ClutchPoints Article: Portland Trail Blazers: 4 bold predictions for the 2021-22 NBA season

[BNM]

I'm not familiar with the author (Jack Winter), but found this an interesting read:

https://clutchpoints.com/portland-trail-blazers-4-bold-predictions-for-the-2021-22-nba-season/

I agree with his comments on Larry Nance Jr. I think he will quickly become a fan and coach favorite who will see a lot of minutes off the bench.

I found his take on Nassir Little vs. Tony Snell interesting. I think the organization is really hoping Little can have a breakout year and he will be given plenty a playing time over the first few months of the season to prove it. If he's still not providing consistent, quality play, I think Chauncy may turn to the veteran Snell for consistency post all star break.

Snell is hands down one of the best stand still shooters in the league. He also has good positional size and is at least passable on defense, but really gives you absolutely nothing else. Still, as we have seen over the years, due to the gravity POR's high scoring backcourt creates, there are always plenty of wide open looks available for POR's "others" (the Crabbes, Aminus, Harklesses, RoCos, etc. of the world). While other teams often dared those guys to beat them, none of them could consistently knock down open shots like Tony Snell.

I'd prefer that Little takes a big step this year, but if he doesn't, at least we have Snell as a Plan B.

[DusterBuster]

Just listened to the BS Pod season NBA preview. They all liked Portland this season and thought any likelihood of a Dame trade demand was pretty slim to none and took the over on their record, fwiw.

As a sidenote, I know everyones attention has been squarely on Ben Simmons given the noise he's made this summer and potentially Portland being interested... but the guy I'd keep a lowkey eye on is Karl Anthony-Towns. He shares an agent with RoCo and all indications point to him being pretty open for a trade out of Minny. If you watched any of his media day with the Wolves... let's just say he didn't exactly make his feelings hard to read to the public. I think if he demands out, it will likely stay under the radar a bit and be kind of a surprise deal.

Nurk, RoCo, Little or Simons, then some picks?

[IAMZOOTED2]

Just listened to the BS Pod season NBA preview. They all liked Portland this season and thought any likelihood of a Dame trade demand was pretty slim to none and took the over on their record, fwiw.

As a sidenote, I know everyones attention has been squarely on Ben Simmons given the noise he's made this summer and potentially Portland being interested... but the guy I'd keep a lowkey eye on is Karl Anthony-Towns. He shares an agent with RoCo and all indications point to him being pretty open for a trade out of Minny. If you watched any of his media day with the Wolves... let's just say he didn't exactly make his feelings hard to read to the public. I think if he demands out, it will likely stay under the radar a bit and be kind of a surprise deal.

Nurk, RoCo, Little or Simons, then some picks?

Towns, Dame, n CJ can all score the rock, but the defense? Who is stopping the relentless onslaught at the rim? Nurk for all his warts looks a bit faster than last year. But, LNJ might actually be a better fit for them (now anyways) than KAT

[BNM]

I think MIN's new GM will go all in on trying to get Simmons. I think KAT and Simmons compliment each other very well. They are both very talented in same areas, but flawed in others. I think their strengths and weaknesses compliment each other very nicely. KAT, as a stretch 5, would space the floor for Simmons and Simmons can cover up for KATs' lackluster defense at the other end.

MIN should look to move D'Angelo Russell and a boatload of picks for Simmons. It lets Morey save face by getting the "all star" and picks he has been seeking. Russel also addresses a position of need for PHI. The resulting starting line ups look like:

MIN
Beverly
Edwards
Beasley
Simmons
KAT

PHI
Russell
Curry
Green
Harris
Embiid

[DusterBuster]

I think MIN's new GM will go all in on trying to get Simmons. I think KAT and Simmons compliment each other very well. They are both very talented in same areas, but flawed in others. I think their strengths and weaknesses compliment each other very nicely. KAT, as a stretch 5, would space the floor for Simmons and Simmons can cover up for KATs' lackluster defense at the other end.

MIN should look to move D'Angelo Russell and a boatload of picks for Simmons. It lets Morey save face by getting the "all star" and picks he has been seeking. Russel also addresses a position of need for PHI. The resulting starting line ups look like:

MIN
Beverly
Edwards
Beasley
Simmons
KAT

PHI
Russell
Curry
Green
Harris
Embiid

I would agree that Minny will go hard at Simmons, but I actually think the deal might be Towns FOR Simmons, not to pair them together. It genuinely is clear Towns wants out of Minny, Sixers want an All Star level player in return, Minny has a replacement star level player in the making with Edwards... A swap of those two does make some sense for both sides imo.

[BNM]

I think MIN's new GM will go all in on trying to get Simmons. I think KAT and Simmons compliment each other very well. They are both very talented in same areas, but flawed in others. I think their strengths and weaknesses compliment each other very nicely. KAT, as a stretch 5, would space the floor for Simmons and Simmons can cover up for KATs' lackluster defense at the other end.

MIN should look to move D'Angelo Russell and a boatload of picks for Simmons. It lets Morey save face by getting the "all star" and picks he has been seeking. Russel also addresses a position of need for PHI. The resulting starting line ups look like:

MIN
Beverly
Edwards
Beasley
Simmons
KAT

PHI
Russell
Curry
Green
Harris
Embiid

I would agree that Minny will go hard at Simmons, but I actually think the deal might be Towns FOR Simmons, not to pair them together. It genuinely is clear Towns wants out of Minny, Sixers want an All Star level player in return, Minny has a replacement star level player in the making with Edwards... A swap of those two does make some sense for both sides imo.

What position does Towns play in PHI? Do you force him to pay out of position at PF? For the last five seasons he has played 100% of his minutes at center. The year before that, his rookie year, he played 98% of his minutes at center. He is not stretch 4, at least not defensively. He is a weak defender, as is, and playing him out of position guarding stretch 4s will only make that worse.

If you play Towns at PF what happens to Harris? Do you also force him to play out of position at SF, or does he become the highest paid back up in the league? I don't think playing two below average defenders (and I'm being kind in Towns' case) out of position and forcing them to guard smaller, faster players out to the 3-point line is a good plan.

[DusterBuster]

I think MIN's new GM will go all in on trying to get Simmons. I think KAT and Simmons compliment each other very well. They are both very talented in same areas, but flawed in others. I think their strengths and weaknesses compliment each other very nicely. KAT, as a stretch 5, would space the floor for Simmons and Simmons can cover up for KATs' lackluster defense at the other end.

MIN should look to move D'Angelo Russell and a boatload of picks for Simmons. It lets Morey save face by getting the "all star" and picks he has been seeking. Russel also addresses a position of need for PHI. The resulting starting line ups look like:

MIN
Beverly
Edwards
Beasley
Simmons
KAT

PHI
Russell
Curry
Green
Harris
Embiid

I would agree that Minny will go hard at Simmons, but I actually think the deal might be Towns FOR Simmons, not to pair them together. It genuinely is clear Towns wants out of Minny, Sixers want an All Star level player in return, Minny has a replacement star level player in the making with Edwards... A swap of those two does make some sense for both sides imo.

What position does Towns play in PHI? Do you force him to pay out of position at PF? For the last five seasons he has played 100% of his minutes at center. The year before that, his rookie year, he played 98% of his minutes at center. He is not stretch 4, at least not defensively. He is a weak defender, as is, and playing him out of position guarding stretch 4s will only make that worse.

If you play Towns at PF what happens to Harris? Do you also force him to play out of position at SF, or does he become the highest paid back up in the league? I don't think playing two below average defenders (and I'm being kind in Towns' case) out of position and forcing them to guard smaller, faster players out to the 3-point line is a good plan.

I don't really think playing Towns at PF and Harris at SF is really playing them "out of position". Harris in particular I know has played some SF extensively for past teams he's been on. They're both talented and versatile enough to play those positions imo.

[BNM]

I would agree that Minny will go hard at Simmons, but I actually think the deal might be Towns FOR Simmons, not to pair them together. It genuinely is clear Towns wants out of Minny, Sixers want an All Star level player in return, Minny has a replacement star level player in the making with Edwards... A swap of those two does make some sense for both sides imo.

What position does Towns play in PHI? Do you force him to pay out of position at PF? For the last five seasons he has played 100% of his minutes at center. The year before that, his rookie year, he played 98% of his minutes at center. He is not stretch 4, at least not defensively. He is a weak defender, as is, and playing him out of position guarding stretch 4s will only make that worse.

If you play Towns at PF what happens to Harris? Do you also force him to play out of position at SF, or does he become the highest paid back up in the league? I don't think playing two below average defenders (and I'm being kind in Towns' case) out of position and forcing them to guard smaller, faster players out to the 3-point line is a good plan.

I don't really think playing Towns at PF and Harris at SF is really playing them "out of position". Harris in particular I know has played some SF extensively for past teams he's been on. They're both talented and versatile enough to play those positions imo.

The last time Harris played more that 30% of his minutes at SF was 7 years and 4 teams ago. PHI did try to play him part time (less than 25%) at SF two years ago when PHI was starting Al Horford at the 4. That didn't work out too well and PHI traded Horford for Danny Green so Harris could return to his best position at PF.

Of course, Horford isn't close to the player KAT is offensively, but on the other hand, KAT isn't close to the player Horford is defensively. And that's where I see the problem. Other than a handful of minutes his rookie year KAT has ever had to guard smaller, faster players on the perimeter. Teams will hunt him mercilessly in the pick and roll and pick and pop. Playing players out of their best, natural position doesn't usually work very well, especially when they are already abysmally weak defensively at their best position.

[JasonStern]

As a sidenote, I know everyones attention has been squarely on Ben Simmons given the noise he's made this summer and potentially Portland being interested... but the guy I'd keep a lowkey eye on is Karl Anthony-Towns. He shares an agent with RoCo and all indications point to him being pretty open for a trade out of Minny. If you watched any of his media day with the Wolves... let's just say he didn't exactly make his feelings hard to read to the public. I think if he demands out, it will likely stay under the radar a bit and be kind of a surprise deal.

Nurk, RoCo, Little or Simons, then some picks?

Would love a KAT trade, and would be fine overpaying (as opposed to Simmons). But that's a fairly weak offer that several teams would easily beat.

[DusterBuster]

As a sidenote, I know everyones attention has been squarely on Ben Simmons given the noise he's made this summer and potentially Portland being interested... but the guy I'd keep a lowkey eye on is Karl Anthony-Towns. He shares an agent with RoCo and all indications point to him being pretty open for a trade out of Minny. If you watched any of his media day with the Wolves... let's just say he didn't exactly make his feelings hard to read to the public. I think if he demands out, it will likely stay under the radar a bit and be kind of a surprise deal.

Nurk, RoCo, Little or Simons, then some picks?

Would love a KAT trade, and would be fine overpaying (as opposed to Simmons). But that's a fairly weak offer that several teams would easily beat.

Fair, but yeah, unlike Simmons, I would do the CJ and a pickup truck filled with FRP's for KAT.