Marquese Chriss Signs with Blazers

[GOBlazers]

6-9 power forwarded drafted #8. Recently played 20 mpg for the Warriors with a PER of 19.5. Coming off of a broken fibula.

https://www.blazersedge.com/2021/9/3/22656706/marquese-chriss-training-camp-trail-blazers-power-forward-center-nba-news-signing-free-agency

Dame / Simons
CJ / Powell
RoCo / Little / Snell
Nance / Chriss
Nurkic / Zeller

This seems too good to be true. Do you think he will never be the same after the injury?

[red_power]

This is another signature Olshey's dumpster diving type of move. Chriss really reminds me of Harry Gilles though. The talented dude who severely lacks size and can't stay healthy.

Hopefully he'll fare better than Gilles did for Blazers, but I'd hold down my expectations here.

[JRoy]

Maybe there’s a reason he can’t stick anywhere despite his talent.

Low risk high payoff move etc

[JasonStern]

I get that we have been waiting for years for a big move, and that it is the off-season. But are training camp signings really new thread worthy?

But on topic, Blazers need to fill the 14th roster spot with a cheap practice body. Chriss or DSJ seem as good as anyone, although Kanter signed for the minimum so the Blazers should have kept him. Failing that, I still like RHJ. Doesn't have the upside, but above average defensive stopper that proved himself playable situational. Not sure Chriss or DSJ do that, although they do have higher ceilings.

[Pattycakes]

If Chriss or Zeller are getting major minutes of any sort at any point, that’s not a good sign. Chauncey is going to have to bring more than a few changes to bring something out of those two. Still have hope, but I’m not holding my breath

[GEE]

Classic dumpster dive for sure. Had a history of being a bit of a headcase, iirc. Not sure that's the best thing for pleasing Dame.

It feels to me, like Olshey is TRYING to upset Dame. It's a huge stretch, but I can imagine Olshey hoping Dame becomes unhappy, so he can move him (maybe in a tabled deal w/ PHI or GS) vs. trying to convince the Vulcans to trade their Cash-Cow. Additional motive would be Olshey regaining all of his power back.

[PDXKnight]

Solid signing imo, who cares about the extra stuff he is minimum and can be waived if he’s a head case.

[Dame Lizard]

I'm not a fan of Chriss' personality - he's had his fair share of very questionable displays of immaturity and poor sportsmanship.

Maybe he's been humbled a bit, he's still only 24 years old.

Given Harry Giles was mentioned earlier, I'd much rather give him another chance than Chriss. I liked Giles from both a talent and character perspective.

[Matt800]

Classic dumpster dive for sure. Had a history of being a bit of a headcase, iirc. Not sure that's the best thing for pleasing Dame.

It feels to me, like Olshey is TRYING to upset Dame. It's a huge stretch, but I can imagine Olshey hoping Dame becomes unhappy, so he can move him (maybe in a tabled deal w/ PHI or GS) vs. trying to convince the Vulcans to trade their Cash-Cow. Additional motive would be Olshey regaining all of his power back.

I read some claims that it was Dame's idea to get Chriss. I think its more likely that his opinion is being heavily factored in, and I'm sure if he is unhappy we'll find out soon enough. He isn't exactly shy about saying what he thinks.

[monopoman]

This is another signature Olshey's dumpster diving type of move. Chriss really reminds me of Harry Gilles though. The talented dude who severely lacks size and can't stay healthy.

Hopefully he'll fare better than Gilles did for Blazers, but I'd hold down my expectations here.

I mean was Giles even given much of a chance to do anything? I'm not saying he would have been extremely good if given the chance, but he was barely put on the court.

Pretty hard for a player to prove themselves when they are used only in blowouts.

[Case2012]

I would prefer Cousins. I know he’s washed, but if he could contribute 50% of what he produced as an all star, that would be huge for us off the bench.

[Warriors Analyst]

I'm a Warriors fan and I am pretty upset we didn't bring Chriss back. He broke his leg after two games last year and if not for that, probably would have gotten 20 minutes a game at the center position once it became clear that Wiseman wasn't ready for significant minutes.

The headcase stuff with Chriss is overblown. It seems that getting ditched by Phoenix, Houston, and Cleveland in a span of a year really made him get his temper together. The thing that really changed Chriss' career was playing at the 5 with the Warriors. From a Zach Lowe article in 2020 where Chriss was listed as one of his Luke Walton All-Stars.

When the Warriors took a training camp flier on Chriss, they expected a shot-blocking menace with limited feel on offense. They had heard rumblings he could pout, and lose his temper. "What we got," Kerr said, "was the opposite of all that."

Golden State often plays through its big men, and it took one practice for Chriss to show he had more passing chops than Warriors brass knew. "We couldn't believe it," Kerr said.

Chriss has dished 3.4 dimes per 36 minutes, more than double his prior average. He is a canny handoff artist, flipping screens back and forth as his recipient -- Damion Lee is a favorite -- bobs behind him. He picks out cutters, and whips passes to corner shooters out of the pick-and-roll.

"I've always known I can pass," Chriss said.

Playing more center (especially late in the season) has helped. The Suns often shoehorned Chriss into a stretch power forward role alongside Tyson Chandler. Early in his career, Chriss insisted he preferred power forward; he is only 6-foot-9.

"I was naive," Chriss said. "I realize now the skill set I have is better for [center]."

Chriss at center is tailor-made to catch lobs from Draymond Green. He should mesh with Eric Paschall.

Serving as the last line of defense is Chriss' main challenge. He can get caught between schemes, overcommit to ball handlers, lunge the wrong way at the wrong time. Golden State's coaches saw progress just before the NBA suspended the season. They appreciate his hustle.

They have also found him pleasant, a good teammate. Chriss is just 22, learning to control his emotions. "I'm an expressive person," he said. "It's hard to hold things in. But I understand now if I'm sulking or have a bad attitude, it affects other people. I have lapses, but I'm channeling my emotions the right way."

I really wouldn't be surprised if Chriss makes it out of training camp with Portland and plays his way into primary back-up C minutes. That's more or less what he did with the Warriors. He was a training camp invite and after one game of preseason, it was very clear that the Warriors needed to sign Chriss. He quickly ate into Willie Cauley Stein's minutes, who was signed to be a lob toy, when it became clear that Chriss was a much smarter player who was better at being a lob toy in the Warriors' system. He's smart about cutting to the hoop, knows how to time his screens well, and developed a nice two man game with the Warriors from that awful season who actually could pass.

On top of that, Chriss is an excellent passer at the C. That's no exaggeration. He was the best passer the Warriors have had since Andrew Bogut and I'm tempted to say that Chriss might have a higher passing ceiling. He's not Jokic or anything, but he's one of the most creative passers I've seen at the C in dribble hand off sets. Seriously. Watch some of these passing highlights from a preseason game in 2019. Keep in mind, this is Chriss with all of a week of time with the Warriors and in Steve Kerr's system.

Watch on YouTube

Look at what he does at :21. Chriss flares up to the left elbow and catches a pass and in one fluid motion, drops it between his legs, without looking, to Steph Curry and then slams Alex Caruso with a screen. Absolutely beautiful stuff.

What really bothers me about the Warriors not bringing Chriss back is that he's probably the center the Warriors have had in the Kerr era who best splits the difference between a Bogut type and Javale type. I cannot think of a C who better fits Kerr's system than Chriss. Sure, he's 6'9, and yes, he's coming off of a broken leg, but who cares? Draymond is going to close at center most games anyway, so all you need is 15-20 minutes a game from Chriss and another 15-20 minutes or so from Looney when you need more defensive ability.

Chriss deserved another shot with the Warriors, especially a full health Warriors team. If Chriss makes it out of training camp with Portland, I wouldn't be surprised if he thrives. I think there's a significant chance that Chriss outperforms James Wiseman next season, and if that happens, I'm going to lose my mind.

Hope you all get to see Chriss do what he does best. He's a fun player and was my favorite player on that 2019-2020 Warriors.

[BlazersBroncos]

I like him as C3, dont think its likely he gets run over Zeller (Who is much more consistent, better screener, better passer, etc) but he has talent and can be a better fallback than Giles IMO (Who hasnt developed any skill since HS).

I hate DSJ types so I would much prefer to grab RHJ but we drafted Brown hoping he turns into RHJ so there is that.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Yup, I don't think we can trust Nurk or Zeller to be healthy all season so gotta have that 3rd string depth. Good option as a player to take a flier on.

[JasonStern]

I would prefer Cousins. I know he’s washed, but if he could contribute 50% of what he produced as an all star

..he would be playing for the Nets or Lakers.

[Case2012]

I would prefer Cousins. I know he’s washed, but if he could contribute 50% of what he produced as an all star

..he would be playing for the Nets or Lakers.

You'd think, but no one has signed him yet. Dame and CJ have both expressed interest in playing with him before and it fits with olshey's reclamation motif. He's more skilled than Kanter but much less efficient. More consistent minutes would probably help. I would've liked Whiteside back too but apparently he turned us down.

[JasonStern]

I would've liked Whiteside back too but apparently he turned us down.

Source?

I know there were rumors that Hood turned us down for the Bucks, and that Melo turned us down for the Lakers. But I never heard of any interest in bringing Whiteside back. Seems like if there was interest, he would have been signed last season instead of signing with the Kings for the minimum.

[Case2012]

I would've liked Whiteside back too but apparently he turned us down.

Source?

I know there were rumors that Hood turned us down for the Bucks, and that Melo turned us down for the Lakers. But I never heard of any interest in bringing Whiteside back. Seems like if there was interest, he would have been signed last season instead of signing with the Kings for the minimum.

I wouldn’t lie to you bro, trust me. For real though, I did read that during the opening of FA but I’m waaaay to lazy to dig that up. By all means try though if you want. I didn’t know Hood turned us down, that’s sad.

[BlazersBroncos]

I would've liked Whiteside back too but apparently he turned us down.

Source?

I know there were rumors that Hood turned us down for the Bucks, and that Melo turned us down for the Lakers. But I never heard of any interest in bringing Whiteside back. Seems like if there was interest, he would have been signed last season instead of signing with the Kings for the minimum.

I wouldn’t lie to you bro, trust me. For real though, I did read that during the opening of FA but I’m waaaay to lazy to dig that up. By all means try though if you want. I didn’t know Hood turned us down, that’s sad.

Why come back here when you could go to MIL? Move makes total sense for Hood, better team, fresh off a ring season, rotation room w/ PJ gone, easy kickout 3's with Giannis (And to a lesser extent Jrue and Mids).

[Case2012]

Source?

I know there were rumors that Hood turned us down for the Bucks, and that Melo turned us down for the Lakers. But I never heard of any interest in bringing Whiteside back. Seems like if there was interest, he would have been signed last season instead of signing with the Kings for the minimum.

I wouldn’t lie to you bro, trust me. For real though, I did read that during the opening of FA but I’m waaaay to lazy to dig that up. By all means try though if you want. I didn’t know Hood turned us down, that’s sad.

Why come back here when you could go to MIL? Move makes total sense for Hood, better team, fresh off a ring season, rotation room w/ PJ gone, easy kickout 3's with Giannis (And to a lesser extent Jrue and Mids).

I didn’t say it was sad for him, i said it was sad to me…