Free Agent Eubanks is our backup center

[HailBlazers]

I wouldn't lie to the Fans and create hope when i actually don't have a plan

Yeah he should have never said we'd be contending this season

 

[riverman]

Yeah he should have never said we'd be contending this season

When did he say that? he said the goal is to contend and be aggressive ....what I've seen he's done just that. He said recently ...we're not good enough yet...that's the last out of his mouth. Doesn't make any false promises about it at all...that's just fans wanting instant gratification which is hardly ever achieved in the world of sports. Joe has repeatedly said, this will take time..it's not happening in one offseason but I think he has set a foundation towards that goal

 

[stampedehero]

I like his fit offensively. I don't love him defensively, but it is what it is.

You are the true definition of a realist~

 

[HailBlazers]

When did he say that?

Green font my man. He said the opposite. It's going to take some time.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

To everyone poo-poo ing all the moves (to which there are several)

Please: quote this post and lay out realistically how you have done this, again, within the cap and within the assets?

And furthermore, make it realistic for other teams. No outrageous deals.

I'll be patiently waiting.


Oh, and the reason I can't answer my own question is because I'm too stupid to understand all the minute details it takes to make this work. And also, my only real beef with the offseason is Sharpe, and I'm still willing to be patient.

But, now now's go ahead. I look forward to all the breakdowns of the offseason it should have been. I hope to learn a lot too!

• The money spent on GP2, I would have used to sign Isaiah Hartenstein (signed with Knicks for fewer years at lower AAV)
• Instead of using the TPE on Grant, I would have used it to acquire two other MLE players (perhaps GP2, maybe Kyle Anderson, possibly Jalen Smith) in a sign & trade.
• I would have offered Simons 85M/4, and would have allowed him to seek a better offer in RFA if he felt that was too low, so the market could determine his value.
• If I were able to acquire Hartenstein and Smith, I would have offered Nurkic no more than 60/4, and would have been content to let him leave in free agency if he was able to get more.

 

[Scalma]

Dame gets his boy back

 

[riverman]

Really happy about bringing him back....now bring in Ed Davis as the 3rd center and we're good!

 

[tykendo]

Really happy about bringing him back....now bring in Ed Davis as the 3rd center and we're good![/QUOTE So Ed is our Udonis Haslem?

 

[B-Roy]

Highkin is suggesting we chose Eubanks over Lopez, and not the other way around, probably because he had sweat equity with Chauncey.

 

[tykendo]

Highkin is suggesting we chose Eubanks over Lopez, and not the other way around, probably because he had sweat equity with Chauncey.

I prefer Drew over Rolo. That ship has sailed. Drew is developing and has some nice skills. His defense will develop as well.

 

[James lamphear]

Joe went after guys that's fits billups system and parts of that system you must being to play some type of defense. Plus they also must be hard working players that's will put in the time in the gym. If thinks we going turn this team around in one year will you was dreaming. Will Dame ever win championships here in Portland the odds are against it but don't mean we can't be very competitive and maybe give him that's chance. But we will see if that will come true.

 

[HansenYang]

I prefer Drew over Rolo. That ship has sailed. Drew is developing and has some nice skills. His defense will develop as well.

I dont like the choice of either one. I think that is setting the bar too low. Neither player is very good. I think there are better options on the market.

Having said that, I prefer Drew over Rolo at this point.

 

[wizenheimer]

Covington
Powell
CJ
Nance

Or

Sharpe
Jerami Grant
Payton 2
Hart

group 2 is better. Again. People livid over defense for literally years. The team scoring 115 and losing nightly. Roco was hugely overrated. Powell just never was a fit here. CJ 90% hated. Nance gets hurt. All good players but who cares. You fill in with a huge upside rookie, Grant, Hart and Payton are are seasoned pros who play both ends of the floor. Also, you have a year older Simons playing with a healthy Lillard, and a presumably healthy Little. It’s not the dream team but it is better. Oh and it’s July 1.

if you're factoring defense, you can't forget about Winslow

 

[Chris Craig]

I remember I went to game last year after Nurkic was out. Eubanks was going off all game.

 

[julius]

it's like people forget that player have to agree to contracts they're offered.

 

[Wade Garrett]

When did he say that? he said the goal is to contend and be aggressive ....what I've seen he's done just that. He said recently ...we're not good enough yet...that's the last out of his mouth. Doesn't make any false promises about it at all...that's just fans wanting instant gratification which is hardly ever achieved in the world of sports. Joe has repeatedly said, this will take time..it's not happening in one offseason but I think he has set a foundation towards that goal

Now River,
You are pointing out facts and logic.
Welcome to the minority!!!

 

[MickZagger]

Go Beavs x2!

A lot of Beavers undertones on this roster. Not sure if that’s a good thing or bad thing.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

To everyone poo-poo ing all the moves (to which there are several)

Please: quote this post and lay out realistically how you have done this, again, within the cap and within the assets?

And furthermore, make it realistic for other teams. No outrageous deals.

I'll be patiently waiting.


Oh, and the reason I can't answer my own question is because I'm too stupid to understand all the minute details it takes to make this work. And also, my only real beef with the offseason is Sharpe, and I'm still willing to be patient.

But, now now's go ahead. I look forward to all the breakdowns of the offseason it should have been. I hope to learn a lot too!

Step 1; don't do the Clippers trade a week before the deadline giving up two starters, returning no useful vets, getting no picks and gaining "Flexibility" for the offseason

 

[SharpesTriumph]

• The money spent on GP2, I would have used to sign Isaiah Hartenstein (signed with Knicks for fewer years at lower AAV)
• Instead of using the TPE on Grant, I would have used it to acquire two other MLE players (perhaps GP2, maybe Kyle Anderson, possibly Jalen Smith) in a sign & trade.
• I would have offered Simons 85M/4, and would have allowed him to seek a better offer in RFA if he felt that was too low, so the market could determine his value.
• If I were able to acquire Hartenstein and Smith, I would have offered Nurkic no more than 60/4, and would have been content to let him leave in free agency if he was able to get more.

Great post and all very reasonable moves.

Also without Grant we could have had Jalen Duren; setting this team up better long term if the "contend with Dame" plan doesn't work out.

Instead we big against ourselves, overpaid players, and lost the "flexibility" we threw away starters for.

 

[Blazinaway]

Joe went after guys that's fits billups system and parts of that system you must being to play some type of defense. Plus they also must be hard working players that's will put in the time in the gym. If thinks we going turn this team around in one year will you was dreaming. Will Dame ever win championships here in Portland the odds are against it but don't mean we can't be very competitive and maybe give him that's chance. But we will see if that will come true.

Here's a huge question I almost never see asked - IS DAME A BILLUPS TYPE PLAYER? My personal answer is no and can/will Dame change his game at 32? Dame is a lousy defender and likes to walk the ball up the court, Billups wants his players to play hard at BOTH ends and push the ball up the court - IMO they really don't mesh.

 

[HoopsFanAZ]

Here's a huge question I almost never see asked - IS DAME A BILLUPS TYPE PLAYER? My personal answer is no and can/will Dame change his game at 32? Dame is a lousy defender and likes to walk the ball up the court, Billups wants his players to play hard at BOTH ends and push the ball up the court - IMO they really don't mesh.

I don’t know is my answer to your question. It’s a good question. He’s the straw that stirs the drink. Dame has gravity.
It’s Billups job to maximize what he’s been given … and it SHOULD be a better team on D. They’re a piece and a half away from seeing what they an achieve. Okay, I’d rather see a different BIG as well, but Nurkic works.

IMHO, this team will bond quickly.

 

[Phatguysrule]

Yep. If the Blazers are done, this is a little depressing. They can probably make the playoffs, but this is not a title-contending team.

This was never going to be a title contending team this season. We probably could have traded #7 for Randle and 11... But I think that's the best we could do.

And then we wouldn't have SS.

I think I'd prefer keeping the pick over trading it for Randle and Duren.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Here's a huge question I almost never see asked - IS DAME A BILLUPS TYPE PLAYER? My personal answer is no and can/will Dame change his game at 32? Dame is a lousy defender and likes to walk the ball up the court, Billups wants his players to play hard at BOTH ends and push the ball up the court - IMO they really don't mesh.

He's literally been compared to Chauncey Billups by pretty much every talking head in the business?

 

[James lamphear]

Here's a huge question I almost never see asked - IS DAME A BILLUPS TYPE PLAYER? My personal answer is no and can/will Dame change his game at 32? Dame is a lousy defender and likes to walk the ball up the court, Billups wants his players to play hard at BOTH ends and push the ball up the court - IMO they really don't mesh.

Honestly Dame will have trouble with billups type of ball. He likes to dominate the ball to much and his defense just not there. Maybe his defense gets better now he's not hurting so much but we have to wait and see. But Dame is the ambassador for this team so I don't think billups will say to how Dame plays.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Kind of seems like many people on here are living a fantasy about what they believe "Billups" will bring? At this point you have not see what he will bring. All you have is what he says he wants which is pretty much the same thing every coach wants.

 

[Blazinaway]

He's literally been compared to Chauncey Billups by pretty much every talking head in the business?

Compared how? Leadership yeah I can see that, style of play I do not see at all

 

[Natebishop3]

He's literally been compared to Chauncey Billups by pretty much every talking head in the business?

Except Chauncey played good defense.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Compared how? Leadership yeah I can see that, style of play I do not see at all

Seriously there are a bunch of people who have compared his style of play and leadership to Billups over the years.

 

[andalusian]

Leadership and willingness to take the big shots. Not so much style of play.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Except Chauncey played good defense.

So now you gonna start pulling up defensive stats? It's this forums MO. You do understand defense is the team part of the game and the game has changed immensely since Billups started playing in 1997 and you don't want to compare the last 6 years of his career. Honestly when was Lillard on a 64 win team or had players around him to perform like that?