Dame doesn't want a trade

[Denny Crane]

The craziest preseason predictions to me were people betting tens of thousands of dollars on the Lakers to win the title because they had such big odds. There isn't any universe that the Lakers could've competed for a title this year.

@HCP might make that kind of prediction.

 

[Draco]

This philosophy is prevalent but bullshit, imho. In my job I've seen two different project teams get into trouble because Team A was doing their job and Team B was doing their job but neither bothered to work together and realize they were doing their job on the same piece of code. More communication is better, mutual respect of the on court and off court leaders is best.

Well I don't think that's a similar situation; Dame is making a public statement about his teammates, now some are comparing that to Neil's decisions on the future of the roster. I want Dame to have full support of every teammate while they are here and that's what he's doing. He's making a bold endorsement now because the team is successful and that has to make all the players here who contributed to the success feel good. Neil's job may at times be the role of an asshole that cuts former teammates and gets rid of current teammates even if they are great people; but its necessary for the long term success of the team. Dame doesn't have that burden nor should he concern himself with it.

Of course there should be communication between Dame and Neil; and every indication we have is that communication is great. Neil should take Dame's opinion into consideration; but Neil needs to use his ultimate judgement and its hard to argue with the results. Again I think we need to differentiate what Dame says in the media and in public with what Neil learns from Dame behind the scenes.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Decimate what? That's silly imo. Decimate a team that is .500? We are outperforming expectations sure. And I don't think we should trade Cj, dame, etc.

But if a guy super talented became available and we could grab him that would help the team, and he seemed like a cool dude, we would be morons not to look at that.

Any reasonable person can look at the team and see that we aren't near championship material with the talent we have. The goal should be to acknowledge the chemistry, butimprove the talent on the roster too

.500 for the season, but if you dont think they are playing better than .500 ball now, then im questioning your reasoning.


Any reasonable person can look at this team and understand its impossible to judge the leveling off of this team currently. Too many players have made big jumps in 50 games. Are you going to sit here and say anyone reasonable should know that that's all they will make as far as improvement?

Come on man... your being unreasonable now...

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

.500 for the season, but if you dont think they are playing better than .500 ball now, then im questioning your reasoning.


Any reasonable person can look at this team and understand its impossible to judge the leveling off of this team currently. Too many players have made big jumps in 50 games. Are you going to sit here and say anyone reasonable should know that that's all they will make as far as improvement?

Come on man... your being unreasonable now...

Nah, I'm just not living in homerville.

As constructed, this team will not reach the spurs or golden state level. They need more talent.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Nah, I'm just not living in homerville.

As constructed, this team will not reach the spurs or golden state level. They need more talent.

Golden State is the only NBA team ever constructed that has reached their level, and this year's Spurs probably belong in the top-10 of all time conversation.

As demonstrated in the Post-Christmas NBA thread, the Blazers are already playing at 5-seed level. If they continue to grow, gel and improve, who's to say that they can't become competitive with the Clippers and Thunder?

They're not as far away as most think.

 

[e_blazer]

I think we only do a trade if it's an absolute steal.

I like the Bernie gif.

Do you have one from after the shot where they do CPR on him?

 

[Denny Crane]

I like the Bernie gif.

Do you have one from after the shot where they do CPR on him?

Now jlprk is going to be posting about how Bernie actually made that shot.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Golden State is the only NBA team ever constructed that has reached their level, and this year's Spurs probably belong in the top-10 of all time conversation.

As demonstrated in the Post-Christmas NBA thread, the Blazers are already playing at 5-seed level. If they continue to grow, gel and improve, who's to say that they can't become competitive with the Clippers and Thunder?

They're not as far away as most think.

Its been what? One and a half months since Christmas? I'm not buying it. They have had a great run as of late and I'm happy for that. But "let the cake bake" is tired. Teams should always look to improve the talent.

I'm not buying it until I see the growth continue.

And please, every team, even golden state should be looking to improve talent on the team. If Kevin Durant wants to play for them, should they say no?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Its been what? One and a half months since Christmas? I'm not buying it. They have had a great run as of late and I'm happy for that. But "let the cake bake" is tired. Teams should always look to improve the talent.

I'm not buying it until I see the growth continue.

And please, every team, even golden state should be looking to improve talent on the team. If Kevin Durant wants to play for them, should they say no?

I didn't say they shouldn't try to improve. I'm just disputing the "they'll never be good enough as currently constructed" mantra. If they make no deals, they might actually become good enough. But if they make a deal to increase talent, that's obviously better still.

 

[HailBlazers]

I was listening to wheels talk on the radio this morning and he mentioned that dame told quick he didn't want a trade. He wants to run with this group.

This sort of builds on my thought that a trade would most likely kill our momentum and send the wrong message to the team.

I wonder if Neil would step away from the table out of respect to dame.

Neil said he would be active either at the Trade Deadline or Around the Draft.

I honestly just don't think much of a slam dunk trade is out there right now so I'm assuming he'll stand pat.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

I didn't say they shouldn't try to improve. I'm just disputing the "they'll never be good enough as currently constructed" mantra. If they make no deals, they might actually become good enough. But if they make a deal to increase talent, that's obviously better still.

Depends what your definition of "good enough" is. Getting bounced in the playoffs isn't good enough for me. I have a good time watching them succeed and get better, but I miss the championship aspirations we had in 98,99,00. I just don't see this team as constricted getting there. I'd love to be proven wrong.

It's like a Damn arms race in the nba every year. We should be no different in trying to get upgrades in talebt.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Depends what your definition of "good enough" is. Getting bounced in the playoffs isn't good enough for me. I have a good time watching them succeed and get better, but I miss the championship aspirations we had in 98,99,00. I just don't see this team as constricted getting there. I'd love to be proven wrong.

It's like a Damn arms race in the nba every year. We should be no different in trying to get upgrades in talebt.

Like I said, they're already mid-playoff level. CJ figures out how to draw fouls, or Harkless becomes consistent enough to supplant Aminu at starting SF (or Meyers does the same with Plumlee at C), or Noah develops a consistent jump shot--anyone of those could take us to the next level.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Well I don't think that's a similar situation; Dame is making a public statement about his teammates, now some are comparing that to Neil's decisions on the future of the roster. I want Dame to have full support of every teammate while they are here and that's what he's doing. He's making a bold endorsement now because the team is successful and that has to make all the players here who contributed to the success feel good. Neil's job may at times be the role of an asshole that cuts former teammates and gets rid of current teammates even if they are great people; but its necessary for the long term success of the team. Dame doesn't have that burden nor should he concern himself with it.

Of course there should be communication between Dame and Neil; and every indication we have is that communication is great. Neil should take Dame's opinion into consideration; but Neil needs to use his ultimate judgement and its hard to argue with the results. Again I think we need to differentiate what Dame says in the media and in public with what Neil learns from Dame behind the scenes.

It's not even Dame; Quick extracted that comment from Dame and broadcast it on Talking Ball last night (when I heard about it), making it public by inserting himself into the story... again.

Anyway, I do think the situations are similar because the guy modeling the future of the project has to understand the present of the project, and the processes involved in it. If making a change to the model now for improvement in the future is going to cause a change in the present process, the two leaders should be talking about that. If the guy living in the now has GOOD reasons to protest a change, the guy modeling the future should listen. I'm not saying Olshey should defer to Dame just because Dame has buddies. Neither part of that statement is good for the future. But the idea of "let Neil do his job" in absolute terms like that is fucking stupid, and I needed to address that shit.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Like I said, they're already mid-playoff level. CJ figures out how to draw fouls, or Harkless becomes consistent enough to supplant Aminu at starting SF (or Meyers does the same with Plumlee at C), or Noah develops a consistent jump shot--anyone of those could take us to the next level.

We have had a good run the last six weeks. I wouldn't put us as being able to beat sas, Okc, gs or even lac in a playoff series. I think I'd still take Memphis with a healthy gasol too.

We will have to agree to disagree.

 

[Draco]

Golden State is the only NBA team ever constructed that has reached their level, and this year's Spurs probably belong in the top-10 of all time conversation.

As demonstrated in the Post-Christmas NBA thread, the Blazers are already playing at 5-seed level. If they continue to grow, gel and improve, who's to say that they can't become competitive with the Clippers and Thunder?

They're not as far away as most think.

Yeah I agree its stupid to compare us to the Golden State and the Spurs when they're having historic seasons. Teams have won championships playing quite a bit worse.

But overall I still think were further away than your statement. The Clippers aren't maximizing their potential, Griffin was one of the 3 best players in the NBA the first round of the playoffs last year. The Thunder have been pretty damn good at times this year. Those top 4 west teams and the Cavs are the only legit contenders in my mind this year. We've got a ways to go to catch the contenders in the NBA and I doubt that is happening just from internal development.

One or two of those teams might drop out but another team likely jumps in next year. If Utah got Mike Conley they'd be there. Boston could get the #2 seed, assets to pull of a trade and potentially add Ben Simmons. Or if the TWolves get Simmons they have a hell of a trio for a few years later. The Blazers very likely will need to make a significant addition to contend, which is fine and far less than I would have expected after free agency.

 

[e_blazer]

Tom Penn thinks the Blazers will spend some money in a trade before the deadline:

 

[Denny Crane]

We have had a good run the last six weeks. I wouldn't put us as being able to beat sas, Okc, gs or even lac in a playoff series. I think I'd still take Memphis with a healthy gasol too.

We will have to agree to disagree.

The Bulls had this problem for years. The issue is during the playoffs, opponents spend a lot of time studying film. After each game, they study the playoff game films and can adjust. If there's a weakness, they'll find it. And talent generally wins out.

 

[blue9]

The Bulls had this problem for years. The issue is during the playoffs, opponents spend a lot of time studying film. After each game, they study the playoff game films and can adjust. If there's a weakness, they'll find it. And talent generally wins out.

Talent and coaching!

 

[Denny Crane]

Talent and coaching!

I think the coaching isn't a question. With less talent, we're a much better TEAM than, say, Sacramento or Minny.

 

[Scalma]

Tom Penn thinks the Blazers will spend some money in a trade before the deadline:

I just don't see it. What short term big contract is out there for us to get?

 

[riverman]

I'm just enjoying the moment and loving the balance and hustle this new look roster is giving us. Cinderella story of the league. When we win, I want to stand pat as far as the roster but usually after a couple of losses....the tune changes around here..winning has a strange way of stifling complaints. I predicted 43 wins but at the time had no idea that would get us the 7 seed in the West...I figured 43 would get you the 10th seed..times are changin'

 

[blue9]

I just don't see it. What short term big contract is out there for us to get?

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=gq23gk2

 

[Scalma]

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=gq23gk2

I wouldn't wanna give up plumlee for a rental. It's not like were contenders.

 

[blue9]

I wouldn't wanna give up plumlee for a rental. It's not like were contenders.

I like Plumlee, but I'd have no problem trading him for an upgrade. Does Howard have an opt-out? Because the trade machine shows him as having another year on his contract (same length as Plumlee).

 

[riverman]

I thought it was great that Dame said he's going to the allstar game to support CJ and Will Barton....proof that friendships go beyond being teammates

 

[Scalma]

I like Plumlee, but I'd have no problem trading him for an upgrade. Does Howard have an opt-out? Because the trade machine shows him as having another year on his contract (same length as Plumlee).

Yeah he has a player option

 

[Natebishop3]

Decimate what? That's silly imo. Decimate a team that is .500? We are outperforming expectations sure. And I don't think we should trade Cj, dame, etc.

But if a guy super talented became available and we could grab him that would help the team, and he seemed like a cool dude, we would be morons not to look at that.

Any reasonable person can look at the team and see that we aren't near championship material with the talent we have. The goal should be to acknowledge the chemistry, butimprove the talent on the roster too

I think dealing Hendo or Crabbe at this point would damage our chemistry pretty significantly. Our four guards have exceptional chemistry right now. Moving someone like Kaman wouldn't be as damaging. But what kind of deal are we going to make without giving up something from our core group?

 

[riverman]

I like Mason but if it came between the two of them....Ed Davis is a keeper

 

[riverman]

Some team like Memphis may need a stop gap big guy with Gasol down for the count...enter Chris Kaman...even if it gets a pick we draft and stash in Europe

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

I think dealing Hendo or Crabbe at this point would damage our chemistry pretty significantly. Our four guards have exceptional chemistry right now. Moving someone like Kaman wouldn't be as damaging. But what kind of deal are we going to make without giving up something from our core group?

I like our four guards too. But if a deal is outthere that gets us an upgrade, you take it.

Imo the core is Cj and dame. The rest are role players filling roles. They can be replaced. But I don't want to lose Henderson. I've loved what he has brought to this team. I can't remember the last time we had a guy like him.