Dame's career arc

[Natebishop3]

Dame is almost 27.
CJ is 25.

Yesterday Neil said during his presser that he was trying to bring in players that fit Dame's career arc. I fail to understand how a 19 year old rookie fits into Dame's career arc.

Dame is just now entering into his prime. I really thought we were going to use these picks to add another established veteran. Someone that we could count on to contribute on a nightly basis. Right now we have so many inconsistent players. Mo, Aminu, Vonleh, Crabbe..... these guys are all capable of putting up big numbers, but they don't do it consistently.

I didn't think there was a chance in hell that we would be keeping all our picks... and I guess that was true because we traded two of them, but we still ended up with two rookies at the end of the night. And this makes no sense to me because we're still developing Noah, Patty, Layman, and to a certain extent Mo, Crabbe, and Meyers fucking Leonard.

Why do we need more young rookies? I really hope Neil has some trades in the works before the season starts.

 

[Driew]

The problem is getting a PG13 would be a rental because no big time star wants to stay in Portland

 

[Natebishop3]

The problem is getting a PG13 would be a rental because no big time star wants to stay in Portland

There's no other way of getting someone of his caliber on our team. Sometimes it's worth the shot. There's always a chance you draft a guy like Paul George, but can we wait for him to develop?

 

[oldfisherman]

The reason we need rookies has more to do with cap space than building around Dames timetable.

Olshey has added as many age-right vets as PA can afford. Now it time to fill in the holes with rookie contract players. Turn over a bunch of young prospects on rookie contracts and see if any of them are worth keeping.

 

[Duckhook]

Dame is almost 27.
CJ is 25.

Yesterday Neil said during his presser that he was trying to bring in players that fit Dame's career arc. I fail to understand how a 19 year old rookie fits into Dame's career arc.

Dame is just now entering into his prime. I really thought we were going to use these picks to add another established veteran. Someone that we could count on to contribute on a nightly basis. Right now we have so many inconsistent players. Mo, Aminu, Vonleh, Crabbe..... these guys are all capable of putting up big numbers, but they don't do it consistently.

I didn't think there was a chance in hell that we would be keeping all our picks... and I guess that was true because we traded two of them, but we still ended up with two rookies at the end of the night. And this makes no sense to me because we're still developing Noah, Patty, Layman, and to a certain extent Mo, Crabbe, and Meyers fucking Leonard.

Why do we need more young rookies? I really hope Neil has some trades in the works before the season starts.

I completely get what you're saying but what leverage do we have? With Dame, CJ, and Nurk untouchable, what assets do/did we have? Realistically, no combination of first rounders, Meyers, Crabbe, Aminu, Davis, or Harkless were going to get us that top tier #3 all star. All our guys are at the beginning of their contracts so no other team is going to take our salary dump. Neil panicked to keep Crabbe last year and then overspent on Meyers. He needed a FA win and overspent for Turner - that's what it's going to take to get another all star here... we just don't have the $$ anymore to throw at FAs.

Neil is doing what he can to get the pieces we need. I see Collins as a potential starter next season. When was the last time we started two 7-footers? Other teams won't want to bang with us down low on both sides of the court! I like Neil's moves yesterday.

 

[Natebishop3]

The reason we need rookies has more to do with cap space than building around Dames timetable.

Olshey has added as many age-right vets as PA can afford. Now it time to fill in the holes with rookie contract players. Turn over a bunch of young prospects on rookie contracts and see if any of them are worth keeping.

It's not enough. The team as it's currently constructed will not compete. Either add some more firepower or trade Dame and start building around Collins/Nurk.

Nurk is about to turn 23.
Collins is 19.

The worst thing we can do is keep making the 8th seed and drafting middle of the road. That's not a recipe for success.

 

[Sarni]

Established veteran would not help us win championship. When Collins and Swanigan are 23-24, Dame will still be only 30 and most importantly Warriors will not be the team they are today.

We couldn't have traded those picks for Butler or anyone like that so our best hope is we hit the next Myles Turner, Devin Booker or Kristaps Porzingis i.e. player who is ready to contribute straight from college (or Sevilla in Porzingis case).

Would you have preferred to get players like Young or Lopez?

 

[tlongII]

It's not enough. The team as it's currently constructed will not compete. Either add some more firepower or trade Dame and start building around Collins/Nurk.

Nurk is about to turn 23.
Collins is 19.

The worst thing we can do is keep making the 8th seed and drafting middle of the road. That's not a recipe for success.

This team will definitely compete. We saw that last year without the two new rookies. Collins is exactly the type of player we needed and should help right away in my opinion. Dame still has 4 years of prime playing time and Collins will slide nicely into that time frame.

 

[Natebishop3]

This team will definitely compete. We saw that last year without the two new rookies. Collins is exactly the type of player we needed and should help right away in my opinion. Dame still has 4 years of prime playing time and Collins will slide nicely into that time frame.

As it is currently constructed, you think this team would compete for a championship?

 

[dviss1]

I think that thinking Collins can't contribute immediately is shortsighted.

 

[tlongII]

As it is currently constructed, you think this team would compete for a championship?

I don't think anyone other than the Warriors will compete for the championship next year. We should be able to push them though and possibly get to the WCF. The 2018-19 season is when I think we'll have a legitimate shot.

 

[e_blazer]

Isn't the right time to start worrying about this sometime in August? I suppose the Blazers could choose to just roll with what they have, but the roster seems a bit overburdened with duplicate talent and the cap needs some pruning. I'm definitely hoping that there's some sort of a trade after the July moratorium that will bring in one more experienced player and shed some dead weight.

 

[Reep]

Even aside from drafting Z-Co, this team needs another year or two to peak. That is Dame's career arc.

Now, I like the current plan because Z-Co and Nurk should be very good or at least solid contributors in 1-2 years. After that the Blazers probably have a 3-4 year window. If they can't make anything happen in that time, then you still have a very prime Nurk and Z-Co to work with. I think this lengthens the window substantially and also allows flexibility in the long term.

If Blazers could get a stud PF for free, then that would be great. But, I don't see any of those available right now. Drafting one is the next best option.

 

[riverman]

the allstars in the league will be pushin' 40 when Dame hits 30...we're good. ..everybody wants to develop young guys now after the last few NBA finals..

 

[riverman]

It's not like Dame and CJ have played deep into the post season during their careers so far...I think they'll both have plenty in the tank at 30

 

[Boob-No-More]

I don't think Dame, and especially C.J. will see their performance fall off a cliff after they turn 30. The Nurk trade increased our window - which makes sense given how much better GSW is than everyone else is in the West right now.

Sure, it would have been great to get Paul George, but in lieu of that, it's better to be on the rise when GSW is on the decline, not declining right beside them.

Collins will be 20 before the season starts. Unless there are some serious injuries, no one is beating GSW for the next 3 years. At that time, Dame will be 30, C.J. 28, Nurk 26 and Collins 23. That actually seems like a good combination of a veteran leader still in his prime, a veteran 2nd option solidly in the heart of his prime, a young center entering his prime and a young player who should be a major contributor, but still with room to improve.

That will be the beginning of our window as GSW starts to decline. Five years from now, Dame will be 32, C.J. 30, Nurk 28 and Collins 25. If we keep this core together and Nurk and Collins develop as hoped, I think our window is 3 - 6 years from now. Any decline we start to see from Dame and C.J. will be gradual, and it will be offset by any improvement from Nurk and Collins.

BNM

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

I don't think Dame, and especially C.J. will see their performance fall off a cliff after they turn 30. The Nurk trade increased our window - which makes sense given how much better GSW is than everyone else is in the West right now.

Sure, it would have been great to get Paul George, but in lieu of that, it's better to be on the rise when GSW is on the decline, not declining right beside them.

Collins will be 20 before the season starts. Unless there are some serious injuries, no one is beating GSW for the next 3 years. At that time, Dame will be 30, C.J. 28, Nurk 26 and Collins 23. That actually seems like a good combination of a veteran leader still in his prime, a veteran 2nd option solidly in the heart of his prime, a young center entering his prime and a young player who should be a major contributor, but still with room to improve.

That will be the beginning of our window as GSW starts to decline. Five years from now, Dame will be 32, C.J. 30, Nurk 28 and Collins 25. If we keep this core together and Nurk and Collins develop as hoped, I think our window is 3 - 6 years from now. Any decline we start to see from Dame and C.J. will be gradual, and it will be offset by any improvement from Nurk and Collins.

BNM

You're a smart guy BNM. Our window is 4 years. I'm not giving a 31 yr old lillard a 300M dollar contract.

 

[Boob-No-More]

You're a smart guy BNM. Our window is 4 years. I'm not giving a 31 yr old lillard a 300M dollar contract.

And, at that point in his career, if we are actually contending for a championship, I doubt if he'd demand it. The reason GSW has been able to assemble and keep a super team is because so many of their players accept less money to play together and win titles.

What makes you think Dame would value money over winning? He doesn't seem like that type of person. And, it really wouldn't make sense for him to toil away in Portland and them leave right as we are contending for a championship. If we aren't contending, he may take the money and run, but even that seems out of character for Damian Lillard.

BNM

 

[Natebishop3]

The reason GSW has been able to assemble and keep a super team is because so many of their players accept less money to play together and win titles.

Like who? Curry accepted less because he had been constantly injured and he hadn't really peaked yet. I don't think he took less because of the team.

Aren't Klay and Draymond currently on max deals?

 

[julius]

Does anyone else find it funny how Paul George is some peoples boner pill, and that he went to a small college too? Fresno State in 09-10 didn't exactly play a lot of top notch talent (or go far in the tournament).

There's nothing to say that Collins could make an impact sooner than people think, thus him being 19 might be in the "window" for Dame (theoretically the next 6-8 years).

While I hate waiting for stuff (read: Im done waiting for Meyers to not suck), I like the idea of what Collins can become. And while he is skinny, it's not like he's Jermaine O'neal, or Shawn Bradley skinny.

 

[Natebishop3]

Does anyone else find it funny how Paul George is some peoples boner pill, and that he went to a small college too? Fresno State in 09-10 didn't exactly play a lot of top notch talent (or go far in the tournament).

There's nothing to say that Collins could make an impact sooner than people think, thus him being 19 might be in the "window" for Dame (theoretically the next 6-8 years).

While I hate waiting for stuff (read: Im done waiting for Meyers to not suck), I like the idea of what Collins can become. And while he is skinny, it's not like he's Jermaine O'neal, or Shawn Bradley skinny.

It still took George about 3 years to really find his groove. It's not so much George that I'm pushing for, it's that I think we need more firepower in general. If it takes Collins three years to become a star, that puts Dame at 30 and going into his final season of this contract.

 

[julius]

It still took George about 3 years to really find his groove. It's not so much George that I'm pushing for, it's that I think we need more firepower in general. If it takes Collins three years to become a star, that puts Dame at 30 and going into his final season of this contract.

and?

Paul George would probably leave next year, and that puts Damian at 28 without much of a supporting cast, and where does that leave his window?

Now if he has a Meyers Leonard/Jake Layman/Pat Connaughton type rookie year + 2nd year, I could see this being an issue.

 

[Driew]

There's no other way of getting someone of his caliber on our team. Sometimes it's worth the shot. There's always a chance you draft a guy like Paul George, but can we wait for him to develop?

But I don't think NO thinks it's worth it for a one year rental if we could instead draft a star for multiple years unless it was for like two second round picks).

 

[Sarni]

I don't understand why some people are convinced rookies are going to take 3, 4, 5 years to contribute. It's not a rule. The properly good ones are quite often good 1-2 years from coming into the league.

 

[Destroyer of Worlds]

It's not enough. The team as it's currently constructed will not compete. Either add some more firepower or trade Dame and start building around Collins/Nurk.

Nurk is about to turn 23.
Collins is 19.

The worst thing we can do is keep making the 8th seed and drafting middle of the road. That's not a recipe for success.

Good thing we didn't draft middl of the road.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Like who? Curry accepted less because he had been constantly injured and he hadn't really peaked yet. I don't think he took less because of the team.

Aren't Klay and Draymond currently on max deals?

Like everyone.

Fuck no, Klay and Draymond aren't on max deals. They both make less than Evan Turner. Kevin Durant is the only one on their roster that makes more than Allen Crabbe and even he took a bit less than the max to sign with them last summer, with the ability to opt out and get the real max this summer.

And then there are the ring chasing vets like Zaza and David West who are playing for peso on the dollar to get a ring.

BNM

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Trading for PG for one year is stupid. It'll just bring us to where we are right now in a year while losing assets that we'd need to include. I mean there's a chance he would stay in Portland but its very very doubtful.

If you want to get other allstars, gotta name some. unfortunately they usually rhyme with Smarmello Cranthony.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

You NEED all-stars with Dame. Take your pick and let me know how possible it is to acquire them long term. I think Love, Milsap, Cousins, Gasol , Melo, Lowry, and Jordan are the only likely targets that will be reasonably available. Then you have to ask yourself is it worth a max contract versus what we have now?


G Kyrie Irving Cleveland Cavaliers 4
G DeMar DeRozan Toronto Raptors 3
F LeBron James Cleveland Cavaliers 13
F Jimmy Butler Chicago Bulls 3
F/G Giannis Antetokounmpo Milwaukee Bucks 1
G Isaiah Thomas Boston Celtics 2
G John Wall Washington Wizards 4
F/C Kevin LoveINJ Cleveland Cavaliers 4
F Carmelo AnthonyREP New York Knicks 10
G Kyle Lowry Toronto Raptors 3
F Paul George Indiana Pacers 4
G Kemba Walker Charlotte Hornets 1
F Paul Millsap Atlanta Hawks 4
G Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors 4
G James Harden Houston Rockets 5
F Kevin Durant Golden State Warriors 8
F Kawhi Leonard San Antonio Spurs 2
F/C Anthony Davis New Orleans Pelicans 4
G Russell Westbrook Oklahoma City Thunder 6
G Klay Thompson Golden State Warriors 3
F Draymond Green Golden State Warriors 2
C DeMarcus Cousins Sacramento Kings 3
C Marc Gasol Memphis Grizzlies 3
C DeAndre Jordan Los Angeles Clippers 1
F Gordon Hayward Utah Jazz 1

 

[Minstrel]

Kevin Durant is the only one on their roster that makes more than Allen Crabbe and even he took a bit less than the max to sign with them last summer, with the ability to opt out and get the real max this summer.

And it's been reported that Durant isn't even going to demand the max this off-season--he's going to accept a one-year deal for 120% of his previous salary, which is an exception so the Warriors can first sign their other guys (like Iguodala and Livingston) before going over the cap to sign Durant and Curry. Curry will be the only player on a true max this off-season, though Durant will be close.

 

[BBert]

I don't understand why some people are convinced rookies are going to take 3, 4, 5 years to contribute. It's not a rule. The properly good ones are quite often good 1-2 years from coming into the league.

Dame was good and contributed out of the gate. Then continued to improve. CJ just needed a healthy foot and one year, and for us to get rid of Mo Williams. And he's continued to improve. Nurk looked pretty good to me after we picked him up in what, his second season? He will definitely continue to improve.

So, I agree. Our cornerstones showed they were starters within a year or two of entering the league. Collins is young, but if he's the real deal we should have some idea of that by the end of his first season. We'll see.