Forum Game 2018 Olshey Interview: Who are the 5?

[Wizard Mentor]

Olshey Interviewed by Brook:

BlazersEdge summary: https://www.blazersedge.com/2018/8/...shey-blazers-traded-player-exception-ed-davis

One of the money quotes:
Olzendam asked Olshey about the lack of arrival of veterans to the team this summer:

The market dictates that. We identified five wings that all had playoff experience or veteran wings we thought we could get for the Taxpayer Mid-Level [Exception] — they all got more than the Taxpayer Mid-Level.

I don't want this to turn into another Olshey bitch session. I just want to know who you think the 5 wings were.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Mbah-A-Moute?

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Quick Summary:

• Zach gave up only .227 points per possession while he was on the floor during summer league.
• Zach is much bigger, but "let's not go crazy", he's still much smaller than Biebs.
• Zach, Caleb, + rookies attending Gurgs camp. 2 Blazer coaches going too.

 

[tester551]

Olshey Interviewed by Brook:

BlazersEdge summary: https://www.blazersedge.com/2018/8/...shey-blazers-traded-player-exception-ed-davis

One of the money quotes:
Olzendam asked Olshey about the lack of arrival of veterans to the team this summer:



I don't want this to turn into another Olshey bitch session. I just want to know who you think the 5 wings were.

Ariza, Bradley, Tyreke and not sure after that

 

[RR7]

Ellington? Belinelli? Hezonja?

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Ellington? Belinelli? Hezonja?

Lebron and KD.

 

[dviss1]

Has Tyreke Evans been to the playoffs?

 

[Mediocre Man]

I don't care who they are. The thing to take away from that quote is our GM consistantly fails at a big part of his job.

But

Evans
Moute
Bradley
Ellington
Reddick

Maybe?

 

[TBpup]

What a crock! That whole interview was full of misrepresentation, misleading statements and just pure lack of reality.
I feel bad for for Brooke having to ask him a bunch of softball questions a b not bring able to push our follow up on anything.
Not one word about the TPE and some of the statements were just flat out lies.
Pretty much a state run media type of interview.

 

[Chris Craig]

Almost had Hezonja till the Knicks gave him an offer he couldn't refuse, to lose with them instead.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Almost had Hezonja till the Knicks gave him an offer he couldn't refuse, to lose with them instead.

I like his shooting skills and I wanted him, but to be honest the Blazers need more at that SF position IMO. Not saying his outside shooting skills would not have helped this team, but still we need a little more. What makes Dame and CJ so good offensively is their ability to score multiple ways. (3pt shot, pull up mid range, floater in the lane...) we need one more dynamic player that can do this on the court with them.

Admittedly we have problems just finding a really good 3 & D guy to effectively fill that position, but again we really need more from that position than just that. I am not sure anyone on that list fit that bill. Maybe Evans if his 3 pt shot continues to improve.

 

[hoopsjock]

I realize he says "or veteran wings" but his pre-free agency comments were proven guys in the playoffs.

Mbah A Moute got less than the mid level.

Ariza is one, pretty much by default.

Ellington is a good guess but he signed 10 days after Curry so he doesn't fit the criteria.

Evans played in the postseason one year, a four game sweep so it's kind of bullshit if that counts.

McDermott played in 8 games in the playoffs but has never made it out of round 1. He's my guess as 1 of the 5 even though to me that doesn't meet the criteria either of being a proven playoff performer.

Hezonja has never been to the playoffs.

If Bradley or Reddick was one it was stupid to think either would be available for the Tax-MLE.

Belinelli is a possible one.

Who else could possibly qualify: Ilyasova? Baynes?

 

[hoopsjock]

Another thing that bugs me, if you wanted to clear up minutes for Collins, why not trade Aminu and re-sign Davis opening up a starting spot for him?

If the answer is that you want Collins to play more center, why then pursue Cousins?

This is why I no longer give a shit about the "oh, sooo close" attitude Olshey wants us to believe.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Another thing that bugs me, if you wanted to clear up minutes for Collins, why not trade Aminu and re-sign Davis opening up a starting spot for him?

If the answer is that you want Collins to play more center, why then pursue Cousins?

This is why I no longer give a shit about the "oh, sooo close" attitude Olshey wants us to believe.

Because Aminu and Collins are two different types of PFs and we need both. In my mind Aminu is needed off the bench to cover stretch 4's....something neither Ed or Collins excel at because their strengths are closer to the basket. Would I have kept Ed? Yes, but if there is a duplication then it is Ed and Collins. Aminu offers a different skill set then either.

 

[tester551]

What a crock! That whole interview was full of misrepresentation, misleading statements and just pure lack of reality.
I feel bad for for Brooke having to ask him a bunch of softball questions a b not bring able to push our follow up on anything.
Not one word about the TPE and some of the statements were just flat out lies.
Pretty much a state run media type of interview.

What??? You're claiming our GM is lying after failing to complete what he set out to do? That can't be.... He's honest as a chior boy.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Ellington? Belinelli? Hezonja?

Hezonja is out as he has never been in the playoffs.

 

[illmatic99]

I think he's full of shit. Evans/Belinelli/Ariza are the only three who sorta qualify.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I just want to know who you think the 5 wings were.

I'm hearing rumors that one was Steph and Seth's cousin, Thai. As far as the others take your pick, these are the wings that our MLE could get us. I like Parmesan Garlic.

 

[BBert]

I hearing rumors that one was Steph and Seth's cousin, Thai. As far as the others take your pick, these are the wings that our MLE could get us. I like Parmesan Garlic.

Quality post

 

[riverman]

What a crock! That whole interview was full of misrepresentation, misleading statements and just pure lack of reality.
I feel bad for for Brooke having to ask him a bunch of softball questions a b not bring able to push our follow up on anything.
Not one word about the TPE and some of the statements were just flat out lies.
Pretty much a state run media type of interview.

not really a fair assessment in my view...he did mention the TPE and said they couldn't find a team to take it on...backing it up by stating that very few moves were made period regarding players in that range...I thought the interview was very good. I know you don't like Olshey but what lack of reality is there? I didn't see any. He clearly said we were outbid for 5 players targeted and teams retained their assets. What statements were flat out lies? How would you know this as well Tpup? I don't care personally if Olshey is an asshole but beyond that, I do respect his knowledge of the job. I thought it was an honest interview and very clear. What is a state run media interview? Does the Blazer media have to be contentious just because many forum members view the FO in that light?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Quality post

Thank you.

 

[hoopsjock]

Because Aminu and Collins are two different types of PFs and we need both. In my mind Aminu is needed off the bench to cover stretch 4's....something neither Ed or Collins excel at because their strengths are closer to the basket. Would I have kept Ed? Yes, but if there is a duplication then it is Ed and Collins. Aminu offers a different skill set then either.

I kind of think Collins is closer to Aminu than Davis but I do get that Aminu is more of a 3/4. To me Olshey loses credibility when he says they want veteran players to help them out in the playoffs and then after failing to acquire even one guy that fits that mold now says the plan is for Collins to see a CJ like jump by eliminating competition for minutes?

I guess I was overly confident that this off season would be different, mainly due to Lillard's meeting with Allen. Then Olshey comes out and says this off season they are changing their approach. I really am fine with them going young, I just don't want to hear all this crap about how hard they tried or how close they were to doing something different. Even if it's true don't try to act like the course now is great when if it was such a good idea it would have been the option from the beginning.

 

[riverman]

I kind of think Collins is closer to Aminu than Davis but I do get that Aminu is more of a 3/4. To me Olshey loses credibility when he says they want veteran players to help them out in the playoffs and then after failing to acquire even one guy that fits that mold now says the plan is for Collins to see a CJ like jump by eliminating competition for minutes?

I guess I was overly confident that this off season would be different, mainly due to Lillard's meeting with Allen. Then Olshey comes out and says this off season they are changing their approach. I really am fine with them going young, I just don't want to hear all this crap about how hard they tried or how close they were to doing something different. Even if it's true don't try to act like the course now is great when if it was such a good idea it would have been the option from the beginning.

Olshey mention Layman as a guy who was poised to make a leap and has worked to earn a shot as well...didn't dwell on it but mentioned Jake, Caleb, Zach, Simons and Trent all going to big man camp in Vegas...so it says were trusting our own young guys to step in and contribute...glad to see two of our coaches will attend as well.

 

[dviss1]

Olshey mention Layman as a guy who was poised to make a leap and has worked to earn a shot as well...didn't dwell on it but mentioned Jake, Caleb, Zach, Simons and Trent all going to big man camp in Vegas...so it says were trusting our own young guys to step in and contribute...glad to see two of our coaches will attend as well.

Sure, the problem with this is it's exactly the opposite of what he said we were gonna do.

 

[riverman]

Sure, the problem with this is it's exactly the opposite of what he said we were gonna do.

He explained just why that didn't happen....quite simply..we were outbid by teams retaining their players.or players going for bigger offers..there's a difference between trying to make a deal and making the deal...the deals weren't there for us...some he said opted for the no income tax status of certain teams...others opted for more money.others for bigger markets...and the TPE was a draft day asset that he was surprised no one wanted to deal for...it's all in the interview from my perspective and it made sense to me. He then explained that plan B was to add shooters...which he did. Teams weren't gambling on salary given the moves that Golden State made...this just was not that year for almost every team...Sac is the only team with 11 mill in cap space as well. They couldn't get a game changer either

 

[hoopsjock]

Olshey mention Layman as a guy who was poised to make a leap and has worked to earn a shot as well...didn't dwell on it but mentioned Jake, Caleb, Zach, Simons and Trent all going to big man camp in Vegas...so it says were trusting our own young guys to step in and contribute...glad to see two of our coaches will attend as well.

As I think I clearly stated in my post, I really wouldn't mind that much if the course was to continue to develop young guys. In fact I'm a big proponent of always developing young guys even for championship contenders. However, this was obviously not the course that Olshey wanted to go this summer so anything anyone says about the young guys getting more minutes and all that stuff is merely trying to save face for failing to execute what he wanted to accomplish.

 

[riverman]

As I think I clearly stated in my post, I really wouldn't mind that much if the course was to continue to develop young guys. In fact I'm a big proponent of always developing young guys even for championship contenders. However, this was obviously not the course that Olshey wanted to go this summer so anything anyone says about the young guys getting more minutes and all that stuff is merely trying to save face for failing to execute what he wanted to accomplish.

I don't see it as "saving face" ...I see it as ways and means.. when contingencies don't come to fruition...you move on to your next options. That's how I see this off season.

 

[dviss1]

As I think I clearly stated in my post, I really wouldn't mind that much if the course was to continue to develop young guys. In fact I'm a big proponent of always developing young guys even for championship contenders. However, this was obviously not the course that Olshey wanted to go this summer so anything anyone says about the young guys getting more minutes and all that stuff is merely trying to save face for failing to execute what he wanted to accomplish.

This.

 

[riverman]

Sure, the problem with this is it's exactly the opposite of what he said we were gonna do.

What Olshey said after the season was that we were going to be aggressive in bringing in playoff vets....from what I saw...we were, but you can't make those vets sign here for 5.1 mill ….he talked with Beasley, Cousins, Spurs about Kawhi...probably even talked to Lebron's agent... and 5 wing players...we simply don't know how many offers the FO made that didn't pan out...and it's safe to say most of the league was in the same boat

 

[dviss1]

What Olshey said after the season was that we were going to be aggressive in bringing in playoff vets....from what I saw...we were, but you can't make those vets sign here for 5.1 mill ….he talked with Beasley, Cousins, Spurs about Kawhi...probably even talked to Lebron's agent... and 5 wing players...we simply don't know how many offers the FO made that didn't pan out...and it's safe to say most of the league was in the same boat

So what you're saying is he's a failure. Great. I'm completely in the fire Neil bandwagon.