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This will be an interesting experiment. Ayton had some ludicrously lazy plays in Phoenix, but he also really had a grudge against the Suns after the FO refused to pay him and made him get his money as a RFA, so he was purposefully dogging it imo.

Now we get to see if that changes with a team where he doesn’t have animosity towards. It worked with Nurkic after coming over from Denver (until injury), so it’s a total worthwhile swing for a 25yo #1 pick who has proven he’s not a bust.

I really like the dynamic of Scoot coming here and instead of "we need you to go out and score a ton of points" the focus is going to be "we need you to set up this former #1 pick big man and make him look good".

In which case, I think there could be really good chemistry from a Scoot/Ayton combo.

DeBlazerRiddem wrote:I really like the dynamic of Scoot coming here and instead of "we need you to go out and score a ton of points" the focus is going to be "we need you to set up this former #1 pick big man and make him look good".

In which case, I think there could be really good chemistry from a Scoot/Ayton combo.

Yeah, unless Scoot is so amazing they can’t help but have him be a scoring threat, he can legit spend his whole first season just being a playmaker. If everyone stays healthy, between Simons, Sharpe, Grant and Ayton, he has a lot of options to set up for assists.

He looks happy

SpreeS wrote:He looks happy

Truly does, and I can’t wait for EVERYONE to eat crow.

To the 3% that realized early this was a underrated move, congrats.

DeBlazerRiddem wrote:I really like the dynamic of Scoot coming here and instead of "we need you to go out and score a ton of points" the focus is going to be "we need you to set up this former #1 pick big man and make him look good".

In which case, I think there could be really good chemistry from a Scoot/Ayton combo.

I envision ayton playing 3rd fiddle to Scoot and Sharpe in the long run in a best case scenario. Can't see him being a 24 ppg guy but he will definitely have a shot to be a key component if he works on some of his weaknesses

Nba “blazers gonna suck forever now”

Blazers - we likely have a top 10 pg, pf (jerami) and center next year and an elite 6th man in either Ant or Shaedon plus hungry young guys.

Blazers fans - 50% get it, 50% bandwagoners at heart that love to bash Cronin every 2 secs/don’t realize they are bandwagoners that refuse the breakup.

Pattycakes wrote:

SpreeS wrote:He looks happy

Truly does, and I can’t wait for EVERYONE to eat crow.

To the 3% that realized early this was a underrated move, congrats.

He looks beyond happy. I attend somewhere around 15-20 suns games a year, and he really had a shift in body language and effort. It was always pretty inconsistent, but it really seemed like he was unhappy on the court this past season.

It’s definitely a dice roll… he could turn malcontent with us as well. But I think it’s encouraging to see him so happy, and hope he can deliver on his full potential with us. People sleep on how good he is when he’s motivated and focused.

DusterBuster wrote:

DeBlazerRiddem wrote:I really like the dynamic of Scoot coming here and instead of "we need you to go out and score a ton of points" the focus is going to be "we need you to set up this former #1 pick big man and make him look good".

In which case, I think there could be really good chemistry from a Scoot/Ayton combo.

Yeah, unless Scoot is so amazing they can’t help but have him be a scoring threat, he can legit spend his whole first season just being a playmaker. If everyone stays healthy, between Simons, Sharpe, Grant and Ayton, he has a lot of options to set up for assists.

This would make a lot of sense. It allows Scoot to play to his strengths and covers his biggest weakness while he works on developing his perimeter shooting.

Everyone is motivated differently.

Some have an inner-fuel that helps propel them along. Some get that fuel externally.
In the culture of sports, the former gets glamorized…

Ayton registers like someone who is motivated externally, and as such needs the right environment to reach his potential. My hope is that Chauncey knows that and can create that in Portland.

Obviously CP3 and Monty yell-telling him “you ain’t doing $#:+” unless he just rim runs and block shots, wasn’t it.

zzaj wrote:Everyone is motivated differently.

Some have an inner-fuel that helps propel them along. Some get that fuel externally.
In the culture of sports, the former gets glamorized…

Ayton registers like someone who is motivated externally, and as such needs the right environment to reach his potential. My hope is that Chauncey knows that and can create that in Portland.

Obviously CP3 and Monty yell-telling him “you ain’t doing $#:+” unless he just rim runs and block shots, wasn’t it.

That last sentence I think is it too. CP3 has a looooooooooonnnggggggg history of wearing on teammates. Each persons personality will react to that differently, Ayton’s may have just been to stop caring - especially getting that treatment as a young kid still learning the game.

I think Scoot has the kind of personality too that Ayton will gel with. Scoot‘s leadership strengths are that he really puts others ahead of himself. If they really make Ant and Ayton the A1 and A2 offensive options, I have a decent amount of hope it’ll really lead to him having a 20/10 type of season.

zzaj wrote:Everyone is motivated differently.

Some have an inner-fuel that helps propel them along. Some get that fuel externally.
In the culture of sports, the former gets glamorized…

Ayton registers like someone who is motivated externally, and as such needs the right environment to reach his potential. My hope is that Chauncey knows that and can create that in Portland.

Obviously CP3 and Monty yell-telling him “you ain’t doing $#:+” unless he just rim runs and block shots, wasn’t it.

Very true and excellent observation. Ayton doesn’t appear like an intrinsically motivated person, but that doesn’t mean he can’t get or be motivated.

We just gotta figure out his buttons and what makes him tick.

DusterBuster wrote:This will be an interesting experiment. Ayton had some ludicrously lazy plays in Phoenix, but he also really had a grudge against the Suns after the FO refused to pay him and made him get his money as a RFA, so he was purposefully dogging it imo.

Now we get to see if that changes with a team where he doesn’t have animosity towards. It worked with Nurkic after coming over from Denver (until injury), so it’s a total worthwhile swing for a 25yo #1 pick who has proven he’s not a bust.

It will be interesting to see how he plays against PHX in the first matchup this year.

DusterBuster wrote:

zzaj wrote:Everyone is motivated differently.

Some have an inner-fuel that helps propel them along. Some get that fuel externally.
In the culture of sports, the former gets glamorized…

Ayton registers like someone who is motivated externally, and as such needs the right environment to reach his potential. My hope is that Chauncey knows that and can create that in Portland.

Obviously CP3 and Monty yell-telling him “you ain’t doing $#:+” unless he just rim runs and block shots, wasn’t it.

That last sentence I think is it too. CP3 has a looooooooooonnnggggggg history of wearing on teammates. Each persons personality will react to that differently, Ayton’s may have just been to stop caring - especially getting that treatment as a young kid still learning the game.

I think Scoot has the kind of personality too that Ayton will gel with. Scoot‘s leadership strengths are that he really puts others ahead of himself. If they really make Ant and Ayton the A1 and A2 offensive options, I have a decent amount of hope it’ll really lead to him having a 20/10 type of season.

By “him” do you mean Ayton? If so, he’s already an 18/10 player…I would imagine an expanded role could get him 2PPG.
I suspect Grant is going to go back to Detroit style play and will suck up a lot of USG, sadly …although perhaps that is good if the Blazers intend to trade him at the deadline.

zzaj wrote:

DusterBuster wrote:

zzaj wrote:Everyone is motivated differently.

Some have an inner-fuel that helps propel them along. Some get that fuel externally.
In the culture of sports, the former gets glamorized…

Ayton registers like someone who is motivated externally, and as such needs the right environment to reach his potential. My hope is that Chauncey knows that and can create that in Portland.

Obviously CP3 and Monty yell-telling him “you ain’t doing $#:+” unless he just rim runs and block shots, wasn’t it.

That last sentence I think is it too. CP3 has a looooooooooonnnggggggg history of wearing on teammates. Each persons personality will react to that differently, Ayton’s may have just been to stop caring - especially getting that treatment as a young kid still learning the game.

I think Scoot has the kind of personality too that Ayton will gel with. Scoot‘s leadership strengths are that he really puts others ahead of himself. If they really make Ant and Ayton the A1 and A2 offensive options, I have a decent amount of hope it’ll really lead to him having a 20/10 type of season.

By “him” do you mean Ayton? If so, he’s already an 18/10 player…I would imagine an expanded role could get him 2PPG.
I suspect Grant is going to go back to Detroit style play and will suck up a lot of USG, sadly …although perhaps that is good if the Blazers intend to trade him at the deadline.

I guess when I mean 20/10, like 23 maybe 24 a game.

You’re right tho, a lot will depend on the usage of Grant and Ant.

The FO and coaching staff may be pretty motivated to get him to show out tho seeing as he’s the bright shiny new toy they got in return for Lillard. They’ll want him to have a strong year and I could see Billups trying to make him the second option behind Ant or first option depending on matchups, then Grant being the 3rd option.

I think we gotta figure out DA's DNA, Sharpe and Simons can work off of him. The key is is getting DA engaged in the offense.

zzaj wrote:

DusterBuster wrote:

zzaj wrote:Everyone is motivated differently.

Some have an inner-fuel that helps propel them along. Some get that fuel externally.
In the culture of sports, the former gets glamorized…

Ayton registers like someone who is motivated externally, and as such needs the right environment to reach his potential. My hope is that Chauncey knows that and can create that in Portland.

Obviously CP3 and Monty yell-telling him “you ain’t doing $#:+” unless he just rim runs and block shots, wasn’t it.

That last sentence I think is it too. CP3 has a looooooooooonnnggggggg history of wearing on teammates. Each persons personality will react to that differently, Ayton’s may have just been to stop caring - especially getting that treatment as a young kid still learning the game.

I think Scoot has the kind of personality too that Ayton will gel with. Scoot‘s leadership strengths are that he really puts others ahead of himself. If they really make Ant and Ayton the A1 and A2 offensive options, I have a decent amount of hope it’ll really lead to him having a 20/10 type of season.

By “him” do you mean Ayton? If so, he’s already an 18/10 player…I would imagine an expanded role could get him 2PPG.
I suspect Grant is going to go back to Detroit style play and will suck up a lot of USG, sadly …although perhaps that is good if the Blazers intend to trade him at the deadline.

Jerami is still young enough to fit perfect with this squad. People need to stop being so antsy to dump him for potato chips, it may be a blessing Dame brought him here for us.

DusterBuster wrote:This will be an interesting experiment. Ayton had some ludicrously lazy plays in Phoenix, but he also really had a grudge against the Suns after the FO refused to pay him and made him get his money as a RFA, so he was purposefully dogging it imo.

Now we get to see if that changes with a team where he doesn’t have animosity towards. It worked with Nurkic after coming over from Denver (until injury), so it’s a total worthwhile swing for a 25yo #1 pick who has proven he’s not a bust.

Also the Suns made no secret they were entertaining trade requests for him from 2022 which was a constant source of distraction I'm sure.

At the very least Ayton is good for 20 and 10 on the season so he's going to be a huge upgrade for you guys compared to Nurkic.

I think Ayton is gonna really like his new home here in Portland. Remember L&G, he's from the Bahamas, went to U of Arizona, and got drafted by the Phoenix Suns. Welcome to the great Northwest Big Fella.

But nobody here has even mentioned Toumani Camara, and I think he may become a very interesting player, once we finally get a chance to see what he can do. Considering the hiring of the Super-Agent by Cronin, I wouldn't be surprised if this kid ends up being quite good. From the limited video I saw, he appears to have many tools in his belt that allow him to be effective both inside the paint, and out on the perimeter. Looks to have some hops too. We'll soon see.