Notice Canzano: Lakers mess may soon involve, but not distract, the Trail Blazers

[riverman]

Interesting. I think the Lakers should go all out for someone who’s willing to build a team and doesn’t go after the guy who wants just instant gratification.

Chauncey Billups would be the guy in my book...shit..I hope they don't read this

 

[illmatic99]

Myers

Would that clear his contract from our cap then?

Yes, I know. Bad joke.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Chauncey Billups would be the guy in my book...shit..I hope they don't read this

I think a lot of people question how good of a talent evaluator Billups is, but I do very much like him and think he's a smart guy.

 

[HailBlazers]

I think GMing is a lot more multifaceted, nuanced, complex, and difficult than fans understand.

 

[Minstrel]

It relates the two pronouns. In the absence of a true preposition, even though and is a conjuction, it also acts in the place of the preposition. Not that it matters much because "You and I, pal." Isn't a complete sentence anyway.

It doesn't have to be a complete sentence, it's a response to (his own, rhetorical) question. The "complete sentence" is "You and I have been." But in the context of answering a question, it's reasonable to leave off the "have been," since that was specified in the question.

Canzano got the grammar right in this case. "You and I" sounds wrong because that kind of usage usually comes in sentences like "You and I against the world," where "I" would be wrong. But this was a less common construction. "You and I have been here all along" or "You and I are going to the game" are constructions where you use "I" and not "me." PtldPlatypus correctly notes that the easiest way to check is to remove the "you" part and see which fits better--"me" or "I." And clearly, "I have been" is correct, not "me have been."

 

[Lanny]

https://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/...istract-the-trail-blazers.html?outputType=amp

The Trail Blazers have been through some stuff this season.

The owner died. The center broke. The future is uncertain. But at no point have they been reduced to a fragmented mess of an NBA franchise.

They are not the Lakers.

Team President Magic Johnson quit on Tuesday night. Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Plaschke wrote, “The Lakers could and should end up in a better place after this decision, but first there will be carnage.”

How does coach Luke Walton survive? What about general manager Rob Pelinka?

Which brings us, of course, to Trail Blazers, Inc.

The Portland franchise deserves a nod today. For finishing as either the No. 3 or No. 4 seed in the West. For being resilient. For holding it together amid some carnage of its own.

None of us can be sure who will even own the Blazers in a year. I’m not even sure who is really running the franchise now. The late Paul Allen’s sister, Jody? Paul’s best friend, Bert Kolde? President & CEO of Vulcan Sports & Entertainment, Chris McGowan?

Some combination?

The events that transpired on Tuesday night in Los Angeles were a good reminder. You want to “BEAT LA!” not “BE LA.”

Which brings us to Portland GM Neil Olshey.

It’s no secret that Olshey fashions himself a Southern California guy. Also, no secret that there’s a lot of uncertainty beyond his current contract in Portland, which expires in 2021. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who has known Olshey a long time, voiced something interesting in the wake of Magic’s exit.

Woj said the Lakers might think about Olshey.

I’ll bet the Portland GM didn’t sleep a wink.

All this comes a week after I’d heard rumblings that Olshey’s camp might be poking around, seeing where New Orleans might turn next. Danny Ferry is running the basketball operations side for the Pelicans on an interim basis after the firing of Dell Demps. And let’s be clear — I don’t blame Olshey one bit, if so.

There is no job security in Portland. Not with ownership up in the air. Also, type-A Olshey has never been a Portland guy. Can you imagine his blood pressure when he realized the Lakers job, a much different challenge than what he’s been faced with in Portland, opened up as a possibility on Tuesday night?

The Lakers. LeBron. All that valet parking.

Dream, job.

Also, I happen to think Olshey might be good at it. In part, because he likes the Southern California glare. He craves the big stage. And I think he’s sought out conflict in Portland at times, quite possibly out of boredom. Also, his mind has to be numb tinkering with small roster moves trying to inch up the standings.

Earlier this season, media covering the team snickered when a note about Olshey appeared in the game notes. It noted that he’d passed 299 victories, “the third executive to count 300 victories at the helm of the Trail Blazers.”

He’s sort of done all he can do in Portland, hasn’t he?

That was underscored nearly a year ago, after the Blazers were swept again in the first round of the playoffs, this time to New Orleans. Olshey showed up in a defensive stance in the exit interview, attempting to “bifurcate” the regular season from the postseason.

It was a silly act. Nobody fell for it. But in the end, when you have no postseason success to show for your work, that’s what you do.

Olshey has made 24 trades since he was hired in the summer of 2012. Nine of them involved “cash." He’s misfired in free agency, overvaluing players, because he often operated from a position of weakness. Can you imagine the thrill he — or frankly any other league GM — would get out of starting in Los Angeles with LeBron and a projected $35 million in cap space?

The Blazers are headed to the playoffs again. They’ll be celebrated, and also, be an underdog. The franchise is playing short-handed and has a 10-game postseason losing streak.

He’ll have to speak to that in a potential job interview.

Portland’s franchise will someday get new ownership. That ownership group will want a coach and general manager it chooses. There’s a ticking clock for what you currently see.

Fans and media will outlast the current franchise regime.

It always does.

From Bob Whitsitt to John Nash to Steve Patterson to Kevin Pritchard to Chad Buchanan to Rich Cho to Olshey. And do you know what the only constant has been?

You and I, pal.

Olshey won’t outlast any of us. That’s the job.

The wreckage in Los Angeles comes as a shock. A reminder of how fragile the trajectory of an NBA franchise can be at times. And while it’s true that Magic Johnson may never have felt like he was truly engaged, the Lakers are one of the league’s tentpole franchises.

The degree of difficulty for the Lakers franchise is far lower than in Portland, and other NBA small markets. The league’s stars (See: Anthony Davis) remind us on an annual basis.

The Lakers may come sniffing around in the coming weeks. If so, Olshey will be interested. But be sure, this won’t be a distraction for the Blazers.

They’ve withstood much heavier stuff already this season.

I think all the Blazers have to do is win tonight, right?

 

[wizenheimer]

I think GMing is a lot more multifaceted, nuanced, complex, and difficult than fans understand.

nice to see Neil posting here

 

[riverman]

nice to see Neil posting here

That would've been..."Look, I think ….

 

[borim69]

I just can't believe he didn't leave the Blazers to S2 in his Will.

I demand an investigation.

I found the will in my couch cushion that says he did my 2 cats witnessed it

 

[borim69]

Portland would have to the Lakers permission...pretty pretty please to interview Olshey. Portland can say fuck off

say fuck off and then let them interview him

 

[borim69]

It relates the two pronouns. In the absence of a true preposition, even though and is a conjuction, it also acts in the place of the preposition. Not that it matters much because "You and I, pal." Isn't a complete sentence anyway.

Conjunction Junction what's your function

 

[borim69]

Magic was a HORRIBLE NBA color commentator, a terrible coach, and a failed GM.

I don't have a point. Just felt like pointing that out.

I had this same conversation down at work. What pissed me off is the fact that he did it and shit on 2 great basketball players last game who both had great last games and the media went all balls deep on him and totally ignored Dirk and Wade. When it should have been nothing more than a " About time"

 

[Orion Bailey]

nice to see Neil posting here

Wait.

You think Hail is NO????

LOL

 

[oldmangrouch]

While I hate to give Canzano any credit, he did stumble over a valid point. Until the ownership situation is clear, the Blazers will not be attractive to top coaches and front office types.

 

[LayneStaley]

Canzano bashing aside. Zach Lowe said the same thing about Olshey and LA potentially pursuing him in his podcast today (as well as uncertainty about our ownership). There's legs to this.

I would welcome a change.

As long as Dame/Nurk are here, everyone else can go.

I’d like to keep Zach with those 2 also, unless he’s part of the Anthony Davis package, then see ya Zach.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Magic Johnson becomes owner of the Blazers and then trades Olshey and Meyers for Lebron.

 

[LayneStaley]

I bet Magic hasn’t been to Portland since the early 90s

 

[RipCityDSCPL]

Myers

So we could lose Olshey and Leonard? Damn.

 

[calvin natt]

Interesting. I think the Lakers should go all out for someone who’s willing to build a team and doesn’t go after the guy who wants just instant gratification.

You mean like drafting Klay, Draymond, extending Curry for pennies, firing dipshit Jackson for Kerr, stuff like that?

 

[Wade Garrett]

Would that clear his contract from our cap then?

Yes, I know. Bad joke.

Were you referring to Bob Myers?

 

[H.C.]

I would just like to say that I'm super mad at @BBert @Chris Craig and @PtldPlatypus for having a grammar lesson in this thread.
I would've skipped it entirely and not noticed if it wasn't brought up.
I demand action against these mods!

 

[e_blazer]

Hmm...the "you and I" was his response to his query of "do you know what the only constant has been?" Technically, if the "you" were removed, the response as a full sentence could be either "I have been" or "it has been me", so either "you and I" or "you and me" could both be considered grammatically correct.

Still in favor of the "quit" portion of your post.

Oh come on, at least ding him for listing two constants (you AND I) in response to a question about the ONLY CONSTANT (singular).

Edit: Perhaps he's leaving, in which case the only constant would be we fans. One can always dream. Does Canzano have a "dream, job"? He should seek that out.

 

[KingSpeed]

The other blessing would be watching Neil surround LBJ with players like Dorrell Wright, Ed Davis, Aminu, Hawes, Greg Monroe, Turner, Stauskas, etc.

Or Curry, Kanter, and Layman.

 

[BigGameDamian]

While I hate to give Canzano any credit, he did stumble over a valid point. Until the ownership situation is clear, the Blazers will not be attractive to top coaches and front office types.

When was Portland ever an attractive destination for top coaches?

 

[BigGameDamian]

If the Blazers stay in PDX (I believe that they will) Merritt Paulson will have to be involved.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

You mean like drafting Klay, Draymond, extending Curry for pennies, firing dipshit Jackson for Kerr, stuff like that?

Yeah, those were all good moves. I wasn't saying Myers didn't fit that mold, was just commenting on what type of candidate I think they should go for...