Dwight Jaynes sums up my thoughts perfectly

[SodaPopinski]

Love, hate or indifference towards the guy, I think he makes perfect sense here, and this sums up my argument against the people saying, "Hey, we won 54 games last year ... we don't need to make a change.":

Honestly, there’s still plenty of time to use that cap space to help facilitate an unbalanced trade for a good player. To make a solid roster addition. But so far, I have to say this is not exactly the way I expected the offseason to go. Kevin Pritchard is going to have to pull a rabbit out of his hat or this is going to be one letdown of a summer.

And a setback for the team. When everyone you’re playing against is improving and you aren’t, you’re in for trouble. And no, just the expected improvement of Portland’s young players isn’t going to be enough.

It would be a shame to squander what’s been, since before the trade deadline, a golden opportunity to add talent to this roster.

http://www.dwightjaynes.com/the-rich-get-richer-and-the-trail-blazers-get-well-what

 

[Mediocre Man]

EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Idog1976]

Love, hate or indifference towards the guy, I think he makes perfect sense here, and this sums up my argument against the people saying, "Hey, we won 54 games last year ... we don't need to make a change.":



http://www.dwightjaynes.com/the-rich-get-richer-and-the-trail-blazers-get-well-what

I largely agree with Jaynes and the sentiment we need to get better as it is an arms race. However, I take issue with the Artest signing being such an amazing move. I think it is high risk / high reward. Kobe + Artest could very easily = implosion of the team. Kobe and Artest might be friends but they've never been team mates. I'm convinced Artest is Bi-Polar and at either extreme he can really darken a locker room. At his manic best Artest is one of the best in the league especially at defense but it's a gamble. I actually wanted Portland to roll the dice on Artest but we are more in a situation where a gamble is warranted we aren't defending a ring with an already superior team (I assume here they will resign Odom) to any team in the league. Losing Ariza hurts but adding Artest could hurt worse.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I couldn't have said it better.

Teams are making moves, the West is getting stronger, KP has yet to make a significant move to improve this roster since the Jack/Bayless trade and that was a minor move.

Not trading RLEC could turn out to be a huge mistake. That was a gold mine of a trading chip.

 

[Pinwheel1]

He makes some good points but...."When everyone you’re playing against is improving and you aren’t, you’re in for trouble"

Everyone? Really? i still only count two teams out west.

 

[Mediocre Man]

He makes some good points but...."When everyone you’re playing against is improving and you aren’t, you’re in for trouble"

Everyone? Really? i still only count two teams out west.

We do play teams from the east, and if we make it past Houston, Dallas, SA, LA, Utah and Denver then we will most likely be dealing with Cleveland or Orlando.

 

[SodaPopinski]

He makes some good points but...."When everyone you’re playing against is improving and you aren’t, you’re in for trouble"

Everyone? Really? i still only count two teams out west.

I think he's counting the teams in the East as well. But you can make an argument the Mavs improve if they bring in Gortat, Houston tries to improve with Ariza (although losing Artest and Yao hurts badly), San Antonio with R-Jeff, etc., Lakers with Artest.

And honestly, if you're under the impression the championship window is cracking open for us, I don't think it's overexaggerating the point to throw the Eastern Conference teams into the mix of who the Blazers should be measuring themselves against. We have to play each of them twice a year, and we've all seen how one or two games can make the difference once you get to the playoffs.

 

[RoyToy]

Houston is lottery bound
Dallas might lose Bass
NO has done nothing
Utah could lose Millsap
Denver is the same

Portland was the 2nd youngest team in the league that had 3 rookies in the rotation, and all 3 have pretty good ceilings, especially that Oden guy. None of those teams I listed have a guy that could make a huge leap like Greg Oden is capable of doing. Bayless is sort of just wait and see right now, but I think he makes a bigger impact this year.

Upgrades would be useful(PG), but this team can still hold its own with the players it has right now.

 

[Pinwheel1]

We do play teams from the east, and if we make it past Houston, Dallas, SA, LA, Utah and Denver then we will most likely be dealing with Cleveland or Orlando.

Yes we will be in trouble when we make it to the NBA finals. That is my main concern this year.

 

[Tince]

Houston is lottery bound
Dallas might lose Bass
NO has done nothing
Utah could lose Millsap
Denver is the same

Portland was the 2nd youngest team in the league that had 3 rookies in the rotation, and all 3 have pretty good ceilings, especially that Oden guy. None of those teams I listed have a guy that could make a huge leap like Greg Oden is capable of doing. Bayless is sort of just wait and see right now, but I think he makes a bigger impact this year.

Upgrades would be useful(PG), but this still can still hold its own with the players it has right now.

The haters will not listen to that nonsense!

+1

 

[Minstrel]

I think Jaynes' position there is basically the majority opinion. The team doesn't need to land a significant player with the cap space, because the team is already very talented and improving, but it will be a disappointment if they don't because it's leaving chips on the table.

In the end, you may not need those particular chips to win the poker tournament but it's a waste to discard them, because you might need them.

 

[Pinwheel1]

And honestly, if you're under the impression the championship window is cracking open for us, I don't think it's overexaggerating the point to throw the Eastern Conference teams into the mix of who the Blazers should be measuring themselves against. We have to play each of them twice a year, and we've all seen how one or two games can make the difference once you get to the playoffs.

So does everyone else out west. But only Cleveland has gotten better by picking up the 50 year old Shaq in the East. Orlando lost TURK and picked up Insanity. That is better? We will see.

Out West....like i said two teams so far. Far from everyone

 

[Natebishop3]

Pretty much sums it up.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Some of what he says makes sense, but I fail to see why we need a change for change sake. He seems to not unstand that a young team gets better by playing together and maturing as a team- which in the NBA is very important. Oden will be better. Batum will be better. Bayless will be better. Rudy will be better... why the hell does he state we're not any better unless we land a name player? Many name players will not make us a better team anyways as they could be a poor fit.

Jaynes is an idiot.

Now, I do not disagree if anyone states we could use a tough veteran back up PF or an upgrade at PG. If we stand pat because there were no advantageous trades to be made, then in my opinion KP has done the right thing. Jaynes will never understand that.

 

[RoyToy]

Cavs picked up Shaq, but their roster still lacks overall talent.
Orlando lost Turk, Lee and maybe Gortat, gained Carter.
Lakers add Artest, lose Ariza and maybe Odom.
SA adds Jefferson, lose nothing of big importance. Getting older.
Boston added Sheed, I'm so scared!

 

[Natebishop3]

Some of what he says makes sense, but I fail to see why we need a change for change sake. He seems to not unstand that a young team gets better by playing together and maturing as a team- which in the NBA is very important. Oden will be better. Batum will be better. Bayless will be better. Rudy will be better... why the hell does he state we're not any better unless we land a name player? Many name players will not make us a better team anyways as they could be a poor fit.

Jaynes is an idiot.

Now, I do not disagree if anyone states we could use a tough veteran back up PF or an upgrade at PG. If we stand pat because there were no advantageous trades to be made, then in my opinion KP has done the right thing. Jaynes will never understand that.

Yeah, but letting the cap space go without using it would be a huge waste. Whether we make a trade or not, we need to find a way to utilize that cap space before it's gone.

 

[ODENISGOD]

KP is getting slapped

 

[Cake]

A) It ain't over til it's over. We can't even SIGN anybody yet. Let alone trade. There's plenty of time to improve.
B) The youngest team EVER to win 50+ games could stand pat and will still improve.
C) Most of the teams mentioned have lost a lot of talent as well.

 

[Pinwheel1]

KP is getting slapped

Oh that is so funny. Just like the first 50 times i read it.

 

[Mediocre Man]

KP is getting slapped

I think he is slapping himself honestly


He really overvalues "his" guys.

 

[Natebishop3]

A) It ain't over til it's over. We can't even SIGN anybody yet. Let alone trade. There's plenty of time to improve.
B) The youngest team EVER to win 50+ games could stand pat and will still improve.
C) Most of the teams mentioned have lost a lot of talent as well.

Not that I disagree with you, but I don't understand why everyone keeps bringing up our youth and our win total from last year. One has nothing to do with the other. If we choose not to use our cap space, we will have let an asset pass us by. Whether we go on to improve next season or not, it's still foolish.

 

[BTOWN_HUSTLA]

you morans obviously didn't get the memo:

Since RLEC contract wasn't traded, there were no offers for it whatsoever.

Also, there are no free agents out there. because if there were, we would have signed them by now.

 

[BTOWN_HUSTLA]

also, since we won 54 games, its natural if we didn't even do anything, we would improve!!!!!! 54 Games!!!!!

 

[BlazerCaravan]

also, since we won 54 games, its natural if we didn't even do anything, we would improve!!!!!! 54 Games!!!!!

Actually, it's because we were very young that we would naturally improve. But whatever. On a side-note, when we lost RLEC, we actually got a lot younger. We'll be potentially as young or younger this year than last year, even though the core got a year older.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Not that I disagree with you, but I don't understand why everyone keeps bringing up our youth and our win total from last year. One has nothing to do with the other. If we choose not to use our cap space, we will have let an asset pass us by. Whether we go on to improve next season or not, it's still foolish.

I share your confusion. It was the same way with the people who didn't want us to draft anybody useful, as that would somehow interfere with us adding a vet.

NBA teams can walk and chew gum at the same time. Why limit yourself to one approach to improvement, when you pursue several at the same time?

 

[BTOWN_HUSTLA]

Actually, it's because we were very young that we would naturally improve. But whatever. On a side-note, when we lost RLEC, we actually got a lot younger. We'll be potentially as young or younger this year than last year, even though the core got a year older.

yes, because the league stays exactly the way it is, each team is constant every year except the Blazers. IMPROVEMENT!!!!!

 

[Pinwheel1]

you morans obviously didn't get the memo:

Since RLEC contract wasn't traded, there were no offers for it whatsoever.

Also, there are no free agents out there. because if there were, we would have signed them by now.

Please enlighten us. Who was the messiah at the trade deadline that we missed out on, and who is he right now that is a free agent? So far the only ones i hear are VC and Jefferson. And I didn't want either one. Butler was not available and Wallace is still sitting there. I hear a lot of bitching, but I have yet to hear a player that we all agree on that would have been "the guy".

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I'm just glad an effort is being made; with the RLEC thing at the trade deadline, I felt like we stood still. If we don't pick up a guy, at least it won't be for lack of trying.

 

[BTOWN_HUSTLA]

Please enlighten us. Who was the messiah at the trade deadline that we missed out on, and who is he right now that is a free agent? So far the only ones i hear are VC and Jefferson. And I didn't want either one. Butler was not available and Wallace is still sitting there. I hear a lot of bitching, but I have yet to hear a player that we all agree on that would have been "the guy".

Sorry, no trades or possibilities EVER existed. none whatsoever, so its a moot point since it never happened. That's a fact, Jack!

 

[BlazerCaravan]

yes, because the league stays exactly the way it is, each team is constant every year except the Blazers. IMPROVEMENT!!!!!

On average, between Year A and Year B (that are next to each other), assuming nobody of huge instant impact joins the league (i.e., a LeBron draft) the league does stay roughly the same as a whole. Old players get worse, young players get better, etc. The talent level of the entire league doesn't go up radically year-over-year; it stays roughly the same. It seems to take about a decade to see a shift in talent level or play style.

The implication here is this: we don't have any old players to get worse. We have a lot of young players that could improve.