Originally Posted by
Kingspoint
Meyers Leonard was not signed for "too much". No 7-footer with his athleticism and excellent shooting abilities and is still a rising prospect (it takes bigs many more years to mature), who can hold his own physically against the Cousins' and Gasols of the NBA is getting paid too much at $10M per year through 2019-20. $10M is chump change the next three years.
Crabbe was "the one 2016 guy of significant value"? While he was one of only two players in the NBA to take 300 "3's" while shooting the percentage he shot, Crabbe was the only player on the team who didn't improve his overall game from the season before. The Blazers's Beat Writer used those exact words and I and most who watched him on a regular basis agree. Had he improved, this deal would not have been made. But, as Damian Lillard said yesterday, when some players reach a point of success, their mind turns off and the desire to keep improving stops That happened to Crabbe last season. He rested on his laurels and had an identical season to the year before. At one time a few years ago, Crabbe showed promise Defensively. That idea is completely gone. Crabbe is a sub-par defender.
Crabbe on the floor at the same time as Lillard and C.J made them absolutely terrible on Defense, yet, those three were together often. Crabbe is also a poor passer and an extremely lazy rebounder and loose ball gatherer. All he does is shoot, though he's a marksman at it. That's a 12-15 minute per game player. Bur, the Blazers don't need him. Shooters they have.
For Crabbe to work, because he can't pass, there needs to be three passers and three defenders on the floor at the same time. So, Lillard or C.J. need to be off the floor but, that removes a passer, so another passer has to be on the floor, Turner. Crabbe simply offered very little roster flexibility. Connaughton can pass, rebound and shoot. He can't play Defense, yet, but he hasn't been given the minutes. Napier is a pure Point Guard, can shoot well, rebound and plays good Defense. The Blazers are bettermost of the time with anyone on the floor other than Crabbe. If Crabbe shot the ball when he was on the floor, it would be different, but he's too passive of a shooter, a very bad thing when all you do well is shoot, while doing everything else subpar.