Larry Nance Jr.,who was shipped to the Trail Blazers as part of the three-team blockbuster deal that landed Lauri Markkanen in Cleveland, believes he’s a piece that could change Portland’s postseason fortunes, as he told Blazers’ website writer Casey Holdahl.
“It’s a team I’ve been rooting for in the playoffs for a while now, just feel like it’s impossible to root against a guy like Dame and CJ (Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum), seems like they have great guys on the roster,” Nance said. “I felt it was an opportunity where I really have a chance to step in and make a difference.
“This is a team that’s been on the edge of something special for a while now and the higher ups in the organization deemed me as someone that could help them get higher. I’m thrilled at the opportunity and I’m really looking forward to taking it. Getting a chance to play with players of this caliber doesn’t come around too often.”
We have more from the Northwest Division:
- The Timberwolves have hired Jeff Newton as their G League coach, according to a team press release. Prior to taking the helm of the Iowa Wolves, Newton spent the last two seasons as an offensive associate/player development coach for the Timberwolves. “Jeff has proven throughout the last couple years that he is dedicated to the Timberwolves overall mission, including developing our young players which makes him a natural choice as the Wolves head coach,” Timberwolves assistant GM Gianluca Pascucci said.
- The contract that Vit Krejci signed with the Thunder is a four-year deal, Bobby Marks of ESPN tweets. Krejci’s first-year salary of $925,258 is guaranteed. The second year salary of $1,563,518 includes a partial guarantee of $781,759, while his $1,836,096 third-season salary is non-guaranteed. The final year of the deal is a team option at $1,988,598. The draft-and-stash wing was selected in the second round of the 2020 draft and acquired in a draft-night deal with Washington.
- Thunder first-round pick Josh Giddey is already a big star in his native Australia, as Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman details. In Melbourne, Australia, his fans snapped up Thunder merchandise after he was drafted, his mother Kim Giddey said. “As soon as the draft ended they all went out to buy Oklahoma merchandise,” she said. “It sold out.”
Giddey had a better yr than LaMello did. In their first year in Australia. He’s more a true PG too. His offense needs work and he’s still young. He’s got a nice future in OKC. Good thing is they won’t rush him there.
I think every team from around 9 to 15 was in on Giddey in some respect. Either picking him or seriously considering him. Thunder swooped in and snagged him to everyone’s surprise now, but we’ll all see why this coming season. A little bit raw but still special with a lot to show in the future.
Thunder snagged him cause they thought Memphis will pony up assets to get him, since Grizzlies traded up to 10 to get him. Memphis didnt bite, Im sure OKC wanted Kuminga – a raw talent that will help losing this year, rather than Giddey – a guy that makes everyone around better.
If the commissioner did such things…
Silver would mandate a swap to get them back to where they should be. Giddey would be better operating the GSW show whether Curry is out there or not, while Kuminga is all downhill stuff. He would get to do his thing freely on OKC, competing against Poku mostly— an interesting duo— while OKC has Giddey in a big young-talent mess with ShaiGA, Maledon, Tre Mann & Ty Jerome.
Very selfish by Presti, if true, and the ploy does sound right and answers some questions.
Giddey, Suggs and DavionM were all taken by teams already with young PGs established. This does nobody any good, if one wishes to be concerned with the fans.
OKC even took Tre Mann later in the first!— like Giddey was to traded.
Shai should get out of there.
ShaiGA was himself involved in a previous similar incident, with Charlotte jumping in to draft him when they knew the Clips wanted him. CHA got two seconds for their gamesmanship whoopie. It was obvious who LAC was aiming for and it was cleared up quickly.
This is dragging. Silver should mandate two seconds to OKC since picks are all Presti seems to care about… and Giddey to GSW, Kuminga to OKC… if GSW would have taken Giddey, which is likely.
It almost take a redraft to assign Giddey to Memphis, and they have Morant anyway, and probably just did not trade high enough.
I think it’s GSW that got robbed, more than Memphis did, since Giddey may not have lasted until #10 anyway.
If GSW has not offered a trade, and I have not heard any proposed, maybe GM Myers is happy with Kuminga, since he likes wings. But I doubt they’re better off with Kuminga; Giddey better covers their weakspot.
I would not object to a forced Giddey-Zaire Williams trade. #6 for #10 and two decent seconds.
I don’t like the idea of GMs playing secret pissing contests that determine outcomes. Presti has become that.
What and Why ????
GS passed on Giddey. Did you miss that. Kuminga is best player they could have prayed for. We will ALL see it soon.
How did GSW pass on Giddey if he was taken ahead of them? Kuminga might be playin some games in G-league this season. GSW run a very complicated offensive scheme, not some stupid ISO and P&R most of the time, which is why Kuminga will not fit in right away (Just like wiseman)
We will all see AL… see Kuminga sit. That is already the plan. But you could look up the draft and see the situation: Giddey/Presti/OKC #6, Kuminga/GSW #7, NOP #10. Or I could have spelled it out better.
When Presti took Giddey, it was a surprise move based on predraft rankings, but Presti may have had trade leverage with Griffen/Pelicans in mind instead.
Griffen did not bite though and so had to settle for veteran Graham.
Giddey would have killed it with GSW, Kuminga with OKC. Because of Presti’s greed that will not happen and both will have reduced PT and relevance.
@x%sure blame the game not the player
Nance > Portland = 82-0. Heard it here first.
By letting Collins walk then picking up Nance. Was a wise move. Not a big trade for coverage. But he does make Blazers better and deeper. This is a good place for Nance to be.
No way they go 82-0…. never been done before.
Best Portland does this year is 79-3.
The Blazers are still one of the better teams in the West, no doubt.
They should be able to win at least 45 games and finish in the top 6.
Better than Houston will be for the next 5-10 years.
Buuurn
Some of you are totally humourless.
He’s obviously not serious.
Ok.i dont like greenwood porter.but i dont think rockets is very bad team.maybe they wont be playoff this season,but they will be good team 3 years from now.they just need to tank and get top 4 pick 3 years in row
Good luck selling that tankjob to fans