Game 81: Portland vs Golden State 7 00pm Chargetv and KUNP

[zzaj]

Yes, Rupert does have a TO

Walker is an RFA

Murray has 1 more guaranteed year left

Reath has a NG contract for 1 more year

Banton is a UFA

Not a single one of those players should get minutes over whomever the Blazers pick at (hopefully) 9th.

Blazers should absolutely let Banton walk. Try and package Murray, and hope that someone offers Walker some money and let him go.

Especially if the Blazers end up drafting a PF, SF, or SG…it’ll be impotant to get that player PT.

[JasonStern]

Golden State. For decades, they were horrible. Absolute trash team. I hated it. I like my regional teams. But for the last decade, they seem to just humiliate us. Like, any "well, at least our young players are developing" gets crushed by some 20+ blowout that reminds you just how far the team has to go to be remotely competitive.

On the plus side non-Blazers related, the Butler and Doncic trades make the playoffs way more interesting. Decent amount of parity this year. Fun time to be an NBA fan - just not a fun time to be a (interrupted by Banton clanking a jumper) Blazers fan.

I dont think Rupert is some blue chip glued to the bench that needs to be unleashed on the league like a Jermaine O'Neal but he has flashed when given PT the past week or two and its absurd to me he hasnt gotten more chances. He has a better chance to become a legit role player than Walker or Murray IMO - younger as well. Just nonsense that we have not given him enough shots to see what we have and now we have to decide on his contract. Then again, we did the same thing with our 3rd overall pick so Rayan getting this treatment shouldnt surprise.

Rupert remains a total development project. But if he hits, he has Batum potential. And I don't think that people realize how few talented small forwards are in the league right now. And the few that are tend to be overvalued. Giving up on Rupert at this point would be foolish, but he still needs a ton of development. Classic year away from being a year away guy. Acquiring Deni decimates the need for him to pan out. But, he has the physical tools if he can develop the BBIQ.

And I mean, he's a solid player. Put up good stats in the G-League. But, Scoot was a G-League GOAT. Then he had to step up and play actual NBA athletes, and suddenly he was easily exposed.