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The locker room emptied out after the Trail Blazers Game 2 loss to Memphis on Wednesday. Tape cutouts, sliced off the ankles of the remaining players, and still shaped into perfect "L's" were left behind on the carpet like fossils.
One of the soap dispensers that was once affixed to the tile wall in the shower area was now on the ground in the corner. Someone, too, had taken the official box score handed out after the 97-82 loss and slapped it, soaking wet against the tile. It dried and stuck on the wall like a crooked portrait.
These were reminders of what has been a maddening, frustrating, no-good, lousy start to the NBA playoffs for a franchise that looked like a contender just a few months ago. But it's the possibilities that we need to talk about today.
As in, is it possible the most influential figure involved in this series is now Blazers general manager Neil Olshey?
Portland has seven players with expiring contracts, including franchise cornerstone LaMarcus Aldridge, spirit animal Wesley Matthews and resident center Robin Lopez. They have another player (Chris Kaman) who has a team option. Steve Blake and Arron Afflalo have player options. And so all that it certain for next season is that Damian Lillard, Nic Batum, CJ McCollum and Meyers Leonard are under contract.
But it's Olshey who is the biggest key.
Aldridge will test the free-agent market. Olshey will test his loyalty with an offer that will include an additional $26 million in salary and more years than others can offer. The Lakers, Mavericks and Spurs will all be among a line of suitors, however. Aldridge could leave, stay or even opt to wait for collective bargaining agreement in 2017 that will send maximum salaries much higher by signing a one-year contract with a player option for a second season (See: James, LeBron).
How many games does Aldridge have left in a Blazers uniform? Will Olshey blow up the roster or use glue to hold it together? And is it time to start talking about how perilous life is for NBA small-market franchises?
Aldridge has played 648 regular-season games and another 31 in the postseason as a Trail Blazer. When he arrived as a rookie, the franchise was coming off a 21-victory season and was mired in draft-lottery hell. All he's done is serve as the tent pole for a team that has now won 50-plus games four times with him in uniform. Amid the injuries to Greg Oden and Brandon Roy, amid the rebuild, amid the revolving line of front-office executives and coaches, it's been Aldridge who has anchored this franchise like no other.
Oklahoma City, which already lost James Harden, is in a fight to retain Kevin Durant. Kevin Love can opt out in Cleveland, but the Cavaliers have the comfort of Kyrie Irving and James (who can also opt out). Marc Gasol on the other side of this series is also an unrestricted free agent playing in a small market. This is only to say, the Blazers aren't alone. Also, that it's very possible that we're witnessing the end of an era of Blazers basketball.
I'll watch closely in the next two games. A little out of respect for what Aldridge has done in his career, a little out of curiosity for what happens next. But also, I'll watch Portland because I think this city weaves its NBA team deep into the fabric. Matthews will soon command more than $8 million a season, Lopez will get more than the current $6.1 million he's making. And Aldridge might not make it about money at all.
The Blazers have hitched the wagon to Damian Lillard, Olshey's first big draft pick. The organization has done a better job this season of making Aldridge feel appreciated, but he took notice with how brief his window as "Face of the Franchise," was with the new regime and I don't know if handing him pieces of the 1977 hardwood will do anything but make Olshey feel like he tried best he could.
Arn Tellem, Aldridge's agent, was working the locker room after the Game 2 loss. He visited with his prized power forward. Then, he made his way over to Robin Lopez, represented by another Wasserman Media Group agent, Darren Matsubara.
The politics and positioning has become the game beyond the game. And if you're Olshey, who has known Tellem since he was a high school assistant coach in California, you have to be equal parts thrilled and unnerved. As one Western Conference executive put it this week on the subject of Aldridge and free agency, "The NBA Draft is such a more enjoyable experience for a GM; at least you know you're leaving the event with something. Free agency, you can get the rug pulled out from under you."
Olshey is the right GM. He's demonstrated his chops since taking over. He has guts. I like his polish and know he's smart. You hold that thought close if you're a Blazers fan, but there's a lot of uncertainty in the locker room right now and I don't know how that could possibly not affect the Blazers in these playoffs. Also, I'm not sure how this dismal playoff performance factors into the decisions that current players will make.
Memphis has the Blazers in a headlock. There's so much going on behind the scenes for Portland, so much unsaid, that the biggest thought amid the two home playoff dates is guessing how many more games -- and victories? -- Aldridge and Co. have left together. And how Olshey will try to put it all back together again if this really is goodbye.
-- @JohnCanzanoBFT
http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/or...no_is_this_really_goodbye.html#incart_m-rpt-1
One of the soap dispensers that was once affixed to the tile wall in the shower area was now on the ground in the corner. Someone, too, had taken the official box score handed out after the 97-82 loss and slapped it, soaking wet against the tile. It dried and stuck on the wall like a crooked portrait.
These were reminders of what has been a maddening, frustrating, no-good, lousy start to the NBA playoffs for a franchise that looked like a contender just a few months ago. But it's the possibilities that we need to talk about today.
As in, is it possible the most influential figure involved in this series is now Blazers general manager Neil Olshey?
Portland has seven players with expiring contracts, including franchise cornerstone LaMarcus Aldridge, spirit animal Wesley Matthews and resident center Robin Lopez. They have another player (Chris Kaman) who has a team option. Steve Blake and Arron Afflalo have player options. And so all that it certain for next season is that Damian Lillard, Nic Batum, CJ McCollum and Meyers Leonard are under contract.
But it's Olshey who is the biggest key.
Aldridge will test the free-agent market. Olshey will test his loyalty with an offer that will include an additional $26 million in salary and more years than others can offer. The Lakers, Mavericks and Spurs will all be among a line of suitors, however. Aldridge could leave, stay or even opt to wait for collective bargaining agreement in 2017 that will send maximum salaries much higher by signing a one-year contract with a player option for a second season (See: James, LeBron).
How many games does Aldridge have left in a Blazers uniform? Will Olshey blow up the roster or use glue to hold it together? And is it time to start talking about how perilous life is for NBA small-market franchises?
Aldridge has played 648 regular-season games and another 31 in the postseason as a Trail Blazer. When he arrived as a rookie, the franchise was coming off a 21-victory season and was mired in draft-lottery hell. All he's done is serve as the tent pole for a team that has now won 50-plus games four times with him in uniform. Amid the injuries to Greg Oden and Brandon Roy, amid the rebuild, amid the revolving line of front-office executives and coaches, it's been Aldridge who has anchored this franchise like no other.
Oklahoma City, which already lost James Harden, is in a fight to retain Kevin Durant. Kevin Love can opt out in Cleveland, but the Cavaliers have the comfort of Kyrie Irving and James (who can also opt out). Marc Gasol on the other side of this series is also an unrestricted free agent playing in a small market. This is only to say, the Blazers aren't alone. Also, that it's very possible that we're witnessing the end of an era of Blazers basketball.
I'll watch closely in the next two games. A little out of respect for what Aldridge has done in his career, a little out of curiosity for what happens next. But also, I'll watch Portland because I think this city weaves its NBA team deep into the fabric. Matthews will soon command more than $8 million a season, Lopez will get more than the current $6.1 million he's making. And Aldridge might not make it about money at all.
The Blazers have hitched the wagon to Damian Lillard, Olshey's first big draft pick. The organization has done a better job this season of making Aldridge feel appreciated, but he took notice with how brief his window as "Face of the Franchise," was with the new regime and I don't know if handing him pieces of the 1977 hardwood will do anything but make Olshey feel like he tried best he could.
Arn Tellem, Aldridge's agent, was working the locker room after the Game 2 loss. He visited with his prized power forward. Then, he made his way over to Robin Lopez, represented by another Wasserman Media Group agent, Darren Matsubara.
The politics and positioning has become the game beyond the game. And if you're Olshey, who has known Tellem since he was a high school assistant coach in California, you have to be equal parts thrilled and unnerved. As one Western Conference executive put it this week on the subject of Aldridge and free agency, "The NBA Draft is such a more enjoyable experience for a GM; at least you know you're leaving the event with something. Free agency, you can get the rug pulled out from under you."
Olshey is the right GM. He's demonstrated his chops since taking over. He has guts. I like his polish and know he's smart. You hold that thought close if you're a Blazers fan, but there's a lot of uncertainty in the locker room right now and I don't know how that could possibly not affect the Blazers in these playoffs. Also, I'm not sure how this dismal playoff performance factors into the decisions that current players will make.
Memphis has the Blazers in a headlock. There's so much going on behind the scenes for Portland, so much unsaid, that the biggest thought amid the two home playoff dates is guessing how many more games -- and victories? -- Aldridge and Co. have left together. And how Olshey will try to put it all back together again if this really is goodbye.
-- @JohnCanzanoBFT
http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/or...no_is_this_really_goodbye.html#incart_m-rpt-1
