Exclusive Are the Blazers trying to make the playin next season?

[SharpesTriumph]

The Blazers roster is set at 15 contracts and now under the luxury tax. I'm wondering if the Blazers are going to try and make the playin or better next season?

Deni is a huge upgrade from Camera/Walker/etc as a starter - especially on offense. Defensively we now only have two players under 6'5" on the roster.

If we have better health next year, our 2nd year players and youth make significant improvements with a year more experience, and we keep all of Grant/Timelord/Ant on the roster maybe we possibly can compete for the playin.

If this is the direction it seems like an odd strategic choice to go from the 3rd worst record in the NBA during an epically weak draft to a much worse pick in a loaded draft - when the Blazers at best are still many years away from contending.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

The Blazers roster is set at 15 contracts and now under the luxury tax. I'm wondering if the Blazers are going to try and make the playin or better next season?

Deni is a huge upgrade from Camera/Walker/etc as a starter - especially on offense. Defensively we now only have two players under 6'5" on the roster.

If we have better health next year, our 2nd year players and youth make significant improvements with a year more experience, and we keep all of Grant/Timelord/Ant on the roster maybe we possibly can compete for the playin.

If this is the direction it seems like an odd strategic choice to go from the 3rd worst record in the NBA during an epically weak draft to a much worse pick in a loaded draft - when the Blazers at best are still many years away from contending.

http://www.sportstwo.com/threads/are-we-still-tanking.384070/

 

[Pinwheel1]

The Blazers roster is set at 15 contracts and now under the luxury tax. I'm wondering if the Blazers are going to try and make the playin or better next season?

Deni is a huge upgrade from Camera/Walker/etc as a starter - especially on offense. Defensively we now only have two players under 6'5" on the roster.

If we have better health next year, our 2nd year players and youth make significant improvements with a year more experience, and we keep all of Grant/Timelord/Ant on the roster maybe we possibly can compete for the playin.

If this is the direction it seems like an odd strategic choice to go from the 3rd worst record in the NBA during an epically weak draft to a much worse pick in a loaded draft - when the Blazers at best are still many years away from contending.

There is no doubt in my mind that if they want to make the play-in next season they can if they keep Grant.
They have the talent and depth if they stay healthy. But my guess is Grant will be the one they move and maybe Thybulle as well.

So then it comes down to this lineup instead:

Scoot-Ant (Banton)
Shae-Ant (Rupert)
Deni- Camara (Murray)
Walker-Camara
Ayton-Clingan -(Williams)

Camara would need to step up offensively IMO for us to make the jump. (and of course Scoot)

 

[SharpesTriumph]

There is no doubt in my mind that if they want to make the play-in next season they can if they keep Grant.
They have the talent and depth if they stay healthy. But my guess is Grant will be the one they move and maybe Thybulle as well.

So then it comes down to this lineup instead:

Scoot-Ant (Banton)
Shae-Ant (Rupert)
Deni- Camara (Murray)
Walker-Camara
Ayton-Clingan -(Williams)

Camara would need to step up offensively IMO for us to make the jump. (and of course Scoot)

Walker is a major weak link - shot a career high 29% from 3, can't make the playin with him starting. Camara/Walker might be able to split forward backup duties but it would be ideal if there was a better backup too. Perhaps Sharpe/Thybulle could slide to forward some, or just hope one of Ruper/Camara/Walker has that big improvement to be a productive backup.

If were trading away Grant I can't imagine were getting a talent upgrade at forward for next season. So if the primary goal is to make the playin I'd think we keep Grant. I'd prefer we trade Grant for a better long term asset but I guess we'll see what happens.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Walker is a major weak link - shot a career high 29% from 3, can't make the playin with him starting. Camara/Walker might be able to split forward backup duties but it would be ideal if there was a better backup too. Perhaps Sharpe/Thybulle could slide to forward some, or just hope one of Ruper/Camara/Walker has that big improvement to be a productive backup.

If were trading away Grant I can't imagine were getting a talent upgrade at forward for next season. So if the primary goal is to make the playin I'd think we keep Grant. I'd prefer we trade Grant for a better long term asset but I guess we'll see what happens.

I do like Walker's rebounding. He works his ass off when he is on the court. I think it is possible for his 3 pt % to improve.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I do like Walker's rebounding. He works his ass off when he is on the court. I think it is possible for his 3 pt % to improve.

Yeah - thats fine for a 3rd string player that might fill in as a backup when others are injured. If its a starter - good chance were high again in the lottery.

 

[Hoopguru]

I do like Walker's rebounding. He works his ass off when he is on the court. I think it is possible for his 3 pt % to improve.

I also believe his 3 pointer will improve.

 

[B-Roy]

It's set at 14 if they guarantee Banton, am I missing the last player?

 

[Pinwheel1]

Yeah - thats fine for a 3rd string player that might fill in as a backup when others are injured. If its a starter - good chance were high again in the lottery.

I don't know. If you surround him with 4 scorers then he fits a need. I think he fits well next to Ayton. He won't end games but as a starter, there is nothing wrong with having one blue-collar type player on the court....assuming he improves his 3-point shot to spread the floor.

Having said that Camara is essentially the same size and I like his perimeter defense better.

 

[Pinwheel1]

It's set at 14 if they guarantee Banton, am I missing the last player?

I count 14 as well.

 

[BassPlaya]

I hope so.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I don't know. If you surround him with 4 scorers then he fits a need. I think he fits well next to Ayton. He won't end games but as a starter, there is nothing wrong with having one blue-collar type player on the court....assuming he improves his 3-point shot to spread the floor.

Having said that Camara is essentially the same size and I like his perimeter defense better.

Toumani was much better last season (as a rookie) and shot ~34% which is ok, much better than Jabari 29%, plus is much better on defense. A Toumani/Deni forward duo would be fine on rebounding especially with a center. I don't know where Jabari would play on the floor with a center like Ayton or our backups - he is worthless on the perimeter, can't really initiate offense, and then it gets crowded with both him and a center around the basket. Honestly I'd explore cutting Jabari if we need that 15th roster spot so I'm just not a fan of his.

Toumani isn't desirable or any of these guys as a starter though if we want to win. Them starting was a major reason we had the 3rd worst record last year.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

It's set at 14 if they guarantee Banton, am I missing the last player?

I count 14 as well.

It's 15;

Sharpe
Scoot
Ant
Banton
Thybulle

Avdija
Grant
Camera
Walker
Murray
Rupert

Ayton
Clingan
Timelord
Duop

 

[Pinwheel1]

It's 15;

Sharpe
Scoot
Ant
Banton
Thybulle

Avdija
Grant
Camera
Walker
Murray
Rupert

Ayton
Clingan
Timelord
Duop

Thanks, I forgot they had not added Deni yet to the roster.

 

[B-Roy]

It's 15;

Sharpe
Scoot
Ant
Banton
Thybulle

Avdija
Grant
Camera
Walker
Murray
Rupert

Ayton
Clingan
Timelord
Duop

No wonder they didn't add another rookie. Spotrac didn't have Clingan.

So basically 14-15 depending on whether Banton is guaranteed or not. Banton's guarantee date is 1/10, so they can carry him into the season if no deals are made and just waive him if they need to do a 2 for 1.

 

[B-Roy]

We can carry 21 players in the off-season though right? So they can still make moves but if we take on guaranteed money we would have to waive some players before the start of the season.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

We can carry 21 players in the off-season though right? So they can still make moves but if we take on guaranteed money we would have to waive some players before the start of the season.

Yes - the 15 man limit is near the end of the preseason so well into October.

 

[B-Roy]

Yes - the 15 man limit is near the end of the preseason so well into October.

Not using any seconds on a guaranteed deal makes me feel like no deals are imminent. They didn’t want to go into the season with their pants possibly down carrying 16 GTD contracts. Or they just really like Benton.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

No wonder they didn't add another rookie. Spotrac didn't have Clingan.

So basically 14-15 depending on whether Banton is guaranteed or not. Banton's guarantee date is 1/10, so they can carry him into the season if no deals are made and just waive him if they need to do a 2 for 1.

Yeah I was fine with not keeping a 2nd rounder - although we could've had one/two on two-ways contracts and not the 15 man roster - but it was indefensible we flipped the picks for only pocketing cash while other franchises were getting multiple future 2nds for them.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Not using any seconds on a guaranteed deal makes me feel like no deals are imminent. They didn’t want to go into the season with their pants possibly down carrying 16 GTD contracts. Or they just really like Benton.

Yeah as well as the team being below the luxury tax - with a bit of room if needed for a deadline deal - has me suspecting the same.

The other possibility is the Blazers expect a Grant/etc trade will require them to take back multiple players so they will need to cut someone anyways at camp. Better to not add any guaranteed deals in that case.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Toumani was much better last season (as a rookie) and shot ~34% which is ok, much better than Jabari 29%, plus is much better on defense. A Toumani/Deni forward duo would be fine on rebounding especially with a center. I don't know where Jabari would play on the floor with a center like Ayton or our backups - he is worthless on the perimeter, can't really initiate offense, and then it gets crowded with both him and a center around the basket. Honestly I'd explore cutting Jabari if we need that 15th roster spot so I'm just not a fan of his.

Toumani isn't desirable or any of these guys as a starter though if we want to win. Them starting was a major reason we had the 3rd worst record last year.

I agree about a Toumani/Deni forward duo being effective on the boards and on D, although TC can't initiate offense either.

But I really don't think any one player was the reason we had the 3rd worst record. The issue was they all played together. One of them with 4 legit staters will work.....it is done all the time with playoff teams. Toumani just needs to add a go-to shot. If he can't then yeah he will need to come off the bench.

 

[wizenheimer]

There is no doubt in my mind that if they want to make the play-in next season they can if they keep Grant.

I know each season can be a little different, but this season, it took a 46-36 record to just make the play-in as a road team in the 1st 'round'. For the Blazers to go from 40 games under .500 this year, to 10 games over next year seems like a couple of bridges too far; especially considering I don't seen any of the top-10 seeds from last season slipping much (maybe Warriors?) and Houston, Memphis, and Spurs will all be climbing

 

[Ed O]

I think the team is trying to make the playoffs.

I think the team should be looking to the future.

I thought the team was going to challenge for a play-in spot last year if they didn't trade Grant, but then they did neither... the worst of both worlds. I fear that's going to happen again this season as the front office keeps thrashing around instead of tearing off the band-aid and being serious about adding cheap young talent and future assets to the team.

 

[Phatguysrule]

Toumani was much better last season (as a rookie) and shot ~34% which is ok, much better than Jabari 29%, plus is much better on defense. A Toumani/Deni forward duo would be fine on rebounding especially with a center. I don't know where Jabari would play on the floor with a center like Ayton or our backups - he is worthless on the perimeter, can't really initiate offense, and then it gets crowded with both him and a center around the basket. Honestly I'd explore cutting Jabari if we need that 15th roster spot so I'm just not a fan of his.

Toumani isn't desirable or any of these guys as a starter though if we want to win. Them starting was a major reason we had the 3rd worst record last year.

We don't want to win for another 2 seasons.

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

Which teams do you see us better than in the West?

There are a few that are marginal but am guessing the Blazers have the lowest Vegas win total when they release the odds.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I know each season can be a little different, but this season, it took a 46-36 record to just make the play-in as a road team in the 1st 'round'. For the Blazers to go from 40 games under .500 this year, to 10 games over next year seems like a couple of bridges too far; especially considering I don't seen any of the top-10 seeds from last season slipping much (maybe Warriors?) and Houston, Memphis, and Spurs will all be climbing

You make a good point about the other teams. I should not have said "No doubt in my mind" There will be other teams that improve and some who will slide due to injuries. But I don't think that our record last year is a true indicator of how we can be this year....if they wanted to try and make it. If not for the fake injuries and the real injuries, and the intentional tanking, the win total would have been closer to 35 wins.

But it is a moot point because I think we will trade Grant and others.

 

[wizenheimer]

You make a good point about the other teams. I should not have said "No doubt in my mind" There will be other teams that improve and some who will slide due to injuries. But I don't think that our record last year is a true indicator of how we can be this year....if they wanted to try and make it. If not for the fake injuries and the real injuries, and the intentional tanking, the win total would have been closer to 35 wins.

But it is a moot point because I think we will trade Grant and others.

I don't believe 35 wins was in reach; 30 maybe

I would agree that a forward rotation of Grant-Advija-Camara-Walker is intriguing with a decent enough balance of strengths/weaknesses to add a few more wins

the back court is awkward though

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Which teams do you see us better than in the West?

There are a few that are marginal but am guessing the Blazers have the lowest Vegas win total when they release the odds.

Good question, will likely change with roster moves in free agency, but today I'd say Spurs, Utah, and Houston if rosters stay as is. All have great youth and upside but those 3 will continue to have learning curves with losses next season.

There will probably be 1 or 2 teams with major injuries and 1 or 2 that just underperform. Wouldn't shock me if Phoenix, Golden State, Lakers, or Clippers are a mess from injuries or just old declining stars.

To compete for the playin the Blazers just have to be 11th or 12th much of the year so might only need 3 teams that are clearly worse.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

the back court is awkward though

If this Blazers season is just a poor attempt to win or actually does lead to meaningful real wins how Scoot/Sharpe perform may be the biggest component. They will need of course better health but also much more productivity.

Ant is the most certain, above average as a 3rd guard, good scoring and offense with bad defense. If he is far and away the #1 guard on the team wins will be hard to get. If he is part of an equally effective trio or even outplayed by the other two then it could be a very effective backcourt.

 

[Mr. Robot]

hopefully not, were in no hurry to compete given we have young players and we need more talent anyway

that being said, it will depend on the roster, if we keep ayton, grant & simons, id say we will try to make the play-in