Summer League

[TyCobb]

His passing is pretty damn impressive did not know he had that.

[Pattycakes]

I am usually pretty pessimistic but I am shocked on some of the Clingon takes.

I mean we can talk about how his 3 isn’t real but no one has mentioned 5 assist. Or the blocks, or all the shots he altered at the rim.

I think he has looked great. He will be an advanced stats darling and the +/- already shows that.

I hear ya! People just enjoy being hyper critical.

[Norm2953]

Clingan doesn't turn 21 until February

He's going to be a work in progress for he only played 20+ minutes for a championship
UConn team. Most of his points will be as a rim runner for there are no shortage of guys
who need the ball in their hands.

Portland wants him to simply play his role at UConn. He will protect the basket, rebound
and play defense along with set some solid screens

[Norm2953]

Interesting to see Jackie Cui get a few minutes. He'll likely be playing for the Remix this season and seems like an unselfish player

[DeBlazerRiddem]

It's fine for him to play that role for the next couple years. All I am saying is that eventually he will need to figure out how to be somewhat of a scoring threat, learn some post moves or add a shot. He does look like a good passer which it's nice to have as a connecting piece but 5-10 years from now no one is running plays for him without him being able to get his own buckets from time to time which limits how much passing he can really do. His footwork and ball handling on offense is pretty bad as is his shooting motion so I am not sure how optimistic to be in either regard, certainly not impossible just a LOT of work needed. The alternative is to become a DPOY caliber player where teams (still less than ideally) take the hit on offense, but it's hard to count on that.

Sorry if that's too cynical, I actually really enjoy his ability to take up space defensively without fouling, it's incredibly promising on that end and he does have Rudy Gobert potential. I just wish he had something more in his long term projection and I haven't seen what I think that could be yet, the team seems to be suggesting some 3 point shooting ability and that is wildly optimistic based on what we have seen thus far. But he is very young and bigs take a long time and footwork and shooting are things that improve with experience so it's entirely possible.

I'll stop being a debbie downer now.

[The Sebastian Express]

Kris should have been shipped to SAC for some future SRP and we should have used one of our SRP.

After this year I bet it will cost a SRP or at minimum cash to move off him.

He isn’t an NBA player. Full stop. If he develops into a rotation guy I will eat a shoe.

Unlike a lot here, I actually liked Kris' development at the end of the year. I thought he was doing well, showing some promise for an 7th/8th kind of bench guy. but I agree with you now. He should with his size, his experience, his age be putting on a good show at summer league and making good decisions. He is not. This is not a Batum or Rupert situation where they were just young and still learning, needed experience.. Kris is just not showing it.

He should not be getting minutes this year based on what we've seen so far. Maybe that changes in training camp. But I'd like to see Rupert get garbage/spot minutes over him at this point.

I am usually pretty pessimistic but I am shocked on some of the Clingon takes.

I mean we can talk about how his 3 isn’t real but no one has mentioned 5 assist. Or the blocks, or all the shots he altered at the rim.

I think he has looked great. He will be an advanced stats darling and the +/- already shows that.

I agree here too to a degree. His offensive touch.. leaves a lot desired at this time. But he's got an amazing defensive feel for someone his size, I think he'll make smart passes, and I think he's shown the basketball smarts people talk about.

While I would've preferred Matas of the players left and might still, for who was left on the board - I'm good with Clingan so far. Especially want to see how he does with an actual point guard.

[Goldbum]

Kris should have been shipped to SAC for some future SRP and we should have used one of our SRP.

After this year I bet it will cost a SRP or at minimum cash to move off him.

He isn’t an NBA player. Full stop. If he develops into a rotation guy I will eat a shoe.

Unlike a lot here, I actually liked Kris' development at the end of the year. I thought he was doing well, showing some promise for an 7th/8th kind of bench guy. but I agree with you now. He should with his size, his experience, his age be putting on a good show at summer league and making good decisions. He is not. This is not a Batum or Rupert situation where they were just young and still learning, needed experience.. Kris is just not showing it.

He should not be getting minutes this year based on what we've seen so far. Maybe that changes in training camp. But I'd like to see Rupert get garbage/spot minutes over him at this point.

I am usually pretty pessimistic but I am shocked on some of the Clingon takes.

I mean we can talk about how his 3 isn’t real but no one has mentioned 5 assist. Or the blocks, or all the shots he altered at the rim.

I think he has looked great. He will be an advanced stats darling and the +/- already shows that.

I agree here too to a degree. His offensive touch.. leaves a lot desired at this time. But he's got an amazing defensive feel for someone his size, I think he'll make smart passes, and I think he's shown the basketball smarts people talk about.

While I would've preferred Matas of the players left and might still, for who was left on the board - I'm good with Clingan so far. Especially want to see how he does with an actual point guard.

Yeah, I wanted Matas too, but knew when he was still on the board it would be Clingan. I think the Blazers made the right choice, but Scoot/Shaedon/Buzelis/Avidja/Ayton would have been interesting especially with Ant/Toumani/Timelord as your 3rd guard-wing-big.

[BlazersBroncos]

O I totally agree we should have taken Matas. Had him ranked as the best prospect in the draft. Kid is going to be great.

[JasonStern]

So apparently it was POR mgmt who asked Scoot not to play in summer league. If so, why?

As long as Ant is on the team, Scoot will be playing limited minutes \coming off the bench. So no need to hold him out of summer league, I mean Miller\Podz play more\meaningful minutes and they are playing? Just an odd decision, unless something is up with Ant.

I mean why hold out your backup PG, who struggled LY?

Scoot is good enough to not need to get reps in a practice league. Although, getting some practice reps with the new players would have been nice.

What Scoot did you watch last year?

Welcome to Jason's style of sarcasm.

[cdubbz]

Clingan wasn't a strong rebounder at Uconn and he still is not. I've seen a lot of boards slip off his finger tips & him getting pushed out of position. He needs to strengthen his lower body and bully people.

overreaction: I may have been wrong about Clingan.

He has 15 and 11 boards through 2 games. I would say he is rebounding better than expected.

Guy is a monster on defense. Offense has a long way to go. But the kid is one of the tall dudes that plays ball bc he loves ball, not bc he is tall. He wants to win and plays hard. Even if he doesn’t improve at all from this point he should be rotation worthy defensive specialist. And I would be shocked if he doesn’t improve.

He did get good rebounding numbers! I was surprised at that. But just watching him get pushed around in the paint or not be able to secure the rebound when he had the best position due to guys flying in or reaching out and tipping it away.

[Walton1one]

That was a heck of a game by Clingan, doing all the little things that contribute to winning. His passing is good, defense is good, his presence in the paint literally deters players. Rebounding, especially defensively was better this game, scoring still has some ways to go, but overall good game. That game POR does not win without him.

Rupert looks much improved, his drives are strong and he makes some tough finishes because of his length, 3pt looks good. He is clearly an off ball player\finisher right now, which is ok. Dribbling & passing still needs a lot of work. By far the 2nd best player on that team.

Murray is just an enigma, he looks the part, talks the part, shot looks fluid but just underwhelms\disappears for long stretches of the game. He is almost 24, not really seeing it from him, right now. He looks like a fringe NBA player, the type that floats around on the end of the bench bouncing from team to team, can come in for a few minutes, maybe hit a shot, play a little defense, but other than that not much value. Those types of players are dime a dozen.

The fact that he is 24, and Rupert is 20 bodes well for Rayan, he still has some fair room to grow, not so sure about Murray.

Cui looked interesting in his limited minutes, had one of the best plays of the game IMO, with that drive and dish to Clingan. Like to see more of his summer league teammates do the same.

The rest, meh, McGowans can score, but he still doesn’t play very good team basketball, and he Isn’t that good, that a team can overlook that.

Minaya, I give him an a credit, he’s hitting some three-point shots, he’s playing good defense, still think he’s not an NBA caliber player, but he knows his part and plays it well.

PG still stink, Rees? Nice size, nice 3pt shot, meh everything else.

[BlazersBroncos]

Rayan still looks a year away from being a backup even on a bad team - but he does have flashes. I like pushing him to handle the ball but I think in the real league he is going to be, if he develops, a pure 3/D guy that gets like 50% of his PPG from 3PT spot-ups.

Kris has shown nothin that Elleby couldnt do - he isnt a NBA player.

McGowans is a chucker who doesnt do anything but look the part.

Cui is really the only guy that interests me as a 2-way guy - but would rather look elsewhere and maybe sign him to a 2-way if he develops over the year.

[Norm2953]

Cui is signed for an exhibition 10 contract which could be converted into a two way deal if he's
still around in the fall.

Portland has a bit of room under the tax line to take on Cui if they wished. He's an interesting
player that they had in for their last workout who seems unselfish as opposed to McGowan
whom the Charlotte board had a discussion about.

[BlazersBroncos]

Slightly OT but I would love to cut/trade Kris and sign Poku.

Kid played pretty well in his 18 game stint in CHA - no idea why he hasnt been signed unless he is holding out for something.

[Walton1one]

Besides dealing one of Ant or Grant (preferably both), I think they definitely need to explore a 2-3 for 1 trade, including any of Walker\Thybulle\Reath\Murray. I would include Banton on that list, but it appears they might want to hold onto him, same goes for Williams, though I suspect if the right deal came about, he could be moved as well.

[Village Idiot]

Anyone know why Camara isn't playing. Like Scoot he's a second year player. I would have thought he has recovered from his injury. This summer league team with Scoot and Toumani would have been a lot more interesting.

[BlazersBroncos]

Besides dealing one of Ant or Grant (preferably both), I think they definitely need to explore a 2-3 for 1 trade, including any of Walker\Thybulle\Reath\Murray. I would include Banton on that list, but it appears they might want to hold onto him, same goes for Williams, though I suspect if the right deal came about, he could be moved as well.

I would look to SAC who may see value in Kris and could see Duop as a upgrade over Alex Len.

Reath + Kris for McDaniels + 2025 PDX SRP + 2027 SAC SRP

We trim roster space for a LAL move (Grant + Walker for Rui + Vincent + JHS + 2029 FRP + higher of LAC / LAL 2025 SRP) and get a few SRP.

[BlazersBroncos]

I wonder where 13 blocks through 3 games ranks in the history of a rookie playing SL.

37 rebounds through 3 games might be up there historically for a rookie as well.

Rebounding and shot blocking are traits that generally translate from NCAA to SL to NBA.

He might have a lot to learn offensively but what he does well he really does well.

[Butter]

Kris should have been shipped to SAC for some future SRP and we should have used one of our SRP.

After this year I bet it will cost a SRP or at minimum cash to move off him.

He isn’t an NBA player. Full stop. If he develops into a rotation guy I will eat a shoe.

Unlike a lot here, I actually liked Kris' development at the end of the year. I thought he was doing well, showing some promise for an 7th/8th kind of bench guy. but I agree with you now. He should with his size, his experience, his age be putting on a good show at summer league and making good decisions. He is not. This is not a Batum or Rupert situation where they were just young and still learning, needed experience.. Kris is just not showing it.

He should not be getting minutes this year based on what we've seen so far. Maybe that changes in training camp. But I'd like to see Rupert get garbage/spot minutes over him at this point.

I am usually pretty pessimistic but I am shocked on some of the Clingon takes.

I mean we can talk about how his 3 isn’t real but no one has mentioned 5 assist. Or the blocks, or all the shots he altered at the rim.

I think he has looked great. He will be an advanced stats darling and the +/- already shows that.

I agree here too to a degree. His offensive touch.. leaves a lot desired at this time. But he's got an amazing defensive feel for someone his size, I think he'll make smart passes, and I think he's shown the basketball smarts people talk about.

While I would've preferred Matas of the players left and might still, for who was left on the board - I'm good with Clingan so far. Especially want to see how he does with an actual point guard.

Yeah, I wanted Matas too, but knew when he was still on the board it would be Clingan. I think the Blazers made the right choice, but Scoot/Shaedon/Buzelis/Avidja/Ayton would have been interesting especially with Ant/Toumani/Timelord as your 3rd guard-wing-big.

Matas is the high ceiling / low floor that can make or break a GM. Of course, if he turns into Dirk Nowitzski....

Before the draft a lot of the "talking head" content creators were speculating that the Blazers had to find a solid contributor from this draft. I think that's what Clingan turns into, medium ceiling /high floor. Someone the other day said something like Pryzbilla with some more offensive potential. I could live with that.

[DusterBuster]

Anyone know why Camara isn't playing. Like Scoot he's a second year player. I would have thought he has recovered from his injury. This summer league team with Scoot and Toumani would have been a lot more interesting.

Team reportedly didn’t want to risk it after Scoot got hurt in SL last year.