
Being a Blazer fan is not exactly healthy.
We aren't high on his list
and there’s a lot of money out there. I think he’d rather play for the Heat for the minimum than for us for the MLE.
wet blanket
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
I haven't been hearing any news about him in the media
but from what’s swirling in NBA forums it’s that he prefers to play in Miami , since he’s from there and currently lives there. Word was that he wanted to play there before the big agent signings. If they get Mike Miller I see a redundancy in signing Raja.
I would love him on our team.
Being a Blazer fan is not exactly healthy.
IIRC,
his other choices were the L*kers and Chicago. Since then, he has apparently turned down the L*kers’ affrontory offer. My guess is that Reddick’s offer from Chicago will be matched, and Bell will be their next choice. But we’ll see.
I don't think he was "choosing" the Lakers at all.
They were looking to sign him. Before he “rejected” them/their offer.
Haven’t heard any info about him and Chicago.
Being a Blazer fan is not exactly healthy.
I think he was looking at the teams with the best shot at a title
if no one else wants him, he could also potentially wind up in Orlando, especially if they lose both JJ and Matt Barnes. Or, if they trade VC for Arenas or Paul, Bell would be great for wing depth.
that's equivalent to the old saying
Fat girls are like mopeds…..they are fun to ride and get you where you are going…..but you don’t want your friends to see you on one….
by blacknoiseNW on Jul 10, 2010 12:17 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Ben said Luke looked lost during practices this week
so I don’t think he can be counted on to contribute much, this year.
Babbitt’s the equivalent of a AA baseball player jumping straight to the majors, or a rule 5 draftee who has to be kept on the 25-man roster all year
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
I'm not a fan of Luke Babbitt, as well as would move him in a supersized ...
consolidation trade in certain circumstances. Matt Barnes, however, probably isn’t on the radar in light of Babbitt’s presence. Oh, and even if Babbitt wasn’t here, I’d focus on players who are more defensive-minded than Barnes.
yeah, Barnes is meh
he’s been on some decent teams, and that’s why people probably remember him knocking down a few open 3s
that backup 2-3 is a tough role to fill, especially if you’re not Miami or L*A.
I’m encouraged that Pfund may be hired next week because he’s the kind of GM who prefers vets—it’s about time the Blazers scouting staff was balanced, instead of having everything revolve around how many kids they can stuff on the roster every June, or stash over in Europe.
Maybe Randy will do a few of those consolidation deals that KP always hesitated to make, until he had Juwan Howard starting at center, last winter
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Ben- Most important summer league question
Will the Mike’s be calling the games for the Comcast broadcasts?
Still on the Rex bandwagon.
I'm going to listen to Wheels for a change
in hopes that they interview Warren LeGarie, he runs the Vegas summer league
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
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- Kevin Love would like the NBA to take the MLB’s approach on All-Star games
- Kobe Bryant fires a few hilarious salvos at Jeremy Lin
- Brandon Jennings states the obvious regarding his 2014 free agency, everyone goes nuts
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