12-13-2011, 11:51 PM
12-14-2011, 08:52 AM
He might actually get some playing time in Minnesota. There are only 5 guys listed as guards on the roster right now. He would have a hard time getting any PT if he was still in OKC.
12-14-2011, 05:11 PM
Way more often than not, trading of fringe level players is just a prelude to being cut. And after Minnesota cuts him, he will probably go right back to the D-league or overseas if he chooses.
Overseas is probably his best bet. Try to earn some cash before he gets too old to play.
I wish more Blazers would make it in the NBA. I thought for sure that Steve Mictchell would...way back when I was young & blindly optimistic.
Overseas is probably his best bet. Try to earn some cash before he gets too old to play.
I wish more Blazers would make it in the NBA. I thought for sure that Steve Mictchell would...way back when I was young & blindly optimistic.
(12-14-2011 08:52 AM)blazers9911 Wrote: [ -> ]He might actually get some playing time in Minnesota. There are only 5 guys listed as guards on the roster right now. He would have a hard time getting any PT if he was still in OKC.
12-14-2011, 05:23 PM
Vaden was only on the Thunder roster at the very end of the season last year as a reward for play in the D-League. It's not like he is being cut from a career in the NBA.
12-14-2011, 06:12 PM
I did see him looking clean and sharp on the bench during some of the thunder playoff games last year. At least he can put that on his professional resume.
In retrospect, he probably should have went pro after his junior season. His numbers dropped off in nearly every meaningful category, except maybe rebounding, and he for sure lost his clutch gene. At least he had one clutch season before Mike Davis got to him.
In retrospect, he probably should have went pro after his junior season. His numbers dropped off in nearly every meaningful category, except maybe rebounding, and he for sure lost his clutch gene. At least he had one clutch season before Mike Davis got to him.
12-14-2011, 08:40 PM
Answer I was with you until "At least he had one clutch season before Mike Davis got to him".
12-14-2011, 08:58 PM
You can't deny he lost A LOT of clutchness in his senior season.
How many games were we complaining that Vaden either dribbled the ball off his foot, lost it out of bounds, or missed a key 3 in the waning moments of the game? I won't even mention 0-17 (oops, I did). Vaden made those shots and showed up big time in big games in his junior season (he looked like the best player on the court IMO against a Memphis team laden with NBA talent in his junior season). Comparatively, he fizzled out his senior year, but still had a solid season.
How many games were we complaining that Vaden either dribbled the ball off his foot, lost it out of bounds, or missed a key 3 in the waning moments of the game? I won't even mention 0-17 (oops, I did). Vaden made those shots and showed up big time in big games in his junior season (he looked like the best player on the court IMO against a Memphis team laden with NBA talent in his junior season). Comparatively, he fizzled out his senior year, but still had a solid season.
12-14-2011, 11:52 PM
You can't blame that on Davis.
Davis was with him his entire 5 year career. Robert is just not as athletic as say a donell taylor or a Millsap. If he was, I feel sure he would have made a roster for a year or two anyway.
Of course, its pretty rare that CUSA has anyone that can shoot like Vaden & defend & rebound like Taylor or Millsap.
Those kind of guys are first round picks from bigger schools.
Davis is to blame for many things but Vadens slight decline his last year was not one of them.
Davis was with him his entire 5 year career. Robert is just not as athletic as say a donell taylor or a Millsap. If he was, I feel sure he would have made a roster for a year or two anyway.
Of course, its pretty rare that CUSA has anyone that can shoot like Vaden & defend & rebound like Taylor or Millsap.
Those kind of guys are first round picks from bigger schools.
Davis is to blame for many things but Vadens slight decline his last year was not one of them.
(12-14-2011 08:58 PM)The Answer UAB Wrote: [ -> ]You can't deny he lost A LOT of clutchness in his senior season.
How many games were we complaining that Vaden either dribbled the ball off his foot, lost it out of bounds, or missed a key 3 in the waning moments of the game? I won't even mention 0-17 (oops, I did). Vaden made those shots and showed up big time in big games in his junior season (he looked like the best player on the court IMO against a Memphis team laden with NBA talent in his junior season). Comparatively, he fizzled out his senior year, but still had a solid season.
12-15-2011, 10:08 AM
I was mostly joking about the Davis getting to him thing, but you can't deny there's a trend where Davis's best players, his chosen ones, magically disappear in bigger games..
12-15-2011, 10:10 AM
(12-15-2011 10:08 AM)The Answer UAB Wrote: [ -> ]I was mostly joking about the Davis getting to him thing, but you can't deny there's a trend where Davis's best players, his chosen ones, magically disappear in bigger games..players [usually] take on the personality of their coach, which explains a lot in regards to UAB football/basketball history
12-15-2011, 10:27 AM
Vaden's senior year had more to do with his trying to show the NBA that he could do more than shoot 3s. After declaring for the NBA draft after his Jr year he was told he was only a shooter and needed to improve on his "to the basket" skills. As a result he tried to drive and handle the ball too much which got him totally out of rhythm. There's are a couple of old sayings that Vaden should have taken to heart: "Dance the one that brung ya'" & "You are who you are".