Making Sense of a Senseless Summer

[Wizenheimer]

Does anyone else think Scoot is going to start this year even if they keep Jrue? I feel like the most likely scenario is he starts over Grant and the lineup is Scoot/Jrue/Deni/Camara/Clingan.

really doubt it

I'd say the most likely is Jrue-Sharpe-Camara-Avdija-Clingan

2nd most likely may be Jrue-Camara-Grant-Avdija-Clingan

I don't think there's a scenario where Scoot starts and Sharpe doesn't, other than injury

[zzaj]

the full Scoot training vid, w/Chris Johnson a Derek Fischer:
https://youtu.be/qqtXtvsrzmw?si=WoAJVvT78jDpm1w8

[oldfishermen]

This post is for pure fun. Not a spec of knowledge or wisdom applied.

Q. If this senseless summer season was a movie, which movie would it be?

When you combine the out of control chaos created by all of the players, with no-one in control. Resulting in unexpected plot twistes, with no direction. And a big happy weird ending. One movie comes to mind. Mars Attacks.

Somehow, Cronin played by Jack Nicholson just makes sense.

Brain fart/rot over.

[Walton1one]

Does anyone else think Scoot is going to start this year even if they keep Jrue? I feel like the most likely scenario is he starts over Grant and the lineup is Scoot/Jrue/Deni/Camara/Clingan.

really doubt it

I'd say the most likely is Jrue-Sharpe-Camara-Avdija-Clingan

2nd most likely may be Jrue-Camara-Grant-Avdija-Clingan

I don't think there's a scenario where Scoot starts and Sharpe doesn't, other than injury

as long as Billups is coach and those guys are on the team THIS will be the starting lineup,

Sharpe Y4 on the bench

Scoot Y3, on the bench

I bet you they can't wait to resign here for another 3? years of this

[Braggins]

the full Scoot training vid, w/Chris Johnson a Derek Fischer:
https://youtu.be/qqtXtvsrzmw?si=WoAJVvT78jDpm1w8

I'm so glad the front office has added some good passers to the roster with Deni, Jrue, and Yang. Scoots spot up shooting is already pretty decent and hes actually a decent cutter for a PG, but this team up until recently hasn't had any other players with good vision to set him up for some easy buckets.

[GEE]

I have to ask... Does anyone else think that bringing Dame back was a Bert move Vs. a Cronin one? I just get the feeling that those two may be the reason for the indirection, back and forth fence-straddling. Not sure I like Bert.

[PDXKnight]

I have to ask... Does anyone else think that bringing Dame back was a Bert move Vs. a Cronin one? I just get the feeling that those two may be the reason for the indirection, back and forth fence-straddling. Not sure I like Bert.

Regardless of who made the call I think anybody who wouldnt sign Dame for the mle ought to be fired on the spot. You dont turn down all star (or close to it) level players especially on the cheap in a small market.

Basketball wise its an odd move but with what Dame has done here and what he represents to this city, maybe also there being some fan support and some momentum toward keeping the team in Portland as a result of the fan support growing, and just the value for the cost you take that gamble every time and find a spot for him in the mix of things.

Now ill be the first to admit Dame's defense stinks, his offensive prowess is in decline and he isnt the same player anymore. But hes still better than anyone on this current roster and even at 36 might as well sign that sort of player for this cheap a price. Maybe if the right deal comes around just take a gamble and cash in the chips for 1-2 seasojs if you can pull a miracle giannis or jokic trade. If not at least it makes us competitive after years of mediocrity.

[DusterBuster]

I have to ask... Does anyone else think that bringing Dame back was a Bert move Vs. a Cronin one? I just get the feeling that those two may be the reason for the indirection, back and forth fence-straddling. Not sure I like Bert.

If you watched the press conference, it's Cronin and not even that questionable.

I would also start to question just how much Bert is still in the picture for basketball moves this summer with the team sale actually underway. Bert's likely only directive to Cronin was make this team interesting, don't **** up the books and don't waste future assets for the new owners.

If you watch the press conference, Cronin smiled through the whole thing in a way that wasn't just something putting on a happy face for a quick presser after the draft or anything, that was genuine happiness with Joe through every moment. So if he had minimal oversight, it seems pretty clear this was a Cronin move 10000%. He probably never wanted to be the guy who had to trade a franchise icon - particularly one who he had a close relationship with. So getting to also be the guy who brings a franchise icon back and repair a relationship / clear the air... Looking at it from the human element, you'll take that chance every moment.

Additionally, Bert is documented as a guy who in the past hasn't wanted ex-players back. If Bert was still intimately involved here with the BBall side, he probably would have nixed this like he did with Aldridge and Clyde years ago.

Bert's influence since Paul's passing has likely been overblown, especially since the sale has gotten more and more front-facing of an issue.

[DusterBuster]

If anything, this might even be more of a Billups decision than a Joe or Bert decision...

Read on Twitter

We've spent so many years thinking just firing a GM or coach is the way forward that we haven't just considered, this is what we're gonna have to work with for a bit... when/if things start clicking, it might get harder and that's when GMs and coaches start getting fired.

Just cause this isn't the kind of coach I want or the direction I would have GM'd a team doesn't mean any of us are right.

[PDXKnight]

^not much mention of jrue in the conference either..

[DusterBuster]

^not much mention of jrue in the conference either..

I've brought this up too in other threads. In light of the Dame signing, the lack of any Jrue mention almost anywhere feels very strange. I still believe the Blazers would like to have both, but man this is sticking out like a sore thumb for the whole summer, especially now.

I mean, the Blazers PR is in overdrive for Dame - and understandably so - which makes the lack of literally anything but a 2min video of Jrue meeting the FO and coaches in after arriving in the PF stranger.

If they feel as energized about having Jrue and Jrue was here to be a team player, you'd think Cronin and Billups would want to still do some sort of celebration for Jrue.

Maybe its less sus than I think, maybe they just want the Dame news to fall out of the media echo chamber or maybe after Dame, they feel a Jrue intro now would be so underwhelming compared, so it would be viewed as almost disrespectful? Or maybe it's just been agreed with Jrue's reps that this is a short-stop, they can't trade him now but will try in-season so why do a big PR intro with pomp and circumstance if it's known they're gonna be looking to move him?

Knowing Dame too, I have such a hard time he wouldn't even mention Jrue in passing during the presser he just did. It felt... deliberate that the first current Blazer he mentioned was Scoot. He went through all the other young guys and a good amount of the roster (but granted didn't mention the vets like Tis or JG...), even Yang post-presser w/ Holdal.

Just weird...

[PDXKnight]

^not much mention of jrue in the conference either..

I've brought this up too in other threads. In light of the Dame signing, the lack of any Jrue mention almost anywhere feels very strange. I still believe the Blazers would like to have both, but man this is sticking out like a sore thumb for the whole summer, especially now.

I mean, the Blazers PR is in overdrive for Dame - and understandably so - which makes the lack of literally anything but a 2min video of Jrue meeting the FO and coaches in after arriving in the PF stranger.

If they feel as energized about having Jrue and Jrue was here to be a team player, you'd think Cronin and Billups would want to still do some sort of celebration for Jrue.

Maybe its less sus than I think, maybe they just want the Dame news to fall out of the media echo chamber or maybe after Dame, they feel a Jrue intro now would be so underwhelming compared, so it would be viewed as almost disrespectful? Or maybe it's just been agreed with Jrue's reps that this is a short-stop, they can't trade him now but will try in-season so why do a big PR intro with pomp and circumstance if it's known they're gonna be looking to move him?

Knowing Dame too, I have such a hard time he wouldn't even mention Jrue in passing during the presser he just did. It felt... deliberate that the first current Blazer he mentioned was Scoot. He went through all the other young guys and a good amount of the roster (but granted didn't mention the vets like Tis or JG...), even Yang post-presser w/ Holdal.

Just weird...

Definitely weird. Feels as if he doesn't want to be here but maybe they're trying to sell him on the vision going forward. I will say chauncey's remarks about shaedon not doing well enough defensively perhaps point to jrue starting next to scoot thybulle or Camara in the back court but even then if that was the plan you'd think itd be mentioned along the line

[DC_Melo]

Does anyone else think Scoot is going to start this year even if they keep Jrue? I feel like the most likely scenario is he starts over Grant and the lineup is Scoot/Jrue/Deni/Camara/Clingan.

really doubt it

I'd say the most likely is Jrue-Sharpe-Camara-Avdija-Clingan

2nd most likely may be Jrue-Camara-Grant-Avdija-Clingan

I don't think there's a scenario where Scoot starts and Sharpe doesn't, other than injury

I understand your skepticism given Billups' history with veterans v rookie contract players, but everything I've heard from Billups this offseason, including summer league interviews and even his tone in Dame's presser towards Scoot, leads me to believe he sees Scoot as the guy. His own words last week were something to the effect of "Scoot is going to have a breakout year, Blazer fans watch out" (Paraphrased, Chauncey said it on air during the broadcast of an SL game).

So, listening to how Chauncey has been talking about it, I think there's a chance. There's also a good chance I'm completely wrong here so who knows lol... but I predict Chauncey is going to make the role of starting PG an open tryout position during training camp this year.

[zzaj]

As a hunch, I think that Scoot is in line for a pretty big skill bump. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see a starting backcourt of Scoot/Jrue. In a way that makes sense if the Blazers plan on playing 5 out with Yang off the bench handling in delay action, as he did in SL. A Yang facilitating at the top of the key with Sharpe as a cutter and DHO guy makes a lot of sense.

Again, just a hunch...but I think Billups is going to be less Macmillan with his rotations, and more based on feel this year.

[Wizenheimer]

Again

over the last 3 seasons Chauncey had 437 opportunities to start a player other than Simons-Ayton-Grant. 437 chances. And he chose to experiment exactly 0 times

he now has a player unarguably better than Simons who plays high caliber defense in Jrue and who actually knows how to run an offense. Meanwhile, he's had Scoot for 128 games and has only started him 42 times. And, he benched Sharpe, supposedly because of defense, when Simons kept starting while playing the worst defense on the team

he trusts veterans; he has a mandate to win games this year, like last year (when Scoot only started 10 games). And you guys think he's going to start Scoot over Jrue when Jrue has started 530 of his last 533 games and did so on two championship teams?

I guess it's 'never say never' but I just can't see it

[DusterBuster]

Again

over the last 3 seasons Chauncey had 437 opportunities to start a player other than Simons-Ayton-Grant. 437 chances. And he chose to experiment exactly 0 times

he now has a player unarguably better than Simons who plays high caliber defense in Jrue and who actually knows how to run an offense. Meanwhile, he's had Scoot for 128 games and has only started him 42 times. And, he benched Sharpe, supposedly because of defense, when Simons kept starting while playing the worst defense on the team

he trusts veterans; he has a mandate to win games this year, like last year (when Scoot only started 10 games). And you guys think he's going to start Scoot over Jrue when Jrue has started 530 of his last 533 games and did so on two championship teams?

I guess it's 'never say never' but I just can't see it

I'm of this thought too. Vets just get defacto starting jobs under most coaches (not even a knock on Billups, this is just kind of a thing in the NBA). So working off that assumption, you have "locked in" starters of Jrue and Grant. At this point, I think you have to consider Camara a locked in starter as well, he's an All NBA defensive guy now, you don't goto the bench with those kinds of accolades. Clingan just sort of is starter by default at this point. So right there you're at 4 pretty clear starters, which leaves a final spot for one of Deni, Scoot and Sharpe... it seems clear who that fourth starter is going to be (Deni).

Again, had they bought out or moved Grant, this would all be a lot simpler, but that's clearly not going to happen. Billups SHOULD ask Grant to come off the bench, but I will truly be pretty shocked if he does. Who knows, maybe some start of camp / season injuries will pop up and make this all moot. We're working under the assumption of a team at full health, which is rare.

If I had my way, I think my opening day rotation would be this:

Scoot/Holiday
Holiday/Sharpe
Camara/Ties
Deni/Grant
Clingan/Yang

Holiday probably only sees like 15min or so at SG, another 15 as the PG of the second unit. Sharpe can still be pushing 30mpg as basically the only pure SG, Grant's value only tanks more because it's probably gonna be hard to get him above 25min a game. Ties and Yang probably the odd men out in that rotation - both around 10-15mpg players and a lot of small ball by the Blazers when Clingan is resting.

But again, my suspicion (barring injuries) is Tou slides to the starting SG spot to start the year, Deni and Grant are starting forwards.

It's certainly going to be a really interesting juggling act for Billups and I'm curious to see how it's gonna shake out... It is a flexible roster that you can throw a lot of different looks at teams with. If Jrue and Dame in the lockerroom can keep the team just focused and not bitching about minutes or starting or anything, than it could work and I'm not gonna bother stressing over it too much.

[Dame Lizard]

Again

over the last 3 seasons Chauncey had 437 opportunities to start a player other than Simons-Ayton-Grant. 437 chances. And he chose to experiment exactly 0 times

he now has a player unarguably better than Simons who plays high caliber defense in Jrue and who actually knows how to run an offense. Meanwhile, he's had Scoot for 128 games and has only started him 42 times. And, he benched Sharpe, supposedly because of defense, when Simons kept starting while playing the worst defense on the team

he trusts veterans; he has a mandate to win games this year, like last year (when Scoot only started 10 games). And you guys think he's going to start Scoot over Jrue when Jrue has started 530 of his last 533 games and did so on two championship teams?

I guess it's 'never say never' but I just can't see it

I'm of this thought too. Vets just get defacto starting jobs under most coaches (not even a knock on Billups, this is just kind of a thing in the NBA). So working off that assumption, you have "locked in" starters of Jrue and Grant. At this point, I think you have to consider Camara a locked in starter as well, he's an All NBA defensive guy now, you don't goto the bench with those kinds of accolades. Clingan just sort of is starter by default at this point. So right there you're at 4 pretty clear starters, which leaves a final spot for one of Deni, Scoot and Sharpe... it seems clear who that fourth starter is going to be (Deni).

Again, had they bought out or moved Grant, this would all be a lot simpler, but that's clearly not going to happen. Billups SHOULD ask Grant to come off the bench, but I will truly be pretty shocked if he does. Who knows, maybe some start of camp / season injuries will pop up and make this all moot. We're working under the assumption of a team at full health, which is rare.

If I had my way, I think my opening day rotation would be this:

Scoot/Holiday
Holiday/Sharpe
Camara/Ties
Deni/Grant
Clingan/Yang

Holiday probably only sees like 15min or so at SG, another 15 as the PG of the second unit. Sharpe can still be pushing 30mpg as basically the only pure SG, Grant's value only tanks more because it's probably gonna be hard to get him above 25min a game. Ties and Yang probably the odd men out in that rotation - both around 10-15mpg players and a lot of small ball by the Blazers when Clingan is resting.

But again, my suspicion (barring injuries) is Tou slides to the starting SG spot to start the year, Deni and Grant are starting forwards.

It's certainly going to be a really interesting juggling act for Billups and I'm curious to see how it's gonna shake out... It is a flexible roster that you can throw a lot of different looks at teams with. If Jrue and Dame in the lockerroom can keep the team just focused and not bitching about minutes or starting or anything, than it could work and I'm not gonna bother stressing over it too much.

I see the appeal in buying out Grant, but we can always do that later on. There's no clock for that. Meanwhile there's a chance that he rediscovers his 2022-2024 form and becomes neutral value and could be traded for an expiring.

More than anything I hope that Billups has a merit based rotation, which isn't influenced by Grant and his gigantic contract (thanks Cronin).

[DusterBuster]

I see the appeal in buying out Grant, but we can always do that later on. There's no clock for that. Meanwhile there's a chance that he rediscovers his 2022-2024 form and becomes neutral value and could be traded for an expiring.

More than anything I hope that Billups has a merit based rotation, which isn't influenced by Grant and his gigantic contract (thanks Cronin).

At this point, and given all the moves that have transpired this summer, I agree.

[DaVoiceMaster]

I think they'd have done it by now if that were the plan. Perhaps Lillard returning is exactly what Grant needed to stop moving around and actually play decent ball again.

[Walton1one]

John Hollinger\Athletic via Blazer's Edge

If you’re one of those people who likes to plot out multi-layered conspiracies with charts and arrows, there’s also plenty of room for that type of thinking. Between the impending sale of the team, the Lillard move and the surprise selection of Chinese center Yang Hansen in the first round of June’s draft, a lot of the conversation in Vegas was about whether the Blazers are making purely basketball decisions right now. How much does the optics for a potential buyer influence the basketball choices?

You could add trading for Jrue to this as well, but yeah drafting a project like Yang sure seems more about China clicks than what he likely provides on an NBA court....Signing Dame with Scoot\Sharpe on the team and Jrue with 3 years on his contract...These are moves of a team pretending to be something they are not...playoff contender worthy....

This is a front office angling for anything but what is best for the team LONG TERM, just like they did several years ago....

Making a playin\playoffs serves little positive purpose and a major negative one (loss of 26' draft pick in a likely very strong draft), but very few of Cronin's moves have made sense to anyone else but him. The fact that other front office personnel are shaking their heads at POR bizarre moves is not proof he is some mad genius, but instead proof he doesn't know what the heck he is doing.

https://www.blazersedge.com/2025/7/23/24473333/damian-lillard-yang-hanson-expansion-moda-center-arena-team-sale