GP2?

[m0ng0]

what is going with this cat? Does anybody have any news? Is he even going to play this year? I heard Quick talk about him and says Physically he is fine, his problems are between the ears?

Anybody know what's shaking with this kid?

[GEE]

My frustration is mounting as well. If we are trying to win, he sure would be a great help right now with Dame and Keon both out as well. Makes winning games very hard to do when 3 of you 4 more natural ball handlers are out. What's up with Keon? Curious about the timeline on Dames sore calf as well. Can he just rub some Bio-Freeze on it already? One of these three need to get right, like a week ago.

[monopoman]

I would assume it's GP not quite feeling 100% yet, I watched Chauncey interviewed about it like 4-5 games ago and he said he wasn't quite sure when GP would join the team. That there was still some issues and it was not clear when GP would play.

It can get frustrating as a fan to have a player that maybe is able to play but is not quite ready yet.

[Goldbum]

Getting Z Collins vibes right now... sure hope they fix this soon.

[BlazersBroncos]

We have the guard depth to let him take his time. GP2 is tough as nails, he isnt milking this. They are just being cautious.

There is not a history behind GP2 being brittle like Zach. You cant extrapolate this single injury and say he is a glass man. Give the kid the benefit of the doubt.

[Case2012]

The recovery time for his injury, which was the same as Dame's last year was either 4-6 weeks, or 6-8, I can't remember, but the surgery was in July or early August which was almost 4 months ago, so I'm kinda frustrated as well with how little we know about his recovery and time line to returning. Using everything Dame has said about the injury as a reference, it shouldn't be a big deal.

The procedure as Dame described it was very simple and he said we was ready to play a few weeks to a month after getting it done, but obviously we were tanking so he rested the year.

Of course everyone's different but Dame dealt with the injury for years and felt recovered very quickly after the surgery, so it's super strange Payton is taking so much time. I've been saying this all year but we need a new training and medical staff, the amount of injuries we've had and how long it's taken for some players to return (why is Keon STILL out?) Is kind of ridiculous.

[ebott]

I feel.like every two weeks there's an announcement that he'll be reevaluated in two weeks.

[soobias]

they might have signed him as a trading chip. i for one dont want to trade him or they might be trying to build up someone else's trade value to make room for him.

[GEE]

they might have signed him as a trading chip. i for one dont want to trade him or they might be trying to build up someone else's trade value to make room for him.

With how teams operate these days anything's seems possible. I had also given the "trade chip" angle a thought. He feels to me like a Brand-New Star Wars action figure that's still in it's original packaging. Point being that his trade value is likely just what it was when he departed G.S. and I don't believe his surgery has affected his that value at all. I really do want to keep him though. I just wish he would shake himself and become available Sunday. We need guard help bad... IT'S TIME TO PUNCH THAT CLOCK GARY!!!

[Goldbum]

Nurk+Hart+GP2 for Ben Simmons works in the trade checker
We would clear enough space to sign D.Favors and convert Badji to a contract if we are looking to keep and develop him(not saying they should but I had him on my board in round 2).

[Blazinaway]

Apparently participated in practice today, no word yet as to when he might play

[DaVoiceMaster]

Nurk+Hart+GP2 for Ben Simmons works in the trade checker
We would clear enough space to sign D.Favors and convert Badji to a contract if we are looking to keep and develop him(not saying they should but I had him on my board in round 2).

Who is Badji? Is that the shot blocker they signed to a 2-way recently from the G-League?

Where is Favors now? I was thinking OKC, but can't remember now.

[DusterBuster]

Apparently participated in practice today, no word yet as to when he might play

I think Shams said aiming to make debut this week or next.

Bummed he's missed as much time as he has. he would have been super helpful while dame was out

[BNM]

Apparently participated in practice today, no word yet as to when he might play

I think Shams said aiming to make debut this week or next.

Bummed he's missed as much time as he has. he would have been super helpful while dame was out

Yep, the latest word is he will make his POR debut in the next 1 - 2 weeks.

https://www.blazersedge.com/2022/12/12/23505548/portland-trail-blazers-guard-gary-payton-ii-return-target-revealed

The Athletic’s Shams Charania says Payton’s return is coming soon.

Trail Blazers guard Gary Payton II is targeting his season debut in the next one to two weeks, sources said.

Here's what the next two weeks looks like for the Blazers:

27 Mon, Dec 12, 2022 10:00p Minnesota Timberwolves
28 Wed, Dec 14, 2022 8:00p @ San Antonio Spurs
29 Fri, Dec 16, 2022 8:30p @ Dallas Mavericks
30 Sat, Dec 17, 2022 8:00p @ Houston Rockets
31 Mon, Dec 19, 2022 8:00p @ Oklahoma City Thunder
32 Wed, Dec 21, 2022 8:00p @ Oklahoma City Thunder
33 Fri, Dec 23, 2022 9:00p @ Denver Nuggets
34 Mon, Dec 26, 2022 10:00p Charlotte Hornets
35 Fri, Dec 30, 2022 10:00p @ Golden State Warriors

I bet he's back in time for the game at GSW at the latest, but I'd like to see him ease his way into the lineup during the upcoming 6-game road trip to help give Dame and Ant a little rest. His defense next to both would be a big plus.

[monopoman]

Unless he brings us some major upgrade at a higher position of need, I have a feeling we signed him to that contract to play. We do have a lot of guards but at least GP II has shown the ability to guard multiple positions.

So I don't see him traded until at least this off-season.

[JasonStern]

Apparently participated in practice today, no word yet as to when he might play

I think Shams said aiming to make debut this week or next.

A week away from being a week away.

[Norm2953]

What role would GP2 play? Is he the third guard behind both Dame/Ant?

[BlazersBroncos]

Excited to finally see GP2. He is such a competitor sitting this long must have driven him crazy. Again, labeling him as Oden or Ezeli is just not fair, he doesnt have a history of injury and the team has enough guard depth to allow him a leisurly recovery.

I think his role is going to basically be a disruptor for 15-18mpg, guarding PG, SG or even SF depending on matchups (He played a wildly surprising amount of SF last year w/ GSW). His energy will be contagious. Bigs are the only guys that can really raise a defensive floor but as far as a non-big can, he is about as good as a defensive floor raiser as there is in this league. I watched a good amount of GSW last season, I dont think it can be overstated the type of urgency he plays this game. Season is about to get much more fun.

I think the minutes should come from Watford w/ the other guys sliding down a spot (SS to SF, Nas to PF).

He brings alot athletically too - will probably be the 2nd most athletic guy on the team getting rotation minutes after Sharpe (Say rotation minutes b/c Brown probably is a better athlete, he just isnt a basketball player).

[Norm2953]

It'll be interesting to see him play but remember he's one of the players who can get traded starting
on December 15 and he could be traded if there are not enough minutes for him.

[BNM]

What role would GP2 play? Is he the third guard behind both Dame/Ant?

The great thing about Payton is he can be effective playing next to either Dame, or Ant, or both of them at the same time.

You sacrifice some offense with him on the floor, but you gain one of the best on ball defenders in the league. He can guard either guard spot and the SF spot against most teams.

I don't expect him to take any minutes from Dame or Ant. In fact, he is the answer to our defensive woes caused by neither of our starting guards being a good on ball defender (both are way below average - as was CJ). I suspect GPII will take a few minutes from Hart and Sharpe, as well as the minutes that were going to Nas prior to his injury. With Payton healthy, there is also no need to have Jerami Grant or Trendon Watford to see any time at SF. Both of those guys can spend all their minutes at PF where they belong. That doesn't mean Payton will be spending most of his time guarding small forwards. He will be guarding the other team's best scorer at the PG, SG of SF forward position whenever he is in the game.

We haven't really had this level of on ball defender since Greg Anthony. Payton is both better and more versatile defensively (Anthony was a better scorer and creator). Imagine finally having someone who can lock down the Steph Curries, James Hardens, Trae Youngs, etc. of the league, while still having the offense provided by Dame and Ant. That's what Payton will give us. In addition to locking down elite scorers, he will also disrupt the other team's offense at the point of attack.

POR has desperately needed that since we had Batum and Matthews. Although Aldridge had the two monster games and Dame hit the walk off 3-pointer, one of the biggest reasons POR won that 2014 series against HOU was the defense Matthews played on Harden. Sure, Harden still averaged 26.8 ppg in that series, but he was VERY inefficient. His TS% went from .618 during the regular season to a very Westbrook-like .519 in that series. Matthews guarded him straight up and did a great job of stopping Harden's penetration without fouling him.

And, Payton is better on ball defender than Wes Matthews ever was.