Summer League 5

[Kim Malo]

At 10:07 AM 6/2/2006, Pereira, Jorge M wrote:
>Orien showed improved outside
>shooting, quite a bit, let's say 50% both in technique, confidence and
>consistency.  Judging from the comments on Orien, most people missed
>that very important change in his game. Once that happens, he has the
>athleticism, defense and passing skills to be way above our
>expectations.

Offense really got bogged down when he was in there though. Badly. 
Bogged as it got at times with Delonte, the difference was 
noteworthy. No flow. And I've said all along that his outside 
shooting wasn't as bad as people made it out to be, although that 
inside shot thing does really concern me. Don't get me wrong, I like 
Orien and I'd like to see them hang on to him for at least a year or 
two. I just figured that episode with the cops might have tilted a 
borderline player out the door as looking like he wasn't worth the 
aggravation, since he was projected at backup anyway.

>Olowkanki was very lethargic at the beginning of his stint but I also
>noticed more  mobility and fluidity in his short playing stints late in
>the season.  That's a very tentalizing comparison between Olowkandi and
>Blount.  I'm gonna have to think about that one.  My gut feeling is that
>Olowakandi could help given the right environment.  And as someone very
>wisely stated - 'big men, big men, big men'.

And as I'll equally wisely respond: Acie Earl, Michael Smith, Eric 
Montross...   How many right environment chances does he get? Yes, he 
did get a bit more active But I also watched him just stand there and 
watch the play go by after the first few games, so no, not 
consistently. Look, he's been passed around a bit as a repeated 
disappointment, with that whole lethargic play being the primary 
reason, and one that has followed him from each stop. So no, I don't 
think that's a right environment issue. I think it's pretty clearly 
inherent. So sorry, but no. I'm not wasting a roster spot on him for 
any money. If this was the NFL with spare roster spots on a practice 
team, maybe, but not with the limited roster space we have. Just not 
a good use for it, even if it's for cheap money.

>Jones doesn't convince me.  He's nowhere near 6'10" and looks smaller.
>Great efforts though.

Seriously? His height looks legit to me, he's just very slender. Nice 
hustle and energy big man worth hanging on to for a year or two to 
provide an active practice body and to see what he can be polished 
into (see above about big man, big man, big man <g>). He still plays 
a bit like an enthusiastic puppy still growing into his huge paws. 
Upside is probably a backup player only, but potentially a very nice 
role player in the front court to help energize a defensive oriented 
second unit with some blocks. See, that's the difference with 
Kandi-man. We KNOW what he is. He's had plenty of chances to polish 
into something better if he was going to and has made it clear it's 
not going to happen. Jones not only shows some glimmers ( and see 
about what you said about Orien impressing more in those games after 
the playoff run was over - definitely true here too) but has the 
right attitude to make you think he WILL do what it takes to attain 
his potential. Kandi-man is more of a yeah, whatever guy.

Kim