OdomLOL

IMHO that happens because he was playing on the most talented and deepest team in college ball last year. Still didn't stop Gay from leading his team in several statistical categories including scoring. What makes the NCAA tournemant so great is that the favored team (UConn) doesn't win most of the time.

Dan

I still want to wait till after the interviews/try-outs before I make declarations (or I should say, continue to make my own personal declarations) about a player, and how he'll do.

Gay might interview great, and blow the roof off the house. or he might suck, and turn out to be a dunderhead. (same with morrison, aldridge, thomas and if they can get him, bargani). Plus, we don't even know our spot, and if (altho I find it unlikely) we trade the pick.

__________________
A Buddhist walks up to a hot dog vendor and says "Make me one with everything".

when will the loss of life end?

The world respects the power of our example, not an example of our power.

I'd like to say I made this, but I didn't

OdomLOL

You are right SMiLe, last year I was really high on Gerald Green until he refused to play against anyone and he interviewed terribly. Still, Gay has been in college for a couple of seasons playing for a high profile school and has spoken publicly many times and sounded good. Ok ok... I give up, when the workouts are over with and Gay comes out looking good I will get back on my soap box.

Dan

you can be on your soap box. I was just saying that I was going to wait a little longer before I make my typically wrong choice.

__________________
A Buddhist walks up to a hot dog vendor and says "Make me one with everything".

when will the loss of life end?

The world respects the power of our example, not an example of our power.

I'd like to say I made this, but I didn't

Kmurph

I have stated this myself before...but you cannot deny his tendency to float in games...

The most vivid example of Gay to me...was the UW game where Roy was taking it to Gay and then they got into a little scuffle and Gay got pissed and for a 5-minute span he DOMINATED Roy...He shut Roy down defensively and scored at will on offense...and then....he floated away again....

Gay is not Miles...that is a completely untrue statement....but he DOES have A particular quality that MIles does...Great talent...but doesn't utilize it all the time...and If I were POR I would have serious concerns about that...

The NBA has a lot of uber athletic\high skillset players who are medicore contributors...

Just b\c he has the "total" package of size, athleticism and skillset...doesn't mean he is destined for success...not unless his head & heart are there as well...I think this is one of THE most overlooked aspects of player evaluating...

People get so caught up in the spectacular things a player can do (Miles) and overlook the mental approaches these players have when they play....

Maybe that isn't the case with Gay...but he has to show that he is not that type of player as his past history has shown...

The #1 boom\bust player in the draft IMO...and I am not sure POR can take that risk...

__________________
Quit the Webster hate

Minstrel

Speaking of Butler, he seemed like a star in the making in his rookie season and then got hurt, missing his second season. Since then, he hasn't quite been the same. Since he wasn't injury-prone in college (to my recollection), such an injury wasn't predictable. Therefore, I wouldn't consider Butler a bust. I think he was all he was cracked up to be, but had his career slightly derailed (only slightly, as he's still a good player) by injury.

__________________
You'll never live like common people
You'll never do what common people do
You'll never fail like common people
You'll never watch your life slide out of view
And dance and drink and screw
Because there's nothing else to do.

Foulzilla

Considering he was the 10th(?) pick, I think Butler would have to be considered a success despite that fact that his second year seems to have set him back a bit. He's really a quite good player, and for a 10th pick I would be pretty happy with him personally.

Marshall, while a solid vet does to me seem a dissapointment for a former #4 pick. Overall still a good NBA player though.

__________________
"If push came to shove, I could lose all self-respect & become a reporter."
-Charles Barkley

ThePrideOfClyde

I would call Donyell Marshall a success, considering the fact that most of the other players from the 1994 NBA draft are either retired, or on vacation right now. He is actually helping his team win in the playoffs against the defending eastern conference champions, and that is more than I can say for Jason Kidd, whom was taken #2 in that draft. Of course, Jason Kidd is leagues better than Donyell Marshall, and he doesn't play on the same team as that "manchild" Lebron James, but he still isn't where Marshall is at.
And, if DM were taken #1 in that draft, it would have been a better pick than Glenn Robinson.
So, say what you will, but I'm right and you know it.

deanwoof

I dont know Pride.. Glenn Robinson had a pretty great career. Too bad he spent some of those years playing out of position at PF instead of at SF.

It's eerie how many Blazers are on that 1994 draft -

Brian Grant, Carlos Rogers, Aaron McKie, Bill Curley for a split second, Wesley Person, Monty Williams (now as an asst coach), Dontonio Wingfield, Voshon Lenard

__________________

ThePrideOfClyde

I'd take longevity, and character over an ******* like Glenn Robinson any day of the week. He never helped his team do anything. Even when he was playing for the Spurs he ****ed everything up. He couldn't even be a team player on the team of teams. Now, that's saying a lot.

crandc

Donyell Marshall was considered a bust for many years because he was a #4 pick, expected to be a top tier player, given a mammoth contract and did not live up to the hype. He is now a decent role player. Nothing wrong with that, every team needs them. But I am not sure that is what the Blazers need right now.
Put Marshall on a poor team and he would be much less of a contributor.
IMO, it is really too early to judge the potential draftees, but if in the considered opinion of those in the know the top guys are all looking like good role players I'd be willing to see the team trade down to get a player + pick.
But we shall see what we shall see...
One reason I'd like to see Rudy Gay drafted is to have a certain board regular whom I won't name say he is a Gay fan.

Schilly

Hey now that's kinda hard talk.

Verro

Hmm this brings up a good point, if Rudy came to Portland there'd be no end to bad jokes about "Gay workouts", "Gay fouls", and "Gay shoes".

OdomLOL

I completely agree with you. For a #10 pick he has been very good. Averaged 17 ppg for the Wizards this season and was a huge reason for their success. Funny to think how the Wizards traded Kwame Brown and got back Butler and Chucky Atkins. Kinda off topic but the Lakers traded Shaq for Kwame and Odom(LOL).