Damian Lillard likes tweet that suggests the Trail Blazers should send No. 7 pick for Lu Dort

[blazerfan11]

can you name one poster who says all that? any of that? I'm surprised you didn't trot out the "traded 4 starters" line again

I hated olshey's tenure but I gave him credit for the good moves he made (there just weren't many). I just recognized that his blind spots and flaws were fatal for Portland's chances to build a contender. And that his bad moves far outweighed his good moves while his roster vision sucked the hind tit

the 4 players traded were not crap. But they had no upside, at all, and they were hogging half the payroll while being primarily responsible for Portland's trajectory being flat-lined. They had to go. I'm also not operating under blind faith that 'the players traded just had to have more value than the return they generated because they just had to because I believe they did and that means Cronin is a fucking idiot'.

I'm also not stupid enough to ignore the reality that Cronin was working for the Vulcans; or that as we have recently learned the Vulcans are actually obligated to sell the Blazers. That factor is certain to have heavily influenced the nature of those deadline deals

Some posters need to make their statements in hyperbole.

 

[Paine Tablet]

You think Norm's contract was team friendly? The trade market did not indicate that.

Every avenue was explored by Cronin(with optimal discernment) and the trade deadline is the only measure with which to determine player value goddamit!

 

[blazerfan11]

I really want to see what a Nurk, Grant, Naz, Hart, Lillard starting lineup would look like ...Hart is my kind of two guard..

I think most people are fine with that. The cost for Grant is the where people disagree.
I would not use the 7th pick, either by itself or trading down, to get him. Trading up could be ok if that's possible.

 

[blazerfan11]

Again, it has just as much to do with fit. Donovan Mitchell would not be a good fit.

Bam and Butler are stars. Brown and Tatum are stars.

We will not be a contender with the Dorts, Grants. Harts, Nurks of the world.

Dame deserves to play with another all star level player that is a good fit next to him.

Dallas did just have Dirk as a star, but Dirk is an all time great that is better than Dame. They also had one of the most elite defenders in the league who ended up being an all star two years later in Chandler. And Kidd, Terry, Marion, Butler, Peja....all former all star level players or elite 6th men. They knew how to play the game and win. That's one example and it still doesn't really compare to our path.

I'm going to disagree on Nurkic. A big man's value on offense (and probably his effort on defense can be affected) by how well a team can maximize his scoring efficiency. Using the big man for efficient scoring also adds variety to the scoring. Nurkic is skilled and big enough that he can be a mismatch on offense against a lot of teams.

 

[Tince]

Every avenue was explored by Cronin(with optimal discernment) and the trade deadline is the only measure with which to determine player value goddamit!

LOL... you're right, I should've stuck with a message board post as being the only measure of a players value!

 

[SlyPokerCat]

I'm going to disagree on Nurkic. A big man's value on offense (and probably his effort on defense can be affected) by how well a team can maximize his scoring efficiency. Using the big man for efficient scoring also adds variety to the scoring. Nurkic is skilled and big enough that he can be a mismatch on offense against a lot of teams.

He can be a role player on a good team but ideally he is your 4th best player on a contender.

If you put a Jimmy Butler on our team with Hart, Simons, Nurkic, Nas, Dame we would be contenders.

We will not be contenders with acquisitions that amount to Dort and Grant.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Good post. But I do disagree you can't have a contender with Dame and Simons. If all the other positions are good defenders it can work fine. Look at the Warriors with Steph and Poole. The problem is if you have poor defenders also in the frontcourt like Melo, or start a 6'3" SF like Powell.

There is an argument that Simons provides less value on a Dame team and it would be better to trade him for a wing. That could be true. But I disagree the team can't succeed with Dame and Simons. Especially as Dame enters his mid 30's we need offensive options to share the loaf with him. Dame was so exhausted at the end of the Nuggets series to get in the WCF that he was ineffective against the warriors. Compare that to the bubble where Dame was rested and a beast.

So the Blazers need almost everyone on a Dame roster to be a good defender. But they need at least one guy in the rotation that can lead the offense. Dame can't be effective if he is going 40+ minutes for 82 games.

Steph is actually a plus defender and has been for all but 4 of his years in the league

Conversely, Dame has only been a plus defender in 2 of his years in the league

Simons has had an overall - bpm every year in the league

I also do understand defensive coaching philosophy has something to do with numbers

 

[HailBlazers]

Steph is actually a plus defender and has been for all but 4 of his years in the league

Conversely, Dame has only been a plus defender in 2 of his years in the league

Simons has had an overall - bpm every year in the league

I also do understand defensive coaching philosophy has something to do with numbers

Or having an all defensive SG as your stable mate?

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

Or having an all defensive SG as your stable mate?

Put Klay Thompson in as our starting two. Bring Hart and simons off the bench and that’s a contender.
Dame
Klay
Nas
Grant
Nurk

Simons
Hart
Keon
Winslow
Watford



That would be a contender with a defensive coach like Billups.

 

[wizenheimer]

Steph is actually a plus defender and has been for all but 4 of his years in the league

Conversely, Dame has only been a plus defender in 2 of his years in the league

by "plus defender" are you speaking of a positive DBPM?

if you are do you think it's a coincidence that Lillard was a plus defender when the Blazers ranked 8th in the NBA in defense. Or that Curry became a plus defender only after the Warriors ascended to having a perennial top-5 defense?

Curry is not a good defender. But he has had the advantage of being the only below average defender in the Warriors starting lineup so he's been easy to hide. Dame hasn't had that kind of cover. Something else: a lot of the time when the Blazers played the Warriors, Dame was guarding Curry; but Curry was guarding Batum or CJ or Harkless or Powell or Bazemore

 

[Mediocre Man]

Or having an all defensive SG as your stable mate?

Ironically, Klay has had a negative defensive rating every year

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Ironically, Klay has had a negative defensive rating every year

Do you think this proves Steph is a better defender than Klay?

I'd say it proves what a worthless stat defensive rating is.

 

[Idog1976]

We know how Dame and Simons are going to be together. They won’t defend at contending level. Dame must have an elite defender next to him in the backcourt. Period.

What are this weeks winning lottery numbers since you can see into the future and know how Ant will progress and how Dame and Ant play together over extended minutes? You know, something we've never seen? Speculation is all this is.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Do you think this proves Steph is a better defender than Klay?

I'd say it proves what a worthless stat defensive rating is.

Doesn’t really prove anything.

If people think Dame and Ant can get us a title while playing shitty defense, I’m all for it

 

[STOMP]

Nurk is the anchor to our defense. You'll be tough pressed to replace his impact on D.

Sorry no. Sure he's decent at weakside help, but he can't keep up with smaller players, so teams target him with high pick and rolls. Come playoffs when teams look for any edge in matchups, they go at a weakness repeatedly and lumbering Bigs are prime targets. Even DPOY Rudy Gobert is rendered a liability.

STOMP