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Just sitting here thinking how much better our team would be and look if we had drafted Chet instead of Paolo Better defender, rebounder, rim protector, and three point shooter—would be perfect fit…

Again, I’m not a Paolo hater, I’m a hater on the fact we are forcing this perspective of him being a super star or number one player on a contending team… He is more likely the third best player on a contending team—if we don’t realize this we will mortgage our future and over pay him and possibly lose players that should be more of a focal point (Franz and Fultz)…

Chet specifically? No.

I was in the “trade back in take Shaedon Sharpe” boat.

But, as many will tell you, I have been questioning Paolo since beginning of last year…

I think he’s incredibly talented but he isn’t “the guy”, he’s a poor man’s Julius Randle—worse shooter/rebounder and has no “dog” in his game…

Look back at film for last night—he makes decent drives to lane and 100% of the time attacks rim trying to lay it up… You’re 6’9” and built like an ox, dunk the damn ball…

got it. Didn't mean to delete my post--meant to edit it to clarify I was asking about your thoughts on Paolo during last year as obviously chet was hurt.

Sophomore slump is a real thing for many players. Paolo just has to snap out of it

IBTL

djguevara114 wrote:Chet specifically? No.

I was in the “trade back in take Shaedon Sharpe” boat.

But, as many will tell you, I have been questioning Paolo since beginning of last year…

I think he’s incredibly talented but he isn’t “the guy”, he’s a poor man’s Julius Randle—worse shooter/rebounder and has no “dog” in his game…

Look back at film for last night—he makes decent drives to lane and 100% of the time attacks rim trying to lay it up… You’re 6’9” and built like an ox, dunk the damn ball…

This is where I was too. Loved Sharpe!

Chet was too skinny and frail.
Jabari was either a wing who couldn't dribble or a big who couldn't defend the post.
Paolo was a big who couldn't shoot or defend the post.

Turns out Paolo is a good transition or help defender, which helps his value. He is also a better ball handler and playmaker than originally seen. He can still be a star, but playing next to Franz hurts him. Franz is more aggressive, takes bigger shots, is a 3pt shooter, and delivers more consistently. Being a ball distributor and having that kind of mentality actually hurts Paolo more than helps. He needs to be more selfish in order to take the next step. 9 point games against the Lakers isn't doing himself or anyone else favors.

I thought he was going to step up in Year 2 as a better shooter from deep, but right now, his range is downright atrocious. 16.7% from 3 says he didn't practice that part of his game at all. Mike Miller isn't doing him ANY favors.

I would trade Paolo for Sharpe straight up right now, but POR would probably say no.

djguevara114 wrote:Just sitting here thinking how much better our team would be and look if we had drafted Chet instead of Paolo Better defender, rebounder, rim protector, and three point shooter—would be perfect fit…

Again, I’m not a Paolo hater, I’m a hater on the fact we are forcing this perspective of him being a super star or number one player on a contending team… He is more likely the third best player on a contending team—if we don’t realize this we will mortgage our future and over pay him and possibly lose players that should be more of a focal point (Franz and Fultz)…

First, Franz is the best player on the team currently. He’s a national champion. So your theory is already incorrect about being the #1 option.

Second, I’m happy we didn’t take the walking injury Marfan Syndrome guy or the 3 point specialist role player that can’t defend with a #1 overall pick. Sharpe isn’t taking the Blazers anywhere.

Third, Fultz is not a focal point of any offense. He’s one dimensional.

Fourth, it’s 3 games into his second season. He’s going to figure it out. He just needs to develop a shot.

I was certainly pro Chet, but I understood the Banchero pick for the reasons they made it.

Now it’s up to him to develop as a shooter and actually become the three-level scorer they envision him to be.

Boris Diaw

SHAQ32 wrote:Boris Diaw

lmao chill

MagicMatic wrote:

djguevara114 wrote:Just sitting here thinking how much better our team would be and look if we had drafted Chet instead of Paolo Better defender, rebounder, rim protector, and three point shooter—would be perfect fit…

Again, I’m not a Paolo hater, I’m a hater on the fact we are forcing this perspective of him being a super star or number one player on a contending team… He is more likely the third best player on a contending team—if we don’t realize this we will mortgage our future and over pay him and possibly lose players that should be more of a focal point (Franz and Fultz)…

First, Franz is the best player on the team currently. He’s a national champion. So your theory is already incorrect about being the #1 option.

Second, I’m happy we didn’t take the walking injury Marfan Syndrome guy or the 3 point specialist role player that can’t defend with a #1 overall pick. Sharpe isn’t taking the Blazers anywhere.

Third, Fultz is not a focal point of any offense. He’s one dimensional.

Fourth, it’s 3 games into his second season. He’s going to figure it out. He just needs to develop a shot.

Fultz is incredibly underrated… He is the most unselfish player on our team to a fault… I put Franz first and Fultz second BTW… Focal point means designing offense around, Fultz is an orchestrator and can make the team the focal point… His ability to create and score or attract defense and dish is simply not utilized enough…

magik9113 wrote:

SHAQ32 wrote:Boris Diaw

lmao chill

I’d rather have a Diaw type for this team… Better defender and shooter and would cost a third of what we a most likely going to pay Paolo.

djguevara114 wrote:

magik9113 wrote:

SHAQ32 wrote:Boris Diaw

lmao chill

I’d rather have a Diaw type for this team… Better defender and shooter and would cost a third of what we a most likely going to pay Paolo.

will definitely be revisiting these comments later in the season

djguevara114 wrote:Just sitting here thinking how much better our team would be and look if we had drafted Chet instead of Paolo Better defender, rebounder, rim protector, and three point shooter—would be perfect fit…

Again, I’m not a Paolo hater, I’m a hater on the fact we are forcing this perspective of him being a super star or number one player on a contending team… He is more likely the third best player on a contending team—if we don’t realize this we will mortgage our future and over pay him and possibly lose players that should be more of a focal point (Franz and Fultz)…

I said something similar last night and was called an idiot.

I’m not sure what’s going on with Paolo but he is not the same Paolo as last season. He looks bored and frustrated out there and his layups have been terrible

The three PFs will all be very good players. Orlando did not make the "wrong" pick, but if either of the other PFs had been selected, that also would not have been the "wrong" pick.

Holmgren's game is least compatible with F-Wagner. Smith is nowhere near the shooter he was projected to be. So: for Orlando - Banchero was the correct pick.

Who is Banchero is as much of a problem as who do we want him to be.
1. Driver surrounded by non shooters ?
2. Post up player who we dont pass the ball to ?
3. Floor spacer for Markelle Fultz ?
4. Screener for Franz ?

Banchero is not next Lebron James but he is also very mobile 6'10 dude. I think it was a big mistake to promote him as our number 1 option. Right now it looks grotesque becouse Franz is much better than him and his confidence could be affected.
Mobile 6'10 guys dont have to be number one options. He could be better offensively worse defensively AG. We would need someone like Doncic to make it work but the result could be solid contender.

I wanted Chet prior to the draft, but I'm happy with the Paolo pick. The last few games hasn't changed that.

45+ point game tonight. You're welcome for the prophecy

Slow start to the season, but hopefully he gets going soon.

Chet's not exactly blowing up the stat sheet, either...

zaymon wrote:Who is Banchero is as much of a problem as who do we want him to be.
1. Driver surrounded by non shooters ?
2. Post up player who we dont pass the ball to ?
3. Floor spacer for Markelle Fultz ?
4. Screener for Franz ?

Banchero is not next Lebron James but he is also very mobile 6'10 dude. I think it was a big mistake to promote him as our number 1 option. Right now it looks grotesque becouse Franz is much better than him and his confidence could be affected.
Mobile 6'10 guys dont have to be number one options. He could be better offensively worse defensively AG. We would need someone like Doncic to make it work but the result could be solid contender.

It's true. We need more stars, but that's not happening for a Front Office that:

1. Doesn't understand the value of draft picks
2. Doesn't build a cohesive working team
3. Doesn't develop the majority of their young players
4. Doesn't value star veteran players.
5. Saves their own cap space for resigning their own mediocre talent and high priced short term veterans to raise the cap floor.
6. Has developed a plan for their own job security by playing the long game.
7. Loves the smell of their own poop.

We could've flipped around our team into a contender a long time ago. Instead we are stock piling and over crowding the roster with young mediocre talent that simply doesn't develop. Paolo HAS TO be turned into a star. FO and coaches can't just expect him to get there by giving him playing time. Where are the plays designed for him? Where are the complimentary players to go around him?

The 9-man rotation last year was good because it gave Franz and Paolo chances to split playmaking with Cole. Paolo could really use some more of those to get his perimeter creation game going again while he’s struggling to get going against the starters.

Paolo is still elite at drawing contact when finishing, but he’s struggling to set himself up and get to that point this season.

Just remember his ice cold March last year and the rebound he had from that. He’ll bounce back eventually.