Event Draft Day Q&A

[riverman]

Have any of last seasons players been working out in Portland yet?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

What was the reason for Olshy trading Batum?

I think only Olshey can answer that and he'll say something like, "To make the team better."

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

What's your most prized/valuable shoe you own? (sneakerhead question).

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Did you get to see the draft workouts? Was there a lesser-known player who really surprised you (in a good way)?

 

[riverman]

Is there a link for Batum's reaction to the trade yet?

 

[magnifier661]

I think only Olshey can answer that and he'll say something like, "To make the team better."

Obviously... But I am asking Casey, as in, hey what's your opinion?

 

[illmatic99]

Did you get to see the draft workouts? Was there a lesser-known player who really surprised you (in a good way)?

You catch this? http://www.theplayerstribune.com/cj-mccollum-nba-draft-survival-guide/

I’m throwing this in here as my super sleeper. I saw Richaun work out for the Blazers last week, and came away impressed.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Neil interviewed Vonleh last year when we had no pick -- is he viewed as a building block or a trading chip?

 

[caseyholdahl]

Any reason that Olshey hasn't commented on much or scheduled a presser to introduce our two new guys? Too busy? Possibility that they aren't on the team long-term so why bother? Something else? I would imagine all of those could be a small percentage of it so maybe I answered my own question.

Yeah, with the draft today, there just wasn't any time to put a press conference together. I'm sure he'll talk about it tonight.

 

[PCmor7]

Not sure if you can address this or want to, but if LA really is looking to leave, what is his primary motivator? He seems to have so much here, a contending team, a rich owner, a good GM, a coach that plays a style that seems to work to his advantages, more guaranteed money than anyone else can offer, familiarity. That tells me one of the most likely reasons he'd want to leave, aside from wanting to get closer to home, is a personality conflict or some kind of philosophical issue with the organization.

 

[caseyholdahl]

Dorrell Wright, CJ and Damian seemed genuinely shocked that Batum was traded. Was there any hint that he was unhappy or that anybody else on the team was unhappy with him?

Not really. I texted with a couple of players and all were really sad to see him go. I think more than anything it just got to the point where it seemed like maybe it was best for both parties to try something different.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

What's your most prized/valuable shoe you own? (sneakerhead question).

Just the other day I found an old pair of Fila Ferraris in the back of the closet I got somewhere but never wore, I've worn them out a few times and it's the first time I've ever gotten compliments on a pair of sneakers from random people.

 

[Duckhook]

What's your take on Matthews coming back? With all the trade and LMA talk, I'm not hearing anything about Wes. Do you think there are any teams willing to give him the $15mil he's looking for?

 

[caseyholdahl]

What was the reason for Olshy trading Batum?

He was straight up bad for 90 percent of the season and he'll be a free agent after next season. I think they're probably looking for something a bit more consistent, even if the highs aren't nearly as high as with Batum.

 

[caseyholdahl]

What was the reason for Olshy trading Batum?

And getting Vonleh, of course.

 

[caseyholdahl]

You catch this? http://www.theplayerstribune.com/cj-mccollum-nba-draft-survival-guide/

I did. CJ is really a good writer. Not "good for an athlete" good, but actually good.

 

[caseyholdahl]

What's your take on Matthews coming back? With all the trade and LMA talk, I'm not hearing anything about Wes. Do you think there are any teams willing to give him the $15mil he's looking for?

This is the kind of question I can't even come close to answering.

 

[caseyholdahl]

Kristaps Porzingis, do they have what it takes to trade into the top-6?

I have a tough time figuring out a package they could put together to get there.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

You catch this? http://www.theplayerstribune.com/cj-mccollum-nba-draft-survival-guide/

Nice - I've been interested in Richaun for a while. Hope he's still there at 35...

I remember my junior year, before I was getting any hype, I used to tell scouts that I was being recruited by random mid-majors. “Oh yeah, I’m talking to uh … Youngstown State.” I figured they would never actually call and check. And even if they did, the Youngstown State coach might be afraid to get beat to the punch and be like, “Hmm … who’s this McCollum kid? I better check him out.”
You gotta hustle.

Okay, CJ will be my fave player left in the rubble by the end of this Summer.

 

[Duckhook]

This is the kind of question I can't even come close to answering.

Sorry just read the FA ban for you. My bad.

 

[Reep]

Will ask again. Blazers specifically interested in Vonleh, or just good value?

 

[caseyholdahl]

Casey, how have you been? Any response from Nic yet regarding the trade?

Haven't heard from Nic yet, hoping to within the next couple of days. I'm fine. I like Nic a lot, but I've been doing this long enough to not be bothered by guys moving on. That's the nature of the business. And I think it'll end up being beneficial for everyone in the end. I'm pretty sure there are direct flights from Charlotte to Paris.

 

[TBpup]

He was straight up bad for 90 percent of the season and he'll be a free agent after next season. I think they're probably looking for something a bit more consistent, even if the highs aren't nearly as high as with Batum.

Now that is HONESTY right there.

 

[caseyholdahl]

What's your most prized/valuable shoe you own? (sneakerhead question).

Most valuable are probably a pair of white 3M Jordan VI that Nike made for the US Men's Soccer Team for the 2014 World Cup. They sold the black colorway, but the white was never made available.

 

[caseyholdahl]

Not sure if you can address this or want to, but if LA really is looking to leave, what is his primary motivator? He seems to have so much here, a contending team, a rich owner, a good GM, a coach that plays a style that seems to work to his advantages, more guaranteed money than anyone else can offer, familiarity. That tells me one of the most likely reasons he'd want to leave, aside from wanting to get closer to home, is a personality conflict or some kind of philosophical issue with the organization.

That's the thing about LA: He's impossible to read, which is why I view a lot of these reports with a healthy dose of skepticism.

 

[Sedatedfork]

Given some of the twitter guffaws this year, has there been a scaling back of twitter by NBA teams?

 

[caseyholdahl]

Did you get to see the draft workouts? Was there a lesser-known player who really surprised you (in a good way)?

I watched a couple workouts, but I can't pass along much from those. In general, I'll say that nothing blew my socks off.

 

[caseyholdahl]

Given some of the twitter guffaws this year, has there been a scaling back of twitter by NBA teams?

I think it's the opposite. A team that is confident in themselves and their staff shouldn't be bothered by anything that happens on twitter. I can assure you that if someone in our shop had tweeted the horse-gun thing, they'd still be employed by the team. People act like a team twitter account has to be something more ... I don't know, professional? than your average account. It doesn't.

 

[caseyholdahl]

Just the other day I found an old pair of Fila Ferraris in the back of the closet I got somewhere but never wore, I've worn them out a few times and it's the first time I've ever gotten compliments on a pair of sneakers from random people.

People really love red sneakers. I don't know what it is.

 

[PCmor7]

That's the thing about LA: He's impossible to read, which is why I view a lot of these reports with a healthy dose of skepticism.

Thanks for answering, Casey. I've felt the same way about the most recent ESPN reports, although they seem to have momentum. But for it to be as cut and dried as they say seems to mean LA has removed any logic from this and there would have to be some irreparable internal issue that none of us have heard about. Not saying it couldn't be the case or LA is really sensitive about something a lot of us might not think was a big deal, but I won't believe he is staying or going until his signature is on a contract.