Free Agent Thread

[SlyPokerCat]

Fire Neil.

Blow it up.

No way. Give him a chance! You're not a fan if you don't.

 

[Idog1976]

There have been no steps back, relax. Y’all are dramatic as hell. It’s been not even 24 hrs into FA. It’s not like we were going to make a big splash here anyways. The guys we’ve gotten for the vet minimum are fine.

A shockingly sober take. It's nice to see once in awhile like a cool breeze on a hot day.

 

[e_blazer]

he played zero minutes at the gaurd positions last year

Terry Stotts.

 

[RR7]

this is pent of from years of incompetence. I myself have taken this stance every off season.
Nba draft comes..hoping we do something..nothing happens…then it’ we’ll free agency is around the corner…that must be the time…nope…but we have so much time to make a trade before the season….crickets…the trade deadline is when we finally make the needle moving deal!!! Nope
It’s the same thing every year

dame said urgency..not complacency

We wanted something to happen at the trade deadline last year. Fans here bitched after the very first trade, that Neil was sitting on his hands. Do Something! Where's Neil? He's asleep, etc. He goes out and lands Powell. Did it matter in the end? No. Did he send a promising young player to try to help us improve? Yes.
Last year at the draft, or before, fans were yelling Do Something Neil! He's asleep. Etc. He moves picks to land us Robert Covington. Did it win us a title? No. Was it a good move, and did he make a deal? Yes. But still, he's not doing anything.

I get it, we all want to see CJ traded for Ben Simmons or Siakim. Of course, half the people that want those deals rip CJ to shreds on here, so of course those teams aren't going to make those deals. We can't have it both ways where both we want him gone he sucks, but also we expect nothing less than an ALL NBA player for him.
I'm sure Neil recognizes that the team needs more help, but that the big stars aren't going to be landed with CJ. And if he moves CJ for Marcus Smart, this place would explode. So he's trying to save CJ, figuring if you can improve all the pieces around the team, we can actually still survive with a Dame and CJ backcourt.

It takes two to make a deal. We need someone to want CJ, and have pieces we need, at least in a 3 way. And we've seen this past year in this forum how limited those options are. Because no fewer than a dozen of us have gone team by team saying nope. Nope. Nope. Which is why we've had focus on Grant, Siakim and Simmons. There's just not a lot of pieces that might be available we can land here.

Some free agents will come here because they are who they are. And most will go to Brooklyn or GS or LA. It sucks.

And again, I'm not happy with Neil's tenure AT ALL. I want him gone. But I guess like all of the normal negative nancies that get to call themselves realists during the season, I suppose I'll play that role now. It's super easy to call out NBA 2K trades on here.

 

[Idog1976]

BAHAHAHAHAHA

We have 6-7 years of evidence.

That's not how that works. You're saying based on past behavior it's likely Neil will be risk-averse. This isn't to say that doesn't matter, it does matter what his track record looks like. I'm just saying past performance isn't 100% predictive of future performance and Dame has made his demand. These signings make a lot more sense as putting the necessary pieces in place before a trade, especially one where you want a lot of shooters for some reason. The answer is Neil wants pieces in place BEFORE he trades for Simmons. This is the way to maximize his leverage and talk Morey down from his two week drug trip and back to reality where CJ + DJJ + Little + Ant + some 1sts is the upper limits of what he can hope for in exchange for Simmons.

 

[wizenheimer]

This is the big thing here. We ALL at least seemed to know that we need to make a trade in order to fix this roster. That the answer wasn't going to come in free agency. Going into free agency, we wanted Powell back, and to get rid of Carmelo and Kanter. Those have been done.
I'll be just as pissed as everyone else if this is the roster come October. And no I'm not "giving Neil the benefit of the doubt". I'm doubtful a big deal gets made. Or even a small needle mover like RoCo last year. But the constant bitching after 24 hours and 3 minimum signings is just laughable.

I'll grant you are making a 'fair' argument. You're even suggesting what I have and that's Olshey likely not making any needle-moving trade

at the same time though, there's a definite deja vu vibe to what has happened so far. A Hezonja/Tolliver/Whiteside feel. And with the earlier note from Illimatic about Fisher saying that Olshey is still heavily invested in the Dame/CJ experiment and will require a no-brainer offer to even consider moving CJ, there just doesn't seem to be any real path to move that needle. Thus the frustration

whether or not that means Dame demands a trade, I don't know.

 

[Idog1976]

Guys I would rather have had than Ben and Snell:
Justise Winslow
Elfrid Payton
Frank Ntilikina
Denzel Valentine
Wesley Matthews
James Ennis III
Wayne Ellington
E'Twaun Moore
Matthew Dellavedova
Langston Galloway
Tyler Johnson
Georges Niang
Isaac Bonga
Kendrick Nunn
Khem Birch
Troy Daniels
Moritz Wagner
Sindarius Thornwell
Mike James
Shaquille Harrison
Tyler Bey
Gary Clark
Frank Mason III
Tremont Waters
Nathan Knight
Justin Jackson
Quinndary Weatherspoon


I predicted we'd get Snell (and Felicio) though. Ah well.

How many of those guys would sign for the Vet Min? Probably none of them. I'd also like to sign Kawahi Leonard for the Vet min, but you don't include him because that's clearly absurd, many on that list aren't going for the Vet Min they are MLE territory or TPMLE or whatever nonsense cap space crap I barely pay attention to word is correct here. They would prevent us from using the MLE or TPMLE on someone else if we signed them even on the cheap end of what they can expect. Point is WAYYYYYY more than what we have signed for these bench role players. I would for sure like a lot of those guys in particular Elfrid Payton and Ntilikina.

 

[riverman]

nowhere? I’m not sure what your angle is here…
both guys could easily not be traded or be traded elsewhere.
all we’ve heard is we are running it back…like we’ve done for years. Why would we think anything different?

Terry Stotts coached 170 Blazer players I believe...how is that running it back for years? One season he had 19 starting lineups...we've been a revolving roster for almost a decade...what we need is an identity and core that has chemistry

 

[RR7]

I'll grant you are making a 'fair' argument. You're even suggesting what I have and that's Olshey likely not making any needle-moving trade

at the same time though, there's a definite deja vu vibe to what has happened so far. A Hezonja/Tolliver/Whiteside feel. And with the earlier note from Illimatic about Fisher saying that Olshey is still heavily invested in the Dame/CJ experiment and will require a no-brainer offer to even consider moving CJ, there just doesn't seem to be any real path to move that needle. Thus the frustration

whether or not that means Dame demands a trade, I don't know.

I can definitely see the deja vu vibe. And again, I'm not giving him the benefit of the doubt he will pull something off. I understand the hate for him because I want him gone as well, for what he did in 2016 and 2017.
All of the bitching these past 2 days just feels like a fight with an old girlfriend, where if I did something wrong that was small, bigger things from the past were brought up to further the fight and argument.
There's nothing that can be done about his ineptness the previous seasons. Judging a Tony Snell signing as if it is the end of our offseason is just silly, though. And if it is, hey, I'll be right there bitching as well.

 

[Idog1976]

you two are virtue-signalling patience and logic. And generically, you have a point

the counter to that is the history of Olshey's 9 seasons at the helm. And so far, this off-season, looks exactly like so many off-seasons that ended up failures.

> Meyers + Harkless for Whiteside....Turner for Bazemore...sign Hezonja & Tolliver...call it a summer

> go from Kanter to Zeller....sign McLemore and Snell. Now why exactly should we settle down and wait for a different result this time? Or something much bigger?

Why should people settle down and wait? Well I mean are ya'll posting from phones where you have Neil's house surrounded with pitchforks and torches? If so give me the GPS and I will join you, if not then probably no need to get riled up until we know what he's done. By all means call the FO and say Simmons or Siakiam for CJ or we will run you out of town on a rail, but the endless negativity is a bit old. If Siakam or Simmons had already been traded I'd be apoplectic with rage, based on Morey's Clinically INSANE "offers" clearly he's trying to gain leverage. Neil having the pieces in place to ensure Simmons is always surrounded by shooters and we shore up the SG spots is wise before pulling the trigger on a Simmons trade. As is his waiting until Morey's stash of crack cocaine and delusions of grandeur wears off a bit as the market for a trade dries up. Will this happen? I admit it's mostly borne on hope on my part, but since Simmons and Siakam haven't been moved, I'm still holding out hope.

 

[B-Roy]

That's not how that works. You're saying based on past behavior it's likely Neil will be risk-averse. This isn't to say that doesn't matter, it does matter what his track record looks like. I'm just saying past performance isn't 100% predictive of future performance and Dame has made his demand. These signings make a lot more sense as putting the necessary pieces in place before a trade, especially one where you want a lot of shooters for some reason. The answer is Neil wants pieces in place BEFORE he trades for Simmons. This is the way to maximize his leverage and talk Morey down from his two week drug trip and back to reality where CJ + DJJ + Little + Ant + some 1sts is the upper limits of what he can hope for in exchange for Simmons.

Good good. Talk yourself into it. I see Olshey still has a hold on some fans.

 

[SlyPokerCat]

I'll grant you are making a 'fair' argument. You're even suggesting what I have and that's Olshey likely not making any needle-moving trade

at the same time though, there's a definite deja vu vibe to what has happened so far. A Hezonja/Tolliver/Whiteside feel. And with the earlier note from Illimatic about Fisher saying that Olshey is still heavily invested in the Dame/CJ experiment and will require a no-brainer offer to even consider moving CJ, there just doesn't seem to be any real path to move that needle. Thus the frustration

whether or not that means Dame demands a trade, I don't know.

Fischer has been spot on many of the FA stuff. Yet, some posters still want to call him a media wannabe.

 

[Idog1976]

For all the people telling posters to calm down over shitty moves. What is going to be your schtick when Lillard forces a trade since running it back gets us bounced in the first round again?

If that ever happened I'd probably be in a Super Max for literally, not figuratively putting Olshey's head on a pike by the old Steel Bridge as a warning to the next GM's. THAT would be my schtick. In the meantime, I'm waiting for Siakam or Simmons ship to sail, hopefully to Portland before I whip myself into a stroke inducing fury.

 

[Scalma]

Good good. Talk yourself into it. I see Olshey still has a hold on some fans.

this being your response to a rational (and plausible) take says more about you than him really.

But ok you’re right, let’s all get under the covers and sob.

 

[Idog1976]

Good good. Talk yourself into it. I see Olshey still has a hold on some fans.

Dude I effing hate Olshey, but I'm on his team right now in the sense that I hope and pray every day that his proctologist manages to remove his head from his ass, and that he grows a pair of balls. I will be right there with ya'll if he fucks this up.

 

[B-Roy]

Listening to some cap people speculate that we may not even use the TPMLE since we're under the tax. I think that is not correct though. I think we are already barely over the tax line after all our signings + Greg Brown with one spot left to fill.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Good good. Talk yourself into it. I see Olshey still has a hold on some fans.

Yeah but a huge majority hate his guts.

 

[SlyPokerCat]

The endless Olshey ball gargling is more annoying to many of us than the "negativity"

 

[Natebishop3]

That's not how that works. You're saying based on past behavior it's likely Neil will be risk-averse. This isn't to say that doesn't matter, it does matter what his track record looks like. I'm just saying past performance isn't 100% predictive of future performance and Dame has made his demand. These signings make a lot more sense as putting the necessary pieces in place before a trade, especially one where you want a lot of shooters for some reason. The answer is Neil wants pieces in place BEFORE he trades for Simmons. This is the way to maximize his leverage and talk Morey down from his two week drug trip and back to reality where CJ + DJJ + Little + Ant + some 1sts is the upper limits of what he can hope for in exchange for Simmons.

CJ/DJJ/Ant/Little AND picks is a massive overpay for Simmons.

 

[B-Roy]

this being your response to a rational (and plausible) take says more about you than him really.

But ok you’re right, let’s all get under the covers and sob.

Each year we talk about this same "rational" take. And each year the result is the same. Excuse me if some people are sick of it.

 

[Idog1976]

It's funny someone brought up LMA. I said to trade LMA for the then injured Embiid and was almost crucified outside the Moda center by the slack jawed idiots at Blazersedge. I was ALL about trading LMA the summer before and I got a fuck ton of hate for it.

 

[RR7]

The endless Olshey ball gargling is more annoying to many of us than the "negativity"

That's just fucking bullshit because not a single person here is gargling Neil's balls. Nobody I have seen is thinking everything is super great with the team, outside of maybe Kingspeed. It's just a group that aren't completely losing their shit over Zeller and Snell signings.

 

[Idog1976]

CJ/DJJ/Ant/Simons AND picks is a massive overpay for Simmons.

I agree, but I'm willing to do it, because that's how you get an All-NBA player, obviously, if we can get him for cheaper you do it. That's my CEILING, not my first offer.

 

[RR7]

CJ/DJJ/Ant/Simons AND picks is a massive overpay for Simmons.

And sometimes an overpay is what it takes.
I feel like this happens often on here. People want Neil to pull a rabbit out of a hat for CJ, but what it would ACTUALLY take to pull of a CJ for whoever trade is a price they flinch at.

 

[glazeduck]

And sometimes an overpay is what it takes.
I feel like this happens often on here. People want Neil to pull a rabbit out of a hat for CJ, but what it would ACTUALLY take to pull of a CJ for whoever trade is a price they flinch at.

...and then bitch and moan that Neil overvalues his guys lol

 

[blazedanugz]

Terry Stotts.

Jones…is not a gaurd

 

[BBert]

I am still optimistic that a trade gets done. We are too unbalanced to not.

 

[wizenheimer]

Terry Stotts coached 170 Blazer players I believe...how is that running it back for years? One season he had 19 starting lineups...we've been a revolving roster for almost a decade...what we need is an identity and core that has chemistry

do you really believe that is a persuasive argument?

going from Earl Watson/Victor Claver >TRob/Dorrell Wight > Tim Frazier/Brian Roberts > Noah Vonleh/Tim Quarterman > Caleb Swanigan/Wade Baldwin > Nik Stauskas/Skal Labissiere > Hezonja/Tolliver > RHJ/TJ Leaf > McLemore/Snell does not disprove Neil's tendency to rinse/repeat his rosters. I mean, that was 18 players right there but none of them, added or removed, changed the rosters in any measurable manner. Amd neither did players the level of Joel Freeland or Aaron Afflalo or Gerald henderson or Steve Blake or Chris Kaman or Evan Turner or Allen Crabbe

the trajectory of the team remained the same no matter who occupied the rotation slots 4-15. Portland's big issue isn't at the lower end of the rotation, it's at the top. Unless there's a major change, the Blazers will go thru next season with Dame-CJ-Nurkic and it will be the 6th straight season Portland has run back that same core. Making that worse is that trio has been healthy for 15 playoffs games and Portland's record in those games is 3-12. That core is insufficient and it's looking like Dame is the only one in the Blazer organization that sees that

 

[blazedanugz]

We wanted something to happen at the trade deadline last year. Fans here bitched after the very first trade, that Neil was sitting on his hands. Do Something! Where's Neil? He's asleep, etc. He goes out and lands Powell. Did it matter in the end? No. Did he send a promising young player to try to help us improve? Yes.
Last year at the draft, or before, fans were yelling Do Something Neil! He's asleep. Etc. He moves picks to land us Robert Covington. Did it win us a title? No. Was it a good move, and did he make a deal? Yes. But still, he's not doing anything.

I get it, we all want to see CJ traded for Ben Simmons or Siakim. Of course, half the people that want those deals rip CJ to shreds on here, so of course those teams aren't going to make those deals. We can't have it both ways where both we want him gone he sucks, but also we expect nothing less than an ALL NBA player for him.
I'm sure Neil recognizes that the team needs more help, but that the big stars aren't going to be landed with CJ. And if he moves CJ for Marcus Smart, this place would explode. So he's trying to save CJ, figuring if you can improve all the pieces around the team, we can actually still survive with a Dame and CJ backcourt.

It takes two to make a deal. We need someone to want CJ, and have pieces we need, at least in a 3 way. And we've seen this past year in this forum how limited those options are. Because no fewer than a dozen of us have gone team by team saying nope. Nope. Nope. Which is why we've had focus on Grant, Siakim and Simmons. There's just not a lot of pieces that might be available we can land here.

Some free agents will come here because they are who they are. And most will go to Brooklyn or GS or LA. It sucks.

And again, I'm not happy with Neil's tenure AT ALL. I want him gone. But I guess like all of the normal negative nancies that get to call themselves realists during the season, I suppose I'll play that role now. It's super easy to call out NBA 2K trades on here.

Yes…he makes moves around in the margins. Nothing that changes the outcome of the team. Keep in mind…dame is threatening to demand a trade. This off-season is different

 

[Natebishop3]

And sometimes an overpay is what it takes.
I feel like this happens often on here. People want Neil to pull a rabbit out of a hat for CJ, but what it would ACTUALLY take to pull of a CJ for whoever trade is a price they flinch at.

Basically a Dame haul for a player that looked like ass in the playoffs and was thrown under the bus by his own coach and star teammate.