Blake Griffin or Kevin Love

[BonesJones]

I'd rather have Kelly Olynyk than Kevin Love.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Did LaMarcus ever average 24ppg? Did LaMarcus ever average 5apg? Did LaMarcus ever make 180+ threes in a season? Did he do it on greater than 36% shooting?

Blake is better now than LaMarcus EVER was. He's also nothing like LaMarcus.

That comparison makes zero sense.

I know it's not cool to say anything positive about LaMarcus but he was a 20/10 guy for a couple years here and "LMA 1.0" was way better than Aminu, and to me he would make this team better, so the idea that "LMA 2.0" couldn't make them better, well I don't agree with it.

 

[BonesJones]

Also, if Valancuinas accepts his player option, we should put a package together for him if possible.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Also, if Valancuinas accepts his player option, we should put a package together for him if possible.

Not sure how I feel about that, are you thinking of using him a bit like a stop gap until Nurk is ready? I kind of view him as a worse version of Nurkic.

 

[joeBlazers]

Seriously ... are we trying to have a super team?

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Seriously ... are we trying to have a super team?

Well that sure wouldn't hurt...

 

[BonesJones]

Not sure how I feel about that, are you thinking of using him a bit like a stop gap until Nurk is ready? I kind of view him as a worse version of Nurkic.

A stopgap, then as a great big off the bench behind Nurk. Hes a little worse than Nurkic but better than Kanter.

 

[BonesJones]

Can anyone think of a realistic way to sign and trade for Jimmy Butler?

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

A stopgap, then as a great big off the bench behind Nurk. Hes a little worse than Nurkic but better than Kanter.

I don't know if I think he's better than Kanter or not, but that's interesting.

 

[BonesJones]

I don't know if I think he's better than Kanter or not, but that's interesting.

He is.

25pts per 36 last year on 58.6% from 2P.
Hes also a better defender.

Also wouldnt require the MLE to get him.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

He is.

25pts per 36 last year on 58.6% from 2P.
Hes also a better defender.

Also wouldnt require the MLE to get him.

He’s super slow though, Kanter isnt exactly a thoroughbred but I trust him to get up and down the court more than Jonas.

 

[BonesJones]

He’s super slow though, Kanter isnt exactly a thoroughbred but I trust him to get up and down the court more than Jonas.

So that's the thing that determines if a C is good or not?

Id rather have Valancuinas and Hood than Kanter and thats it.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

So that's the thing that determines if a C is good or not?

Id rather have Valancuinas and Hood than Kanter and thats it.

...Obviously thats not the only thing that makes a center good or not.

I want our 2nd unit to run, heck I wouldnt mind if the first unit learned what a fast break is either. Thats the reason I brought it up.

 

[BonesJones]

...Obviously thats not the only thing that makes a center good or not.

I want our 2nd unit to run, heck I wouldnt mind if the first unit learned what a fast break is either. Thats the reason I brought it up.

Then you trade Valancuinas at the trade deadline once Nurk is back.

Who you recommend as the backup C then? Meyers?...

 

[BBert]

I think Love would fit into the Blazers offense better. But he'd make us bad defensively.

With their injury history, defense, and salaries, both are a hard pass for me.

 

[Blazers Roy]

I still think a good GM would rebuild this team around very young and promising talent instead of all these makeover and touch-ups.

But, i would take Blake. Love is not a winning player, even with Lebron he looked depressing at times.

 

[BonesJones]

I think we would be Kawhis best basketball option. Arguably as good as Toronto (with Kawhi) with Harkless as our SF. Imagine that upgrade.

 

[Blazers Roy]

I think we would be Kawhis best basketball option. Arguably as good as Toronto (with Kawhi) with Harkless as our SF. Imagine that upgrade.

I think we missed the boat on that one.
If SA took DeRozan, they would've taken CJ+ a few extra perks imo.

 

[kjironman1]

I think we would be Kawhis best basketball option. Arguably as good as Toronto (with Kawhi) with Harkless as our SF. Imagine that upgrade.

The talk is Kawhi became a Raptor with that second round shot. Most don't think he will leave now. Guess we will see.

 

[kjironman1]

If the choice is between Love or Griffin i go for Griffin. But both would be an upgrade.

 

[illmatic99]

Yes. He Will be lamarcus 2.0.

You're crazy-- that's not even a close comparison. The ONLY fear with Blake is his injury history.

We're seeing Dame break down around game 100 this year. For Blake, that number is usually around game 70 or 80. Going forward, if we manage their minutes through the regular season, that duo would be unstoppable in the playoffs. If we somehow managed to keep CJ and Nurk along with those two, this would be a championship team.

The skill that is most lacking on this roster is a release valve for Dame. Blake is an elite playmaker and finisher. He's a better scoring Draymond. I bet Blake would be better on defense with a reduced offensive load as well.

 

[illmatic99]

if Griffin accepted the role that would be available, he'd be an almost perfect PF for Portland

but at 36M a year? Yikes!!

Dame-BG-CJ-Nurk would be getting about 98M/year. That's only 34M less than the tax line next summer. I don't see how you could put a team around 4 players being paid that much

It's not unusual for a top team. You have to pay to play:
Blake/Dame/CJ/Nurk : 32/29/28/12

Steph/KD/Klay/Draymond: 38/30/19/18
Lowry/Gasol/Kawhi/Ibaka: 31/25/23/22
Westbrook/George/Adams/Schroeder: 38/33/26/16
Hayward/Horford/Kyrie/Smart: 33/30/21/12
Paul/Harden/Capela/Gordon: 39/38/16/14

Milwaukee is the one outlier because they popped early. Once Middleton's and Lopez's new contracts kick in, they too will be in the same group. We would be a contender and top 5 team in the league consistently with that core. We can find the ancillary pieces similar to all these other teams. Just have to be a tax team.

 

[kjironman1]

By the way. From most accounts Blake is not leaving Detroit. So don't hold your breath.

 

[illmatic99]

By the way. From most accounts Blake is not leaving Detroit. So don't hold your breath.

It's not upto him.

I'd come up with a package with Collins and our pick (along with expiring contracts in ET/Leonard) for Blake. That saves them a ton of money and Collins is a decent building block. If anything, I think our role players have increased their value this summer.

 

[twobullz]

LoL...I guess you don't really want this team to get better.

I do, but not just for about 50 games a year. I would rather see them with someone who can consistently play a full season.

 

[HailBlazers]

Blake Griffin is exactly the kind of player the Blazers need!

Somebody who gets injured when you need him most?

 

[illmatic99]

Somebody who gets injured when you need him most?

Which is the only reason he could possibly be had for cheap. You don't want us take a risk?

 

[kjironman1]

It's not upto him.

I'd come up with a package with Collins and our pick (along with expiring contracts in ET/Leonard) for Blake. That saves them a ton of money and Collins is a decent building block. If anything, I think our role players have increased their value this summer.

That might be true contract wise. It is however up to Detroit. By most accounts Griffin is not leaving Detroit.

 

[CupWizier]

If the choice is between Love or Griffin i go for Griffin. But both would be an upgrade.

The biggest issue is the cost it would take to entice Detroit and match salaries as that's a huge contract and Detroit isn't going to dump Griifin for role players and expiring contracts like some keep suggesting on here. They just gutted their team to get Griffin.

 

[CupWizier]

Which is the only reason he could possibly be had for cheap. You don't want us take a risk?

And what indication do you have that Detroit is looking to dump Griifin? I don;t see him as being cheapo as they traded away Harris, Bradley, Marjonovic along with a 1st round pick and a 2nd round pick.