DeMarre Carroll, who joined the Raptors this past summer when he signed for four years and $58MM, is still in the process of finding his rhythm in Toronto’s offense, Eric Koreen of the National Post details. Carroll was supposed to be a significant part of the Raptors’ success, but so far he has had an unimportant role, Koreen adds. Carroll has missed 12 games and has played with nagging injuries, as Koreen points out. At 20-13 heading into action Friday, the Raptors have managed despite Carroll’s struggles, but if the small forward gets going, Toronto’s future is all the more bright, Koreen surmises.
Here’s more on the Atlantic Division:
- Nets rookie power forward Chris McCullough practiced for the first time since he tore his ACL while at Syracuse last year, NetsDaily tweets. He is not yet cleared to play in games, however.
- The Sixers need high-ceiling young prospects and should use Nerlens Noel as a trade piece because they have a surplus at the center position, John Smallwood of the Philadelphia Daily News opines. A topical converstation lately has been centered on whether or not Noel and Jahlil Okafor can coexist. Smallwood lists Marcus Smart, Dennis Schroder, Zach LaVine and Victor Oladipo as players the Sixers should go after.
- Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis has not been tempted by the city’s night life and that likely can be attributed to the 20-year-old living with his parents in White Plains and not indulging in alcohol, Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News writes. The drinking age in Latvia is 18, as Bondy points out.
I don’t see a scenario where Oladipo and LaVine are fits. Oladipo is arguably better than Noel (although as a big man, Noel will always have more upside). However, both Minnesota and Orlando have big men in place who might not mesh well with Noel (such as Vucevic in Orlando) or might limit their growth (such as Towns in Minny). Boston also has its fair share of big men and might value Smart more than Noel. Atlanta would be the only fit since Horford could walk after this year.
By Big men on the Celtics, I assume these are the guys you speak of: sullinger,Olynyk ,zeller, Lee, mickey, and johnson
Sullingerhas a versatile offensive game and has shown to be a very good rebounder. With that being said, he is not really a defender.
Zeller can score around the basket and has developed a bit of a mid range jumper. A decent rebounder and defender but nothing special.
Lee, scores around the basket and rebounds well. Not a very good defender and is aging.
Mickey is a developing project. He is developing an offensive game but rebounds Well considering he is under sized and is an excellent defender.
Johnson is a young vet. Good intangibles and not a bad defender and can score decently. High IQ and energy. not really great at anything but solid all around.
Olynyk
poor defender decent rebounder and scores in bunches, handles ball well for a 7fter and has a decent IQ
What do these “bigs” all have in common? solid guys that are just that, solid or cam score and rebound. The one aspect they lack Is the ability of a high upside player who is a great defender. Having a good defensive big is essential to winning teams. I.E. Cavs have mozgov, and ghe bulls have Noah
That is exactly what Noel would bring. Besides, Sully, Zeller, Lee and potentially amir could be free agents next year. Of course Smart is really developing into a great guard but the Celtics have thomas playing PG and a young Rozier and another draft class full of quality PGs in which case I think they could be a real possibility.
They were decent scenarios minus Marcus Smart. I think they can do better like finding a way to get a point guard from Phoenix.