So just who IS James Jones?

by jorga on Jul 11, 2007 3:11 PM PDT

Now that he's officially a Blazer, it's time to start getting aquainted. I don't really have anything to say other than no Kool-Aid references, please.

But Brian Hendrickson of the Columbian has done a little digging and then some analysis and it's his opinion we've acquired a very good 3 point shooter and he's with the Blazers on this trade.

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oops sorry

TP43 beat me by a minute or two. Please put any comments on his post. Thanks!

by jorga on Jul 11, 2007 3:13 PM PDT reply actions

They say

great minds think alike! ;-)

I should have let you have it, I know how you love them stats.

I'm a buffet of goodness.

by TP43 on Jul 11, 2007 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions

James Jones from a Suns Fan

So, you guys get JJ and are wondering what's really under the hood. Here's my take after watching him for a few years in Phoenix:

D: He's a good on the ball defender but not great. Granted we are spoiled here in that position in that he's pretty much coming in to spell Marion so that's always going to be a step down. Off the ball he was decent w/ some good blocks from the weak side. Not much in the way of rebounding but I would say average for a SF. He never impressed me but in general the coaches seemed to like his D and his effort.

O: As the article points out JJ is a decent 3 point shooter. Perhaps for the Blazers a really decent 3 pt shooter. But he is VERY streaky. I mean VERY streaky. It can be frustrating. He's got no moves w/ the ball and can't create his own shot. On occasion he can make a mid-range J and about twice a year will get to the rim. That will make you happy for about 10 seconds. Then he will just spot up and wait for the ball to find him open and jack up a 3 for the next 2 months or so. I think w/ your team having a guy that does that isn't a bad plan with all the attention Odem will draw down low and Roy driving and popping. He could be could for spacing your floor and keeping defenses honest. But I wouldn't get your hopes too high.

Other?: JJ always struck me as a nice guy. Likely won't be a Jailblazer but OTOH doesn't really show a lot of fire on the court. I wouldn't exactly consider him tenacious by any means.

For the Suns we were slightly overloaded in the 6'6" to 6'9" range and so use losing him was a good thing and replacing him w/ Grant Hill is certainly an upgrade.

Enjoy JJ and say hi for me.

Now - any chance you'd be willing to send us back one of those two Spainish guards we drafted for you in exchange for Marcus Banks? He just put up 42 in Vegas? Come on - you know you want him....He looks great in head band...

by Suns Fan on Jul 11, 2007 3:56 PM PDT reply actions

Thanks for the profile

I think he'll be a good fit especially since it looks like Udoka will sign elsewhere.

by jayseyfield on Jul 11, 2007 4:34 PM PDT up reply actions

Nate doesn't allow headbands

and Pritchard doesn't make stupid trades :)

by BlazerBandit on Jul 11, 2007 4:53 PM PDT up reply actions

But we'll take your other backup point guard

the dude from Brazil. Barbarossa or something like that--no wait, that's the guy from Pirates of the Carribean.

At any rate, Leandro is gonna want a pay raise pretty soon, and we can't have anyone spending $arver's money.

by EngineerScotty on Jul 11, 2007 5:20 PM PDT up reply actions

Barbaresco!

Darius for a bottle of Barbaresco.
1982 Conterno, to be specific.

waits for the obvious wine-dork query to roll in

Blazers have a five-on-three...and they pull it back and wait for help.

by QualityPie on Jul 11, 2007 6:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Barbaresco

Under the terms of the CBA, you would need to trade 2 1/2 cases for Darius, to make the salaries match.

by timg56 on Jul 12, 2007 6:36 AM PDT up reply actions

Hmmm....let me think for a sec...no!

LB actually just signed an extension before last year. We have him locked up for about 5 years at the low low price of $5-7m/yr. That was one of the best all time Suns contracts ever.

Kind of makes up for signing Diaw for $9m/yr and Banks for $4m/yr...but not fully.

LB sure is a blast to watch though but he really isn't a backup PG. He's a scorer and doesn't distribute well. Yet.

He's best when he's playing off the ball or in transition out running guys and catching outlet passes like Jerry Rice and then finishing at the rim like Clive Drexler (there's your TB reference for the day). Man is he fun to watch play ball.

by Suns Fan on Jul 11, 2007 6:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Um ...

I complimented you earlier, but now you're cut off. It's CLYDE Drexler. You shall now be stared down simultaneously be the entire Blazer Nation .................................................................................................... ........................................

by bfan on Jul 11, 2007 7:16 PM PDT up reply actions

Wasn't it

Clive the Dryde Drexler? You know as in "the Dryde does it again!"...or "there's the Dryde taking it to the rim and softly laying it in"

No? well, whatever :)

by Suns Fan on Jul 11, 2007 9:03 PM PDT up reply actions

Oh - and the reason I stopped by

was b/c I was curious about the Stevie Franchise thing. I was wondering what impact that had on the Blazer cap or if it was all just $ out of Allen's pocket.

And, if I understand what I read around here right, that's what it was. You guy are SUPER lucky to have an owner that would fork over $30m for a guy NOT to play for your team. He basically paid to get rid of Zach Randolf which says a lot about a lot of things.

I, btw, think the Blazer are better off w/o Randolf and look forward to him being yet another over paid talented player in NYC that can't seem to do anything to help the Knicks win.

Talk about a tale of two cites. You guys have Pritch who's looking like the second coming of Bryan Colangelo and the Knicks have Isiah and friends who think by throwing a bunch of highly paid egomaniacs together on the floor that somehow will create a basketball team that can win.

Anyway - my work here is done. Goodluck Blazers fans. Looking foward to seeing your team next year. Be patient w/ Oden. Its going to take him a few years to be really great and your team isn't ready to win it all yet.

But by the time Nash is settling down in Canadian pastures in a few years the Blazers should battling it out for dominance in the West.

by Suns Fan on Jul 11, 2007 9:16 PM PDT up reply actions

So ...

he's Martell Webster. Great!

by bfan on Jul 11, 2007 5:23 PM PDT up reply actions

'Xcept he plays D.

Sounds to me more like a bigger Ime Udoka.

by EngineerScotty on Jul 11, 2007 5:40 PM PDT up reply actions

No, James Jones

actually hits his open threes.

by howlingfantods on Jul 11, 2007 6:07 PM PDT up reply actions

By the way,

for the record, I'm pretty optimistic about the James Jones era. I think his skillset fits nicely with our other projected starters -- Roy's going to be driving and dishing, our bigs are gonna be posting and kicking, someone like Jones who's willing and able to hit as many open threes as we can feed him will be great. Jones can take the harder defensive wing assignments and free up Roy for focusing more on the offensive end.. I think I'd be happier to see him in the starting lineup over Ime, Martell, or Trout, although there are certainly better SFs out there.

by howlingfantods on Jul 11, 2007 6:17 PM PDT up reply actions