Don't sleep on Nic Batum, either. The Blazers are expecting big things from him, and he should get even more playing time with Webster gone and Rudy in the dog-house. Unless the Blazers really think Wes Matthews is worth all that money and play him a bunch. But from what I've read the Blazers think Batum is a potential star, and will try to develop him accordingly.
I don't think Batum is ready yet. He was quite poor for most the FIBA world championships and his preseason numbers are quite comparable to what he has done in the past. I would have expected more from him in either or preferably both set of games.
I think he needs more work on his ball-handling and shot-creation ... so still a year or two away if all goes to plan and Batum becomes a star.
On another note, and on the Wes Matthews front, I am very interested to see this big backcourt Portland has been using with Wes and Roy alongside another wing (it's often been Rudy so far) but I want to see Batum there). If Wes can handle the point as well as the Blazers media are saying ... that will be very important combination for Portland next season (especially since A.Miller is a bad fit).
A big perimeter combination with a lot of jump shooting ability alongside two of their seven footers (Oden, Aldridge, Camby) would be very difficult to play against.
People have been guessing this for the last couple of years, but I'm gonna say Anthony Randolph has a shot if he finally makes the leap people have been expecting him to make.
I'm not optimistic about A.Randolph. I think he is fully capable of answering the call but it doesn't look like D'Antoni is going to give him a large enough role. Too many minutes given to Turiaf and Mosgov.
If D'Antoni would play Randolph 35 or so minutes a night, I think he'd be good for 18ppg + 11rpg (albeit with hollow stats due to lack of efficiency offensively + work in progress defense) and be one of the frontrunners for MIP.
Topic: Most improved player award goes to... (Read 4364 times)