Guard replacement candidates

[illmatic99]

Think Neil finally will address our backup PG issue. With our tax situation and the glaring holes, it makes no sense NOT to add a guy.

I have no interest in reviving Isaiah Thomas like we did Melo. I want an average defender who can play 15-20 mpg and run an offense. Running Dame into the ground for these next two months will do no good.

Who's available?

 

[Scalma]

Vets? Napier makes the most sense as he knows the system and could probably step in right away. I don’t think Neil will sign another guard until Simons gets a good run of games though. I think it’s more likely he adds another big first, even though he should be adding both, especially after a third two way opens up.

 

[illmatic99]

Think the Simons idea is falling on deaf ears with Stotts. He'd rather play Dame 45 mpg.

 

[wizenheimer]

I'm still not convinced Bobby Marks was right. I don't believe Portland is 2M under the tax line

 

[Scalma]

Think the Simons idea is falling on deaf ears with Stotts. He'd rather play Dame 45 mpg.

maybe that’s his way of telling Olshey to get off his lazy ass

 

[wizenheimer]

maybe that’s his way of telling Olshey to get off his lazy ass

could easily be the case

I think the notion that Olshey and Stotts are always on the same page is bogus. That's why we have seen, ever since the Afflalo trade, Olshey essentially force Stotts into playing the guys that Olshey wants to see played by leaving Stotts no options behind those guys. We've seen that with Meyers (to some extent), CJ, Zach, and Simons. And that tactic has almost always backfired

 

[illmatic99]

Vets? Napier makes the most sense as he knows the system and could probably step in right away. I don’t think Neil will sign another guard until Simons gets a good run of games though. I think it’s more likely he adds another big first, even though he should be adding both, especially after a third two way opens up.

Napier makes too much sense. Lemme see who his agent is

 

[e_blazer]

I think that there’s no way Olshey goes into LT territory to bring in another guard. That leaves trade or signing a guy or two to 2-way contracts.

 

[illmatic99]

I think that there’s no way Olshey goes into LT territory to bring in another guard. That leaves trade or signing a guy or two to 2-way contracts.

Since Nurk will not be able to hit his incentives, we have some leeway to sign a full time player and a two way and still be below the tax

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Trent starting and playing no less than 30 minutes per game.

Expensive trade targets:

—Buddy Hield
—Terrence Ross

 

[illmatic99]

Trent starting and playing no less than 30 minutes per game.

Expensive trade targets:

—Buddy Hield
—Terrence Ross

We have enough guys looking out for their own shots. I want someone like Rubio (too expensive unfortunately), or Monte Morris (just signed a contract). Dallas has two guys I really like in Jalen Brunson and Trey Burke

 

[wizenheimer]

Since Nurk will not be able to hit his incentives, we have some leeway to sign a full time player and a two way and still be below the tax

that's what I'm disputing....the way I'm reading is that Nurk's bonuses WERE NOT counting against the cap this season because they were reset in the off-season to "unlikely". And that's because Nurkic didn't hit the thresholds last season. If so, they aren't there to subtract

* "All performance incentives are re-evaluated at the start of each season to determine whether they should be classified as likely or not likely to be achieved3"

http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm#Q74

I could be wrong, but right now I'm saying that Bobby Marks was the one wrong about Portland having that margin

 

[RR7]

I don't see anyone we sign helping us in any meaningful way, any salvaging the season sort of way. Barring a big trade, I think it makes more sense to force the young guys action and see what we have in them. We can't keep trotting out Simons for 8 minutes a night with an ill defined role and hope to properly evaluate him.

Dame/Simons
Hood/Trent
DJJ/Little
Roco/Melo
Kanter/Giles

I think you role with a 10 man rotation and see what we have in a few of those guys.

 

[Chris Craig]

Watch Neil sign Isaiah Thomas thinking he did good

 

[wizenheimer]

maybe it's not all doom and gloom

while it's likely that Hood's game yesterday was way above where he'll settle in the rest of the way, that game could be as predictive as his first 13 games. In other words, he might have several other good games ahead, with some stinkers thrown in. Normal role player. So, between him and Trent, Portland may get decent production and efficiency out of SG

and while I'm down on Simons as a PG, or as a player, it's possible he can elevate his game above what it's been

the main thing is to not grind Dame into the floor chasing a 7th or 8th seed in the playoffs. Roll the dice on Dame averaging 35 minutes a game and if the losses pile up, so be it. At this point, the worst outcome for this season would be Portland being an 8th seed, losing the 15th pick in the draft, and getting curb-stomped, again, in the first round

 

[B-Roy]

I don't think he's going to sign anyone. Just my prediction. Maybe a two-way that never plays.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I don't see anyone we sign helping us in any meaningful way, any salvaging the season sort of way. Barring a big trade, I think it makes more sense to force the young guys action and see what we have in them. We can't keep trotting out Simons for 8 minutes a night with an ill defined role and hope to properly evaluate him.

Dame/Simons
Hood/Trent
DJJ/Little
Roco/Melo
Kanter/Giles

I think you role with a 10 man rotation and see what we have in a few of those guys.

Sure. But move Jones to the backup 4, and start Melo. Let Dame have all the half-court plodding types, and let the young bucks all run together.

Dame/Simons
Hood/Trent
Roco/Little
Melo/DJJ
Kanter/Giles

 

[illmatic99]

Sure. But move Jones to the backup 4, and start Melo. Let Dame have all the half-court plodding types, and let the young bucks all run together.

You want Hood/Melo/Kanter in the same defensive lineup?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

You want Hood/Melo/Kanter in the same defensive lineup?

I think the team is going to suck regardless of what we do, so I don't really care one way or the other.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

Sigh another year of pissing Dame's prime away.

Bring in Gary Payton II on a two-way.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Josh Hart.

Ime Udoka clone.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

could easily be the case

I think the notion that Olshey and Stotts are always on the same page is bogus. That's why we have seen, ever since the Afflalo trade, Olshey essentially force Stotts into playing the guys that Olshey wants to see played by leaving Stotts no options behind those guys. We've seen that with Meyers (to some extent), CJ, Zach, and Simons. And that tactic has almost always backfired

Actually, he did it with Lillard in 2012 and it worked. He very specifically signed no PG would even kind of compete with Dame for minutes. All Olshey gave Stotts was Ronnie Price. I think it's one of the reasons Lillard is loyal to us. He knows he was gifted a career as a starting PG in this league and he doesn't forget it.

 

[wizenheimer]

Actually, he did it with Lillard in 2012 and it worked. He very specifically signed no PG would even kind of compete with Dame for minutes. All Olshey gave Stotts was Ronnie Price. I think it's one of the reasons Lillard is loyal to us. He knows he was gifted a career as a starting PG in this league and he doesn't forget it.

Olshey didn't sign any competent backup at all in Dame's rookie season after Indiana matched Hibbert's offer sheet. That was the worst bench in Blazer history, and one of the worst in NBA history. That was Olshey trying to cheapscrew something risk-free together

and the next off-season, he added Mo Williams and replaced Hickson with Lopez. It was still a shitty bench, but at least Portland had a competent backup PG. And, IIRC Portland's record when Mo scored in double figures was even better than the 54 win pace they had that year

 

[Scalma]

could easily be the case

I think the notion that Olshey and Stotts are always on the same page is bogus. That's why we have seen, ever since the Afflalo trade, Olshey essentially force Stotts into playing the guys that Olshey wants to see played by leaving Stotts no options behind those guys. We've seen that with Meyers (to some extent), CJ, Zach, and Simons. And that tactic has almost always backfired

it’s also one of the main reasons Stotts has job security imo. I remember a couple years ago he mentioned how he stays out of Olsheys way and leaves all the roster construction up to him. That egomaniac would’ve fired Stotts awhile ago if he wasn’t so submissive. I’d say his loyalty (if you wanna call it that) to Neil is more significant than Dames loyalty to him.

 

[calvin natt]

it’s also one of the main reasons Stotts has job security imo. I remember a couple years ago he mentioned how he stays out of Olsheys way and leaves all the roster construction up to him. That egomaniac would’ve fired Stotts awhile ago if he wasn’t so submissive. I’d say his loyalty (if you wanna call it that) to Neil is more significant than Dames loyalty to him.

Stotts and Olshey do not always agree on players or their playing time. Stotts isn't "submissive" to Neil, like you claim. Meyers is one example.

 

[Scalma]

Stotts and Olshey do not always agree on players or their playing time. Stotts isn't "submissive" to Neil, like you claim. Meyers is one example.

That’s because Neil doesn’t have any control over playing time, short of going over Stotts’ (or any other coaches) head, which would surely piss Dame off. He’s not dumb.

 

[tester551]

That’s because Neil doesn’t have any control over playing time, short of going over Stotts’ (or any other coaches) head, which would surely piss Dame off. He’s not dumb.

However, Olshey frequently constructs the roster to force Stott's hand on making sure he plays 'his guys'.

Just last year Olshey only provided the following PF on the roster to start the year: Collins, Skal (currently out of the league), and Tolliver (out of the league). I guess you could possibly argue Mario (out of the league) and Little (rookie) were options - but I view both more as SF. If that doesn't scream "Play the guy I want you to", I don't know what does.

 

[Scalma]

However, Olshey frequently constructs the roster to force Stott's hand on making sure he plays 'his guys'.

Just last year Olshey only provided the following PF on the roster to start the year: Collins, Skal (currently out of the league), and Tolliver (out of the league). I guess you could possibly argue Mario (out of the league) and Little (rookie) were options - but I view both more as SF. If that doesn't scream "Play the guy I want you to", I don't know what does.

oh yeah, I definitely think he manipulates the roster. Even now, Stotts is essentially forced to play Simons because as bad as he’s been, he’s still the only real ballhandler they’ve got not named Dame. The only other option Terrys got is to run Dame into the ground.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

The Blazers won't add a veteran as it would push them into the luxury tax.

So the only option is a two way player or first doing a trade such as dumping Collins.