How would you fill out the roster?

[GYK]

what other teams are doing is irrelvant. no one else has 3 elite 3 level scorers who cant be stopped with single and often double coverage.

ive said it a million times and ill keep saying it. we dont need to get to the rim to score at a super efficient elite level. look at the majority of Kyrie/KD/Hardens points... for KD/Kyrie its mid ranger and off the dribble threes. you dont need space for that. for harden its step back threes. you dont need space for that.

Ok you just don’t value spacing and believe top talent is all it takes. It’s nonsensical to me but that’s your opinion. My thoughts on basketball has spacing at a premium and no team ever has disagreed with that sentiment never a MDA team for sure.

It’s not, not valuing spacing, it’s that KD, Kyrie and Harden create spacing just by existing. All are pretty much deadly shooters,3 level scorers and great playmakers, passers, who can operate on or off ball.

It’s great to have extra shooting out there with them, but it’s fine if 1, or even 2 guys aren’t good shooters, as long as they can finish in the paint off movement and kick the ball back out, or around the horn without turning it over.

Roberson is a dreadful shooter, and he’s washed, this isn’t lost on me. But you do not need ace, Joe Harris level shooters on the floor 48 minutes per game, nor especially when KD, Kyrie and Harden are out there together.

What’s the point of them being playmakers if their teammates don’t capitalize on the fact they cause such defensive distortions? You are begging your stars to be trapped. They are gonna be trapped regardless and they will need release vales, you can’t also determine who will get to be that’s player.
That contender of multiple non shooters on the perimeter just wouldn’t exist today.

Also never said Harris level shooters. Just 3pt capable. Golden State Iggy level. Joe Crowder. Etc. even Draymond was willing when they were contending and they avoided that problem by having their worst perimeter shooters as ball handlers. there’s a reason RHJ and MKG weren’t picked up by not just us but by any other roster. Reason Bruce Brown best performances come when he’s in small ball lineups essentially being the roll man. Roberson might not even play for us and likely in the roll Brown does as the roll man.

I just don’t see it happening. We’ve seen big 3’s. They still need spacing around them for the inevitable traps, doubles and shifts they will face.

[Prokorov]

How was he horrible in Portland? This is simply untrue, he was actually playing really well there.

I thought he looked similar to the corpse of wilson chandler here last year.... some decent moments but overall cooked

The guy was shooting 40% from 3 on 4 attempts per game, with TS% of 64.3%, and being a plus defender. How in the world is that cooked and similar to Wilson Chandler last year (who shot 30% from 3 and had 53.1% TS%)?

did you watch him play? i get he shot well from three, which were like over half of his attempts, which explains the high TS%. its not like he was getting to the FT line or rim a ton like most high TS guys do. he was basically steve novak, sitting in the corner waiting for a wide open shot. he couldnt move, never traveled inside the three point line and is now just a 3 guy... the D is gone. he couldnt move... thats the chandler comparison. he looks like he should be playing in a 50 and over league at the Y.

We have guys who can hit uncontested threes at a high clip who play lackluster D. we dont need more of those

If Ariza was more then a corpse, he would be traded not bought out. He is on a 1 year deal for the MLE. he could be absorbed by most playoff teams or matched with minimal compensation.

[DarkXaero]

I thought he looked similar to the corpse of wilson chandler here last year.... some decent moments but overall cooked

The guy was shooting 40% from 3 on 4 attempts per game, with TS% of 64.3%, and being a plus defender. How in the world is that cooked and similar to Wilson Chandler last year (who shot 30% from 3 and had 53.1% TS%)?

did you watch him play? i get he shot well from three, which were like over half of his attempts, which explains the high TS%. its not like he was getting to the FT line or rim a ton like most high TS guys do. he was basically steve novak, sitting in the corner waiting for a wide open shot. he couldnt move, never traveled inside the three point line and is now just a 3 guy... the D is gone. he couldnt move... thats the chandler comparison. he looks like he should be playing in a 50 and over league at the Y.

We have guys who can hit uncontested threes at a high clip who play lackluster D. we dont need more of those

If Ariza was more then a corpse, he would be traded not bought out. He is on a 1 year deal for the MLE. he could be absorbed by most playoff teams or matched with minimal compensation.

Again, I'm not sure what the hell you're talking about.

From the last time he played:

https://ripcityproject.com/2020/03/07/trevor-ariza-portland-trail-blazers/

Diving a bit deeper on Ariza’s defense, he has one of the league’s best on / off defensive ratings in his 15 games with the Blazers. The Blazers defense is 9.7 points per 100 possessions better when he is on the floor. An astounding mark.

Watch on YouTube

The evidence directly contradicts whatever you're saying. Portland defense was miles better (this is backed up by CleaningTheGlass as well) when Ariza was on the court (individual defensive stats also rank him as a plus defender last season). That same season, Kings defense was also significantly better with Ariza on the court. His 3pt shooting was great for Portland, and the above clip (plus numbers) are showing plenty of ability inside the arc. So please just stop making up ****, dude.

Ariza was traded from Portland for two reasons:

1) Off the court issue that led to him opting out of the bubble and possibly not playing so far this season.
2) Traded for Robert Covington who is unanimously seen as an upgrade.

It makes sense to buy him out if there's no trade for him out there, because he's only guaranteed $1.8 mill of his $12 mill salary this season, its a partially guaranteed deal. He has also presumably pulled an Iggy on the OKC Thunder by not reporting to the team at all.

[Prokorov]

The guy was shooting 40% from 3 on 4 attempts per game, with TS% of 64.3%, and being a plus defender. How in the world is that cooked and similar to Wilson Chandler last year (who shot 30% from 3 and had 53.1% TS%)?

did you watch him play? i get he shot well from three, which were like over half of his attempts, which explains the high TS%. its not like he was getting to the FT line or rim a ton like most high TS guys do. he was basically steve novak, sitting in the corner waiting for a wide open shot. he couldnt move, never traveled inside the three point line and is now just a 3 guy... the D is gone. he couldnt move... thats the chandler comparison. he looks like he should be playing in a 50 and over league at the Y.

We have guys who can hit uncontested threes at a high clip who play lackluster D. we dont need more of those

If Ariza was more then a corpse, he would be traded not bought out. He is on a 1 year deal for the MLE. he could be absorbed by most playoff teams or matched with minimal compensation.

Again, I'm not sure what the hell you're talking about.

From the last time he played:

https://ripcityproject.com/2020/03/07/trevor-ariza-portland-trail-blazers/

Diving a bit deeper on Ariza’s defense, he has one of the league’s best on / off defensive ratings in his 15 games with the Blazers. The Blazers defense is 9.7 points per 100 possessions better when he is on the floor. An astounding mark.

Watch on YouTube

The evidence directly contradicts whatever you're saying. Portland defense was miles better (this is backed up by CleaningTheGlass as well) when Ariza was on the court (individual defensive stats also rank him as a plus defender last season). That same season, Kings defense was also significantly better with Ariza on the court. His 3pt shooting was great for Portland, and the above clip (plus numbers) are showing plenty of ability inside the arc. So please just stop making up ****, dude.

Ariza was traded from Portland for two reasons:

1) Off the court issue that led to him opting out of the bubble and possibly not playing so far this season.
2) Traded for Robert Covington who is unanimously seen as an upgrade.

It makes sense to buy him out if there's no trade for him out there, because he's only guaranteed $1.8 mill of his $12 mill salary this season, its a partially guaranteed deal. He has also presumably pulled an Iggy on the OKC Thunder by not reporting to the team at all.

i dont know man. i watched like15- 20 games, which is a majority of his time with the team and he looked absolutely awful and cooked. stood in the corner and never moved. maybe the on/off was better with him, but portland is already awful defensively now? hard to be worse. maybe his IQ helped. id honestly rather play tyler johnson, roberson, browm, shump, or shamet.

i cant see arzia helping. at least not the Ariza i saw last year. that guy was a fossil

[vincecarter4pres]

Ok you just don’t value spacing and believe top talent is all it takes. It’s nonsensical to me but that’s your opinion. My thoughts on basketball has spacing at a premium and no team ever has disagreed with that sentiment never a MDA team for sure.

It’s not, not valuing spacing, it’s that KD, Kyrie and Harden create spacing just by existing. All are pretty much deadly shooters,3 level scorers and great playmakers, passers, who can operate on or off ball.

It’s great to have extra shooting out there with them, but it’s fine if 1, or even 2 guys aren’t good shooters, as long as they can finish in the paint off movement and kick the ball back out, or around the horn without turning it over.

Roberson is a dreadful shooter, and he’s washed, this isn’t lost on me. But you do not need ace, Joe Harris level shooters on the floor 48 minutes per game, nor especially when KD, Kyrie and Harden are out there together.

That said, there’s nothing wrong with having another shooter, if they can D, just makes us all the more deadly.

If Ariza becomes available, you jump on it. If a trade that makes sense becomes available, you jump on it.

Nevermind all of this nonsense, go check the O/U for the Nets/Lakers game tonight and put your life savings on the over

For sure haha.

[ecuhus1981]

Agreed, Ariza's numbers with Portland surprised me, but it doesn't change the eye test. We last saw Trevor 15 months ago, and even then it was clear he had lost several steps. We know from Iggy that a long layoff for a veteran does nothing to stem the tide of Father Time.

[vincecarter4pres]

Ok you just don’t value spacing and believe top talent is all it takes. It’s nonsensical to me but that’s your opinion. My thoughts on basketball has spacing at a premium and no team ever has disagreed with that sentiment never a MDA team for sure.

It’s not, not valuing spacing, it’s that KD, Kyrie and Harden create spacing just by existing. All are pretty much deadly shooters,3 level scorers and great playmakers, passers, who can operate on or off ball.

It’s great to have extra shooting out there with them, but it’s fine if 1, or even 2 guys aren’t good shooters, as long as they can finish in the paint off movement and kick the ball back out, or around the horn without turning it over.

Roberson is a dreadful shooter, and he’s washed, this isn’t lost on me. But you do not need ace, Joe Harris level shooters on the floor 48 minutes per game, nor especially when KD, Kyrie and Harden are out there together.

What’s the point of them being playmakers if their teammates don’t capitalize on the fact they cause such defensive distortions? You are begging your stars to be trapped. They are gonna be trapped regardless and they will need release vales, you can’t also determine who will get to be that’s player.
That contender of multiple non shooters on the perimeter just wouldn’t exist today.

Also never said Harris level shooters. Just 3pt capable. Golden State Iggy level. Joe Crowder. Etc. even Draymond was willing when they were contending and they avoided that problem by having their worst perimeter shooters as ball handlers. there’s a reason RHJ and MKG weren’t picked up by not just us but by any other roster. Reason Bruce Brown best performances come when he’s in small ball lineups essentially being the roll man. Roberson might not even play for us and likely in the roll Brown does as the roll man.

I just don’t see it happening. We’ve seen big 3’s. They still need spacing around them for the inevitable traps, doubles and shifts they will face.

Honestly, I don't think we're disagreeing too much here.

I hope Roberson only sees the floor in complete blowouts.

Shump is OK enough a shooter though, that if his D is still solid, I'm fine with both him and Brown on the floor together.

Also, Shamet is coming on, Tyler, Cheez and even to an extent, TLC can shoot.

Would still love to see us add a more legit big minute 3&D added and a decent big man, hopefully a McGee or Drummond, or Adam's, etc., but I don't think a shooter is as big a priority as some are making it, we have shooters.

[GYK]

It’s not, not valuing spacing, it’s that KD, Kyrie and Harden create spacing just by existing. All are pretty much deadly shooters,3 level scorers and great playmakers, passers, who can operate on or off ball.

It’s great to have extra shooting out there with them, but it’s fine if 1, or even 2 guys aren’t good shooters, as long as they can finish in the paint off movement and kick the ball back out, or around the horn without turning it over.

Roberson is a dreadful shooter, and he’s washed, this isn’t lost on me. But you do not need ace, Joe Harris level shooters on the floor 48 minutes per game, nor especially when KD, Kyrie and Harden are out there together.

What’s the point of them being playmakers if their teammates don’t capitalize on the fact they cause such defensive distortions? You are begging your stars to be trapped. They are gonna be trapped regardless and they will need release vales, you can’t also determine who will get to be that’s player.
That contender of multiple non shooters on the perimeter just wouldn’t exist today.

Also never said Harris level shooters. Just 3pt capable. Golden State Iggy level. Joe Crowder. Etc. even Draymond was willing when they were contending and they avoided that problem by having their worst perimeter shooters as ball handlers. there’s a reason RHJ and MKG weren’t picked up by not just us but by any other roster. Reason Bruce Brown best performances come when he’s in small ball lineups essentially being the roll man. Roberson might not even play for us and likely in the roll Brown does as the roll man.

I just don’t see it happening. We’ve seen big 3’s. They still need spacing around them for the inevitable traps, doubles and shifts they will face.

Honestly, I don't think we're disagreeing too much here.

I hope Roberson only sees the floor in complete blowouts.

Shump is OK enough a shooter though, that if his D is still solid, I'm fine with both him and Brown on the floor together.

Also, Shamet is coming on, Tyler, Cheez and even to an extent, TLC can shoot.

Would still love to see us add a more legit big minute 3&D added and a decent big man, hopefully a McGee or Drummond, or Adam's, etc., but I don't think a shooter is as big a priority as some are making it, we have shooters.

Agreed. For this season and long term I’m hoping Drummond signs the multi year biannual MLE(if we use it now won’t be available until 2023). But whoever it is likely will be at least two seasons.
Two of core six contracts aren’t starter level or injured/not the exact fit needed.
I would love to see Spencer/Brown/TJ for Aaron Gordon(tho currently sidelined).
Also what’s the possibility of moving on from DJ if we win this season and getting him a friendship ring(so far Harden is the only one who seems to get him to lock in and I think it’s because of his hierarchy without being his buddy).
Quietly Nic/Shamet/Noah/TLC can net you around a 8-10 million contract. Personally combined with picks I would love Kebler. Either now or next season(we likely opt into Shamet/Nic) DJ could be combined with those young talents for a starter.
Of course we have the DPE(which does expire so we must use it and likely will with the MLE during buyout season).

I just want to clean up the 9-10 man rotation and have quality players in the lineup. This bench is unlikely if we had moved in the off-season. So attachment to them is unnecessary.

[Prokorov]

hope people watched toronto beat milwaukee.... We saw powell completely stifle middleton and also frustrate giannis when he got switched on to him.... while scoring 29 points dropping threes off the dribble.

if we are going to trade dinwiddie, this is the guy to do it for. his offense is very similar to dinwiddies in both production and style. great athlete, elite defender. tough as nails. championship mettle.

him and baynes would be awesome

[GYK]

I thought Bembry’s defense was the game changer. Also OG’s. Offensively Powell was great tho.

[zimpy27]

hope people watched toronto beat milwaukee.... We saw powell completely stifle middleton and also frustrate giannis when he got switched on to him.... while scoring 29 points dropping threes off the dribble.

if we are going to trade dinwiddie, this is the guy to do it for. his offense is very similar to dinwiddies in both production and style. great athlete, elite defender. tough as nails. championship mettle.

him and baynes would be awesome

He's great but what assets do you move there for him and Baynes?

[GTR11]

hope people watched toronto beat milwaukee.... We saw powell completely stifle middleton and also frustrate giannis when he got switched on to him.... while scoring 29 points dropping threes off the dribble.

if we are going to trade dinwiddie, this is the guy to do it for. his offense is very similar to dinwiddies in both production and style. great athlete, elite defender. tough as nails. championship mettle.

him and baynes would be awesome

He's great but what assets do you move there for him and Baynes?

We don't have any assets to speak of. We will try to fill out rest of the roster with buy outs and vet min guys.

Din is our security blanket for Kyrie and he is very close with our stars and org. DJ here only because Kyrie and KD took a pay cut. You add the fact that Marks created player friendly environment and there is no way they getting moved.

We love to make trades as fans and have experience doing it. HBAP for example was driven by fans and happened to work simply because GM was reading blogs. Thats not how our current management works ( thank you basketball gods ).

[GTR11]

hope people watched toronto beat milwaukee.... We saw powell completely stifle middleton and also frustrate giannis when he got switched on to him.... while scoring 29 points dropping threes off the dribble.

if we are going to trade dinwiddie, this is the guy to do it for. his offense is very similar to dinwiddies in both production and style. great athlete, elite defender. tough as nails. championship mettle.

him and baynes would be awesome

Powel has PO next year and to think we can get him is not even a pipe dream, thats straight up delusion. Duh nix for example has their scouts watching according to few rumors.

[MrDollarBills]

I thought Bembry’s defense was the game changer. Also OG’s. Offensively Powell was great tho.

That dude Bembry can ball man. The Raptors know how to find quality wing players.

[Prokorov]

hope people watched toronto beat milwaukee.... We saw powell completely stifle middleton and also frustrate giannis when he got switched on to him.... while scoring 29 points dropping threes off the dribble.

if we are going to trade dinwiddie, this is the guy to do it for. his offense is very similar to dinwiddies in both production and style. great athlete, elite defender. tough as nails. championship mettle.

him and baynes would be awesome

Powel has PO next year and to think we can get him is not even a pipe dream, thats straight up delusion. Duh nix for example has their scouts watching according to few rumors.

I think Dinwiddie, 2nds could probably get it done. Powell is going to be due big money and they have some cap issues. coming off injury dinwiddie is a similar player who could cost them less or who may be more likely to pick up his option (prove his health for a bigger deal)

[Paradise]

hope people watched toronto beat milwaukee.... We saw powell completely stifle middleton and also frustrate giannis when he got switched on to him.... while scoring 29 points dropping threes off the dribble.

if we are going to trade dinwiddie, this is the guy to do it for. his offense is very similar to dinwiddies in both production and style. great athlete, elite defender. tough as nails. championship mettle.

him and baynes would be awesome

He's great but what assets do you move there for him and Baynes?

It would have to be centered on Dinwiddie/Shamet to make salaries match.

[Prokorov]

hope people watched toronto beat milwaukee.... We saw powell completely stifle middleton and also frustrate giannis when he got switched on to him.... while scoring 29 points dropping threes off the dribble.

if we are going to trade dinwiddie, this is the guy to do it for. his offense is very similar to dinwiddies in both production and style. great athlete, elite defender. tough as nails. championship mettle.

him and baynes would be awesome

He's great but what assets do you move there for him and Baynes?

It would have to be centered on Dinwiddie/Shamet to make salaries match.

Dinwiddie + Claxton + Perry works. i dont think shamet needs to be included

[vincecarter4pres]

The deal(s) that still make a lot of sense on paper to me for both sides are:

Gordon/Birch

or

Terrence Ross/Birch

for

Dinwiddie/Claxton/filler/2nds

More so the latter, although I don’t think Gordon is worth a ton, in a deal where they bring Dinwiddie on and look to re-sign him, they probably want to keep Gordon and if RoCo landed 2 schmedium 1st’s, twice, Gordon can probably fetch similar.

[Keith Van Horn]

still not crazy about moving Dinwiddie. Come playoff time, I'd love to have him and his big play ability back. Imagine having 2 of him, Harden, Kyrie, KD on the floor at all times.

I'm happy everyone is settling into their roles finally. And I just got to say... to all the "Shamet sucks" crowd that was quite loud here, this dude has gained some big time confidence over the last few weeks and has earned his spot in the rotation now. You can definitely tell he's playing with a crap ton more swagger to his game. Yeah yeah Saddiq Bey... whatever, trade was made and the guy has been working his ass off on both ends of the floor. His decision making with the ball could get better, but if we can get dinwiddie back and alleviate some of the ball handling pressure from Shamet, I think that second unit is gonna explode.

I do think we also still need that 1 backup big who can give 20 minutes a night. I supposed the wait for the buyout market can continue. Happy that Marks has been trying things in the meantime with freebies like Pelle, Vonleh, Roberson, and Shump.

Nash has been doing a great job with the rotation and adjusting where we need to for our opponents. Want to give him credit but I think he's got a ways to go as a coach.

Seems like we've settled on these roles too:

1) Always going to start if available - Irving, Harden, Harris, Durant
2) Potential starters/Essential role players - Brown, Green, Jordan (Dinwiddie should be here)
3) Key reserves with regular minutes every night - Shamet, TLC, Johnson
4) Deep bench guys/Break glass/Blowouts - Chiozza, Roberson, Vonleh (Shump, Claxton)

[zimpy27]

He's great but what assets do you move there for him and Baynes?

It would have to be centered on Dinwiddie/Shamet to make salaries match.

Dinwiddie + Claxton + Perry works. i dont think shamet needs to be included

Raptors value Powell highly and he's the right age for their new core. I can't imagine why they would trade him for that package.

I'd be looking at guys who are good but at a different timeline to their core. Mason Plumlee and Wayne Ellington for example.