ESPN Future Rankings.............

[THE HCP]

Looks like we are moving up in the rankings........

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/FuturePowerRankings-1-130530/1-5

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Sounds accurate, except for the implication Babbit is the best player off the bench.

God that was a weak bench . . . who was the best off the bench? Couldn't possibly be Babbit, right?

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Sounds accurate, except for the implication Babbit is the best player off the bench.

God that was a weak bench . . . who was the best off the bench? Couldn't possibly be Babbit, right?

I much preferred watching Claver, Maynor and Leonard during games instead of Babbit.

 

[donkiez]

I disagree with his assessment of Lillards upside, but I'm a homer so that's expected.

 

[jlprk]

We're in for a rough near-future. With Leonard starting and no Hickson on the team, we would have had 10-15 fewer wins. Until Olshey finds a center, that's what we're looking at every season.

Prince LaMarcus doesn't LIKE to pay center, so don't bother him. He'd rather powder his face.

 

[NOVoodoo]

Where do they have Memphis? I don't have Insider...

 

[Pinwheel1]

Prince LaMarcus doesn't LIKE to pay center, so don't bother him. He'd rather powder his face.

Actually I think LMA has a pretty good grasp of the situation. We need someone a hell of a lot bigger than him for the majority of the game. Then he can play center for a portion of the 4th.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Actually I think LMA has a pretty good grasp of the situation. We need someone a hell of a lot bigger than him for the majority of the game. Then he can play center for a portion of the 4th.

While LMA thinks we need a big to clog the paint, he does not think we need someone a hell of a lot bigger than him to play a majority of the game.

We definitely need some more bigs, like a real heavy center, somebody who can bang with the Dwight Howards and the Bynums and those types of guys. I think you need that true center even if he doesn’t play a lot. You just need one on your team, just a guy who’s big and clogs the paint. I think we definitely need a traditional 5-man. You know, I definitely love JJ and I think he’s good for us and he brings a lot of things to the table, but we need an actual 5-man, too.

http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2013/05/qa-lamarcus-aldridge-2/

 

[Pinwheel1]

While LMA thinks we need a big to clog the paint, he does not think we need someone a hell of a lot bigger than him to play a majority of the game.



http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2013/05/qa-lamarcus-aldridge-2/

That is exactly what I was referring to. LMA knows he will be in the middle on and off in crunch time. We need someone big to bang with the few big centers, then get Leonard some minutes, and LMA can finish the game with 4 other shooters on the floor.

 

[jlprk]

I predict that when we finally solve the Center position, the player will be no taller than Aldridge. Aldridge should just gain 10-15 pounds and do it himself, but he refuses.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I predict that when we finally solve the Center position, the player will be no taller than Aldridge. Aldridge should just gain 10-15 pounds and do it himself, but he refuses.

Right now he is listed at 240 on NBA.com. That is perfect for his position. Why do you want to make him into a center? Yes we need someone to do the dirty work inside, but why waste LMA on that? Let someone with less skills then him be our hustle guy, pick up fouls, and get hurt. We need LMA on the floor. Right now he can play 38-40 minutes because he is not a full time center. More weight would be a huge mistake IMO. He plays center in the 4th, which is all we need.

Someone like Hibbert would have been ideal, or even DMC. But we can get a 2nd tier big man whose role is to be more of an enforcer. Play about 25 minutes a game and bang people all game long. But we also need a big who can score, and that is LMA. I don't think we are going to find someone who can do both for more than 25 minutes. There just are not that many of them out there.

 

[blue9]

LMA can finish the game with 4 other shooters on the floor.

So that the opponent can attack the hoop and shoot 60+% shots while we're bombing away with 40% shots? Sounds like a great way to lose games.

 

[maxiep]

That's NBA purgatory. We couldn't be in a worse position. Unless you're one of the glamour franchises, you have to get really bad to get really good. If you're mediocre, that's where you stay. You don't get a good enough draft pick to improve your team, you waste your money on signing and re-signing your mediocre talent and you're not good enough to attract any free agent unless you overpay for them.

Bottom line, we need to find a way to get shitty, or long term, we're screwed.

 

[Pinwheel1]

So that the opponent can attack the hoop and shoot 60+% shots while we're bombing away with 40% shots? Sounds like a great way to lose games.

I guess it depends if we are ahead or behind. If we are ahead and they need to shoot 3's or foul us to catch up then I doubt we would have your typical 260 pound center in the game that can't jump out at the shooters or make his free throws. There is a reason why most teams go small in the last few minutes. It may not be smart, but most teams do it.

And if we are behind, (Like we have been) a quick trapping team of shooters has been known to be successful. Bottom line is you need to give your coach a roster that is flexible. Small ball works if done in small doses.

 

[illmatic99]

That's NBA purgatory. We couldn't be in a worse position. Unless you're one of the glamour franchises, you have to get really bad to get really good. If you're mediocre, that's where you stay. You don't get a good enough draft pick to improve your team, you waste your money on signing and re-signing your mediocre talent and you're not good enough to attract any free agent unless you overpay for them.

Bottom line, we need to find a way to get shitty, or long term, we're screwed.

Doesn't Indiana's success this year prove that you don't need to go in the tank before getting good?

Houston and Atlanta seem to be on similar paths too. Indy just needed a bit of luck (like the injuries to DRose/Rondo) and they're two wins away from getting to the finals.

 

[illmatic99]

I used to think the west was pretty much gonna be owned by OKC for the next ten years, but they messed up by trading away a huge part of their core. HOU if they land Dwight will be formidable, but not unbeatable. Both LA teams seem to be steeped with drama. GS' future rests on two extremely brittle ankles. Minny/Sac/etc are all too shitty either front office wise, or personnel wise to matter. Spurs will eventually be done. Dallas is a few years behind us (no prospects like Dame, aging Dirk)

The west is more wide open than people think. We gotta make some steps to get into the playoffs first. It will help us find our deficiencies, then address them more head on.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

That's NBA purgatory. We couldn't be in a worse position. Unless you're one of the glamour franchises, you have to get really bad to get really good. If you're mediocre, that's where you stay. You don't get a good enough draft pick to improve your team, you waste your money on signing and re-signing your mediocre talent and you're not good enough to attract any free agent unless you overpay for them.

Bottom line, we need to find a way to get shitty, or long term, we're screwed.

You thought this team was mediocre last year? I thought they fell into "really bad" last year . . . bottom 10 in the league.

In fact they have been really bad the last 2 years.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Doesn't Indiana's success this year prove that you don't need to go in the tank before getting good?

Houston and Atlanta seem to be on similar paths too. Indy just needed a bit of luck (like the injuries to DRose/Rondo) and they're two wins away from getting to the finals.

There best player, Paul George was a lottery pick
Lottery picks in 2007 (conveyed to Atlanta), 2008, 2009, 2010

 

[maxiep]

Doesn't Indiana's success this year prove that you don't need to go in the tank before getting good?

Houston and Atlanta seem to be on similar paths too. Indy just needed a bit of luck (like the injuries to DRose/Rondo) and they're two wins away from getting to the finals.

I think you're pointing to the exception rather than the rule. And I'm not satisfied with a team that needs six sigma luck to make it to the second round. I want a team that will compete for a championship. We're not even close here. In fact, our ceiling right now is a #6 seed and a first round loss. And that's if everything breaks our way. No thank you.

 

[maxiep]

You thought this team was mediocre last year? I thought they fell into "really bad" last year . . . bottom 10 in the league.

In fact they have been really bad the last 2 years.

I was referring to our future. Even sucking as much as we did, we could only manage the #10 pick. We need to be shittier than that. We need another 2006.

 

[BBert]

Right now he is listed at 240 on NBA.com. That is perfect for his position. Why do you want to make him into a center? Yes we need someone to do the dirty work inside, but why waste LMA on that? Let someone with less skills then him be our hustle guy, pick up fouls, and get hurt. We need LMA on the floor. Right now he can play 38-40 minutes because he is not a full time center. More weight would be a huge mistake IMO. He plays center in the 4th, which is all we need.

Someone like Hibbert would have been ideal, or even DMC. But we can get a 2nd tier big man whose role is to be more of an enforcer. Play about 25 minutes a game and bang people all game long. But we also need a big who can score, and that is LMA. I don't think we are going to find someone who can do both for more than 25 minutes. There just are not that many of them out there.

I was going to post essentially the same, and I agree on all counts.

The LaMarcus bashing is old and stale.

 

[illmatic99]

There best player, Paul George was a lottery pick
Lottery picks in 2007 (conveyed to Atlanta), 2008, 2009, 2010

Not to argue for the sake of arguing, but George was the 10th pick. Hibbert - 17th. They got West through FA. George Hill was acquired for the 15th pick. Lance Stephenson was a second rounder. Their bench is trash. But it's not like they went into the purgatory to get their current lineup.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I was referring to our future. Even sucking as much as we did, we could only manage the #10 pick. We need to be shittier than that. We need another 2006.

So if they suck again this year (with the floor being bottom 5 at worst), taht will be 3 years of being a bottom 10 team in the league. How many bottom 10 finishes do you think they need before they can think about winning again?

 

[Mediocre Man]

Not to argue for the sake of arguing, but George was the 10th pick. Hibbert - 17th. They got West through FA. George Hill was acquired for the 15th pick. Lance Stephenson was a second rounder. Their bench is trash. But it's not like they went into the purgatory to get their current lineup.

I think maybe our definitions of purgatory are different is all.

 

[Rhal]

I don't get this whole "if you get knocked out in the first round of the playoffs or get a late lottery pick your team is in mediocre NBA hell". A young team, which is what the Blazers are, doesn't just suddenly go from nothing to a contender, hell look at OKC like everyone always points had a year of the "NBA Mediocre hell" because they barely made it into 8th and got there asses handed to them by the Lakers. Rarely do teams go on to become contenders without one of these "NBA Mediocre Hell" years as they try and turn the team from something Raw into something polished.
You have to look at it as a stepping stones, you have to make the playoffs before you can become a contender and if you don't try to make them and instead just give up on the team because "you don't have the talent" and trade everyone your NEVER going to get back to the playoffs until you draft a Derrick Rose or Kevin Durant to go along with other talent you've correctly put around them.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I don't get this whole "if you get knocked out in the first round of the playoffs or get a late lottery pick your team is in mediocre NBA hell". A young team, which is what the Blazers are, doesn't just suddenly go from nothing to a contender, hell look at OKC like everyone always points had a year of the "NBA Mediocre hell" because they barely made it into 8th and got there asses handed to them by the Lakers. Rarely do teams go on to become contenders without one of these "NBA Mediocre Hell" years as they try and turn the team from something Raw into something polished.
You have to look at it as a stepping stones, you have to make the playoffs before you can become a contender and if you don't try to make them and instead just give up on the team because "you don't have the talent" and trade everyone your NEVER going to get back to the playoffs until you draft a Derrick Rose or Kevin Durant to go along with other talent you've correctly put around them.

I think the people referring to mediocre hell or purgatory are talking about many years making the 7th or 8th seed, or just missing the playoffs. most of those teams struggle to get really good

OKC, which you brought up got really bad, and then acquired Durant and Westbrook

Chicago did as well in acquiring Rose

Portland did in acquiring Roy, Aldridge and Oden

There are way more teams than not who built their team by being shitty. Especially small market teams. Some teams got lucky in the draft and found a Hibbert or through trade and got a Marc Gasol. That is more an exception than a rule though

 

[Boob-No-More]

I don't think we need more suckage to get better, we just need to make the most out of the opportunities we have. Of course, if there is any truth to the rumor of Cleveland trading us the 1st pick as art of a package for LMA, that would be instant rebuild. But even if we keep the 10th pick, we can still get a very valuable piece. As mentioned, Paul George was a 10th pick. So was Paul Pierce, Jason Terry, Brook Lopez, Joe Johnson and Andrew Bynum. And that's just former 10th picks. There are lots of all-stars and hall of famers that have been taken below 10. While getting a higher pick improves your odds, it doesn't guarantee anything. Oden was a 1 pick. So was Bargnani, Kwame and Ollowokandi. Thabeet, Beasley, Darko and Stromile Swift were all 2 picks. Sucking only guarantees one thing - you SUCK.

No thanks. I've had enough of the losing. I want to win as many games as possible and I want to start NOW. No more tanking or sandbagging. Olshey hit a homerun with Lillard at 6 last year. I want to see what he can do with the 10th pick and a lot of cap space this summer. He has a LOT of options in free agency and unbalanced trades that take advantage of our cap space. Once we start winning, we will be a more desirable destination for free agents - not the prima donnas like LeBron, but the solid, proven veterans we need to fill out our bench. Remember when guys like Scottie Pippen and Rod Stickland wanted to play for Portland? Shit, we don't even need guys like that. Our starting five was competitive last season. It was our bench that totally sucked. If we can just fill out our bench with solid veterans like Jarrett Jack, J.J. Reddick, Samuel Dalembert, etc. we would easily win 10 more games and make the plyoffs. And that's a start - something to build on. As they gain post season experience, guys like Lillard, Batum, Leonard, Claver, etc. will continue to improve. That helps us directly, but also increases their trade value which opens up the possibility to make a block buster trade at some point. Multiple young, cheap assets and expiring contract are usually the best bait for landing a disgruntled star from a team that is looking to blow it up and start over.

This notion that you have to totally suck and get top 5 draft packs several years in a row to hope to compete is bullshit. The Clippers did it for YEARS and continued to suck. It wasn't until they moved cheap young players and expiring contracts for a proven star that they became competitive. Look at Minnesota. How many top 5 picks have they had over the last decade? Where has it gotten them? They still SUCK. Same with Charlotte. Being mediocre is NOT the worst place to be. It's part of the natural continuum between bad and good. Even the Jordan Bulls went through that phase (multiple first round exits) before they started winning championships. The only team in recent memory that went from sucking to contender overnight was the 2007-08 Celtics - and they didn't do it by years of sucking and high lottery picks. They did it with a single top 5 pick (Jeff Green to Seattle for Ray Allen). All the other assets they used to rebuild were lower draft picks (Al Jefferson, a 15th pick was the key to the Kevin Garnett deal). Perpetually sucking is the WORST place to be.

So, no more sucking please. Draft smart, trade smart, use that cap space wisely, get these young guys some post season experience and build the bench with proven, quality veterans with post season experience. I'm tired of moving backwards. Let's start moving forward. If we start winning, quality guys will want to come here to play with Lillard the same way they've signed with the Clippers to play with Chris Paul, the Suns to play with Steve Nash and the Bulls to play with Derrick Rose. Continually sucking, combined with undesirable weather, is one sure way to make sure no good free agents will want to play here. Start winning and making the playoffs and good quality mid-level veteran free agents will suddenly start putting Portland on their short list of preferred destinations. Let the Minnesotas and Charlottes continue to suck year after year after year. I want to see some forward progress.

BNM

 

[HailBlazers]

I don't think we need more suckage to get better, we just need to make the most out of the opportunities we have. Of course, if there is any truth to the rumor of Cleveland trading us the 1st pick as art of a package for LMA, that would be instant rebuild. But even if we keep the 10th pick, we can still get a very valuable piece. As mentioned, Paul George was a 10th pick. So was Paul Pierce, Jason Terry, Brook Lopez, Joe Johnson and Andrew Bynum. And that's just former 10th picks. There are lots of all-stars and hall of famers that have been taken below 10. While getting a higher pick improves your odds, it doesn't guarantee anything. Oden was a 1 pick. So was Bargnani, Kwame and Ollowokandi. Thabeet, Beasley, Darko and Stromile Swift were all 2 picks. Sucking only guarantees one thing - you SUCK.

No thanks. I've had enough of the losing. I want to win as many games as possible and I want to start NOW. No more tanking or sandbagging. Olshey hit a homerun with Lillard at 6 last year. I want to see what he can do with the 10th pick and a lot of cap space this summer. He has a LOT of options in free agency and unbalanced trades that take advantage of our cap space. Once we start winning, we will be a more desirable destination for free agents - not the prima donnas like LeBron, but the solid, proven veterans we need to fill out our bench. Remember when guys like Scottie Pippen and Rod Stickland wanted to play for Portland? Shit, we don't even need guys like that. Our starting five was competitive last season. It was our bench that totally sucked. If we can just fill out our bench with solid veterans like Jarrett Jack, J.J. Reddick, Samuel Dalembert, etc. we would easily win 10 more games and make the plyoffs. And that's a start - something to build on. As they gain post season experience, guys like Lillard, Batum, Leonard, Claver, etc. will continue to improve. That helps us directly, but also increases their trade value which opens up the possibility to make a block buster trade at some point. Multiple young, cheap assets and expiring contract are usually the best bait for landing a disgruntled star from a team that is looking to blow it up and start over.

This notion that you have to totally suck and get top 5 draft packs several years in a row to hope to compete is bullshit. The Clippers did it for YEARS and continued to suck. It wasn't until they moved cheap young players and expiring contracts for a proven star that they became competitive. Look at Minnesota. How many top 5 picks have they had over the last decade? Where has it gotten them? They still SUCK. Same with Charlotte. Being mediocre is NOT the worst place to be. It's part of the natural continuum between bad and good. Even the Jordan Bulls went through that phase (multiple first round exits) before they started winning championships. The only team in recent memory that went from sucking to contender overnight was the 2007-08 Celtics - and they didn't do it by years of sucking and high lottery picks. They did it with a single top 5 pick (Jeff Green to Seattle for Ray Allen). All the other assets they used to rebuild were lower draft picks (Al Jefferson, a 15th pick was the key to the Kevin Garnett deal). Perpetually sucking is the WORST place to be.

So, no more sucking please. Draft smart, trade smart, use that cap space wisely, get these young guys some post season experience and build the bench with proven, quality veterans with post season experience. I'm tired of moving backwards. Let's start moving forward. If we start winning, quality guys will want to come here to play with Lillard the same way they've signed with the Clippers to play with Chris Paul, the Suns to play with Steve Nash and the Bulls to play with Derrick Rose. Continually sucking, combined with undesirable weather, is one sure way to make sure no good free agents will want to play here. Start winning and making the playoffs and good quality mid-level veteran free agents will suddenly start putting Portland on their short list of preferred destinations. Let the Minnesotas and Charlottes continue to suck year after year after year. I want to see some forward progress.

BNM

Repped

 

[Mediocre Man]

I don't think we need more suckage to get better, we just need to make the most out of the opportunities we have. Of course, if there is any truth to the rumor of Cleveland trading us the 1st pick as art of a package for LMA, that would be instant rebuild. But even if we keep the 10th pick, we can still get a very valuable piece. As mentioned, Paul George was a 10th pick. So was Paul Pierce, Jason Terry, Brook Lopez, Joe Johnson and Andrew Bynum. And that's just former 10th picks. There are lots of all-stars and hall of famers that have been taken below 10. While getting a higher pick improves your odds, it doesn't guarantee anything. Oden was a 1 pick. So was Bargnani, Kwame and Ollowokandi. Thabeet, Beasley, Darko and Stromile Swift were all 2 picks. Sucking only guarantees one thing - you SUCK.

No thanks. I've had enough of the losing. I want to win as many games as possible and I want to start NOW. No more tanking or sandbagging. Olshey hit a homerun with Lillard at 6 last year. I want to see what he can do with the 10th pick and a lot of cap space this summer. He has a LOT of options in free agency and unbalanced trades that take advantage of our cap space. Once we start winning, we will be a more desirable destination for free agents - not the prima donnas like LeBron, but the solid, proven veterans we need to fill out our bench. Remember when guys like Scottie Pippen and Rod Stickland wanted to play for Portland? Shit, we don't even need guys like that. Our starting five was competitive last season. It was our bench that totally sucked. If we can just fill out our bench with solid veterans like Jarrett Jack, J.J. Reddick, Samuel Dalembert, etc. we would easily win 10 more games and make the plyoffs. And that's a start - something to build on. As they gain post season experience, guys like Lillard, Batum, Leonard, Claver, etc. will continue to improve. That helps us directly, but also increases their trade value which opens up the possibility to make a block buster trade at some point. Multiple young, cheap assets and expiring contract are usually the best bait for landing a disgruntled star from a team that is looking to blow it up and start over.

This notion that you have to totally suck and get top 5 draft packs several years in a row to hope to compete is bullshit. The Clippers did it for YEARS and continued to suck. It wasn't until they moved cheap young players and expiring contracts for a proven star that they became competitive. Look at Minnesota. How many top 5 picks have they had over the last decade? Where has it gotten them? They still SUCK. Same with Charlotte. Being mediocre is NOT the worst place to be. It's part of the natural continuum between bad and good. Even the Jordan Bulls went through that phase (multiple first round exits) before they started winning championships. The only team in recent memory that went from sucking to contender overnight was the 2007-08 Celtics - and they didn't do it by years of sucking and high lottery picks. They did it with a single top 5 pick (Jeff Green to Seattle for Ray Allen). All the other assets they used to rebuild were lower draft picks (Al Jefferson, a 15th pick was the key to the Kevin Garnett deal). Perpetually sucking is the WORST place to be.

So, no more sucking please. Draft smart, trade smart, use that cap space wisely, get these young guys some post season experience and build the bench with proven, quality veterans with post season experience. I'm tired of moving backwards. Let's start moving forward. If we start winning, quality guys will want to come here to play with Lillard the same way they've signed with the Clippers to play with Chris Paul, the Suns to play with Steve Nash and the Bulls to play with Derrick Rose. Continually sucking, combined with undesirable weather, is one sure way to make sure no good free agents will want to play here. Start winning and making the playoffs and good quality mid-level veteran free agents will suddenly start putting Portland on their short list of preferred destinations. Let the Minnesotas and Charlottes continue to suck year after year after year. I want to see some forward progress.

BNM

For every team you mentioned that has bombed out in the lottery, I can name 2 or 3 that have had winning teams because of it. Just because their franchises drafted poorly, doesn't mean it's a bad plan.

 

[maxiep]

So if they suck again this year (with the floor being bottom 5 at worst), taht will be 3 years of being a bottom 10 team in the league. How many bottom 10 finishes do you think they need before they can think about winning again?

At least two, along with some crazy draft luck (i.e., close to Lillard and Roy). We not only require a stronger starting lineup, but an actual bench.