If You Could Make A Trade(s) To Get The Blazers Into The Playoffs, What Would You Do?

[ABM]

Please be realistic. Plus, it has to work.

Or, is this just not the season to even be playing that game?

Thanks

 

[Blazinaway]

Re: If You Could Make A Trade(s) To Get The Blazers Into The Playoffs, What Would You

Please be realistic. Plus, it has to work.

Or, is this just not the season to even be playing that game?

Thanks

Your last sentence is the correct view IMO, playoffs IMO are not likely and not worth it to focus on, develop players with an eye on building a better bench, perhaps a trade if we can do at the deadline if it makes sense, but this summer is likely going to be the key time for adding players

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Re: If You Could Make A Trade(s) To Get The Blazers Into The Playoffs, What Would You

You realize that this isn't going to happen, right? (Unless Paul Allen demands it, but I don't see that happening.)

BUT: if we're really simply about getting to the playoffs this season, then I say go hard after Varejao. (Of course, I've been saying that for years.) BUT I REALLY MEAN IT! He's just helping a really dire Cleveland team scratch out a few more wins so that they get a worse pick - and he could be doing that for us!

I can't get Trade Machine to include Hickson yet (December 15th is the first day he can be traded) but he earns $4M while AV earns $8.4M, and we can throw in Nolan, Babbitt and Elliot now that they expire at the end of the season, so Cleveland would be freeing up cap space and getting a look to see if they like Hickson more than when they traded him before. I'd be willing to throw in Leonard, but I doubt many people would be on my side on that score.

Varejao would INSTANTLY improve the team DRAMATICALLY. The trouble is, he's 30 and injury prone.

 

[Natebishop3]

Re: If You Could Make A Trade(s) To Get The Blazers Into The Playoffs, What Would You

There's simply too many holes

Backup point guard
Backup shooting guard
Backup small forward

They're all weak points. I like Barton, but if you're wanting to make the playoffs you need some vets coming off the bench, and Pavlovic, Jeffries, and Price won't cut it.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Re: If You Could Make A Trade(s) To Get The Blazers Into The Playoffs, What Would You

Another player out there whose name is perpetually in trade rumors is Calderon. Now, it would be nice to have someone who wasn't a defensive sieve at backup PG, but beggars can't be choosers, and he is so far better at creating than what we have now (and could be a buddy and ego-booster for Claver)... Trouble is, he earns $10M and it would be very hard for us to put a package together to make it work.

Alternatively, and I really like this idea, the Wolves are said to be shopping Barea. Stotts probably has fond memories of him from Dallas's title run. But again, he's a bit injury prone. But I love his totally fearless game.

Ideally you want a player who will make the players you have better. Varejao does that just by improving the defense dramatically and being very unselfish. A really good veteran PG would also help. Trouble is, players like that (hello Andre!) are very hard to get.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Re: If You Could Make A Trade(s) To Get The Blazers Into The Playoffs, What Would You

I don't think we have enough bullets in the clip to get anything done this year. Outside of the starting lineup and maybe Leonard, the cupboard is looking pretty bare ... and that's not meant to discount or denigrate, Claver, Freeland and Barton, but they can't have much trade value because they haven't done anything in the league.

 

[HailBlazers]

Re: If You Could Make A Trade(s) To Get The Blazers Into The Playoffs, What Would You

Keep calm and carry on. This new cake will take a while to bake but we can't risk the flavor by rushing to get it done.

 

[Natebishop3]

Re: If You Could Make A Trade(s) To Get The Blazers Into The Playoffs, What Would You

And looking around the league, I'm just really not seeing an obvious trade partner. Maybe as the season goes on there will be teams that are willing to move some pieces, but right now I'm not seeing anything. I think we're better off standing pat, maybe bringing in some scrubs from the DLeague and riding it out. Use our cap space this summer, use our lotto pick, and maybe get some better vets. I don't think Olshey wants to make any moves that will jeopardize our flexibility this summer.

 

[illmatic99]

Re: If You Could Make A Trade(s) To Get The Blazers Into The Playoffs, What Would You

Goal isn't to just get to the playoffs. It's to advance and contend with teams like LAL/MIA/OKC. We need more high level talent for that, which we can only get through the draft now.

 

[MickZagger]

Re: If You Could Make A Trade(s) To Get The Blazers Into The Playoffs, What Would You

Aldridge, Nolan Smith,Ronnie Price and a late 1st and maybe a couple 2nds for Kevin Love.

 

[HailBlazers]

Re: If You Could Make A Trade(s) To Get The Blazers Into The Playoffs, What Would You

Nolan Smith for Kenneth Faried straight up.

 

[MickZagger]

Re: If You Could Make A Trade(s) To Get The Blazers Into The Playoffs, What Would You

Zeller would turn this franchise around and make Aldridge expendable for a star shooting guard. Imagine a future starting lineup of:

Lillard
Harden (missed out on that one)
Batum
Zeller
Leonard

Wowsa that would be awesome!

 

[Rhal]

Aldridge, Nolan Smith,Ronnie Price and a late 1st and maybe a couple 2nds for Kevin Love.

Your love of Love seems to have almost become an obsession.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Natebishop3]

Re: If You Could Make A Trade(s) To Get The Blazers Into The Playoffs, What Would You

Nolan Smith for Kenneth Faried straight up.

Who would ever do something as dumb as that?

/sarcasm

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Re: If You Could Make A Trade(s) To Get The Blazers Into The Playoffs, What Would You

Babbitt, Pavlovic and Jeffries for Freeland, Barton and Claver

 

[ABM]

Re: If You Could Make A Trade(s) To Get The Blazers Into The Playoffs, What Would You

I just wanna make the playoffs so I'z can make my 50 bucks from Sly!

 

[KingSpeed]

Re: If You Could Make A Trade(s) To Get The Blazers Into The Playoffs, What Would You

Sign Delonte/Kenyon

 

[NOVoodoo]

Re: If You Could Make A Trade(s) To Get The Blazers Into The Playoffs, What Would You

I'll take the latter of your options, ABM.

Why shoot for the #7-8 seed and wallow in mediocrity?

As a fellow small market poster, we can't build our teams through free agency. We can make small, clever trades and great draft picks (like Lillard). Just give it time, let it grow, and make frugal decisions leading up to the 2014 season.

There's no point in being the team that's constantly in the fringe of the playoffs but never has potential for anything greater.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Re: If You Could Make A Trade(s) To Get The Blazers Into The Playoffs, What Would You

Zeller would turn this franchise around and make Aldridge expendable for a star shooting guard. Imagine a future starting lineup of:

Lillard
Harden (missed out on that one)
Batum
Zeller
Leonard

Wowsa that would be awesome!

This is what I'm hoping for.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Re: If You Could Make A Trade(s) To Get The Blazers Into The Playoffs, What Would You

Nolan Smith for Kenneth Faried straight up.

We would have to require Denver to throw in something extra; after all, Smith was a higher draft pick.

 

[Rhal]

Re: If You Could Make A Trade(s) To Get The Blazers Into The Playoffs, What Would You

I'll take the latter of your options, ABM.

Why shoot for the #7-8 seed and wallow in mediocrity?

As a fellow small market poster, we can't build our teams through free agency. We can make small, clever trades and great draft picks (like Lillard). Just give it time, let it grow, and make frugal decisions leading up to the 2014 season.

There's no point in being the team that's constantly in the fringe of the playoffs but never has potential for anything greater.

I'd love to make the playoffs this year but realistically that isn't happening unless we trade away assets that we really shouldn't (Barton/Leonard/Freeland/Claver) until we at least know what we have. Shooting for the stars is good if you can grab that superstar but, as you said, small market teams usually don't end up with a shot at trading for a star or getting a star to come to them. Its not like a team is going to dump Al Jefferson in our laps for Freeland and exp contracts. Best bet is to take the cap space into next summer (or at the deadline if people want exp contracts) and attempt to make sign a good FA or make a lopsided trade by a team that wants to salary dump. If we miss out on the playoffs and we get pick 5-11(I believe CHA still owns our pick and it dropped to top 11 protected from 12 last year) we should look at trading it to bolster our roster next year if our team looks like it could make the next step, which in this case is playoffs/out of first round, at the end of the year.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Re: If You Could Make A Trade(s) To Get The Blazers Into The Playoffs, What Would You

I think this is not the season to be doing this.

 

[Run BJM]

Re: If You Could Make A Trade(s) To Get The Blazers Into The Playoffs, What Would You

Myers Leonard, Wes Matthews, and Luke Babbit for Josh Smith and Tolliver or Ivan Johnson.

But yes, you should just tank this season, get another nice pick, hope some of Freeland, E. Williams, Barton, Claver, etc. get some trade value and use some combination of those prospects + Wes and Hickson to get another pillar to pair up with Lillard, Batum, and LA.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Re: If You Could Make A Trade(s) To Get The Blazers Into The Playoffs, What Would You

Babbitt, Pavlovic and Jeffries for Freeland, Barton and Claver

Agreed, and repped. And not because I necessarily think our non-lotto rookies are all that great, but because...

that's not meant to discount or denigrate, Claver, Freeland and Barton, but they can't have much trade value because they haven't done anything in the league.

hope some of Freeland, E. Williams, Barton, Claver, etc. get some trade value and use some combination of those prospects + Wes and Hickson to get another pillar to pair up with Lillard, Batum, and LA.

 

[Natebishop3]

Re: If You Could Make A Trade(s) To Get The Blazers Into The Playoffs, What Would You

Yeah, the problem is that, outside of the starters, we don't have much value right now. Most of our options don't open up until after the season when we get some cap space and another draft pick. We have a ton of young guys with promise, but nothing quantifiable. At least not enough to fill the holes that we need filled.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Re: If You Could Make A Trade(s) To Get The Blazers Into The Playoffs, What Would You

The rookies will get their chance sometime this year. But to start playing them now to increase their trade value is too early. It would be tough on the starters and fans that go to the game to see inexperience go in when the game can still be won.

It's a long season. Players will get dinged up, vets will want some time off and games will start mattering less and less. Barton, Freeland and the rest will get their chance. Until then, it would be nice to know the Blazers are at least trying to win some games here and there.

 

[ABM]

Re: If You Could Make A Trade(s) To Get The Blazers Into The Playoffs, What Would You

I, too, am of the belief that there is no quick fix for this team. That said, I'm thinking the so-called nucleus is there.....other than a Center and, perhaps, a higher-grade SG.

It appears that the front office is in order, so I'm relatively confident that they will be making good summer choices. I really don't see a trade deadline movie being made. Does anyone else?

Man, though, I wonder hod good this team might me if they would have been able to snag Hibbert last summer?! I'm thinking they def would be playoff-bound this year.

 

[Sedatedfork]

Re: If You Could Make A Trade(s) To Get The Blazers Into The Playoffs, What Would You

Yeah, the problem is that, outside of the starters, we don't have much value right now. Most of our options don't open up until after the season when we get some cap space and another draft pick. We have a ton of young guys with promise, but nothing quantifiable. At least not enough to fill the holes that we need filled.

True. And aren't we short a draft pick next year? I think it might be protected, but I can't remember the protections. Aside from Leonard, and maybe Barton, there is nothing on this team aside from starters that another team would want. You have to trade something to get something. We have nothing to trade unless you are talking trading Lillard or Aldridge. I don't see that helping the team this year. Maybe if Freeland starts getting some minutes we could afford to trade him or Hickson? I think you run with what you have at this point. Stotts has to get his system in place before they start wheeling and dealing for players to fit that system.

 

[e_blazer]

Re: If You Could Make A Trade(s) To Get The Blazers Into The Playoffs, What Would You

If we start to win, I could see dumping some of our bench "talent". I may be a year late, but I'm with the tankers this year.

 

[maxiep]

Re: If You Could Make A Trade(s) To Get The Blazers Into The Playoffs, What Would You

We have two above-average talents and a whole bunch of players not too far from the NBDL. Mediocre with this core is the best case scenario.