FREE AGENCY 2024

[PDXKnight]

Ugh. Again, the NBA is a business. Bashing on Simons and Ayton proves nothing

saying Simons is absolutely terrible at defense isn't bashing, it's stating reality. Saying he's not an effective wing, not a 2-way player, not a 3&D asset, isn't bashing. Saying he's an undersized SG isn't bashing. Saying that with Simons, this season will be the 10th straight season that Portland has started an undersized no-defense SG isn't bashing. Those are all simple facts

But when Dame was that exact same player at 25, you all seemed to look the other way. Compare stats at age 25. Simple fact?

I don't care what stats show Dame was definitely better at the same age and that's fairly objective I'd say

[m0ng0]

saying Simons is absolutely terrible at defense isn't bashing, it's stating reality. Saying he's not an effective wing, not a 2-way player, not a 3&D asset, isn't bashing. Saying he's an undersized SG isn't bashing. Saying that with Simons, this season will be the 10th straight season that Portland has started an undersized no-defense SG isn't bashing. Those are all simple facts

But when Dame was that exact same player at 25, you all seemed to look the other way. Compare stats at age 25. Simple fact?

I don't care what stats show Dame was definitely better at the same age and that's fairly objective I'd say

I hear you to a point, but Dame was not playing out of position, like it or not Simons is a PG, what would Dames stats look like if he was playing the 2 for 40% of the time?

[m0ng0]

And it's so easy to look with hindsight

[Wizenheimer]

Ugh. Again, the NBA is a business. Bashing on Simons and Ayton proves nothing

saying Simons is absolutely terrible at defense isn't bashing, it's stating reality. Saying he's not an effective wing, not a 2-way player, not a 3&D asset, isn't bashing. Saying he's an undersized SG isn't bashing. Saying that with Simons, this season will be the 10th straight season that Portland has started an undersized no-defense SG isn't bashing. Those are all simple facts

But when Dame was that exact same player at 25, you all seemed to look the other way. Compare stats at age 25. Simple fact?

you mean when Dame was leading the team to 50+ wins and the playoffs? While Simons was leading the team to one of the worst records in the NBA?

at 25, Dame had a PER of 22.2; Simons had a PER of 15.9. Dame had .165 winshares/48; Simons had .068. Dame had a BPM of 4.4; Simons had one of 0.2

Dame has never had a negative BPM and has a career mark of +4.7. Simons is a net negative with a career mark of -1.5

these two players have never been at the same level; never

[m0ng0]

saying Simons is absolutely terrible at defense isn't bashing, it's stating reality. Saying he's not an effective wing, not a 2-way player, not a 3&D asset, isn't bashing. Saying he's an undersized SG isn't bashing. Saying that with Simons, this season will be the 10th straight season that Portland has started an undersized no-defense SG isn't bashing. Those are all simple facts

But when Dame was that exact same player at 25, you all seemed to look the other way. Compare stats at age 25. Simple fact?

you mean when Dame was leading the team to 50+ wins and the playoffs? While Simons was leading the team to one of the worst records in the NBA?

That's disappointing man...

[m0ng0]

saying Simons is absolutely terrible at defense isn't bashing, it's stating reality. Saying he's not an effective wing, not a 2-way player, not a 3&D asset, isn't bashing. Saying he's an undersized SG isn't bashing. Saying that with Simons, this season will be the 10th straight season that Portland has started an undersized no-defense SG isn't bashing. Those are all simple facts

But when Dame was that exact same player at 25, you all seemed to look the other way. Compare stats at age 25. Simple fact?

you mean when Dame was leading the team to 50+ wins and the playoffs? While Simons was leading the team to one of the worst records in the NBA?

at 25, Dame had a PER of 22.2; Simons had a PER of 15.9. Dame had .165 winshares/48; Simons had .068. Dame had a BPM of 4.4; Simons had one of 0.2

Dame has never had a negative BPM and has a career mark of +4.7. Simons is a net negative with a career mark of -1.5

these two players have never been at the same level; never

Nice edit

[m0ng0]

saying Simons is absolutely terrible at defense isn't bashing, it's stating reality. Saying he's not an effective wing, not a 2-way player, not a 3&D asset, isn't bashing. Saying he's an undersized SG isn't bashing. Saying that with Simons, this season will be the 10th straight season that Portland has started an undersized no-defense SG isn't bashing. Those are all simple facts

But when Dame was that exact same player at 25, you all seemed to look the other way. Compare stats at age 25. Simple fact?

you mean when Dame was leading the team to 50+ wins and the playoffs? While Simons was leading the team to one of the worst records in the NBA?

at 25, Dame had a PER of 22.2; Simons had a PER of 15.9. Dame had .165 winshares/48; Simons had .068. Dame had a BPM of 4.4; Simons had one of 0.2

Dame has never had a negative BPM and has a career mark of +4.7. Simons is a net negative with a career mark of -1.5

these two players have never been at the same level; never

I never said they were at the same level, however who was coaching and what was the climate of the west in 2015, and what was the roster? those things are all factors also. How much of those stats grade Dame playing SG? That's one thing people forget is Simons is playing out of position as a SG, most would agree our coaching staff is not good and our roster might have been a little bit below the 2014 2015 roster. You can throw bullsh@t stats at me but the ones that matter are fairly close at age 25. And another thing to factor is by age 25 Dame had 7 years of competitive ball and Simons had 5 and was dropped in to the fire at age 19 or 20? People just seem to wear rose city colored glasses with Dame and his defense prowess and look past that, hell has anyone seen Sharpes defensive rating? I know you have stats that can make Sharpe look like an all pro, and what about Scoot? I just don't understand why Simons sucks and is a one dimensional player when Dame was very much on the same trajectory and there were no pitchforks and torches for him.

[BlazersBroncos]

But when Dame was that exact same player at 25, you all seemed to look the other way. Compare stats at age 25. Simple fact?

you mean when Dame was leading the team to 50+ wins and the playoffs? While Simons was leading the team to one of the worst records in the NBA?

at 25, Dame had a PER of 22.2; Simons had a PER of 15.9. Dame had .165 winshares/48; Simons had .068. Dame had a BPM of 4.4; Simons had one of 0.2

Dame has never had a negative BPM and has a career mark of +4.7. Simons is a net negative with a career mark of -1.5

these two players have never been at the same level; never

I never said they were at the same level, however who was coaching and what was the climate of the west in 2015, and what was the roster? those things are all factors also. How much of those stats grade Dame playing SG? That's one thing people forget is Simons is playing out of position as a SG, most would agree our coaching staff is not good and our roster might have been a little bit below the 2014 2015 roster. You can throw bullsh@t stats at me but the ones that matter are fairly close at age 25. And another thing to factor is by age 25 Dame had 7 years of competitive ball and Simons had 5 and was dropped in to the fire at age 19 or 20? People just seem to wear rose city colored glasses with Dame and his defense prowess and look past that, hell has anyone seen Sharpes defensive rating? I know you have stats that can make Sharpe look like an all pro, and what about Scoot? I just don't understand why Simons sucks and is a one dimensional player when Dame was very much on the same trajectory and there were no pitchforks and torches for him.

Because basically every advanced stat on the planet clearly shows Dame is a star and Simon’s is a high volume scorer who does nothing else.

[m0ng0]

What "else" did Dame do last year according to your "advanced" stats?

[m0ng0]

Dont misunderstand what I am saying, Dame is a top 100 player, but at age 25 the stats are close and yet we want to jettison our best player for nothing? Think man, he has the exact same strengths and weaknesses as arguably our best player ever and yet we dont like him for some reason, until Scoot shows us ANYTHING, Simon's is our PG.

[zzaj]

Dont misunderstand what I am saying, Dame is a top 100 player, but at age 25 the stats are close and yet we want to jettison our best player for nothing? Think man, he has the exact same strengths and weaknesses as arguably our best player ever and yet we dont like him for some reason, until Scoot shows us ANYTHING, Simon's is our PG.

Obviously, nobody is going to change your mind…so I won’t try.

What I’ll say is that if Simons was anywhere close to the PG Lillard is in terms of skill, then this would be a different conversation. You can’t look at raw assist numbers to determine a PG. It doesn’t work that way.

Question: Why do you think the Blazers would have drafted Scoot if they already had their PG in Simons? There were other players at position of need the Blazers could have drafted (Amen comes to mind). Could it be that the Blazers coaching staff and front office, you know the very smart basketball people who know Simons’ skills and abilities inside and out, KNOW he’s not a PG and never will be?

[m0ng0]

Dont misunderstand what I am saying, Dame is a top 100 player, but at age 25 the stats are close and yet we want to jettison our best player for nothing? Think man, he has the exact same strengths and weaknesses as arguably our best player ever and yet we dont like him for some reason, until Scoot shows us ANYTHING, Simon's is our PG.

Obviously, nobody is going to change your mind…so I won’t try.

What I’ll say is that if Simons was anywhere close to the PG Lillard is in terms of skill, then this would be a different conversation. You can’t look at raw assist numbers to determine a PG. It doesn’t work that way.

Question: Why do you think the Blazers would have drafted Scoot if they already had their PG in Simons? There were other players at position of need the Blazers could have drafted (Amen comes to mind). Could it be that the Blazers coaching staff and front office, you know the very smart basketball people who know Simons’ skills and abilities inside and out, KNOW he’s not a PG and never will be?

Honestly I think he was best player available

[m0ng0]

And I hope you don't think I'm dodging your question

[Goldbum]

I know that I'm wrong, but I kinda wish we could nab Nas now that he's been stretched. I think he's got more to offer this roster than say a guy like Reath (only because DA/ClingKong/Timelord). Trading Reath to a team that needs another center for a couple 2nds and signing Nas would be a feel good story for me (especially if we move Matisse).

[PDXKnight]

I know that I'm wrong, but I kinda wish we could nab Nas now that he's been stretched. I think he's got more to offer this roster than say a guy like Reath (only because DA/ClingKong/Timelord). Trading Reath to a team that needs another center for a couple 2nds and signing Nas would be a feel good story for me (especially if we move Matisse).

Are we for sure unable to acquire him? Feels like it's been awhile since the trade went down

[zzaj]

I know that I'm wrong, but I kinda wish we could nab Nas now that he's been stretched. I think he's got more to offer this roster than say a guy like Reath (only because DA/ClingKong/Timelord). Trading Reath to a team that needs another center for a couple 2nds and signing Nas would be a feel good story for me (especially if we move Matisse).

I think the Blazers are going in a different direction, honestly...they already have a glut of players that either don't have an NBA skill or have only one NBA skill at the SF/PF spots. Adding another one that also happens to be made of glass doesn't really make a whole lot of sense, IMHO.

[BlazersBroncos]

I want nothing to do with Nas. Those minutes should go to Rayan.

[JasonStern]

Thanks for taking the time, and your perspective on Deni...to be clear, I believe in Deni as a player and think he's right now the best young player the Blazers have on the roster--if i'm the Blazers i'm building around him and next year's draft pick.

What I question is his ability to be his best on this roster with at least 2 other players in the starting lineup that need the ball in their hands to be effective. Nor do I have faith that Chauncey and Co. will implement something to best utilize Deni.

Are the Blazers going to be able to retain him if he plays well?

Yes. The Blazers can retain him. Ideally the Blazers move Grant before then, but if not - Ayton's contract is up and he won't be getting a max deal in 2026.

Deni also isn't as good of a player as Simons and Ayton. But, oh man is he more well rounded. Like I could see him starting on a championship caliber team. Not as a 1A/1B, but as a glue guy. You'd have to have a really good roster to say that about Simons (mini Jamal Crawford). Ayton maybe if he was chill not having the game run through him, as the center position is less valuable in the modern game.

[JasonStern]

Ugh. Again, the NBA is a business. Bashing on Simons and Ayton proves nothing

saying Simons is absolutely terrible at defense isn't bashing, it's stating reality. Saying he's not an effective wing, not a 2-way player, not a 3&D asset, isn't bashing. Saying he's an undersized SG isn't bashing. Saying that with Simons, this season will be the 10th straight season that Portland has started an undersized no-defense SG isn't bashing. Those are all simple facts

saying Ayton is an overpaid, limited C isn't bashing. Pointing out he's a weak rim protector and mediocre defender isn't bashing. Saying he's a poor passer isn't bashing. Those are pretty obvious realities

here's some interesting numbers:

* last season, with Ayton, Portland was 28th in the NBA in opponent FG% at the rim (0-3"); the Blazers were also 28th in opponent FG% in the 3-10' zone

* in 2022-23, with Nurkic, Portland was 7th in in opponent FG% at the rim (0-3") and 15th in opponent FG% in the 3-10' zone

Portland's rim and paint defense cratered when they went from Nurkic to Ayton, even though Portland's overall defensive rating got better. And their 3 opponent 3ptFG% went from 29th to 3rd so the Blazer issues at the rim and the paint weren't because of bad perimeter defense. It was in large part because of Ayton

And you missed my point entirely. I never said Simons was a decent defender. I never said Simons was a 3 and D guy. I never said Simons was properly sized. I said he's arguably the Blazers best player right now, which shows you the state of the current roster. But you are kind of contradicting yourself when you say that Simons is a horrible defender when he played 34 minutes a game on the 3rd best perimeter defense.

I never said Ayton's contract was justified. In fact, you can find several posts where I said "if Ayton was making half as much, everyone would love him". I never said Ayton was a defensive anchor. He's a slightly worse Andre Drummond as far as player comparisons go. Ayton versus Nurkić is a pointless argument. Nurkić wouldn't be happy at this point in his career playing on this rebuilding team. He was close with Dame. Maybe if he got a ton of touches, but why would a rebuilding Blazers do that? (In before Billups is our coach.) Ayton is young and was taken on as a flyer that he could develop or perform better in a different environment. And he had his moments where you saw what he could be.

[Wizenheimer]

And you missed my point entirely. I never said Simons was a decent defender. I never said Simons was a 3 and D guy. I never said Simons was properly sized. I said he's arguably the Blazers best player right now, which shows you the state of the current roster. But you are kind of contradicting yourself when you say that Simons is a horrible defender when he played 34 minutes a game on the 3rd best perimeter defense..

at no point in time did I say Portland had the 3rd best perimeter defense.

I said their opponent's FG% on three's was 3rd best last season. Simons didn't have a damn thing to do with that as he actually played 600 more minutes for the 2022-23 team that was 29th best. I believe the improvement was due to the recovery and rotational defense of Camara, Thybulle, Brogdon, and Murray. And again, it helped that Simons played 600 fewer minutes last season than the year before. Less Ant will improve any defense

so no, I didn't miss your point which apparently is to prop up Simons and Ayton more than I 'bash' them

just so we're clear: you constantly saying Simons was "arguably" the best player on Portland is not persuasive for me. I've watched Simons for 6 seasons and 330 games. And I've watched the NBA for 50 years. I know where Simons ranks as a player, and it's not high enough to warrant any kind of attachment. I'd trade him for a lottery protected 1st and an expiring in a heartbeat and the Blazers would be better off afterward