Hypothetical: LA To L.A.

[Scalma]

Not to mention I don't view ANY of this years prospects as eventual max contract caliber players.

 

[PapaG]

It's a fine strategy, but if you trade LA, you have one star and whoever you get back. So instead of needing one star, we need two (or one and time for the second to grow up after being drafted). We'd still need to somehow lure a free agent (Melo? ) here to get that third star, and he'd have to be on LA's level to keep us from losing ground.

On days when I'm feeling generous, I think Minny's an ineptly run franchise, and Love could help us. I still smell Shareef Abdur Rahim on Love, but the idea that trading LA for Love and Minny's pick if it's high enough would be either disastrous, or perfect.

Again, this is a pure thought experiment... fantasy basketball almost.

Unless Love is 100% to re-sign with Portland, and hes already left the state once for a bigger market, that move would be one of the dumbest trades in NBA history.

 

[MAS RipCity]

I would say that I am worried about a 30+ year-old LaMarcus taking up 25 million for five years. His game is not predicated on athletic ability so I think he'll continue to perform well, but when I read that we could offer 5 years/$100 million after next summer, I admit, I cringed. I really feel only a handful of players are worth that money. If Aldridge beasts on the block next season, I have no problem with it. But too often, he plays on the perimeter and he's not as automatic as Nowtizki playing that far away from the hoop.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

I think the Blazers are more interested in their 'win now' position than they are setting themselves back three or four more years. But if LA walks into my er I mean Neil's office and says "i just cant do it anymore, I won't sign an extension". Then I think you seriously look at trading him for the pick.

 

[Schilly]

I think the Blazers are more interested in their 'win now' position than they are setting themselves back three or four more years. But if LA walks into my er I mean Neil's office and says "i just cant do it anymore, I won't sign an extension". Then I think you seriously look at trading him for the pick.

Agreed. But I also think they won't back themselves into a financial corner making the assumption that LA will re-sign for sure.

 

[Draco]

The person you have to talk to is Lillard. He's been around the league two years now, he wants to be a champion, he has the drive to be great. But he also knows what kind of player(s) he needs to get to the next level. You need to consult with Lillard. If he says he can do better with a more banging, closer to the basket PF or a 3pt shooting pf like Love you have to consider it.

No, bad idea. Coaches coach, players play and management manages. The GM job is to assemble the team not Lillard.

Plus that puts Lillard in an awkward spot, does he stick up for his teammate? What if he doesn't but no acceptable offers are out there? Now the two stars have trust issues.

 

[blue9]

Again, this is NOT a crack against LA, but instead, a nod toward what I think is more important. Which is wing play. You'd also clear up a lot of cap room for a damn good bench and still have your arguably best player in Lillard

This. Especially the bolded.

 

[PapaG]

The person you have to talk to is Lillard. He's been around the league two years now, he wants to be a champion, he has the drive to be great. But he also knows what kind of player(s) he needs to get to the next level. You need to consult with Lillard. If he says he can do better with a more banging, closer to the basket PF or a 3pt shooting pf like Love you have to consider it.

So if Olshey does what Lillard wants, and the team isn't as good, Olshey and Stotts are fired, and Lillard is stuck on a non-contender that he himself helped compose. I don't see how consulting him can at all be an option. He's not a personnel guy, he's a player.

 

[blue9]

The person you have to talk to is Lillard. He's been around the league two years now, he wants to be a champion, he has the drive to be great. But he also knows what kind of player(s) he needs to get to the next level. You need to consult with Lillard. If he says he can do better with a more banging, closer to the basket PF or a 3pt shooting pf like Love you have to consider it.

Bingo! You don't hand the keys to LMA, you hand them to Lillard - if you hand them to anyone.

 

[PapaG]

Bingo! You don't hand the keys to LMA, you hand them to Lillard - if you hand them to anyone.

I really can't believe some of the dumb ideas I read on this board. It's an act, right?

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Another thought: in a three-star system, why not try to groom Robin as our third? He was anyway, and is still young enough to not be at his ceiling yet. Give him touches and see what he can do. If he blossoms, you have your big three naturally.

 

[dviss1]

Really? I don't see a single MVP-level player in this draft. All of the players at the top have glaring weaknesses.

Let's go over Lamarcus' glaring weaknesses (for a player in his 8th season):

Cannot establish and maintain low post position. Consistently gets pushed from his spot and ends up "posting up" 15 feet from the basket.
Left hand is still very shaky.
Shies away from contact.
Poor at finishing with contact.
Plays terrible Help side Defense.
Can still barely dribble (cannot face up and take his man off the dribble and score)
Settles for jumpers frequently.
Consistently swipes down on defense instead of attempting to use his 7'4" wingspan and actually block someone.
Still kinda soft.... :-(

This is all just off the top of my head.

 

[PapaG]

Let's go over Lamarcus' glaring weaknesses (for a player in his 8th season):

Cannot establish and maintain low post position. Consistently gets pushed from his spot and ends up "posting up" 15 feet from the basket.
Left hand is still very shaky.
Shies away from contact.
Poor at finishing with contact.
Plays terrible Help side Defense.
Can still barely dribble (cannot face up and take his man off the dribble and score)
Settles for jumpers frequently.
Consistently swipes down on defense instead of attempting to use his 7'4" wingspan and actually block someone.
Still kinda soft.... :-(

This is all just off the top of my head.

Which of the draft picks are guaranteed to make the Blazers a better team next season?

From your list, just about anybody in the draft, I guess. Why is Portland stuck with such a shitty player? I'm amazed the Blazers made the playoffs with such a shitty player, let alone won a series.

 

[Schilly]

So how does Portland land a Star if they don't draft them?

 

[PapaG]

So how does Portland land a Star if they don't draft them?

They have 2 stars. They drafted both of them (well, LMA was Chicago's, but you catch my drift).

Now people want to give up the leading scorer and rebounder for a chance to draft a player that might someday be an All-Star.

Every summer, it's the same thing here.

 

[Schilly]

Yep Draft fever.

 

[PapaG]

Yep Draft fever.

I'm still laughing at the guy who is pissed that LMA isn't a guard or a banger.

Draft some 19 year-old! Surely that player will be more well-rounded than LMA.

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

With the progress LA made this year, I say no. Huge gamble that the pick ends up as good and the cap space is not going to land us a star.

 

[PapaG]

With the progress LA made this year, I say no. Huge gamble that the pick ends up as good and the cap space is not going to land us a star.

Are you saying that an All-Star isn't going to want to come sign a max deal with the Blazers to play with Lillard, a rookie, and a bunch of role players?

 

[dviss1]

Which of the draft picks are guaranteed to make the Blazers a better team next season?

From your list, just about anybody in the draft, I guess. Why is Portland stuck with such a shitty player? I'm amazed the Blazers made the playoffs with such a shitty player, let alone won a series.

My point was that LA has glaring weaknesses too. I'm not advocating trading him for any pick. Personally, I'm fine with staying out of this draft. We need veterans not more youth. I was simply playing devil's advocate.

 

[PapaG]

My point was that LA has glaring weaknesses too. I'm not advocating trading him for any pick. Personally, I'm fine with staying out of this draft. We need veterans not more youth. I was simply playing devil's advocate.

I'm also pissed that LMA can't play back-up PG when Lillard is out of the game. Imagine how good a 6'11" player who can play the point like an All-Star would be!

I'm just giving you a hard time, because you clearly put some thought into your post about LMA's glaring weaknesses. I disagree with most of them, but I've been having the same conversation with other posters for 8 years now about LMA, and how the team shouldn't give up on him.

 

[Schilly]

This is really pretty simple, LA is making the smart business decision... to the tune of +$70mill or so, I can't blame him for that. Next summer he could look to move, but that would cost him approx $22mil, unless we negotiate a S&T. If Neil knows for a fact, and he will know exactly where LA stands, that LA wants to leave he might trade him at the deadline.

 

[PapaG]

This is really pretty simple, LA is making the smart business decision... to the tune of +$70mill or so, I can't blame him for that. Next summer he could look to move, but that would cost him approx $22mil, unless we negotiate a S&T. If Neil knows for a fact, and he will know exactly where LA stands, that LA wants to leave he might trade him at the deadline.

Which would be the prudent thing to do. I doubt it gets to that, though. Next year's team could push 60 wins if the right bench players are added. It's hard to improve on that.

 

[Harry's Raincoat]

Aldridge has reached the level we all hoped for when we traded for him on magical draft day 2006. Don't trade him for a guess!! Build around him. Find another way to get the 3rd star.
What will Batum and Matthews and any bench player bring??

What if we were able to sign Deng for MLE - does this open up being able to trade Batum or Matthews for something better?

 

[Schilly]

Deng wanted more than 10mil from Chicago.

 

[dviss1]

I'm also pissed that LMA can't play back-up PG when Lillard is out of the game. Imagine how good a 6'11" player who can play the point like an All-Star would be!

I'm just giving you a hard time, because you clearly put some thought into your post about LMA's glaring weaknesses. I disagree with most of them, but I've been having the same conversation with other posters for 8 years now about LMA, and how the team shouldn't give up on him.

I didn't put much thought into it at all. Again, those weaknesses are glaring. IMO they are weaknesses that are pretty easy to assess.
We saw them all when he got owned by Tiago Splitter.

 

[PapaG]

What will Batum and Matthews and any bench player bring??

What if we were able to sign Deng for MLE - does this open up being able to trade Batum or Matthews for something better?

Deng for the MLE would be a dream scenario. I don't see it happening, but then again, Deng will be 29 next year, and maybe would take an extended MLE deal.

 

[Schilly]

There are a lot of teams with cap space this summer, Deng will get his 10-12mil from someone.

 

[PapaG]

I didn't put much thought into it at all. Again, those weaknesses are glaring. IMO they are weaknesses that are pretty easy to assess.
We saw them all when he got owned by Tiago Splitter.

Splitter 7ppg/6rpg for the series
LMA 22ppg/10rpg/ for the series

I guess we have different definitions for getting "owned."

Unless LMA is supposed to get 40/20 every game, while driving to the hoop like Tony Parker and banging in the paint like Shaq.

 

[PapaG]

There are a lot of teams with cap space this summer, Deng will get his 10-12mil from someone.

Probably. As I said, it would be a dream scenario for me as an armchair GM, because I think Nic has a lot of value around the league.