06/30/15 Lowe Post

[BBert]

Well shit man. I guess LBJ is leaving too. I mean shit man he opt out!

He's coming to Portland.

With Gasol.

 

[magnifier661]

He's coming to Portland.

With Gasol.

This is about as credible as the trash most in here believe

 

[BBert]

He got Vonleh, which is pretty much like getting a lottery pick.

A "top 5" level lottery pick with a year in the league and the early signs of a bright future. If they were intent on dumping Batum, I couldn't be happier with the return. (Sure he could still bust, but I'm thinking not. Well worth the gamble.)

 

[e_blazer]

Given that the Spurs are having to dump Splitter to make LMA a max offer, how many other players are they going to have to dump in order to make a max offer to Gasol? This "rumor" is too stupid to even be called a rumor.

 

[e_blazer]

This is about as credible as the trash most in here believe

At least the Blazers would have the cap space to make an offer.

 

[BBert]

He got T. Rob. He was top 5. Did we rebuild then?

You had to bring up TRob. Thanks for pissing in my cheerios. LOL

 

[BBert]

My point exactly!!!! I would much rather look at it in a positive light than watch these emo fans think our world ended

Me too.

Some of these guys need to knock it off with these negative waves, man!

Keep Aldridge or not keep Aldridge, this is exciting. Either option presents it's own opportunities for success.

Embrace the light!

 

[RoyToy]

My point exactly!!!! I would much rather look at it in a positive light than watch these emo fans think our world ended

Much better to believe Neil and Aldridge are fooling everyone in the NBA and have schemed this entire thing out

 

[blue9]

Lmao! Dude Batum is the most overrated SF in the league. The way he cashes in and coasts was a detriment to this team. That's why Blazers wanted to keep Aldridge and toss Batum to the curb. They knew Batum was trash

Any way the wind blows...
You change direction at the drop of a hat - popular opinion blows one way, and you're right there with them. If popular opinion changes you do a complete 180 to stay in lockstep with everyone else - no thoughts of your own, only parroting what your S2 heroes think.

 

[magnifier661]

Much better to believe Neil and Aldridge are fooling everyone in the NBA and have schemed this entire thing out

That was a joke thread! Funny how you use it for an argument.

Simple fact is Olshey and Aldridge have discussed everything and it's up to Olshey to deliver what he says he does. I have confidence he will moreso than Patterson, Nash, Pritch or Cho

 

[magnifier661]

Any way the wind blows...
You change direction at the drop of a hat - popular opinion blows one way, and you're right there with them. If popular opinion changes you do a complete 180 to stay in lockstep with everyone else - no thoughts of your own, only parroting what your S2 heroes think.

Yes because me saying "trade Batum" because he doesn't take the Blazers seriously has been something I've posted for years. I was against the extension as well, but admitted I was wrong when he had an incredible year. But alas, mutherfucker did it to us again. Let's let other teams worry about his heart

 

[ThugginPaulyGAllen]

LMA has been an awesome Blazer. I'd love if he stays, but if he leaves I'll still root for him. Just behind the Blazers. He has been a stand up guy, never disrespected Portland, the Blazers, his teammates or the fans. He deserves better from us than this petty fuck-him attitude.

Except him publicly saying last summer he was gonna resign and retire as the best blazer ever..

 

[e_blazer]

I would imagine that the conversation between LA and Olshey has gone something along the lines of LA saying that having a legitimate chance to win a title is a prime consideration in where he will sign and he's going to listen to the offers he gets and then make up his mind; and Olshey saying that he understands that and he has plans to deliver some teammates that will improve the Blazers' chances of doing that. Oh, and by the way, he can offer about $30M more money as a sweetener. So, my guess, is that LA listens to offers and watches what Olshey does and then chooses what he thinks is best for him. I can't fault him for that at this point in his career. It's on Olshey to make some good things happen.

 

[RoyToy]

Olshey has had 3 seasons to put a contender on the floor to convince Aldridge to stay and as of right now he hasn't done that. The team is down 2 starters right now and possibly 3 if Rolo doesn't return.

The Blazers are a borderline playoff team even if Aldridge were to return. I doubt that makes Aldridge want to stay.

 

[Tunchi]

Gasol isnt coming here, he already is committed to his team unlike LMA. Where Lma says hes going to do this and that he actually doesnt. Look at Marc his team is 1st and 2nd round losers every year but he commits to them.. LOYAL!

 

[Scalma]

Olshey has had 3 seasons to put a contender on the floor to convince Aldridge to stay and as of right now he hasn't done that. The team is down 2 starters right now and possibly 3 if Rolo doesn't return.

The Blazers are a borderline playoff team even if Aldridge were to return. I doubt that makes Aldridge want to stay.

Actuslly Olshey did do that. He got him a real center in lopez. Things didn't work out mainly because of injuries because when everyone was healthy this was a top 4 team for 2 years straight.


As for free agency, there's a reason why Olshey didn't approach anyone outside of LA for an extension. This was planned out, rather than failure by a GM.

 

[magnifier661]

Olshey has had 3 seasons to put a contender on the floor to convince Aldridge to stay and as of right now he hasn't done that. The team is down 2 starters right now and possibly 3 if Rolo doesn't return.

The Blazers are a borderline playoff team even if Aldridge were to return. I doubt that makes Aldridge want to stay.

His first year we had no significant cap or players to work with. Second year, he had no bench because all the players sucked other than the starting 4 (still made it farther than any team Aldridge played for before), 3rd year we were considered the best team in the league with top 5 offense and defense until The injury domino fell. Only a total fucking dumb fuck would consider that not moving in the right direction

 

[Orion Bailey]

wtf why

Oh god.

I am on board with this way of thinking. Just smashing the tin foil hat mob and their doom and gloom scenario

GET EM MAGS!!!

Seriously. Portland is full of "Glass Half EMPTY" types. Why is it we have one of the highest suicide per capita rates?
Don't take it to heart Mags, we up here are just depressed cause it rains a lot.

 

[blue9]

It all depends on the decisions of Free Agents and other GMs. It's not up to Olshey. Our roster for 2015-2016 will be shaped by 10s of people - maybe up to 100+ other people - who are NOT Blazers right now.
If Free Agents decide to play here, and LMA wants to play with them, then he'll re-sign. OR if another team trades us players that LMA wants to play with then he'll re-sign. If neither of those happen he won't.

 

[RoyToy]

His first year we had no significant cap or players to work with. Second year, he had no bench because all the players sucked other than the starting 4 (still made it farther than any team Aldridge played for before), 3rd year we were considered the best team in the league with top 5 offense and defense until The injury domino fell. Only a total fucking dumb fuck would consider that not moving in the right direction

3 years in a row the Blazers have faded down the stretch. That's not injuries, that's a tougher 2nd half schedule and overall a disturbing trend for Terry Stotts. 3 years in a row the team has been worse the 2nd half of the season.

And you missed the point of the post. As of RIGHT NOW the Blazers are not a contender next year even if Aldridge stays. They're a 6-8 seed and possibly don't even make it, and is that really enough to convince Aldridge to stay?

 

[magnifier661]

3 years in a row the Blazers have faded down the stretch. That's not injuries, that's a tougher 2nd half schedule and overall a disturbing trend for Terry Stotts. 3 years in a row the team has been worse the 2nd half of the season.

And you missed the point of the post. As of RIGHT NOW the Blazers are not a contender next year even if Aldridge stays. They're a 6-8 seed and possibly don't even make it.

The first year fade was because we had absolutely no bench. I'm talking a bench that couldn't even score 15 points bad! Of course you fade!

Second year, we still didn't have a good bench. Better than before, but still bad enough that we had to set records for minutes played by our starters.

Third Year, we had a mediocre bench. Not bad, but middle of the pack. We were the best team in the league, then we got injured. If we had no injuries, we may have a entirely different story right now.

I agree that Olshey has his work cut out for him, but I am confident that he can put a team together that Aldridge will believe in.

 

[Blazer Freak]

I would imagine that the conversation between LA and Olshey has gone something along the lines of LA saying that having a legitimate chance to win a title is a prime consideration in where he will sign and he's going to listen to the offers he gets and then make up his mind; and Olshey saying that he understands that and he has plans to deliver some teammates that will improve the Blazers' chances of doing that. Oh, and by the way, he can offer about $30M more money as a sweetener. So, my guess, is that LA listens to offers and watches what Olshey does and then chooses what he thinks is best for him. I can't fault him for that at this point in his career. It's on Olshey to make some good things happen.

1. Will LMA (or Anyone) Go With a Short-Term Deal?
The basic rule of NBA free agency has always been this: Home teams get an edge in keeping their own stars, since they can dangle more years and more money. This is why everyone is repeating that Portland can offer LaMarcus Aldridge almost $30 million more than any suitor. That’s technically true! The Blazers can offer Aldridge a five-year max deal totaling about $108 million, while rival offers top out at four years and $80 million.

That advantage means much less with the coming cap boom, which opens up options that used to be too risky for players or teams. Aldridge could sign a two-year max deal with another team, then hit free agency again, sign another two-year max deal, and make more money in just the next four years — about $111 million — than Portland can offer in that traditional five-year max contract. Over the full five years, Aldridge could earn about $35 million more double-dipping in free agency than by signing the longest possible contract with the Blazers this summer. THIRTY-FIVE MILLION. Only a fool would ignore that.

Aldridge is a max player, and maximum contracts are set at a specific percentage of the cap in the year those contracts start. Thirty percent of $67 million is nice, but 30 percent of $90 million — next year’s cap — is nicer.

Wait, there’s more! That max percentage increases from 30 percent to 35 percent once a player logs 10 years in the league. Next year will be Aldridge’s 10th season, and that gap of five percentage points will represent something like $4 million or $5 million per year1 — or as much as $20 million over the life of a contract. Aldridge has a double incentive to hit free agency again as soon as possible. Those little quirks rewarding veteran players were never supposed to mean this much.

This "the Blazers can offer him $30M more" option doesn't mean shit. If LA is REALLY about the money he can get it anywhere, he just assumes a bit more risk by going with 2 year deals.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I dont really care if LA stays or goes. Don't really care qhich team. The only thing I need to know is if he wants to be here or if he is just wants the 5th year so he can then ask for a trade to someplace he'd rather be

 

[RoyToy]

The first year fade was because we had absolutely no bench. I'm talking a bench that couldn't even score 15 points bad! Of course you fade!

Second year, we still didn't have a good bench. Better than before, but still bad enough that we had to set records for minutes played by our starters.

Third Year, we had a mediocre bench. Not bad, but middle of the pack. We were the best team in the league, then we got injured. If we had no injuries, we may have a entirely different story right now.

I agree that Olshey has his work cut out for him, but I am confident that he can put a team together that Aldridge will believe in.

At what point was Portland better than Golden State?

The past two years the Blazers feasted only easy schedules early and once the schedule got tougher the record started to even out. The issues you talked about (bench) started showing up bad against the better teams.

Doesn't really matters anyways. That team doesn't exist anymore and isn't the team Aldridge would be coming back to. Right now he's basically coming back to Lillard and a bunch of ancillary pieces. Not really enticing for a player that's about to be 30 and wants to contend for a championship.

 

[Further]

Except him publicly saying last summer he was gonna resign and retire as the best blazer ever..

How is that disrespecting us? I'd say that's being very kind to the city, team and fans. Now, if he changes his mind, that would suck as a Blazer fan, but it's still not disrespectful.

 

[magnifier661]

At what point was Portland better than Golden State?

The past two years the Blazers feasted only easy schedules early and once the schedule got tougher the record started to even out. The issues you talked about (bench) started showing up bad against the better teams.

Doesn't really matters anyways. That team doesn't exist anymore and isn't the team Aldridge would be coming back to. Right now he's basically coming back to Lillard and a bunch of ancillary pieces. Not really enticing for a player that's about to be 30 and wants to contend for a championship.

Only a low down fucktard fool would believe the players we have now will be the pieces we present to Aldridge.

 

[magnifier661]

How is that disrespecting us? I'd say that's being very kind to the city, team and fans. Now, if he changes his mind, that would suck as a Blazer fan, but it's still not disrespectful.

Definitely not like Howard or LBJ. That was cold as ice!!!!!

 

[Minstrel]

Third Year, we had a mediocre bench. Not bad, but middle of the pack. We were the best team in the league, then we got injured. If we had no injuries, we may have a entirely different story right now.

The Blazers were never the best team in the league. They were at best the fifth-best team in the league and only in the first half (behind the Warriors, Clippers, Rockets and Grizzlies). In the second half, the Grizzlies faded, but the Spurs and Cavaliers found their elite gear. Prior to Matthews' injury, the Blazers were probably the sixth-best in the league and fifth-best in the Western Conference.

Well, I suppose you could probably say they were on par with the Rockets prior to the injuries, so tied for fifth-best in the league and fourth-best in the conference.

 

[RoyToy]

Only a low down fucktard fool would believe the players we have now will be the pieces we present to Aldridge.

You're right

I'm sure Aldridge has no idea about the moves Olshey has made and the players he has acquired

........

He knows exactly who is on the team and he knows it isn't a contender

 

[magnifier661]

The Blazers were never the best team in the league. They were at best the fifth-best team in the league and only in the first half (behind the Warriors, Clippers, Rockets and Grizzlies). In the second half, the Grizzlies faded, but the Spurs and Cavaliers found their elite gear. Prior to Matthews' injury, the Blazers were probably the sixth-best in the league and fifth-best in the Western Conference. (Though fully healthy, they might have been on par with the Rockets, so maybe tied for fifth-best in the league.)

Bro, we were tied with GS for best record at one point of the season. And for a while, we were ahead of Memphis and Houston, dangling at 2nd in the west. You don't remember this?