2017 Offseason: The Schilly Edition

[dviss1]

All off season plans require several contingency plans, but I think you make your dream scenario your Plan A. You can't ever achieve it if you don't at least try. If it becomes obvious that that one isn't happening, you immediately move to Plan B. IND has said they are willing to trade Paul George rather than risk losing him to free agency, without compensation, next summer. He will be traded and he will go to the highest bidder. Since trading him signals IND is in complete rebuild mode, draft picks are the most valuable trade commodity and we happen to have more 1st round picks in this draft than anyone else. It may seem like a pipe dream to some, but I don't think us getting Paul George is completely delusional.

So, you go all in for George, but if you don't get the deal made on, or before, draft day, your proceed with your Plan B.

You don't pass on a talent like Paul George because you still have other needs to address. If we add PG13 to Dame, C.J. and Nurk, we will become a destination for cheap vets who want to win. We can pick up one, or two of those guys, to help with the back up 4 and 5 spots. A guy like Kyle O'Quinn is cheap and rumored to be available. Hell, IND would gladly give us (more accurately force us to take) Al Jefferson as part of a Paul George trade. I'd be perfectly happy with Big Al backing up Nurk for the next season, or two (the second season would be at our discretion, since it's not fully guaranteed).

If we become a win now (or at least win soon) team by adding Paul George, there will ways, other than the draft, to address our bench needs (MLE, vet min, other minor trades. etc.). Getting a talent like Paul George is the hard part. Addressing the other needs is easy, by comparison. If Neil can pull a rabbit out of his hat (other the other end) and land us Paul George, I am 100% confident he will come up with a way to address our other needs.

BNM

FUCK. YES!

 

[dviss1]

I also disagree with this statement. We were 14-6 with Nurk. Sure that's only a quarter for a season, but that's a 57-win pace and our sudden turnaround after adding Nurk was one of the hottest stories after the all star break.

Add Paul George to that (without giving up Dame or C.J.) and it's easy to see that team as a contender, at least a top 4 team in the West, and I think think a full season of Nurk + Paul George would get us to the 2nd seed in the West.

That doesn't make us GSW or CLE when it comes to veteran ring chasers, but the dominance of those two teams could actually work in our favor. They only have so many roster spots available, and if we're next in line, we could have our pick of any cheap vets that don't hook up with GSW or CLE.

I think if we add PG13 to Dame, Nurk and C.J., we could easily be the 3rd best team in the league. SAS is on the way down. HOU had a good regular season but is not built for playoff success. The Clippers will either be a year older and a year more injury prone, or they will lose one, or more of CP3, BG and Redick. UTA may end up losing Hayward. None of the teams in the East really has a shot at getting past CLE.

So, if you were a vet, looking to play for a winner and willing to accept a vet min deal, other than GSW and CLE, who else would you consider ahead of POR + PG13?

BNM

Continue.
To.
Speak.
This.
EXISTENCE.

 

[dviss1]

Not to mention that Olshey would almost instantly earn exec of the year, and Dame and PG become all stars.

Nurkić gets MIP in that scenario.

 

[dviss1]

Maybe. I know most NBA scouting is based on film, and Portland, with Nurk last year, wasn't scouted like they will have been now. Teams will start forcing the ball block left a lot more next year. Unless we address a few issues, we will be 5-10 next season, and 1 and out in playoffs because of defense.

See, this is what irritates me about you. And honestly, it's like you're ignoring the facts on purpose...

Nurkić once got head in a bathroom and finished in the toilet...

Now there's a whole new species of fish....

Facts bro... Facts...

 

[Schilly]

I think some of you kind missed the overall point of my evaluation. Of course we are all going to have different opinions but to me it's like managing a budget you get the essential lined up 1st then look to luxuries... during the planning phase. So in other words I'm not saying this is plan a or plan b I even stated that, this is the bare minimum. Once I have this plan established I look for ways to make a bigger splash.

Put another way many accused Olshey for banking on Whiteside then not having a backup plan so panicking and overpaying Turner.

So yeah you go fishing for George but then you also have you plan C in place so you are covered. To me it's easier to visual the minimum 1st then start thinking about pipe dreams.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

#15 Justin Patton (next 2 options John Collins, Jarrett Allen)
#20 Ivan Rabb (next 2 options Isaiah Hartenstein, TJ Leaf)
#26 Derek White (next 2 Jordan Bell, Bam Adebayo)

Current DX Mock (updated after the Boston-Philly trade - but they stubbornly cling to Lonzo Ball at #2) has us taking the bolded players. I like the sound of Derek White: I nominate him as this year's Malcolm Brogdon.

 

[Minstrel]

I still think it's likely that Ball is the pick for the Lakers, even if I'm not sure I'd select him at #2. A lot of this is engaging in pop psychology, but I have three university degrees in internet pop psychology. I think Ball will remind Magic a lot of himself: a tall point guard who's at his best playing at breakneck pace and who's a dazzling passer. I'm sure Magic would love to revive the "Showtime" era, both substantively and in terms of image. The fact that Ball is from the LA area and went to school at UCLA just makes the connection stronger. Unless the Lakers think Ball is clearly below the other top prospects (not something I've heard out of their camp, outside of liking Fultz--someone who won't be there at #2--the best), all the narrative aspects will make a strong tie-breaker.

 

[BigGameDamian]

I think Nurk changes a lot of things. Doesn't mean they'll be a top 3 team next year, but he definitely makes a difference.

They could stand pat and improve (based on Nurk being healthy) but I'd much prefer them upgrading at at least the SF and PF starters.

Seems like standing pat and building through the draft is what the Blazers do best. Or maybe it's just a small market team thing?

 

[Schilly]

So far my "prediction" isn't far off. I didn't foresee the trade up but the net result is on target getting 2 backup posts one of whom should push Vonleh for the starting PF spot.

We took a swing on Plan A by attempting to trade for PG13, it even sounds like we (and other teams as well) made better offers than the one accepted. The Blazers can't control decisions by other teams.

 

[Sinobas]

So the luxury tax threshold going forward is going to be about 120 million. Next year, we're most likely going to have 75 of that tied up in Nurk/Lillard/CJ. That's leaves 45 million left for the other 10 players.

Leonard/Crabbe/Turner and consuming that by themselves. That means the salary of every other player on the roster is going to be luxury tax.