Blazer Make the Playoffs!!!!!

[BBert]

In some ways, getting Nurkic is better than having the first pick in this draft. He's clearly a high lottery level talent. He's proven that his game translates well to the NBA level. He has two+ years of NBA experience, which means he was ready to be a major contributor the day we got him (no need to wait two or three years for him to have a big impact). And, he came with another 1st round pick attached.

Seriously, how could anyone prefer getting a pick in the 10 - 12 range over adding Nurk and the 20th pick (plus we still have our own pick in the 15 range)?

BNM

This is exactly my thinking. Getting Nurk was like winning a high pick in the draft lottery, and fast forwarding two years, and having the pick pan out perfectly. I am happy to trade the actual lottery for what we got. We got our lottery player, and the playoffs. Score.

 

[BBert]

We still have 3 first round picks, and other trade assets. It sure feels like the Blazers are in a pretty good position going forward.

 

[Boob-No-More]

This is exactly my thinking. Getting Nurk was like winning a high pick in the draft lottery, and fast forwarding two years, and having the pick pan out perfectly. I am happy to trade the actual lottery for what we got. We got our lottery player, and the playoffs. Score.

And, we got that MEM pick from DEN, our own pick and CLE's. Should be an interesting summer. I wonder what those three picks will turn into. I'm fine with just taking the 3 BPAs and hoping we hit one home run, or at least a ground rule double, and restock our bench with cheap, young talent to help alleviate luxury tax concerns. Or, we can package picks to move up, or to trade for a proven player. So many options...

Draft day is like an eBay auction. It's easy get caught up in the rush of the moment and end up overpaying. With three picks in this draft, Neil has the opportunity to be a seller - if someone is willing to overpay.

BNM

 

[Wizard Mentor]

And, we got that MEM pick from DEN, our own pick and CLE's. Should be an interesting summer. I wonder what those three picks will turn into. I'm fine with just taking the 3 BPAs and hoping we hit one home run, or at least a ground rule double, and restock our bench with cheap, young talent to help alleviate luxury tax concerns. Or, we can package picks to move up, or to trade for a proven player. So many options...

Draft day is like an eBay auction. It's easy get caught up in the rush of the moment and end up overpaying. With three picks in this draft, Neil has the opportunity to be a seller - if someone is willing to overpay.

BNM

I don't think he will. I have a feeling we'll have 3 new rookies on the team next year.

 

[Boob-No-More]

We still have 3 first round picks, and other trade assets. It sure feels like the Blazers are in a pretty good position going forward.

LOL, typing at the same time. After all the shit Neil has taken for the contracts he handed out last summer, he turned Plumlee into pure gold. He still has work to do, but has the assets to get something done to both improve the team and shed salary.

And, he doesn't have to panic. He has until the trade deadline next year to move salary to get under the luxury tax threshold, before we even pay any tax. He can spend the summer accumulating the best young talent possible summer, have summer league, training camp, preseason and the first four months of the regular season to evaluate that talent and how it fits wit the team's needs, before making any moves to dump salary.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

I don't think he will. I have a feeling we'll have 3 new rookies on the team next year.

And I'm totally fine with that. I see lots of guys in the 15 - 26 range I'd love to see on our team, and I don't usually say that. I see guys in that range that could eventually replace Crabbe for a lot less money, and maybe even challenge Harkless for a starting job in a year, or two. I see back up power forwards that would give us some muscle and rebounding off the bench. Basically, with this draft being so deep at the top in PG and SG talent, I can see some of the best SFs and PFs falling into our range, and that doesn't usually happen.

BNM

 

[Wizard Mentor]

And I'm totally fine with that. I see lots of guys in the 15 - 26 range I'd love to see on our team, and I don't usually say that. I see guys in that range that could eventually replace Crabbe for a lot less money, and maybe even challenge Harkless for a starting job in a year, or two. I see back up power forwards that would give us some muscle and rebounding off the bench. Basically, with this draft being so deep at the top in PG and SG talent, I can see some of the best SFs and PFs falling into our range, and that doesn't usually happen.

BNM

Absolutely, but I'm worried that I'm getting my hopes up too much...

 

[rotary111]

Olshey, if he does read the way most on here trashed him for everything under the sun, is probably sitting back in his chair with two middle fingers way up high. "Take that bitches"
Gotta hand it to him. He pulled a rabbit out of his hat this year.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Olshey, if he does read the way most on here trashed him for everything under the sun, is probably sitting back in his chair with two middle fingers way up high. "Take that bitches"
Gotta hand it to him. He pulled a rabbit out of his hat this year.

The only thing I had a problem with was the Crabbe contract, but he had his hand forced on that one. I thought Turner was a reach, in terms of the dollar amount, but knowing our historic inability to attract free agents, I figured spend the cap space or lose it. I thought Turner would be a good fit as an extra distributor and a solid perimeter defender. I still hold out hope, especially with the way he's been playing defense lately.

Regardless, this is a work in progress. I can see why some were trashing him based on the results prior to the trade, but he completely turned that around in one fell swoop. I mean, he turned the 23rd pick in the 2015 draft into Jusuf Nurkic and the 20th pick in a much deeper draft. What's not to like about that?

BNM

 

[rasheedfan2005]

When we win this fucking series

 

[Po'sFinest]

Never seen lillard jack easy rebounds from his center to pad his stats

Lillard never even had 1 triple double his whole career stop

 

[Po'sFinest]

You know what sounds weird to me? The way you constantly bash Lillard for his "poor" shot selection and "inefficient" shooting percentages when he absolutely blows Westbrook out of the water in these areas. Jeezus, I can't imagine how much you'd be hating on Lillard if he shot as much, or as poorly as Westbrook.

This inconsistency is why everyone in this forum considers you a blatant troll. Last year it was Dame is too feast or famine, while constantly praising Lowry, who, for the second year in a row completely disappeared in the playoffs and couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. Now this year, it's all about Dame's poor shot selection while constantly slurping Westbrook's nuts.

Need I remind you...

Damian Lillard:
2FG% = .491
3FG% = .370
FT% = .895

Russell Westbrook:
2FG% = .460
3FG% = .344
FT% = .845

Westbroook shoots worse across the board and he jacks up more than 20% more FGA per game than Lillard. Until Westbrook starts shooting a lot better, or Dame a lot worse, you have no leg to stand on when it comes to criticizing Lillard's shot selection.

BNM

But Westbrook is going to be the MVP in a small market. Lillard will never do that

In fact he's not even an all star

 

[Boob-No-More]

In fact he's not even an all star

Jeezus H. Khrist, would you lay off the "he's not even an all star" bullshit. It's so fucking lame. It makes you look stupid and like an even bigger troll.

First, you're wrong. He's a two time all star. Second, even though he didn't make the all star team last year, he was 2nd team all NBA and 8th in MVP voting. Those accomplishments are much more impressive than playing in some mid-season glorified pick up game.

BNM

 

[roroyo]

Were you not happy when we won the lottery? Outside of Dame hitting that series winner, winning the lottery was probably the happiest moment I've had with this team in the last 15 years. Getting smashed by the Warriors in the first round is not my idea of a good time.

Lottery is for losers. There's no need to argue, because it's the truth. I can hate this team sometimes, but I will never root for losing. It's just a fucking game of basketball - try to win it without cheating and they will remember you. Great stories in sport come from effort, not from fuckin lottery.

 

[stampedehero]

A sweeter win because Napier, ML and Connington were stellar. I couldn't believe my eyes.
He could say........"They are the secret weapons no one heard of."

 

[roroyo]

I remember this one for example.