Game Thread GAME# 80: THUNDER @ BLAZERS - APRIL 6, 2016 - WEDNESDAY, 7:00 PM (PDT), KGW

[oldmangrouch]

Yes, if only Neil Olshey would have known Wesley Matthews was going to rupture his achilles tendon a few days after making that trade. At the time of the trade, we had the third best record in the league and were trying to strengthen the bench on a veteran team for the playoffs. The Matthews injury changed everything. It was the first domino to fall. We ended up with the 6th best record in the Western Conference, entered the playoffs reeling, and got owned in the first round, prompting Aldridge to leave, along with Mathews, Lopez and Afflallo. It's easy to trash that trade now, but it made a lot more sense at the time - not knowing Matthews was going to get injured.

AA has played in 645 NBA games - and started 489 of them.

I would argue that Wes getting injured was EXACTLY the type of eventuality that AA was acquired to cover for. Asking AA to play a bigger role than hoped for was not some unreasonable imposition.

Olshey had the right idea, and I don't fault him for that. I do fault him for not doing his homework on AA and his rotten attitude.

 

[B-Roy]

Yes, if only Neil Olshey would have known Wesley Matthews was going to rupture his achilles tendon a few days after making that trade. At the time of the trade, we had the third best record in the league and were trying to strengthen the bench on a veteran team for the playoffs. The Matthews injury changed everything. It was the first domino to fall. We ended up with the 6th best record in the Western Conference, entered the playoffs reeling, and got owned in the first round, prompting Aldridge to leave, along with Mathews, Lopez and Afflallo. It's easy to trash that trade now, but it made a lot more sense at the time - not knowing Matthews was going to get injured.

I didn't like the trade when it happened. I don't think we would have gotten past Golden State with or without Matthews, but it would have made the playoffs a bit more fun.

Either way, ultimately part of decision making in the NBA means you also have to be judged not on what made sense at the time, but what resulted afterwards. For example, 29 GMs would have drafted Oden over Durant. Sure you can defend that, but I'll give you props for being the one that chooses Durant, even if you get blasted on it at the time. You lose your job for picking Oden, even if people would have agreed with you at the time.

In this scenario, Barton turned out to be a better player than Afflalo by himself. Good on Olshey for drafting him, not good on him for trading him for Afflalo. Also, while Olshey didn't know that Matthews would rupture his achilles, he did know the trade would have pushed CJ further down the depth chart, and as we have come to find out, CJ was also a much better player than Afflalo. This is before you even consider the 1st round pick.

The one argument I will conceded for the trade is that it was meant to show LaMarcus that we were serious about contending. There were probably internal rumblings already that Aldridge might leave, and Olshey wanted to persuade him to stay. But ultimately, they gave up a lot for what they knew was probably a half-season rental. I want Olshey to be here long term, but this is his worst move by far, and to look at it as anything but is masking the truth.

 

[Draco]

Yes, if only Neil Olshey would have known Wesley Matthews was going to rupture his achilles tendon a few days after making that trade. At the time of the trade, we had the third best record in the league and were trying to strengthen the bench on a veteran team for the playoffs. The Matthews injury changed everything. It was the first domino to fall. We ended up with the 6th best record in the Western Conference, entered the playoffs reeling, and got owned in the first round, prompting Aldridge to leave, along with Mathews, Lopez and Afflallo. It's easy to trash that trade now, but it made a lot more sense at the time - not knowing Matthews was going to get injured.

No one has been able to refute this because they know it's right. They just say "Oh it sucks" and ignore all the details.

Fox news up in here sometimes.

There were posters who thought lowly of Aaron Afflalo at the time, pointed out his defense was a shell of his first run in Denver, and he wasn't an efficient scorer. I wasn't one of them; I thought it was a good trade. But it wasn't an obvious can't miss trade. Turns out the pick was worth more than expected being at #17 today; Barton was worth way more than expected, and Afflalo was worth way less than expected; almost nothing. Neil greatly misjudged the assets. He could've kept Will Barton; we give up a second round pick or such instead. Will would've helped us this season and going forward, he likely would be our third most valuable core piece after Dame and CJ.

A great GM isn't going to nail every move; we give Neil credit for Harkless and such acquisitions but we need to hold his failures against him. Its far from the only mistake he's made and it won't be the last. If he can continue to hit more than he misses the future will be good.

 

[Strenuus]

There were posters who thought lowly of Aaron Afflalo at the time, pointed out his defense was a shell of his first run in Denver, and he wasn't an efficient scorer. I wasn't one of them; I thought it was a good trade. But it wasn't an obvious can't miss trade. Turns out the pick was worth more than expected being at #17 today; Barton was worth way more than expected, and Afflalo was worth way less than expected; almost nothing. Neil greatly misjudged the assets. He could've kept Will Barton; we give up a second round pick or such instead. Will would've helped us this season and going forward, he likely would be our third most valuable core piece after Dame and CJ.

A great GM isn't going to nail every move; we give Neil credit for Harkless and such acquisitions but we need to hold his failures against him. Its far from the only mistake he's made and it won't be the last. If he can continue to hit more than he misses the future will be good.

Agree to disagree.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Funny thing is we did try to tank. Neil Olshey opted for more home back to backs when the NBA gives the option to have an easier schedule.

Sly asked for a link last time you posted this. Do you have one? I think a lot of us would love to read up about it.

 

[Draco]

Sly asked for a link last time you posted this. Do you have one? I think a lot of us would love to read up about it.

It came out when the schedule was first released. I posted it in a few threads back then because it was so shocking; didn't get a ton of publicity. I'll see if I can find it. I want to say it was Kevin Pelton who stated it.