Cronin's vision (interview with NBA.com)

[blazerkor]

I'm tellin' ya--Powell/Nance for Grant/filler (Bey?), CJ/RoCo for Collins/Bogdan, and we're in great shape for next season.

Hell, we'd probably be in pretty good shape for this season. Ant, Bogdan, Grant, Collins, Nurk and our bench guys who while not elite are the kind of glue guys that can hold things together until the guy they're subbing in for gets back on the floor. I think that roster would start winning games at a rate that would put us in the first game of the play in and the seventh seed. We would then have Dame and Dame with those guys and Ant as instant offense off the bench we would have a chance against any team.

The trade with Detroit would make sense for Detroit as far as talent goes but might not as far as how our guys fit with the age of their core but that deal could definitely happen. The deal with the Hawks seems like a stretch but I've seen weirder things CJ is better than Bogdan but I don't think he's a good fit next to Trae at all. RoCo isn't as good as Collins in my opinion but it's close what isn't close is that RoCo is seven years older and not under contract after this season while Collins is locked up for like four years after this season but maybe the Hawks like the flexibility.

Again, that would be a great deadline if that's what happened and I've seen crazier shit happen. I will say that the trades aren't complicated which is one thing that bodes well for them.

 

[wizenheimer]

Dame might have been hurting but he was not hurt to the point that it was detrimental to his play... regardless of Dame's state (maybe he could have averaged 60 points and 20 assists per game) he was going to suck on defense because he always has. More to the point CJ was perfectly healthy and he was stopping the ball, he was taking possessions away from Dame, he wasn't and never is playing team ball unless Dame is out and he's playing point guard and he, just like Dame, was and always is terrible at defense.

Who the fuck cares about what we've seen in just the playoffs. We know that Dame and CJ are so bad on defense that even when you get a bunch of guys that have had huge success on that end of the court around them and Nurk who is objectively very good at defending the paint, we're still one of the worst defenses in the league.

Dame-CJ-Nurkic have played over 260 games together. They have been together and playing for 3 playoff series. The notion that we don't know yet what that means for their chances as a core....that in the 20 or so rotation players that have been there with them thru those games we don't know about the impact of 'pieces' with that core...is loopy. They got swept by the Pels (a team with a balanced roster), managed only 1 win against the Lakers and that was a 1st game fluke. And got boat-raced by the injured Nuggets team, including get eliminated at The Moda when they collapsed in the 4th Q

I don't know what the fuck Cronin means by "right pieces" because the only level of right pieces that would help that trio contend is somebody like Giannis or Paul George or Kawhi

something else....those 3 guys have been together over 5 seasons now. If the trio can't be healthy when it matters, they need to be broken up

 

[Strenuus]

Idk, id at least wait until after the deadline before making any declarations. What he does is more important than what he says.

True. Just frustrated me, like I said. I'm back to normal after telling myself I was an idiot lol.

 

[illmatic99]

I'm tellin' ya--Powell/Nance for Grant/filler (Bey?), CJ/RoCo for Collins/Bogdan, and we're in great shape for next season.

Bey is killing it. No way they deal him, especially not as a filler.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Having read that interview, I'm ready to contribute to the inevitable FIRE CRONIN thread

 

[Chris Craig]

Idk, id at least wait until after the deadline before making any declarations. What he does is more important than what he says.

True.

We will see soon enough

 

[Scalma]

This is the quote that stood out the most to me

‘Reset’ meaning a long-term rebuild?

No, I don’t think we have the appetite to tear it all the way down. We have too many good players and too many ways to get better without taking too big of a step back.

That tells me he knows he has a surplus with players other teams want.

 

[Chris Craig]

That's really fucking depressing if true. The Dame/CJ back court is horrendous defensively which is a nonstarter but offensively despite how talented they are individually they do nothing to help each other succeed and instead take each other out of plays. This shit has to stop.

There really is still a chance that there are offers out there that we would take for CJ and Cronin is fronting that we want to keep the core together to try and drive up the offers as far as they can go.

Hopefully it's not. He did imply he is just looking at minor changes to the roster to make it better.

He did say the Blazers are looking at all their options (meaning they could trade CJ?), but stopped short of a complete teardown, saying the Blazers aren't doing that.

It does sound like the Blazers are going to continue to build around Dame, Nurk, and CJ according to what he said.

Hopefully, he is just keeping his cards close.

 

[illmatic99]

It does sound like the Blazers and going to continue to build around Dame, Nurk, and CJ according to what he said.

He was simply responding the same way he was asked. If he omits a name, it's revealing his plans.

 

[illmatic99]

I dont see why the Blazers couldn't become competitive without a tear down either. In January our defense improved to 19th and that's with a bunch of guys playing together that weren't used to playing together, inexperienced players, players out of position, and without one of our better defenders in Nance. Its actually offensively where we took a dip, but that was expected without Dame, and also CJ missed more than half of the month.

If they use the surplus at guard to add more size/length I think we can be a really good team next season.

our best stretch of this season coincided with Nas starting at SF, instead of three negative defenders at PG/SG/SF. That wasn't a coincidence

 

[Chris Craig]

He was simply responding the same way he was asked. If he omits a name, it's revealing his plans.

He didn't omit CJs name. Oh, if he did it would be telling so he didn't on purpose?

Sounded like he was saying if the right deal comes along who knows. A lot of reports out there of CJ having negative value on the market. The Blazers seem to be of the mindset they aren't going to trade him for negative value...they are going to get what they perceive is good value or he isn't going anywhere.

 

[illmatic99]

He didn't omit CJs name. Oh, if he did it would be telling so he didn't on purpose?

Sounded like he was saying if the right deal comes along who knows. A lot of reports out there of CJ having negative value on the market. The Blazers seem to be of the mindset they aren't going to trade him for negative value...they are going to get what they perceive is good value or he isn't going anywhere.

that is exactly he mindset i have been screaming about for a while now in response to people wanting to dump CJ. the market can't get worse in the summer if there are only a few suitors now.

 

[blazerkor]

Idk, id at least wait until after the deadline before making any declarations. What he does is more important than what he says.

Yeah, the shit that I'm hearing has me a little worried but there's a lot of smoke screening this time of year so we could be getting it straight and we're going to have to watch the fucking hideous monstrosity we've seen as of late or Joe is good at what he does and he's posturing to squeeze every last little asset out of deals that are on the table. We'll just have to see... the cool thing is that seven days isn't long to wait.

In one week there are a number of things that could be happening in here: A. all of us could be pissed because next to nothing was done, B. all of us could be furious because a move was made that we universally condemn, C. all of us could be rather meh because some big deals happened but they're still pretty underwhelming, D. we could all be having a party because Joe pulled off better moves than KP in the 2006 draft or E. we could all be disagreeing because some significant moves were made but there's dissenting opinions on if it helped or hurt the team.

I think A and E are the most likely scenarios.

 

[Chris Craig]

Yeah, the shit that I'm hearing has me a little worried but there's a lot of smoke screening this time of year so we could be getting it straight and we're going to have to watch the fucking hideous monstrosity we've seen as of late or Joe is good at what he does and he's posturing to squeeze every last little asset out of deals that are on the table. We'll just have to see... the cool thing is that seven days isn't long to wait.

In one week there are a number of things that could be happening in here: A. all of us could be pissed because next to nothing was done, B. all of us could be furious because a move was made that we universally condemn, C. all of us could be rather meh because some big deals happened but they're still pretty underwhelming, D. we could all be having a party because Joe pulled off better moves than KP in the 2006 draft or E. we could all be disagreeing because some significant moves were made but there's dissenting opinions on if it helped or hurt the team.

I think A and E are the most likely scenarios.

I agree those are two scenarios are both likely

Roco and Powell are likely gone if the Blazers can get the deals they want.

We might just see Roco traded for a player and or pick.

We might just see lateral moves that are part of a bigger plan to be fleshed out in the offseason. Who knows.

Maybe we trade Powell and Roco for Grant and argue whether it's a good trade or if it really makes us better or not.

 

[blazerkor]

yes he was....he put so much into scoring and trying to carry us on offense that he couldn't defend without getting gassed.....healthy Dame is going to be a better two way player....he has addressed all this.....this season he couldn't shoot from pain and tried to play defense to make up....Dame has been hurt...Nurk has been hurt several times and out of shape after two years of rehab....this year he's playing more minutes than he ever has as a Blazer.....I don't want a Dame CJ backcourt moving ahead but no way our 3 best players have all been prime and healthy together in the Dame era for any sustainable length of time.....right now I want Dame Norm and Nurk personally but I wasn't addressing roster compositions...just the idea that we lost healthy.....we didn't really

This thing has been slowly creeping up on Dame for like four years, getting worse and worse until, according to him, in the Olympics it was no longer just pain but made it so he couldn't play right and he thought that would calm down once he got home but it didn't.

The more important thing is that four years ago, five years ago, six years ago and every year before that Dame has been shit at defense and the Dame/CJ back court has been the worst defensive back court in the league over that time frame. So please don't act like Dame's defense all of a sudden got bad because he was so fucked up that he could only play the best offense he's ever played and had to... continue to play the exact same shitty defense he's always played?!? How does that even make sense to you?

 

[Scalma]

of course CJ has value, 20 point scorers dont grow on trees. The problem was Olshey most likely valued him like an all star. If Cronin has a lower valuation he can probably get a solid return. This isn't an albatross, far from it. That said, Powell is more likely to go imo

 

[Chris Craig]

of course CJ has value, 20 point scorers dont grow on trees. The problem was Olshey most likely valued him like an all star. If Cronin has a lower valuation he can probably get a solid return. This isn't an albatross, far from it. That said, Powell is more likely to go imo

It's his contract

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

View attachment 44813

That's a loopy perspective that has been proven wrong, over and over, in my view. That trio has been healthy for 3 playoff series and Portland's record in those games was 3-12, A .250 winning percentage. And they have had plenty of "pieces" around them:

Aminu
Harkless
Ed Davis
Evan Turner
Zach
Curry
Napier
Connaughton
Layman
Meyers
Hood
Melo
Ariza
Whiteside
RoCo
Kanter
Powell
Jones
Simons
Nance
McLemore

for fucksakes, how many damn role players and how many playoff failures does Portland have to run thru before it sinks into management's thick skulls that the problem is not in players 4-10, it's in players 1-3. It's not the supporting players, it's in the core, and to coin a term, the core is rotten. So is management apparently if they believe the tripe Cronin is selling

Let's just hope it's a smokescreen?

 

[Hoopguru]

View attachment 44813

That's a loopy perspective that has been proven wrong, over and over, in my view. That trio has been healthy for 3 playoff series and Portland's record in those games was 3-12, A .250 winning percentage. And they have had plenty of "pieces" around them:

Aminu
Harkless
Ed Davis
Evan Turner
Zach
Curry
Napier
Connaughton
Layman
Meyers
Hood
Melo
Ariza
Whiteside
RoCo
Kanter
Powell
Jones
Simons
Nance
McLemore

for fucksakes, how many damn role players and how many playoff failures does Portland have to run thru before it sinks into management's thick skulls that the problem is not in players 4-10, it's in players 1-3. It's not the supporting players, it's in the core, and to coin a term, the core is rotten. So is management apparently if they believe the tripe Cronin is selling

I hope Joe hits a home run, really am rooting for the guy. But, I dont get the vibe he's a risk taker, hope Im wrong but, more of a status quo evaluate, determine areas's that need addressed, then put together a plan to work.
He should be able to pull off a decent trade involving CJ? Again, he said he has survived the 17 years or so? because he stayed out of the way. Well?

 

[blazerkor]

I hope Joe hits a home run, really am rooting for the guy. But, I dont get the vibe he's a risk taker, hope Im wrong but, more of a status quo evaluate, determine areas's that need addressed, then put together a plan to work.
He should be able to pull off a decent trade involving CJ? Again, he said he has survived the 17 years or so? because he stayed out of the way. Well?

I don't remember him saying that, in fact he talked about the fact that he was ready for this job because he's had a lot of autonomy. He said he wouldn't get into specifics but part of his job as an assistant GM was to think of trades, solicit other teams with them and then bring them to Neil who he said would then often bring them to Jody and Bert. He also said that one of the assignments he's had over the years has been to be a voice of opposition when everyone was in agreement on something he was assigned to talk about the risks and downsides to certain moves. So I don't think he even had the chance to keep his head down once he was an assistant GM.

I think when he was talking about first being hired by the organization that he put his head down and got to work learning everything he could in one area like the cap and then go into another area just to learn everything he could, like scouting. He said he thought those years of doing that made him well rounded and ready for the assistant GM duties and now this.

 

[Idog1976]

When has a GM ever explained what they are about to do? When has a GM ever said they were shopping a player in their core? If they do that they lose leverage.

We know CJ has been shopped same with Nurk, Roco and Powell. Any GM worth their salt is asking about Ant. Im sure there is interest in Nas even with his injury. McLemore has an extremely valuable skillset and contract. Even Zeller might have value. We have lots of assets that are desirable, just we lack access to picks without a trade with Chicago or a different trade that nets us picks from other teams.

All I read that sounded true and was definitive is we aren’t trading Dame.

 

[Hoopguru]

I don't remember him saying that, in fact he talked about the fact that he was ready for this job because he's had a lot of autonomy. He said he wouldn't get into specifics but part of his job as an assistant GM was to think of trades, solicit other teams with them and then bring them to Neil who he said would then often bring them to Jody and Bert. He also said that one of the assignments he's had over the years has been to be a voice of opposition when everyone was in agreement on something he was assigned to talk about the risks and downsides to certain moves. So I don't think he even had the chance to keep his head down once he was an assistant GM.

I think when he was talking about first being hired by the organization that he put his head down and got to work learning everything he could in one area like the cap and then go into another area just to learn everything he could, like scouting. He said he thought those years of doing that made him well rounded and ready for the assistant GM duties and now this.

He said it in response to a question asked about his tenure with the company.
I do hope he can make a few deals and keep the job. Sounds though like they will do a search.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

He said it in response to a question asked about his tenure with the company.
I do hope he can make a few deals and keep the job. Sounds though like they will do a search.

Hopefully.

This roster needs a GM with experience - especially with Dame still being viewed as the cornerstone.

 

[Freshtown]

For a contrast in tones, see the Atlanta GM promising changes a few weeks back. That’s what I want Cronin to say. Not this margins stuff.

 

[TBpup]

For a contrast in tones, see the Atlanta GM promising changes a few weeks back. That’s what I want Cronin to say. Not this margins stuff.

Exactly. If the Trade Deadline passes and it's only Salary Cap moves, or periphery trades, the feeling is going to be it is the same as it's been for a decade. That may not be the case, but until something more significant happens, there is a bit of a 'prove it to me' mentality.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Exactly. If the Trade Deadline passes and it's only Salary Cap moves, or periphery trades, the feeling is going to be it is the same as it's been for a decade. That may not be the case, but until something more significant happens, there is a bit of a 'prove it to me' mentality.

Maybe he wants to tank this season properly, and is afraid that trades that return decent value might lead to too many wins?

 

[illmatic99]

For a contrast in tones, see the Atlanta GM promising changes a few weeks back. That’s what I want Cronin to say. Not this margins stuff.

cronin can't overpromise and under-deliver when he doesn't have the job security that Schlenck did. And BTW, that deal was awful for ATL. Their current win streak has nothing to do with that move they made.

 

[Natebishop3]

If we're going to keep Dame/CJ, we should have just kept Stotts. At least it was entertaining to lose.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Until the trade deadline comes and goes with no real changes, many people being too quick to toss Cronin out.
Trades are a game of poker. Like he’s gonna reveal his hand????

id be more concerned about him becoming our permanent gm if he DID give details out.

and the funny thing is, most of the posters railing on him are smart enough to know this…so why the bashing before the game has been played???
Give the man a chance…

 

[blazerfan11]

I dont see why the Blazers couldn't become competitive without a tear down either. In January our defense improved to 19th and that's with a bunch of guys playing together that weren't used to playing together, inexperienced players, players out of position, and without one of our better defenders in Nance. Its actually offensively where we took a dip, but that was expected without Dame, and also CJ missed more than half of the month.

If they use the surplus at guard to add more size/length I think we can be a really good team next season.

Maybe we could add some of that type of player at the trade deadline?