June 29, 2018

Noah Vonleh
PF – 6’9, 245lbs - 22 years old – 4 years of experience

Acquired for essentially nothing as a free tryout guy, Vonleh had some good moments for the Bulls down the stretch of their disjointed season, and had had some pretty good ones in his time with the Blazers prior. Vonleh’s unconventional career arc has seen him drafted high on account of his good offensive skill level and stretch potential, yet he has instead mostly done his work in the NBA thus far as a rebounding specialist. Isn’t it normally the other way around?

Nevertheless, unconventional though the Noah Vonleh Experience may be, it has its perks. Strong and pretty mobile, Vonleh hits at least some outside shots (30% in his time with the Bulls, but they weren’t exactly contested), and can also score from the post, even if he is not always offensively aggressive. He does not stand out defensively, really should not play centre and his offensive skill outside of occasional shot-taking (cutting, handling, passing etc) is underdeveloped, yet between the decent finishing ability and the rebounding enthusiasm, he has made himself into a useful role player. The draft position doesn’t matter anymore.

On this particular team, however, circumstances might be against him. If players could be loaned, like they can in football, it would make sense for the Bulls to loan Vonleh out while they waited for their roster imbalance to resolve itself, and bring him back in a depth role once said depth role is required. This would be the best way to manage an asset. Alas, given his contract situation, Vonleh is not an asset that can be managed. He would be worthy of another contract from the Bulls for somewhere between the minimum and his qualifying offer, but on a team whose best talents already lie at his position, he might not feel welcome.

Player Plan: Entering unrestricted free agency. Chicago probably wish he wasn’t, as there is a spark in the fire. Personally, I would not extend the qualifying offer - him accepting it conveys no real trade value due to loss of Bird rights/three teams in four years, there is likely no place for him on this team, and even if there could be, it needn’t come at that price. But that is not to say he should be waved off at the station.

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June 29, 2017

Noah Vonleh
PF, 6’10, 240lbs, 21 years old, 3 years of experience

In and out of the line-up, Vonleh rebounded well and was spry, playing with good energy. Yet the stretch potential he arrived into the league with is not coming to fruition. Indeed, he is not doing much offensively other than crash the glass, dunking when set up and occasionally making a mid-ranger. Vonleh’s inconsistency was striking, with some games completely absent versus the occasional big double-double, and he is a much better player when he is aggressive. Considering how winnable the team’s power forward spot is, playing with Davis’s aggression will win him the spot, considering he has more talent with the ball than Davis.

Player Plan: One year of rookie scale salary remaining. Eligible for an extension, which is not the worst idea if he can be had cheap.

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April 16, 2017

[...] However, while stopping short of saying the Blazers are a three-man team, they are nevertheless short in the supporting cast. The rest of the pieces still do not fit, and, save for some offense from Allen Crabbe and the well-intended defense of forward pairing Al-Farouq Aminu and Mo Harkless (along with the occasionally big rebounding night from a rejuvenated Noah Vonleh, who seems to thrive alongside Nurkic), Portland has little else to turn to.

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