Maybe I'm too optimistic for the long term plays, but I am happy with this offseason. I gotta imagine Portland is just about done. I'd guess that they move Bledsoe in the next week to a team like the Spurs or Pistons who can take in the 19 million and then cut him for the 3.9, and the Blazers pay them out 5-6 Million for their troubles. At that point, the Blazers have ducked under the luxury tax for one more year, have 14 players under contract, 2 2-way players, and use this as a bounce back/development year. Next year they have more salary on the books that they're able to move, have the ability to make moves without being hardcapped, and have another year of evaluation for Ant, Nas, Sharpe, Keon.
I know people want championship moves or bust every offseason, but I think this is a good first step towards the end goal. Every year, players that you don't expect to move, become available. Hopefully by next offseason Portland is more able to get into those conversations with a mix of good young players, all of their draft picks available, and larger salaries to match contracts.
