Do What We Have to Do to Get Nerlens Noel. Biz is No Longer a Core Guy.

[SWedd523]

We don't have a big who can score anyway, so upgrading the defense of one of them doesn't hurt the offense any. It's still a net positive.


Doesn't really matter to me anyway, Noel would be just fine running a P&R offense with Kemba. If it's determined that he's the BPA when we pick, then I don't want that to mean we give up on Bis. Let them play together and figure it out. We can still add a scoring post player with the Portland pick or from the FA market

[Bogg]

If the team goes big in the top five, I'd rather they take Carter-Williams later in the draft. A big point guard that can defend twos would allow Kemba to play off the ball for long stretches on focus solely on scoring the ball. Also, something that hasn't been brought up: Portland's a prime candidate for a second-half swoon. They're currently sitting ninth in the West and they've been leaning heavily on their starting five this season, probably more so than any other team. With Minnesota, Dallas, and the Lakers all currently sitting behind them, I could see the Blazers dropping a spot or two in March. If they do that, it isn't far-fetched to think they'd tank in April to drop down to 10 or 11 and keep their pick. It's very possible the Bobcats only have one pick this spring, so be prepared for that.

[CampNightmare8]

This has to be one of my least favorite reasons to get down on a project big man. You know who else never played in Rookie-Sophomore games: Hibbert, Noah, Ben Wallace, Deandre Jordan, Anderson Varejao, JJ Hickson, Pekovic, etc.

I'm not saying that evaluates everything but look how he's playing.

[CampNightmare8]

If the team goes big in the top five, I'd rather they take Carter-Williams later in the draft. A big point guard that can defend twos would allow Kemba to play off the ball for long stretches on focus solely on scoring the ball. Also, something that hasn't been brought up: Portland's a prime candidate for a second-half swoon. They're currently sitting ninth in the West and they've been leaning heavily on their starting five this season, probably more so than any other team. With Minnesota, Dallas, and the Lakers all currently sitting behind them, I could see the Blazers dropping a spot or two in March. If they do that, it isn't far-fetched to think they'd tank in April to drop down to 10 or 11 and keep their pick. It's very possible the Bobcats only have one pick this spring, so be prepared for that.

See what you're saying but believe me MCW will not be long gone before our 2nd pick.

[Bogg]

See what you're saying but believe me MCW will not be long gone before our 2nd pick.

Do you mean he will be gone by the time Portlands' pick comes up?

[CampNightmare8]

Do you mean he will be gone by the time Portlands' pick comes up?

Yepperz
10char

[Bogg]

Ah, well, that's possible. With Detroit only a few games back from Boston and Portland running their starting five into the ground, it's entirely possible the Cats have three picks or only one, anyway. MCW looks like he'll make a solid pro, though.

[kitch0202]

If we do draft Noel we can certainly use both he and Biz.

Biz & Mullens compliment each other well stylistically ... Noel could be paired with an offensively minded C (who we'd obviously have to obtain, let's call him playerX) while he matures physically. Until said maturation Noel has the athleticism to defend 4s.

So one offensive 4 in Mullens, one defensive 4 in Noel. One defensive 5 in Biz, one offensive 5 in playerX.

We can then pair Noel & Biz late in games on D and pair Mullens & playerX when on offence.

I appreciate the above is simplistic, labelling players as 4s or 5s, but it serves to show that both can be used on this roster.

[Veteran_Picksetter]

You can get away with one big on the floor who can't score the ball, you just park him weakside and let him focus on grabbing offensive rebounds/open dunks. Teams do that all the time. However, once you have two bigs who can't score playing together, and it becomes really easy for one guy to guard both of them and frees up a forward to double on anyone who gets near the paint. If you couple that with the fact that MKG can't shoot from outside, and you're going to have poor Kemba and Shooting Guard X facing almost constant double-teams anywhere inside the three-point arc. It'd make for a wildly inefficient offense. If Charlotte is committed to Biz, or decides to go with a defense/rebounding guy like Noel, they almost have to put a stretch-four on the court with them.

I hear you, but I think it's safe to say that Noel has some longterm scoring potential beyond what Biz brings.

MKG effs it all up with his ridiculous jump shot that he needs to do something about.

Anthony Bennett excites me because he can come in and be a stretch 4 and give room to MKG to operate around the paint....

[Veteran_Picksetter]

I know Noel is quick and agile with awesome defensive timing, but when I see his frail body I think he's 3 years away from remotely showing what he can be as an NBA big. Maybe look at him as the longterm successor to Biz or the longterm complement if they actually develop.

It would take patience with those two.