Bitter Truth: "Portland will never, ever, ever be able to sign a marquee free agent."

[chris_in_pdx]

http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/jul/07/free-agents-not-for-blazers/

Portland had planned on having almost $12 million available for free agents, but most of that now has gone to players who were available because their previous teams were looking to dump salary.

It's like picking up a couch that somebody leaves on the curb. The price might be great, but there's a reason it is being left on the side of the road.

Which brings us to the ugly truth about the Blazers — Portland will never, ever, ever be able to sign a marquee free agent. The city isn't big enough and the franchise history isn't rich enough to land a big-name free agent.

The Joel Przybillas and Andre Millers and Wesley Matthews of the world can contribute to a winning team, but they aren't going to alter the course of a franchise.

Hard pill to swallow, but there it is.

 

[magnifier661]

Re: Bitter Truth: "Portland will never, ever, ever be able to sign a marquee free age

http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/jul/07/free-agents-not-for-blazers/



Hard pill to swallow, but there it is.

Yet the SAS never signed one either; and here they are.

 

[TowelBoy]

Re: Bitter Truth: "Portland will never, ever, ever be able to sign a marquee free age

Not that hard of a pill to swallow. Pretty obvious, actually.

 

[Natebishop3]

Re: Bitter Truth: "Portland will never, ever, ever be able to sign a marquee free age

Yet the SAS never signed one either; and here they are.

They tanked one year, lucked out and drafted Duncan, and yes.... here they are.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

Re: Bitter Truth: "Portland will never, ever, ever be able to sign a marquee free age

Yet the SAS never signed one either; and here they are.

Big difference is their marquee draft picks (Duncan, Parker, Ginobili) gelled and avoided serious injury.

It's easy to incorporate 2nd or 3rd tier talent when you have a healthy core of all-stars/future Hall of Famers.

 

[Boise Blazer]

Re: Bitter Truth: "Portland will never, ever, ever be able to sign a marquee free age

Very very very unlikely but never say never. If we took the next step and became a serious contender I find it hard to believe that there is 0% if signing someone. Unlikely but in the right situation not impossible. I disagree with severity of that statement

 

[magnifier661]

Re: Bitter Truth: "Portland will never, ever, ever be able to sign a marquee free age

They tanked one year, lucked out and drafted Duncan, and yes.... here they are.

Parker and ginobli? Maybe the coach?

And we got Aldridge, a #2 pick that's still here. So yeah here we are!

 

[BBert]

Re: Bitter Truth: "Portland will never, ever, ever be able to sign a marquee free age

Yet the SAS never signed one either; and here they are.

Yeah, like Houston before them, they lost all their games, and got lucky in the draft.

Houston and SA both tanked, BTW. Then SAS got a lucky 'break' when the Admiral went down. Ca-ching!

 

[julius]

Re: Bitter Truth: "Portland will never, ever, ever be able to sign a marquee free age

the same is true of basically 26 of the 30 NBA teams.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

Re: Bitter Truth: "Portland will never, ever, ever be able to sign a marquee free age

Parker and ginobli? Maybe the coach?

And we got Aldridge, a #2 pick that's still here. So yeah here we are!

No offense but Duncan >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Aldridge.

 

[magnifier661]

Re: Bitter Truth: "Portland will never, ever, ever be able to sign a marquee free age

Yeah, like Houston before them, they lost all their games, and got lucky in the draft.

AND that player played how many games throughout his career? How about us tanking and getting oden? How did that pan out?

 

[Nikolokolus]

Re: Bitter Truth: "Portland will never, ever, ever be able to sign a marquee free age

This just in: Water is wet.

 

[magnifier661]

Re: Bitter Truth: "Portland will never, ever, ever be able to sign a marquee free age

No offense but Duncan >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Aldridge.

And? We are talking players that you build from the draft. There may never be another Duncan

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Re: Bitter Truth: "Portland will never, ever, ever be able to sign a marquee free age

I disagree. We see marquee players pick small market teams (big contract) often. I don't think the Blazers will get that superstar FA player who everyone is offering a max contract to, but watching just this summer with Reke going to NO, Iggy to GS, Smith to Detroit, Jefferson to Charlotte and so on. Except for Dwight, seems like most FA went to the highest bidder.

 

[BBert]

Re: Bitter Truth: "Portland will never, ever, ever be able to sign a marquee free age

When a guy like LaMarcus Aldridge wants out of town, it just might be time to face the hard truth and fold up the circus tents.

Or, we could try to build through the lottery, like OKC did.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

Re: Bitter Truth: "Portland will never, ever, ever be able to sign a marquee free age

And? We are talking players that you build from the draft. There may never be another Duncan

Correct, so comparing Aldridge to Duncan in the context of this discussion is Apples/Oranges.

 

[magnifier661]

Re: Bitter Truth: "Portland will never, ever, ever be able to sign a marquee free age

When a guy like LaMarcus Aldridge wants out of town, it just might be time to face the hard truth and fold up the circus tents.

Or, we could try to build through the lottery, like OKC did.

That's the problem though. Will we be bad enough to have a high draft pick? I just don't see it.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

Re: Bitter Truth: "Portland will never, ever, ever be able to sign a marquee free age

but watching just this summer with Reke going to NO, Iggy to GS, Smith to Detroit, Jefferson to Charlotte and so on

Methinks you misunderstand the term "marquee player".

 

[blue9]

Re: Bitter Truth: "Portland will never, ever, ever be able to sign a marquee free age

Very very very unlikely but never say never. If we took the next step and became a serious contender I find it hard to believe that there is 0% if signing someone. Unlikely but in the right situation not impossible. I disagree with severity of that statement

Agreed. I remember Barkley wanting to get traded to POR. Not that it would have been a free agent signing - but it would have been a marquee player angling to get to POR, which for all intents and purposes is the same thing as POR attracting a marquee player. Once we're in the WCF then we'd have nearly as good a shot as any team at attracting marquee players.

 

[magnifier661]

Re: Bitter Truth: "Portland will never, ever, ever be able to sign a marquee free age

Correct, so comparing Aldridge to Duncan in the context of this discussion is Apples/Oranges.

Actually no it isn't. We are talking about building in the draft no? That means obtaining high picks. Is or is not Aldridge a high draft pick?

 

[magnifier661]

Re: Bitter Truth: "Portland will never, ever, ever be able to sign a marquee free age

Agreed. I remember Barkley wanting to get traded to POR. Not that it would have been a free agent signing - but it would have been a marquee player angling to get to POR, which for all intents and purposes is the same thing as POR attracting a marquee player. Once we're in the WCF then we'd have nearly as good a shot as any team at attracting marquee players.

Pippen asked to be traded to Portland as well.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

Re: Bitter Truth: "Portland will never, ever, ever be able to sign a marquee free age

Actually no it isn't. We are talking about building in the draft no? That means obtaining high picks. Is or is not Aldridge a high draft pick?

Yes it is. Aldridge is not a franchise future HOF'er like Duncan. Yes, SAS was lucky to get him, and their success has been directly tied to him. If Portland had lucked out in drafting Duncan, we might be talking about Portland's multiple championships. But to say "well, SAS drafted Duncan and look what they did, we can do the same with LaMarcus!" is ridiculous.

 

[Boise Blazer]

Re: Bitter Truth: "Portland will never, ever, ever be able to sign a marquee free age

So if OKC had 25 mil in cap space then no elite player would consider playing with Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka? Bullshit. Yes, it would have to be the perfect scenario but I dont buy the never, ever, ever theory.

 

[magnifier661]

Re: Bitter Truth: "Portland will never, ever, ever be able to sign a marquee free age

Yes it is. Aldridge is not a franchise future HOF'er like Duncan. Yes, SAS was lucky to get him, and their success has been directly tied to him. If Portland had lucked out in drafting Duncan, we might be talking about Portland's multiple championships. But to say "well, SAS drafted Duncan and look what they did, we can do the same with LaMarcus!" is ridiculous.

You are completely missing the reply. The concept was having the ability to lose games for an opportunity to get a high pick. Did we purposely lose games to obtain high picks? Yes... We got #2 and #6. We aren't talking about players. We are talking about high picks. Pay attention! LMAO!

 

[Blaze01]

Re: Bitter Truth: "Portland will never, ever, ever be able to sign a marquee free age

Yes this is true, miracles can happen, but I don't think you don't plan on building a championship team with that as one of your strategies...

But before we all succumb to doom and gloom, remember that POR has done this before by building thier core through the draft and WON a championship...injuries derailed a potential dynasty (or at least another championship)....

and injuires derailed a very promising triumvarate in Roy\Oden\LA....

That is why when I look at the 2014 draft, a draft that certainly appears to be shaping up to be rich in premium talent....and the fact that POR will likely NOT have thier pick...will NOT have any relevant cap space and if they hold onto to LA too long, will NOT be able to recoup significant assets in return for him....that to me is very problematic....

I am not conviced that POR could necessarily trade LA for a top 5 pick in next years' draft...

 

[chris_in_pdx]

Re: Bitter Truth: "Portland will never, ever, ever be able to sign a marquee free age

So if OKC had 25 mil in cap space then no elite player would consider playing with Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka? Bullshit. Yes, it would have to be the perfect scenario but I dont buy the never, ever, ever theory.

The OP writer was talking about Portland, not OKC and other "small market" teams. He was talking about Portland specifically.

 

[magnifier661]

Re: Bitter Truth: "Portland will never, ever, ever be able to sign a marquee free age

So if OKC had 25 mil in cap space then no elite player would consider playing with Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka? Bullshit. Yes, it would have to be the perfect scenario but I dont buy the never, ever, ever theory.

Don't mind the "sky is falling" chain gang. They forgot that Pippen and Barkley asked to be traded to Portland when they were relevant.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Re: Bitter Truth: "Portland will never, ever, ever be able to sign a marquee free age

Methinks you misunderstand the term "marquee player".

The city isn't big enough and the franchise history isn't rich enough to land a big-name free agent.

Guess I don't know what he means by big-name free agent. He starts out with the Blazers have almost 12 million to spend and ends with the Blazers can't land a big-name free agent. The Blazers could have signed one of the "big-named" free agents for 12 million a yr, but choose a different direction. He makes it sound like the Blazers could not have signed a big name free agent this summer( (12 million dollar contract type player).

Anyways, if marquee means Lebron, then I agree. But the odds of getting Lebron in the draft is only a hair higher than impossible to sign as FA.

 

[BBert]

Re: Bitter Truth: "Portland will never, ever, ever be able to sign a marquee free age

When a guy like LaMarcus Aldridge wants out of town, it just might be time to face the hard truth and fold up the circus tents.

Or, we could try to build through the lottery, like OKC did.

Or build enough assets to trade for a star, like Bob Whitsitt.

 

[magnifier661]

Re: Bitter Truth: "Portland will never, ever, ever be able to sign a marquee free age

Yes this is true, miracles can happen, but I don't think you don't plan on building a championship team with that as one of your strategies...

But before we all succumb to doom and gloom, remember that POR has done this before by building thier core through the draft and WON a championship...injuries derailed a potential dynasty (or at least another championship)....

and injuires derailed a very promising triumvarate in Roy\Oden\LA....

That is why when I look at the 2014 draft, a draft that certainly appears to be shaping up to be rich in premium talent....and the fact that POR will likely NOT have thier pick...will NOT have any relevant cap space and if they hold onto to LA too long, will NOT be able to recoup significant assest in return for him....that to me is very problematic....

I am not conviced that POR could necessarily trade LA for a top 5 pick in next years' draft...

How do you supposed we will be in the running for the 2014 lotto? Our team doesn't suck enough, even if we trade away Aldridge.