DusterBuster wrote:Sane wrote:I would be so pissed if I were Scoot haha poor guy this means he's guaranteed not to start next season regardless of how he does this season.
As much as I'm loving the storyline current, I think the Blazers have done Scoot dirty from a development standpoint.
The Blazers should have given Scoot the Cade treatment that the Pistons did. Just **** throw him to the deep end and see what he can do. The Blazers pissed away 2 seasons of development on Scoot... full... ****... stop.
They've now given Scoot the kind of mentorship I've NEVER seen a team give anyone. I almost feel that this might be the most "we're throwing everything at you" roster I've ever seen for a young player. Like... what rookie has had as their mentors... Billups, Holiday and Lillard. If you can't figure it out with that, learn Chinese from Yang, cause that's where you're going.
If by January Scoot isn't showing he's a legit NBA player, he needs to go.
Even Fultz, Fox or Hali didn't get this kind of "we're throwing it ALL at you" treatment.
Yeah you can't de-incentivize the best case scenario for this coming season and also expect the best case scenario. You should expect about 20% less than the ideal realistic scenario.
This kid showed up raw. His first season was basically a college season. This last season he had a good season off the bench in rotation minutes. The coming season should be when he starts and - like Cade - gets surrounded by 4 players that suit his game. That means 3 shooters, a lob threat and 20-ish games to get adjusted.
Right now the way they've set it up, if he has a great season he's still going to the bench the following season. Lillard won't play off ball and Scoot's game is on-ball. Ask anyone who manages any sort of team anywhere in the world - when the best case scenario does not contain a positive feedback loop, you're leaching from the player's natural internal motivation.
In fact the best case scenario on a personal level for Scoot is to get traded now. That's a conflict he will battle with. That's something his agent will bring up, seeping energy from him. The best thing selfishly for his career is to play so poorly that they move him before extending him. Then lots of teams can afford him and he can slightly influence his way to a better situation where he can get a fresh start.
Just really poor management all around imo. The Blazers do not need Lillard. If they wanted him back, they should've waited another year or two when he can most likely be had for the minimum and wants to retire at home. That would have been a nice reunion that's good for everyone. This situation they've created right now imo doesn't have a clear philosophy and culture. The young guys will be confused and territorial. The old guys will blame the young guys. Reminds me of the Raptors a few seasons ago.
