The off-season begins. Discuss.

[illmatic99]

I agree with you but how many owners in the NBA inherited the team and have no clue about business or running an organization? Jody is a giant anchor and I don’t think it makes Joe's job any easier.

Jody needs to go. But Cronin should not be exempt from blame.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

Ant + lotto pick + future picks should absolutely get you a difference maker.

Are people already laying the groundwork to let Cronin off the hook? We don't have to be the odds on favorite to win next season but we do need to add a significant piece that moves the needle. This package should absolutely do it.

Then you fill in the rest of the roster with guys you know can bring grit and play right away.

I'm still looking at Siakam.

 

[AngryFan]

Ant + lotto pick + future picks should absolutely get you a difference maker.

Are people already laying the groundwork to let Cronin off the hook? We don't have to be the odds on favorite to win next season but we do need to add a significant piece that moves the needle. This package should absolutely do it.

Then you fill in the rest of the roster with guys you know can bring grit and play right away.

I'm still looking at Siakam.

I don't want to trade the lotto pick or future picks. 2-3 years of getting eliminated in the 2nd round isn't worth giving up the future.

Look at how attached fans already are to Shaedon. We should want more of that. If we're not going to be contenders (we're not) at least let the fans have hope.

 

[THE HCP]

So last year’s offseason was more important than this one?

I have a feeling you’ve been punched in your nose quite a few times in your life huh?

 

[THE HCP]

I’d try to buy low on DFS with Keon, Nas, Walker or Watford, and enough 2nds to make the deal work.

DFS and Grant are both good defenders, with Thybulle coming off the bench. That might not be a huge upgrade, but he might be considered enough of a vet that the starting lineup won’t be any worse than Dame/Ant/Hart/Grant/Nurk.

We’ll have to see where Lively ends up, but I think Lively is a good option at backup C, with potential to be the starting C down the line.

BPA with the lotto pick.

We gotta have some sort of KEY for this place. What the fuck is a DFS?

 

[mook]

Barring us drafting Wembenyama, I really think at this point it's in our best interest to trade Dame for 3/4/5 (possibly all 3, if we get lucky with draft picks/young studs) of the future.

It's in Dame's interest too.

There's a reason almost nobody stays on the same team throughout their careers anymore. At some point it's in the interest of either player or team (or in our case both) to move on. Just look what the Jazz got for Gobert--we'd get an absolute haul for Dame. Not just because he's an absolute stud, but he's insanely marketable. Anyone trading for him is going to sell a crazy amount of jerseys and ad revenue.

Dame is still my all-time favorite Blazer, and I'll always love him, but he's worth more wins to us in the long-term on somebody else's team. And he deserves to contend, not languish on a fringe playoff team (best case scenario).

Ant + Sharpe is an awesome nucleus to build around (along with the amazing haul we'll get for Dame).

As long as we don't build around even more guards after them.

 

[THE HCP]

Is it really a fear?

I’ve got to say, I kind of hope Dame asks out.

It’s apparent that we have virtually no realistic shot at contending with him.

.

We aren’t “not contending” BECAUSE of Dame bro. You aren’t going around thinking that right?

 

[THE HCP]

One thing outside of Dame and Cronin that stood out for me and maybe I am reading WAY more into it then there is but I think Ant wants to stay but open to leaving.

Curious how you came to this conclusion?

 

[Labinot41]

 

[Predator]

Ant + lotto pick + future picks should absolutely get you a difference maker.

Are people already laying the groundwork to let Cronin off the hook? We don't have to be the odds on favorite to win next season but we do need to add a significant piece that moves the needle. This package should absolutely do it.

Then you fill in the rest of the roster with guys you know can bring grit and play right away.

I'm still looking at Siakam.

Ok, let's do this thought exercise.

Let's say for some reason all parties agree to do this. I have no clue why Toronto would want Simons, but ok.

Ant + Lotto pick + Future picks + cap filler for Siakam. Let's just assume we get the 7th pick.

Dame
Sharpe
Siakam
Grant
Nurk

Does that look like a LEGIT "contender"? I could squint and see it if Sharpe makes a METEORIC rise in year 2 and other teams get hammered by injuries.

But then Nurk is likely to miss a huge portion of the season due to injuries. Our bench is awful. So I go back to...

Is it really worth mortgaging our future for being a treadmill team? Because from what I can see, I'm only interested in mortgaging the future if we become a legit contender, and I honestly don't know if there is a pathway to do that.

You could probably add BOTH Siakam and Mikal Bridges and I'd still question if that's enough to overcome a team like the Bucks, given what we'd have to give up to add both of them.

If we somehow get the #1 pick, this is also essentially a non-starter. NO way can you trade the #1 pick.

 

[Hoopguru]

We gotta have some sort of KEY for this place. What the fuck is a DFS?

Defense First Specialist

 

[BIG Q]

My two cents;

Until PDX becomes a free agent destination (We know it never will be), you must build through the draft. Why did we hire the draft Wiz if we are going to trade his picks for an aging vet, a disgruntled vet, etc..? We have to catch lightning in a bottle like we did Dame. Where are we repeating the catching lightning in the bottle at? In the damn draft! Let's let the draft Wiz do his thing. We tanked our asses off for the lottery pick last season. That was the end game last season, and Shaedon Sharpe appears to be a special player. Job well done. Again, we tanked our asses off to end this season for a high lottery pick. Now we have a shot at another, especially if we get top three. Play this out. Let the draft Wiz do his thing.

Switching to Dame, if he doesn't like the direction, sure, trade him. What else can be said? He has made ridiculous money, been compensated to the max at every opportunity. Great for him. But the NBA is a business. The dynamics of being Portland, Oregon are very limiting. If he can't run with that, so be it. But I would love my point guard trusting his teammates. Getting the ball to them in spots they can excel. I don't want my point guard thinking he has to put up 50 points to have a shot at winning. I would love 15-25 points, 10 assists and a few boards with decent defense. In 2-3 seasons, Dame will be a better point guard because he will be older and most likely unable to put up 50. He will be more of a CP3 type player. That is what is needed when Sharpe and whomever we draft this season are getting into their window. Just two cents though.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

I don't want to trade the lotto pick or future picks. 2-3 years of getting eliminated in the 2nd round isn't worth giving up the future.

Look at how attached fans already are to Shaedon. We should want more of that. If we're not going to be contenders (we're not) at least let the fans have hope.

I think we need to see where we're picking and who's available. Certainly not many players are going to be on the level of Shaedon Sharpe. Our goal should be to get way better in the immediate. I wouldn't trade the #2 or #3 pick for OG. That ain't gonna get it done. But Bridges, Siakam, Embiid, etc.

 

[Labinot41]

question; if we get the 2nd Pick, would you trade Dame and draft Scoot Henderson and build around Sharpe/Henderson?

 

[THE HCP]

Pre draft last year I mentioned that Dame didn’t want to bring in more rookies. Wanted immediate help. Looks he finally said something last night.
I strongly believe and don’t think I’m going out on a ledge here….
Dame/Ant/Sharpe/Lottery Pick…… of those 4, only 2 will be here opening night.

 

[Predator]

We aren’t “not contending” BECAUSE of Dame bro. You aren’t going around thinking that right?

I didn't say we aren't contending because of him.

I'm saying that our team sucks, so it's pretty much impossible to build a team with what assets we have available to build a contender around him.

Thus, the most logical decision is to trade him to recoup some level of assets in order to build a contender around a player with a longer time horizon, particularly if you can get proven players in return for Dame.

 

[blazerkor]

Defense First Specialist

@THE HCP I kind of thought that @BankTeller was referring to Dorian Finney-Smith who is in fact a defense first specialist but I guess only he could let us know what he was saying.

 

[THE HCP]

Defense First Specialist

Ahhhh, in all my years around the game, I’ve never heard that term. Thank you.

 

[THE HCP]

@THE HCP I kind of thought that @BankTeller was referring to Dorian Finney-Smith who is in fact a defense first specialist but I guess only he could let us know what he was saying.

See, what an interesting thing to type assuming people know what that is. Hope he/she lets us know.
I’ll be honest and hope we trade for TSK, PW or LJG. Now THAT would be sweet.

 

[B-Roy]

Marang said last night that there are two players that are needle movers that would welcome coming to Portland (referring to Dame's comments), and he also retweeted this. So I'm assuming Jaylen is one of those.

Ant + Pick 5 + Nas.

Dame/Shaedon/Jaylen/Jerami/Nurk is a sick lineup.

 

[blazerkor]

See, what an interesting thing to type assuming people know what that is. Hope he/she lets us know.
I’ll be honest and hope we trade for TSK, PW or LJG. Now THAT would be sweet.

I'm really hoping we can get some value by trading LOL and SMH... I mean I'd be OK with keeping SMH but LOL really has to go.

 

[AngryFan]

question; if we get the 2nd Pick, would you trade Dame and draft Scoot Henderson and build around Sharpe/Henderson?

Yes, absolutely. That would be so fun to watch. The new lob city.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Marang said last night that there are two players that are needle movers that would welcome coming to Portland (referring to Dame's comments), and he also retweeted this. So I'm assuming Jaylen is one of those.

Ant + Pick 5 + Nas.

Dame/Shaedon/Jaylen/Jerami/Nurk is a sick lineup.

I like it. But I am sure a few fans will think he is about a 1/2 inch too short to play SF.

 

[Chris Craig]

Marang said last night that there are two players that are needle movers that would welcome coming to Portland (referring to Dame's comments), and he also retweeted this. So I'm assuming Jaylen is one of those.

Ant + Pick 5 + Nas.

Dame/Shaedon/Jaylen/Jerami/Nurk is a sick lineup.

I don't know that the Blazers have a good enough package for Brown or if Boston would want to move away from him and Tatum together. I guess here's to hoping they don't win the championship because if they do, he's not going anywhere.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

 

[Hoopguru]

Ahhhh, in all my years around the game, I’ve never heard that term. Thank you.

I was being a smart ass!

 

[B-Roy]

I don't know that the Blazers have a good enough package for Brown or if Boston would want to move away from him and Tatum together. I guess here's to hoping they don't win the championship because if they do, he's not going anywhere.

He's an expiring contract and I don't think he wants to stay in Boston (Based on his public comments). There's enough chatter around the league that Brown could want out. Too much smoke in that direction. Boston would be dumb not to at least listen to calls.

 

[THE HCP]

I was being a smart ass!

Damn you SOB!

 

[Chris Craig]

He's an expiring contract and I don't think he wants to stay in Boston (Based on his public comments). There's enough chatter around the league that Brown could want out. Too much smoke in that direction. Boston would be dumb not to at least listen to calls.

If we can get him, I'm all for it. Just seems a bit unrealistic...him being a free agent and supposedly wanting out couldn't hurt if true.

 

[Strenuus]

Ant + lotto pick + future picks should absolutely get you a difference maker.

Are people already laying the groundwork to let Cronin off the hook? We don't have to be the odds on favorite to win next season but we do need to add a significant piece that moves the needle. This package should absolutely do it.

Then you fill in the rest of the roster with guys you know can bring grit and play right away.

I'm still looking at Siakam.

Ant gets you what CJ got. So you're really hoping the picks get you the star. And in combination, they won't.