Notice Blazer press conference today at 10am

[BBert]

Neil totally gets this market and culture.

 

[magnifier661]

I loved his entire interview. We are in good hands.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

is that it?

 

[Pinwheel1]

If Neil ran for office, I would vote for him.

I was thinking the same thing. I might not agree with everything he says, but when he talks to you, he speaks with logic and not bullshit. (For the most part)

 

[Nikolokolus]

There were a lot of rumors that we were hiding things from our fans. They were completely false. I could even show you the phone log if you want. LA said he still wanted Portland to be in the mix. More than anything, what would be the upside of lying? Whatever the report, what would be the motivation to lie for 96 hours? It's not like there was a big season ticket holder push or that FA's would only come here if LA stayed. They could have easily called LA to find out his thoughts if that was the case.

Pretty much punches the hole in the theory that Monroe spurned us because Hughes talked I'd say?

 

[TBpup]

In Los Angeles, there is always another group of people you can sell tickets to because of the size. In Portland, it is the same group of people that bought tickets for Bill, Clyde and LaMarcus. People will come and go, I will come and go but Portland has a culture and I am going to do everything in my power to get back to a team that Blazer fans can be proud of.

 

[BBert]

If Neil ran for office, I would vote for him.

Neil Olshey for Governor

 

[Natebishop3]

I don't think any GM has ever understood this city the way that Neil does. I really hope that Paul keeps him around long term. I want to see him last long enough to win a championship.

 

[blue9]

In Los Angeles, there is always another group of people you can sell tickets to because of the size. In Portland, it is the same group of people that bought tickets for Bill, Clyde and LaMarcus. People will come and go, I will come and go but Portland has a culture and I am going to do everything in my power to get back to a team that Blazer fans can be proud of.

I'm already proud of this team! More so now that LMA isn't on it!

 

[TBpup]

Back shortly with new player introductions.

 

[BrianFromWA]

And I would argue that because of the market we are in, that if you have to roll the dice, and both directions were gambles, that trying to keep him was at the very least, just as good as an option as the other.

in one gamble you have 29 of 36 #1 picks since Magic becoming all-stars, w/ 5 HoF'ers. You have about the same probability of a #1 pick not being an all-star as you do of them becoming and HoFer (less, actually, when you consider that Shaq, Iverson, Duncan and LeBron at the very least will make it 9 HoFers and 7 non-all-stars).
Portland (by many accounts) turned down #1/Thompson/#19 or another 1st.
Many think LMA is better than Love. In the same deal (last year of contract, not sure he was going to re-sign), CLE gave up two #1 picks for Love.

OTOH, 3 of 38 all-stars who've made it to full UFA have re-signed with their team. 27 left their old team with nothing.

Yes, both were "gambles", but one was significantly riskier. Sure, doubling down on 11 against a 6 carries risk, but if throw your entire wad on one hand, it's better to hit 11 against a 6 than to hit on 19 hoping for a 2.

 

[noknobs]

It's like listening to a jedi master.

 

[Chris Craig]

Pastor Olshey has pacified me

 

[Scalma]

Goddammit neil I'm sold again.

 

[illmatic99]

Dame out there now

 

[Scalma]

This is the part where I buy back my car that I gave him for free

 

[blue9]

I don't think any GM has ever understood this city the way that Neil does. I really hope that Paul keeps him around long term. I want to see him last long enough to win a championship.

Agreed. I may not agree with everything he does, but I still like and respect the guy. I think our best bet is to tie our wagon to him for the long-haul. Stability and culture starts with the GM and spreads to the rest of the team. (Now if he'd just hire a new coach...)

 

[TBpup]

Dame up first with Stotts and Neil.

I'm really excited about comfortably being the leader of a team. We are just ready to get to work. I think you have to hold yourself to a high standard and be ready to set the tone. I work hard and think I'm ready to do that and give guys something to follow. Leading from a good place.

 

[BBert]

Dame's Team!!! Dame Time!!!

That's your new slogan.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Yawn.

 

[ThugginPaulyGAllen]

Yeah thanks TBPup, really appreciate it.

As for LMA fucking over the organization, that's a little bit revisionist history IMO. He gave this team nine years to build a consistent winner, and they couldn't, which is why he started intimating two years ago that he'd bolt when he got to his next contract. It was Olshey's responsibility to indemnify the team against that possibility . . . so that failure is on Neil, but I'm not really mad about it since I figured this team needed a tear down and rebuild anyway to get to true title contention. LMA may have actually saved us from trying to keep turning him into something he wasn't - a transformative player.

I actually don't blame LMA at all for the GM failing to trade him two years ago.

My beef is that we were supposedly on the phone with him every day and in contact with him.with each move we made.

Neil indicated that we had two seperately agendas, one with LMA and one without and we were forced to ride the line between the two because he wouldn't commit either way and apparently was giving no indication either way.

A simple 'I'm leaning towards not returning', seemingly, would've changed our approach to FA drastically; conversely, I'm leaning towards returning would've changed it in that we would've targeted players on the other list saying, 'hey LMA is leaning towards returning if we can sign you'. But his indifference lead us to riding the line between who we should and should not target.

That's not necessarily LMAs fault, maybe he was very torn and had no clue. But if he was so torn, and we were aware that he was that torn, and we target more 'LMA is coming back' targers, maybe that makes his decision easier to come back to a roster that is retooled around him staying. Rather than us having to get youth in case he stays, in case he leaves.

We sat on our 25 mill of cap room literally becayse we had no clue what he was doing.

That is why I said he kinda bent us over.

 

[TBpup]

I want to push us in the direction that gives us the best chance. The team didn't have to tell me much to be here for the next 6 years. I wanted to be here. My agent will even tell you I wanted to come to Portland. I love the organization and am excited about the chance for growth. I'm really looking forward to the possibilities. We are a lot younger than when I came here. Being much younger it's going to be excited as we get to prove things and build together.

 

[illmatic99]

Dame is a great public speaker by himself.

But following Neil is not an easy task

 

[BBert]

Olshey -- Lillard

Now that's a one -- two punch.

I hope they don't form a cult, cuz I'm in.

 

[TBpup]

As a teammate, you hate to see the other 4 starters go and I had a lot of confidence in them. You just have to accept it as part of the business. I wasn't going into this summer thinking every single player would be back but I'm excited about what we have now.

 

[TBpup]

It means a lot to have a team commit to you like this. Having the values placed in me that they have, I'm thankful for them to be here supporting me. It goes with how I was brought up. I want to do the right things to bring the team back to where it should be.

 

[TBpup]

It's not a burden, just more responsibility to have this type of contract. I have to perform but it's not a burden. No one pushes me any harder than I push myself. It's exciting to take on a bigger role and be the leader of a team. I'm going to attack things with confidence like I always have.

 

[BBert]

Damian Lillard is my new favorite player of all time.

 

[Pinwheel1]

in one gamble you have 29 of 36 #1 picks since Magic becoming all-stars, w/ 5 HoF'ers. You have about the same probability of a #1 pick not being an all-star as you do of them becoming and HoFer (less, actually, when you consider that Shaq, Iverson, Duncan and LeBron at the very least will make it 9 HoFers and 7 non-all-stars).
Portland (by many accounts) turned down #1/Thompson/#19 or another 1st.
Many think LMA is better than Love. In the same deal (last year of contract, not sure he was going to re-sign), CLE gave up two #1 picks for Love.

OTOH, 3 of 38 all-stars who've made it to full UFA have re-signed with their team. 27 left their old team with nothing.

Yes, both were "gambles", but one was significantly riskier. Sure, doubling down on 11 against a 6 carries risk, but if throw your entire wad on one hand, it's better to hit 11 against a 6 than to hit on 19 hoping for a 2.

The year before is what I am talking about. Who was that #1? Last year, like Neil pointed out, coming after a solid year, is a bit unrealistic. Although some said on this board that Wiggins was going to be a bust. But either way, very few GM's would have risked that.

 

[TBpup]

Coming into the league, you don't want people to think you are trying to do more than you should be or taking something away from them or trying to take over. Now we have players coming in that will get to know me as a player that knows it's not about that. Now I've been here the longest and it just a more comfortable place.