Plumlee Scouting Report

[DusterBuster]

Hey Nets fan, can anyone give me a quick run down on the newest member of the Blazers. I really don't know a ton about him. I remember him hyped a lot during his rookie year, he had a good run with Team USA, then kinda disappeared from the NBA radar this season. So, whats up?

[NyCeEvO]

Hey Nets fan, can anyone give me a quick run down on the newest member of the Blazers. I really don't know a ton about him. I remember him hyped a lot during his rookie year, he had a good run with Team USA, then kinda disappeared from the NBA radar this season. So, whats up?

Positives:
—Athletic
—Will throw down a lot of alley-oops/Adds verticality element to team
—Nice kid who seems pretty coachable


Negatives:
—Terrible free throw shooter
—Needs to work on defense (i.e. PnR, man-to-man). Kind of a surprising weakness considering his athleticism.
—Defensive IQ/fouls too much


Overall, I think Plumlee has the most value to a team when he has a few offensive weapons on the court. During his run of great play during this season, we ran a lot of PnR and just threw lobs to him. He obviously had incredibly high FG% during the stretch because everything was a layup/dunk.

However, teams began to adjust. Since we don't have shooters on the team, they kept a defender close to the paint to cut off Plumlee's free runs to the basket off of PnRs. If he went to the paint, he'd either not be open or would get fouled if he received an entry pass. Since he couldn't get to the basket and couldn't hit free throws, he was rendered useless for us down the stretch and in the playoffs.

If you guys have shooters on the floor with him and he is able to run to the basket, he'll catch a ton of lobs for you guys that the defense will need to game plan for. Either they stop Plumlee from throwing down lobs or stay at home on the shooters.

[ecuhus1981]

What's up?! The Blazers need a ski mask, that's what's up!

Seriously, I'm aghast at this trade. Connaughton is the gem of this deal, he's the steal of the draft. He's the kind of "under-sized" but skilled, productive, versatile and clutch two-way player that wins championships these days. Apoplectic.








Anyway, Mason is a role-playing C for the modern NBA. He can finish lobs and other garbage buckets at the rim at an elite rate, and doesn't need "touches" to be effective. He doesn't do much else at a starter's level, but he brings a great attitude and is cheap for his role.

I do like Rondae, but I don't see how his value merited these two guys. PLUS we raise our cap number by absorbing a 35yo PG who wanted to retire a Blazer and will only serve to steal minutes from our young PG's. Yay!

[Paradise]

What's up?! The Blazers need a ski mask, that's what's up!

Seriously, I'm aghast at this trade. Connaughton is the gem of this deal, he's the steal of the draft. He's the kind of "under-sized" but skilled, productive, versatile and clutch two-way player that wins championships these days. Apoplectic.








Anyway, Mason is a role-playing C for the modern NBA. He can finish lobs and other garbage buckets at the rim at an elite rate, and doesn't need "touches" to be effective. He doesn't do much else at a starter's level, but he brings a great attitude and is cheap for his role.

I do like Rondae, but I don't see how his value merited these two guys. PLUS we raise our cap number by absorbing a 35yo PG who wanted to retire a Blazer and will only serve to steal minutes from our young PG's. Yay!

Who's that?

[DusterBuster]

I do like Rondae, but I don't see how his value merited these two guys. PLUS we raise our cap number by absorbing a 35yo PG who wanted to retire a Blazer and will only serve to steal minutes from our young PG's. Yay!

Yeah, a number of Blazer fans area having a good laugh over the Blazers trading Blake.... once again. This is like the 3rd time the Blazers have traded him and the 3rd time a C is coming back (Magloire 1st, Camby 2nd).

A lot of Blazer fans were kinda bummed to see RHJ get traded, they were pretty hyped that the Blazers could get him at 23, but I think most are pretty happy with the trade. RHJ would have been a weird fit with Stotts system due to how weak RHJ projects to be offensively.

[jeff1624]

Positives:

Athletic
Better passer than you'd think
Will always try to dunk when close to the rim
Improved his rebounding and there's no reason why he shouldn't continue to improve in this area.

Negatives:

BAD defensively. Bad at every aspect. Not tall or strong enough to properly defend bigger centers. Not smart enough to defend centers that face up.
Useless offensively 3 feet away from the basket and kills spacing.
Horrible free throw shooter.
Low ceiling, he's already 25.


I wish him the best of luck in Portland, but to be honest I won't miss him. He is what he is and he has twice now been absolutely useless in the playoffs for us. The only reason this trade peeved me was the fact that Tim Hardaway Jr somehow netted a better draft pick than Plumlee. I also disliked that we included Connaughton who I think is a player in this league and fills a need on this team that desperately needs shooting. I could have done without Blake coming to us as well, but he's an expiring so it isn't a big deal.

[Trader_Joe]

Positives:

Athletic
Better passer than you'd think
Will always try to dunk when close to the rim
Improved his rebounding and there's no reason why he shouldn't continue to improve in this area.

Negatives:

BAD defensively. Bad at every aspect. Not tall or strong enough to properly defend bigger centers. Not smart enough to defend centers that face up.
Useless offensively 3 feet away from the basket and kills spacing.
Horrible free throw shooter.
Low ceiling, he's already 25.


I wish him the best of luck in Portland, but to be honest I won't miss him. He is what he is and he has twice now been absolutely useless in the playoffs for us. The only reason this trade peeved me was the fact that Tim Hardaway Jr somehow netted a better draft pick than Plumlee. I also disliked that we included Connaughton who I think is a player in this league and fills a need on this team that desperately needs shooting. I could have done without Blake coming to us as well, but he's an expiring so it isn't a big deal.

Seemed he didn't try to dunk as much this year and wasn't finishing. He gets blocked a lot as well.

Some other things...
Cannot play PF
Mediocre rebounder
Regressed season 1 to 2

[MrDollarBills]

The numbers do not lie, if Plumlee plays consistent minutes he will produce.

[SpeedyG]

Positives:

Athletic
Better passer than you'd think
Will always try to dunk when close to the rim
Improved his rebounding and there's no reason why he shouldn't continue to improve in this area.

Negatives:

BAD defensively. Bad at every aspect. Not tall or strong enough to properly defend bigger centers. Not smart enough to defend centers that face up.
Useless offensively 3 feet away from the basket and kills spacing.
Horrible free throw shooter.
Low ceiling, he's already 25.


I wish him the best of luck in Portland, but to be honest I won't miss him. He is what he is and he has twice now been absolutely useless in the playoffs for us. The only reason this trade peeved me was the fact that Tim Hardaway Jr somehow netted a better draft pick than Plumlee. I also disliked that we included Connaughton who I think is a player in this league and fills a need on this team that desperately needs shooting. I could have done without Blake coming to us as well, but he's an expiring so it isn't a big deal.

I will say that as a positive, Plumlee is a good weakside shot blocker. So bad at every aspect of defense is a tad bit too harsh

[MrDollarBills]

Positives:

Athletic
Better passer than you'd think
Will always try to dunk when close to the rim
Improved his rebounding and there's no reason why he shouldn't continue to improve in this area.

Negatives:

BAD defensively. Bad at every aspect. Not tall or strong enough to properly defend bigger centers. Not smart enough to defend centers that face up.
Useless offensively 3 feet away from the basket and kills spacing.
Horrible free throw shooter.
Low ceiling, he's already 25.


I wish him the best of luck in Portland, but to be honest I won't miss him. He is what he is and he has twice now been absolutely useless in the playoffs for us. The only reason this trade peeved me was the fact that Tim Hardaway Jr somehow netted a better draft pick than Plumlee. I also disliked that we included Connaughton who I think is a player in this league and fills a need on this team that desperately needs shooting. I could have done without Blake coming to us as well, but he's an expiring so it isn't a big deal.

I will say that as a positive, Plumlee is a good weakside shot blocker. So bad at every aspect of defense is a tad bit too harsh

Yeah, the exaggeration is a bit much.

[Rich Rane]

I think I gave up on Plumlee long before the season ended. There were just things that were lost on him. At one point, I felt he couldn't even catch a basketball anymore. The fact that we ran isos for him was just absolutely frustrating though that part's not on him but rather on Hollins. It also doesn't look good for him that he was phased out in 2 consecutive playoff rotations by 2 different coaches.

[jeff1624]

Positives:

Athletic
Better passer than you'd think
Will always try to dunk when close to the rim
Improved his rebounding and there's no reason why he shouldn't continue to improve in this area.

Negatives:

BAD defensively. Bad at every aspect. Not tall or strong enough to properly defend bigger centers. Not smart enough to defend centers that face up.
Useless offensively 3 feet away from the basket and kills spacing.
Horrible free throw shooter.
Low ceiling, he's already 25.


I wish him the best of luck in Portland, but to be honest I won't miss him. He is what he is and he has twice now been absolutely useless in the playoffs for us. The only reason this trade peeved me was the fact that Tim Hardaway Jr somehow netted a better draft pick than Plumlee. I also disliked that we included Connaughton who I think is a player in this league and fills a need on this team that desperately needs shooting. I could have done without Blake coming to us as well, but he's an expiring so it isn't a big deal.

I will say that as a positive, Plumlee is a good weakside shot blocker. So bad at every aspect of defense is a tad bit too harsh

I'd say he's average at best. He's athletic enough where he should be a threat for the block on most plays... but his instincts are really bad. He's usually late on those assignments.

[Claud]

Pros

- SUPER Athletic big man/ high vertical
- Excellent Alley-oop finisher
- Hard worker.
- Good kid.
- Bad on defense but can recover due to athletic ability.
- Has the tools to become better in the right situation IMO.

Cons

- Too easy to guard come playoffs time due to his lack of offensive game... no jumper and no post game.
- Average rebounder in traffic.
- T-Rex arms... he can jump high but his short wingspan limits his ability to be a better finisher around the rim.
- Defensively regressed in sophomore year. He was a lot better during his rookie year with JKidd and KG on the team.
- Low Basketball IQ. Hustles hard but for nothing most of the time... gets offensive boards but can't finish leading to TOs and surprisingly bad on defensive considering his lateral quickness.
- REALLY BAD FREE THROW SHOOTER. Unplayable at times.
- Got all bitchy when he had to back-up Brook after KG left. He needs a vet to keep him in check.

If Portland plans to start Plumlee and Lenard together.... it could work in theory since Lenard seems to be able to hit the 3.. it will be interesting to see how Plumlee's career develops.

[Prokorov]

these reviews on plumlee are harsh, and mostlu because he started strong and finished poor and not the other way around. Go back to some threads from february where everyone was calling lopez a bum and a loser and calling for his head. now everyone wants to build the franchise around him.

Plumlee has his flaws. mainly defending without fouling. and overall when in space on defense he tends to lose his assignment. offensively he is like a poor mans chandler, solid screens, excellent in the pick and roll and finishes everything at the rim. plays within himself, wont take bad shots. "all he does is dunk" is accurate, but at the same time he moves well enough to be in position to get the ball and finish...

as a starter he will get you 15/8 on good efficiecny and frustrate yuo defensively. he has the tools to be average or better defensively.

he really went down the tube last year once lopez became starter again and plumlee was playing with jack/karasev/bogs/mirza/johnson/CJ and a terrible second unit of shot jackers. when he played with the starters he looked much better and i think he would look alot like the 14/8 player he was here when he started with guys like lillard around him.
even lopez didnt look good with this second unit. it wasnt all plumlee on why he closed out the season so poorly

[MrDollarBills]

Plumlee needs consistent minutes and decent players around him and he will produce as a role player. A lot of these reviews in this thread are bull **** honestly, Claud was the most honest out of everyone.

Get him in a situation with a PG that's aggressive and some shooters and he'll flourish.

[Paradise]

Plumlee needs consistent minutes and decent players around him and he will produce as a role player. A lot of these reviews in this thread are bull **** honestly, Claud was the most honest out of everyone.

Get him in a situation with a PG that's aggressive and some shooters and he'll flourish.

Yeah but that doesn't change the fact his defense is still poor and he doesn't box out. He has to develop an offensive game if he won't get better on defense.

[Shark]

I think I gave up on Plumlee long before the season ended. There were just things that were lost on him. At one point, I felt he couldn't even catch a basketball anymore. The fact that we ran isos for him was just absolutely frustrating though that part's not on him but rather on Hollins. It also doesn't look good for him that he was phased out in 2 consecutive playoff rotations by 2 different coaches.

Oh he was definitely having trouble catching the basketball. I don't think he ever had great hands, but at his best he was at least alright in so far as that. And I also agree on that point about running ISOs for him. Completely out of his element. If Portland doesn't put him into that sort of situation then I think he'll be fine. At worse a serviceable rotation big.