Dame all but demanding vet roster

[SharpesTriumph]

to expand on that by looking at the remaining playoff teams:

Lakers - Lebron/AD/ Shroeder/Russell have 45 years of experience; they have mixed in some youth with Rui & Vanderbilt. And especially with the amazing luck they've had with Reaves, who seems like the perfect complementary player to Lebron and AD

Denver - Jokic (8)/Murray (6)/Gordon (9)/KCP (10)/Porter (4)....that's an average of 8 years experience for their starters. And in the playoffs their bench has essentially been Brown (5), Green (15), and Braun (1)

Miami - Butler (12)/Adebayo (6)/Strus (4), Vincent (4)/Love (15)....with a bench of Martin (4), Lowry (17), Robinson (5), Zeller (10)

Philly - Embiid (7)/Harden (14)/Maxey (3)/Harris (12)/Tucker (12)....with a playoff bench of Melton (5), Niang (7), Reed (3)

Boston - Tatum (6)/Brown (7)/Horford (16)/White (6)/Smart (9)....with a bench of Brogdon (7), Williams (5), Williams (4)

so you're right, there just isn't much youth on the contenders; at least not within the shortened playoff rotations. That doesn't mean that some youth didn't help the team in getting to the playoffs. Just means that when games count, experience matters....a lot, especially to coaches

obviously, Dame knows this and so he'd much rather see an addition of Siakam or Bridges or Brown than Brandon Miller or one of the Thompson twins. Whether or not that's good for the Blazers, long term, is another matter. Wemby is obviously a different kettle, but a 90% chance it won't be him

Great post.

However Philly, Denver, Boston, Miami all built their key star player cores in the draft. Blazers just don't have a realistic way to get Dame experienced star veterans he wants quick enough for it to matter. Last team you list is the Lakers who have advantages the Blazers never will.

Smart way to build a veteran playoff core is likely to give Ant and Sharpe everything to develope, and add a couple great draft picks to them in the years ahead.

But yeah those kids won't be able to contend in Dames prime anytime soon. That's just the reality of the timeline the Blazers currently have.

Winning the Wemby lotto tomorrow is probably the best chance, so we'll have to see if we get lucky tomorrow. Otherwise there's just no realistic solutions to improve that this summer.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I’m a fan of Eubanks. I think he’s the perfect backup roll player. He doesn’t need plays run for him, but when he does shoot, they’re high percentage shots (64.1% fg). He plays solid d (1.3 blocks in 20 mpg), sets great screens without picking up a bunch of silly fouls, and is a willing passer.

Every team needs a hard working roll player like Eubanks. I love to see his effort.

Agree with many of the positives of Eubanks, however I don't agree with the defense. I'd rate it as poor to extremely poor. Doesn't have the foot speed to guard forwards, doesn't have the size to bang with bigs, doesn't protect the rim.

Ideally he'd be a great 3rd string player or situational big. I just think he's overmatched as a primary big off the bench. He's a below average backup center if you scan through all 30 teams. He's way overmatched as a fill in starting center.

But he's a nice energy player off the bench and to fill in a few of the 82 games for limited minutes when injuries hit.

 

[Natebishop3]

Great post.

However Philly, Denver, Boston, Miami all built their key star player cores in the draft. Blazers just don't have a realistic way to get Dame experienced star veterans he wants quick enough for it to matter. Last team you list is the Lakers who have advantages the Blazers never will.

Smart way to build a veteran playoff core is likely to give Ant and Sharpe everything to develope, and add a couple great draft picks to them in the years ahead.

But yeah those kids won't be able to contend in Dames prime anytime soon. That's just the reality of the timeline the Blazers currently have.

Winning the Wemby lotto tomorrow is probably the best chance, so we'll have to see if we get lucky tomorrow. Otherwise there's just no realistic solutions to improve that this summer.

Only times that a team has won with a superstar that they didn't draft was either:

1) They traded a star player that they DID draft for a star player that helped them get the ring. (IE the Raptors traded DeRozan for Kawhi)

2) They signed the player in free agency, and that's just not likely for us.

It's actually pretty rare for a team to go out and sign a superstar free agent who gets them a ring. A lot of them have been LeBron (Heat, Cavs, Lakers)

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I agree

Last season, among rotational Blazers,

* Eubanks was 3rd in PER
* 2nd in TS%
* 4th in FT Rate
* 1st in offensive rebound rate
* 2nd in rebound rate
* 1st in block rate
* 2nd in winshares
* 2nd in winshares/48
* 5th in offensive +/-
* 2nd in defensive =/-
* 2nd in total +/-
* and 3rd in Value over replacement

but he was 12th on the team in salary with a vet minimum

gauged statistically and by impact, Eubanks was a stud being paid like a scrub

All of these stats grossly overvalue Eubanks IMO. It's similar to Kanter impact, super efficient and even some defensive stats looked good. But he is way outmatched if put in a major role or an opponent can game plan against him such as the playoffs or maybe even as a starter.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

All of these stats grossly overvalue Eubanks IMO. It's similar to Kanter impact, super efficient and even some defensive stats looked good. But he is way outmatched if put in a major role or an opponent can game plan against him such as the playoffs or maybe even as a starter.

But they are talking about "End of bench" role player. We are talking 3rd string. Not even backup. This team had Blevins. Eubanks is better than having a dude like Blevins.

 

[tykendo]

If the Blazers don't get the top pick, and Cronin uses the pick to draft a player like one of the Thompson Twins, instead of using it in a trade, Dame won't be the only one who needs a Doctor! Doctor!.

 

[wizenheimer]

All of these stats grossly overvalue Eubanks IMO. It's similar to Kanter impact, super efficient and even some defensive stats looked good. But he is way outmatched if put in a major role or an opponent can game plan against him such as the playoffs or maybe even as a starter.

stats don't overvalue or undervalue any player unless you don't apply context

I was replying to a post that said Eubanks was a good role player...and he was, especially at the minimum salary he played for last season

 

[blazerfan11]

If the Blazers don't get the top pick, and Cronin uses the pick to draft a player like one of the Thompson Twins, instead of using it in a trade, Dame won't be the only one who needs a Doctor! Doctor!.

Amen Thompson and Shaedon Sharpe could be incredible together.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Amen Thompson and Shaedon Sharpe could be incredible together.

No they couldn’t since they won’t be on the same team

 

[illmatic99]

Who still like PG? Contract is insane, but Ant + Nurk for PG could get it done.

 

[Natebishop3]

Who still like PG? Contract is insane, but Ant + Nurk for PG could get it done.

The dude just can’t stay healthy at all. I’m down for risks but the odds of him being healthy are almost nil.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

The dude just can’t stay healthy at all. I’m down for risks but the odds of him being healthy are almost nil.

If it just Nurk and Ant it's probably worth the risk. If healthy George and some other role players makes the Blazers a contender. George is probably healthy more than Nurk.

I doubt Clippers do that deal but if so it's definitely worth considering. Saves our lottery pick and future picks too but gives Dame a win now friend.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

but gives Dame a win now friend.

I think there is some bad blood between these two if I'm not mistaken?

 

[inconceivable]

I think there is some bad blood between these two if I'm not mistaken?

Dame said everybody wants to play with someone like PG in same interview in which he names Mikal, OG, Vanderbilt as type of players he wanna play with.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Dame said everybody wants to play with someone like PG in same interview in which he names Mikal, OG, Vanderbilt as type of players he wanna play with.

I just watched this also. Seems like they are fine.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CsSAZgoMcC5/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

 

[inconceivable]

I just watched this also. Seems like they are fine.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CsSAZgoMcC5/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

In the aftermath of that shot, their family members, not sure (wife or sister or mother) but they were fighting each other on socmed, PG and Dame both helped tame the heat. They're enemies on the hardwood but no badblood otherwise. Dame will not be against PG if he were Cronin's best available target.

 

[STOMP]

Who still like PG? Contract is insane, but Ant + Nurk for PG could get it done.

The Clips would have to really value Ant (or want PG off their books) as they've got 25 year old Ivica Zubac under contract at just over half of what Nurk is pulling down. Dude has a career 18.6 PER and the last 4 years he's averaged 74 games a season.

STOMP

 

[Cugel]

A healthy PG is so good. Blazers have to take some risks if they want to go all in.

 

[Pinwheel1]

The Clips would have to really value Ant (or want PG off their books) as they've got 25 year old Ivica Zubac under contract at just over half of what Nurk is pulling down. Dude has a career 18.6 PER and the last 4 years he's averaged 74 games a season.

STOMP

Not only that, the Clippers would really have to be tired of PG's act to move him. Which brings up the question of why we would want him for one year before his player option comes into play. We would have to over pay to get him and over pay to keep him.

 

[Haakzilla]

 

[Ed O]

Dame said everybody wants to play with someone like PG in same interview in which he names Mikal, OG, Vanderbilt as type of players he wanna play with.

A bunch of dudes who barely play in the playoffs. That checks out

 

[LayneStaley]

Dame said everybody wants to play with someone like PG in same interview in which he names Mikal, OG, Vanderbilt as type of players he wanna play with.

Then he shouldn’t bitch when we draft Brandon Miller, who might end up being better than all of those guys.

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

So many keep saying we need a second all-star and a really good one at that in order to compete.

Nuggets - how many all-stars? One
Heat? One paired with a bunch of undrafted guys

Assuming we only need Lillard to compete, what does this team lack that Miami or the Nuggets have?

 

[Sheldon Shape]

So many keep saying we need a second all-star and a really good one at that in order to compete.

Nuggets - how many all-stars? One
Heat? One paired with a bunch of undrafted guys

Assuming we only need Lillard to compete, what does this team lack that Miami or the Nuggets have?

Defense. Dogs. We don't have to be as far away from competitive as we want.

 

[Natebishop3]

So many keep saying we need a second all-star and a really good one at that in order to compete.

Nuggets - how many all-stars? One
Heat? One paired with a bunch of undrafted guys

Assuming we only need Lillard to compete, what does this team lack that Miami or the Nuggets have?

Heat have Bam. We don’t have anyone even close to his abilities.

Nuggets have Murray who was injured the last couple playoffs. But let’s be honest. Dame isn’t as good as Jokic. He’s a shoot first point guard who doesn’t play defense. I love the guy but Jokic is a 2 time MVP and probably should have been MVP this year. The guy is insanely good.

 

[blazerkor]

Heat have Bam. We don’t have anyone even close to his abilities.

Nuggets have Murray who was injured the last couple playoffs. But let’s be honest. Dame isn’t as good as Jokic. He’s a shoot first point guard who doesn’t play defense. I love the guy but Jokic is a 2 time MVP and probably should have been MVP this year. The guy is insanely good.

This is correct the Heat have three players that have been all stars Jimmy a 6 time all star, 5 time all nba and 5 time all defensive team selection, Lowry a 6 time all star and one time all nba selection and Bam a 25 year old two time all star and four time all defensive team selection, along with an excellent supporting cast and coaching staff.

The Nuggets do have Jokic a 28 year old two time MVP, five time all star and five time all nba selection. They also have three guys under 30 that have been: Murray an all rookie team guy and the Jordan Classic MVP and would have been an all star without his knee injury, Gordon (McDonalds All American MVP), and Michael Porter Jr. (McDonalds All American MVP and National Highscool Player of the Year)... oh and an excellent bench.

This shit isn't an accident. Obviously we are trying to get second and third players close to all star status. To point out what we don't have as the fifth worst team in the league when compared to the two teams leading the conference finals is fucking absurd.

 

[inconceivable]

The short list. More or less.

---
Mikal
Tatum
Kawhi
PG13
Butler
---
Antetokounmpo
Markannen
Siakam
Zion
---
Adebayo
Embiid
Jokić

 

[Mediocre Man]

So many keep saying we need a second all-star and a really good one at that in order to compete.

Nuggets - how many all-stars? One
Heat? One paired with a bunch of undrafted guys

Assuming we only need Lillard to compete, what does this team lack that Miami or the Nuggets have?

Jokic is the best player in the league, and almost a foot taller than Dame. Murray is Dame (lite) without the usage

Miami has Butler and Bam, who are both all stars as well as tremendous DEFENSIVE players

Both teams have better coaches
Both teams best players are NOT pg’s

 

[SharpesTriumph]

So many keep saying we need a second all-star and a really good one at that in order to compete.

Nuggets - how many all-stars? One
Heat? One paired with a bunch of undrafted guys

Assuming we only need Lillard to compete, what does this team lack that Miami or the Nuggets have?

Who do you consider the one Heat all-star, Bam or Butler?

Both are great offensively and defensively.

 

[SwissBlazer]

Are we sure Dame's narrative didn't shift after the successful lottery for us? I mean if we had the 7th pick and some Cam Whitemore, it would make totally sense to trade the pick and maybe some future 1sts. But now that we are picking 3rd with a chance to have a potential cornerstone and a player (Scoot) who played already two years against men, is it really the same thing? I would hear Dame on this.
And by the way he put us a little bit in a corner with his statement with teams knowing about his demands.