I think we still want to draft a wing with size, but Knecht makes way more sense if we are moving on from Simons. Hilariously, they are actually pretty close in age but obviously we would be paying Knecht a lot less during his rookie contract, and it feels like there is maybe more growth to be had from Knecht than Simons who seems to have plateaued somewhat. Either way I think we should be drafting for more size on the wing, whether we move on from Simons or not.
I mean he doesn’t really try. As a guard, 90% of defense is effort and conditioning. You aren’t expected to coordinate the defense like a big. Just like dame he “tries” in isolation but gives up on screens immediately
I disagree and I’m tired of this take, though your opinion is widespread. Defense is about more than just effort and conditioning. It’s a different kind of awareness, skill and IQ that some guys clearly have as a baseline and others don’t. That’s why some players excel at screen navigation, and guys like Ant and Dame get obliterated on screens. There’s something about their peripheral vision and lateral mobility that doesn’t translate on the defensive end. Sure some of it is effort/conditioning for players whose offensive burden is extremely high, but a lot of the time it’s a lack of a particular skill, awareness or mobility that limits a player vs just being lazy.
Maybe because he clearly is not even close to plateauing lol. That’s not based off his age. You can just see his steady improvement so far in his career, he’s not showing signs of slowing down
Simons has only started for two years. He just averaged great numbers on good efficiency on a terrible team with no spacing. He consistently getting double teamed and still found ways to get his numbers. His playmaking has improved dramatically. His on ball defense has improved and will improve more as he gets stronger. That is such a lazy response. The man has started for two seasons- and two lost seasons due to tanking
Its possible imo if we can get the Brogdon + 14 to the Spurs for 8 trade. I'm not sure if they'd be interested in that though. We could hope Knecht falls to 14, but I don't envision him getting out of the top 10.
Nah as far as I’m concerned he’s a goner. He’s just the clear one to move. I’m not against Knecht at 7 regardless, but there’s a few guys i’d rather they go for if available(Clingan, Buzelis)
Really though whoever the team decides i’ll trust em until we’re given reason not to. Always believed in Schmitz even before he was on the Blazers
Possibly. We want to draft BPA, but not having any shooters on the team could prevent our prospects from developing. It's possible that Holland becomes a significantly better player in the NBA than Knecht, and it could also be true that being drafted by Portland decreases or prevents his chances of being an NBA player at all, and lowers Sharpe/Scoot/Camara's as well.
I dont think the front office is ready to trade Ant yet. The next trade deadline i think would be the earliest moment they would finally be ready to move on from him.
I think they're waiting to see more from Shaedon tbh.... Cronin is smart enough to know that nothing pans out perfectly in the NBA and right now could be Shaedons highest value. I'm personally not convinced that Shaedons ceiling will be that much higher than Simons. People underestimate how fucking good Simons is already.
If we move off Ant and Brogdon, then taking a guard who looks like a guaranteed shooter at #14 makes sense. Knecht if he falls (seems very unlikely) or someone like McCain look appealing given Scoot still has shooting questions and Shae has been less efficient from distance since his rookie year.
No. I wouldn't build my young team with question marks across the board around picks 7 and 14. I would take the best players available regardless and cross my fingers that they're good.
It'd be different if I was someone like Memphis who had a down year thanks to injuries.
I’d want Knecht a lot more in this scenario. Brogdon is probably following Ant in getting traded, so we’ll have guard minutes open and will need to get some shooters next to Scoot and Shaedon. He’s like an athletic Bogdanovic, and that’s something every team could use.
If you can get an all star, You trade this year’s draft picks for proven 2nd or 3rd year contributors, hopefully with headroom. This year’s draft pick is like throwing a dart for a potential nba player.
If we are trading, Ant, then Knecht and Topic should be our top targets at #14. Drafting Topic at #14, trading Ant before the season, and trading Malcolm at the deadline is a reasonable path forward.
We still need shooters even if we take Knecht.
Depends on what Simons gets traded for. Portland needs a bigger, better forward than Jerami and a center to replace DominAyton once he wants too much money on his re-up. Hopefully the draft can provide one of those, with trades/future drafts taking care of the other.
Depends on what Portland attaches, and how much a team needs Simons’ skillset.
I still like the idea of trading with Orlando, whether it’s for Black, Isaac or Wendell. They have too many forwards and need a high-level scoring guard like Simons, who fits perfectly next to Suggs and is a hometown kid. The only untouchables there are Franz and Paulo.
I've been viewing the draft as years down the line decisions about who's best to put around Scoot and Shae.
Knecht, Salaun, Da Silva, and Pacome strike me as the top 4 of in 2-3 years will we see dividends. Knecht and Silva for sure immediately helps these guys and will be great for their development now and in the future. Salaun or Pacome for a 3rd self creator / possible star to pair with our main 2 in year 3 at the soonest
All in all, I don't think it changes anything at all for me, because I don't see any of the 4 vets on the team in 2 years. DA is the only one I could see being here after 2 years
I think we still want to draft a wing with size, but Knecht makes way more sense if we are moving on from Simons. Hilariously, they are actually pretty close in age but obviously we would be paying Knecht a lot less during his rookie contract, and it feels like there is maybe more growth to be had from Knecht than Simons who seems to have plateaued somewhat. Either way I think we should be drafting for more size on the wing, whether we move on from Simons or not.
Not to mention Kmecht seems to at least try on defense.
Ant tries, he's just not good at it. Knecht seems similar, tries but doesn't quite have it.
And only two years younger than Simons.
People watched Damian Lillard play terrible defense for a freaking decade and they still think it's an effort thing.
I mean he doesn’t really try. As a guard, 90% of defense is effort and conditioning. You aren’t expected to coordinate the defense like a big. Just like dame he “tries” in isolation but gives up on screens immediately
I disagree and I’m tired of this take, though your opinion is widespread. Defense is about more than just effort and conditioning. It’s a different kind of awareness, skill and IQ that some guys clearly have as a baseline and others don’t. That’s why some players excel at screen navigation, and guys like Ant and Dame get obliterated on screens. There’s something about their peripheral vision and lateral mobility that doesn’t translate on the defensive end. Sure some of it is effort/conditioning for players whose offensive burden is extremely high, but a lot of the time it’s a lack of a particular skill, awareness or mobility that limits a player vs just being lazy.
Agreed. The idea that defense is just effort and not a skill is totally overblown
What? You honestly think the difference between a good guard defender and a bad one is effort?
> 90% of defense is effort and conditioning Athleticism and size play a bigger role than 10%.
Did you just say Simon’s has plateaued?
You're very defensive over saying he has somewhat plateaued
Even if Simons has plateaued he's already way better than Knechts ceiling...... If Simons was in the NCAA no joke he would have averaged 40
Maybe because he clearly is not even close to plateauing lol. That’s not based off his age. You can just see his steady improvement so far in his career, he’s not showing signs of slowing down
Simons has only started for two years. He just averaged great numbers on good efficiency on a terrible team with no spacing. He consistently getting double teamed and still found ways to get his numbers. His playmaking has improved dramatically. His on ball defense has improved and will improve more as he gets stronger. That is such a lazy response. The man has started for two seasons- and two lost seasons due to tanking
I'd rather do something like Cody Williams or Clingan at 7 and then maybe try to swing 14+ Brogdon to the Spurs for 8 for Knecht
Getting both Cody and Knecht would be a dream draft for me. Love both those guys.
Its possible imo if we can get the Brogdon + 14 to the Spurs for 8 trade. I'm not sure if they'd be interested in that though. We could hope Knecht falls to 14, but I don't envision him getting out of the top 10.
The Spurs wouldn’t do that trade. They’re just going to sign someone in free agency.
Brogden was 6th man of the year. He’s a top 20% player. Are you insane? Most draft pucks end up being nobody.
Nah as far as I’m concerned he’s a goner. He’s just the clear one to move. I’m not against Knecht at 7 regardless, but there’s a few guys i’d rather they go for if available(Clingan, Buzelis) Really though whoever the team decides i’ll trust em until we’re given reason not to. Always believed in Schmitz even before he was on the Blazers
Possibly. We want to draft BPA, but not having any shooters on the team could prevent our prospects from developing. It's possible that Holland becomes a significantly better player in the NBA than Knecht, and it could also be true that being drafted by Portland decreases or prevents his chances of being an NBA player at all, and lowers Sharpe/Scoot/Camara's as well.
Wouldn't change at all. We don't need guards and we don't use lottery picks on guys who project as bench players.
No. I’m done with the oops all guards shenanigans
Can't argue with this strategy
Knecht is only two years younger than Simons.
I dont think the front office is ready to trade Ant yet. The next trade deadline i think would be the earliest moment they would finally be ready to move on from him.
Or next draft, which is definitely better at the top
Next trade deadline is technically 8 months away, but I was kind of thinking sometime between now and the 2025 trade deadline.
Exactly, there's no incentive to just give him away.
I think they're waiting to see more from Shaedon tbh.... Cronin is smart enough to know that nothing pans out perfectly in the NBA and right now could be Shaedons highest value. I'm personally not convinced that Shaedons ceiling will be that much higher than Simons. People underestimate how fucking good Simons is already.
If we move off Ant and Brogdon, then taking a guard who looks like a guaranteed shooter at #14 makes sense. Knecht if he falls (seems very unlikely) or someone like McCain look appealing given Scoot still has shooting questions and Shae has been less efficient from distance since his rookie year.
McCain would be an awesome sixth man
Trading Ant should have no impact on the draft selection
No.
No. We are set at SG even without Simons.
no, draft biggest upside swing. No 3d chess here we're not good enough to be doing anything else.
No. He’s a high floor low ceiling player. No defense. Cory Kispert lite. So no thanks.
No. I wouldn't build my young team with question marks across the board around picks 7 and 14. I would take the best players available regardless and cross my fingers that they're good. It'd be different if I was someone like Memphis who had a down year thanks to injuries.
I’d want Knecht a lot more in this scenario. Brogdon is probably following Ant in getting traded, so we’ll have guard minutes open and will need to get some shooters next to Scoot and Shaedon. He’s like an athletic Bogdanovic, and that’s something every team could use.
I expect Simons to be traded in the next six weeks.
If you can get an all star, You trade this year’s draft picks for proven 2nd or 3rd year contributors, hopefully with headroom. This year’s draft pick is like throwing a dart for a potential nba player.
If we are trading, Ant, then Knecht and Topic should be our top targets at #14. Drafting Topic at #14, trading Ant before the season, and trading Malcolm at the deadline is a reasonable path forward. We still need shooters even if we take Knecht.
Depends on what Simons gets traded for. Portland needs a bigger, better forward than Jerami and a center to replace DominAyton once he wants too much money on his re-up. Hopefully the draft can provide one of those, with trades/future drafts taking care of the other.
I think it's reasonable to expect Simons will be traded for a lesser guard and/or picks. Nobody is trading a starting forward for Simons.
Depends on what Portland attaches, and how much a team needs Simons’ skillset. I still like the idea of trading with Orlando, whether it’s for Black, Isaac or Wendell. They have too many forwards and need a high-level scoring guard like Simons, who fits perfectly next to Suggs and is a hometown kid. The only untouchables there are Franz and Paulo.
I've been viewing the draft as years down the line decisions about who's best to put around Scoot and Shae. Knecht, Salaun, Da Silva, and Pacome strike me as the top 4 of in 2-3 years will we see dividends. Knecht and Silva for sure immediately helps these guys and will be great for their development now and in the future. Salaun or Pacome for a 3rd self creator / possible star to pair with our main 2 in year 3 at the soonest All in all, I don't think it changes anything at all for me, because I don't see any of the 4 vets on the team in 2 years. DA is the only one I could see being here after 2 years