Ima say this once. Don't @ me!

[hoopsjock]

Also, we still have an open roster spot that could pave the way for another Hoodie/Enes-type acquisistion.

There're reasons to feel optimistic about what this team could be by the playoffs.

Except Stotts is still the coach so that dream of a championship can never become a reality.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Would the Bucks do Little/Collins/Trent/Giles/picks for Giannis? Or the Clippers for Kawhi or PG13? Or Butler? Of course not. I mean who exactly is out there that we could get handed to us?

Maybe Siakam. He seems to have lost his three point touch, but maybe he could get it back.

 

[Hoopguru]

If we make the playoffs we'd get embarassed, we're mediocre at best

From what I've seen so far of the NBA 25 of 30 teams are very mediocre. Actually thats the way it is every year.
The NBA was smart when they expanded the playoffs to keep fans interest and make it appear their team is relevant.
Remember only 10 teams of 30 have won a championship in the last 30 years.

 

[Phatguysrule]

We heard this same thing last year. We still got knocked out in 5.

By the NBA champion. Who dominated every other team as well.

 

[wizenheimer]

Would the Bucks do Little/Collins/Trent/Giles/picks for Giannis? Or the Clippers for Kawhi or PG13? Or Butler? Of course not. I mean who exactly is out there that we could get handed to us?

how about this: don't hold CJ 'untouchable' when Paul George is available; don't make CJ untouchable when Butler or Kawhi are available. Don't hold CJ untouchable when Harden is available. At least explore the possibility of exchanging CJ for a much better player.

in other words, the first step is a different GM

 

[wizenheimer]

By the NBA champion. Who dominated every other team as well.

 

[Phatguysrule]

View attachment 36693

I must have missed this series "last year"...

 

[tlongII]

Even if our injured guys got healthy somebody else would get hurt. That’s just the way it is with the Blazers.

 

[wizenheimer]

I must have missed this series "last year"...

apparently, what you missed was the discussion about injuries and last year. Portland's core was healthy when they played New Orleans. And Portland's core was healthy last season for the first 4 games against the Lakers

excusing the Laker loss because of injuries would be a lot more credible if the Blazers had playoff success when they were healthy

 

[Phatguysrule]

apparently, what you missed was the discussion about injuries and last year. Portland's core was healthy when they played New Orleans. And Portland's core was healthy last season for the first 4 games against the Lakers

excusing the Laker loss because of injuries would be a lot more credible if the Blazers had playoff success when they were healthy

I didn't say anything about injuries. I said the Lakers killed everybody else they played as well. Last year.

 

[kjironman1]

how about this: don't hold CJ 'untouchable' when Paul George is available; don't make CJ untouchable when Butler or Kawhi are available. Don't hold CJ untouchable when Harden is available. At least explore the possibility of exchanging CJ for a much better player.

in other words, the first step is a different GM

CJ for PG I’ll pass.
CJ for Harden straight swap sure but I ain’t giving picks as well.
I’ll stick with CJ sorry.

 

[wizenheimer]

CJ for PG I’ll pass.
CJ for Harden straight swap sure but I ain’t giving picks as well.
I’ll stick with CJ sorry.

PG13 is a much better player than CJ. He's actually effective on both ends of the floor

and LOL...Portland gives up two firsts for RoCo, but you wouldn't give up any for Harden

I don't see what the Blazers would be risking by going for a franchise altering trade. Sure, it could backfire but so what? Blazers are on a treadmill. They are a likely early out in the playoffs, every year, and because of that have low draft picks. And they are perpetually battling the tax to hold their place in purgatory. That's not a status-quo that needs protecting

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

Gross. You want two non-factors from the 3pt line as our starting wins? A career 32% 3pt shooter would be our 2nd best shooter in the starting lineup. This downgrades our defense as well.

Ya...I’m not a blind homer I guess. Simons? Collins? So what I’m [truly] proposing is Gordon and DeRozan for CJ with DeRozan being an expiring too boot! Leaves us in a good spot this Summer. And increases our odds of making a realistic playoff move this year with CJ and Collins [truly] non-factors.

 

[Drttimmy]

I don't see it happening, but not everything is doom and gloom. First, I don't think anyone is unbeatable which is kind of new wrinkle for the NBA. We got Dame who is a legit closer. IMO those contending Blazer teams in the late 80s and 90s didn't have anyone near as dependable as Dame to close out games or keep them afloat during rough stretches. Having a closer like Lillard is probably more a luxury than a necessity, but it's still nice to have. I also think the team is capable of more. They remind me a little of those high octane mid 80's teams that had talent, but they struggled to find the right mix of that talent until they wisely pared it down. That's kind of how I view this team. Outside of the main two guys, is there really that much difference between a starter like Covington and the 12th man Little? Nurk and Kanter? Even Collins and Giles isn't far from a wash for me. It reads as duplicate parts, so use the excess to improve where we're weak. That's basically what that late 80's squad did. Of course, different GMs.

 

[Pinwheel1]

PG13 is a much better player than CJ. He's actually effective on both ends of the floor

If PG can't win with Kawhi then what is the point of getting him? How would he be a difference-maker with us? Is Dame that much better than the former MVP? PG guy is a prick and a shit teammate. How the hell would the chemistry work between the two of them?

 

[BonesJones]

Ya...I’m not a blind homer I guess. Simons? Collins? So what I’m [truly] proposing is Gordon and DeRozan for CJ with DeRozan being an expiring too boot! Leaves us in a good spot this Summer. And increases our odds of making a realistic playoff move this year with CJ and Collins [truly] non-factors.

How does potentially losing CJ fot nothing leave us in a good spot? How is CJ a non-factor?

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

How does potentially losing CJ fot nothing leave us in a good spot? How is CJ a non-factor?

I’m one that believes the Dame - CJ pairing won’t win a championship. We must be bold or watch Dame’s ship sail.

Build the right talent around Dame to have a shot (I see trading CJ the only option);

Expendables include CJ and Nurk; This makes CJ a non-factor as it pertains to winning a title. He is however a factor in trading for new pieces!

Nurkic is also expendable. I don’t believe Nurkic takes us to the promise land either. Hold on to your hat....because I’ll add that Kanter is a better center over Nurkic all day long. And consistently so!

 

[BonesJones]

I’m one that believes the Dame - CJ pairing won’t win a championship. We must be bold or watch Dame’s ship sail.

Build the right talent around Dame to have a shot (I see trading CJ the only option);

Expendables include CJ and Nurk; This makes CJ a non-factor as it pertains to winning a title. He is however a factor in trading for new pieces!

Nurkic is also expendable. I don’t believe Nurkic takes us to the promise land either. Hold on to your hat....because I’ll add that Kanter is a better center over Nurkic all day long. And consistently so!

So let's make the team worse now and potentially drastically worse next year?

Kanter better than Nurkic?!

Hah.

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

So let's make the team worse now and potentially drastically worse next year?

Kanter better than Nurkic?!

Hah.

if they don’t play...they are a non-factor!

nothing really to “hah” over. and if your opinion is different than mine, it does not mean that it is better than mine - and you have no expertise, authority or God-given powers to always act almighty - I’m pretty certain you’re not an nba scout, etc. Just relax and have fun and stop acting like you’re BMOC around here rook.

DeRozan = 4-time All Star, 2-time All NBA, scores more points and outrebounds CJ. He’s not a good 3-point shooter but we have Dame, Trent (and others) to take long shots. AND! He’s better than CJ right now (CJ will most likely be unavailable for the rest of the Year and is a non-factor) while DeRozan would pair nicely with Dame. Furthermore, he’s an expiring contract and we’d free up $30 million in cap space for next year if we don’t want him.

Nurkic is basically equal to Kanter and costs much more....oh! And is a non-factor because he doesn’t play much these days. Nurkic is really no better than a good back-up center. Kanter is a great back-up center because he is much more efficient than Nurkic.

without CJ and Nurkic, we can bring in Gordon and see if he’s a good fit and if not, trade him. And we can utilize DeRozan this year and either re-sign or part ways and free up cap space to sign Trent.

Trent is a keeper in my opinion.

 

[BBert]

I don't mean to be a downer but didn't we hear a similar story last year?

You mean a story about a sports fan believing in his favorite team? Sounds familiar. Might make a good movie, IDK.

 

[BonesJones]

nothing really to “hah” over. and if your opinion is different than mine, it does not mean that it is better than mine - and you have no expertise, authority or God-given powers to always act almighty - I’m pretty certain you’re not an nba scout, etc. Just relax and have fun and stop acting like you’re BMOC around here rook.

Hah. Ha. Haha.

 

[BonesJones]

if they don’t play...they are a non-factor!

nothing really to “hah” over. and if your opinion is different than mine, it does not mean that it is better than mine - and you have no expertise, authority or God-given powers to always act almighty - I’m pretty certain you’re not an nba scout, etc. Just relax and have fun and stop acting like you’re BMOC around here rook.

DeRozan = 4-time All Star, 2-time All NBA, scores more points and outrebounds CJ. He’s not a good 3-point shooter but we have Dame, Trent (and others) to take long shots. AND! He’s better than CJ right now (CJ will most likely be unavailable for the rest of the Year and is a non-factor) while DeRozan would pair nicely with Dame. Furthermore, he’s an expiring contract and we’d free up $30 million in cap space for next year if we don’t want him.

Nurkic is basically equal to Kanter and costs much more....oh! And is a non-factor because he doesn’t play much these days. Nurkic is really no better than a good back-up center. Kanter is a great back-up center because he is much more efficient than Nurkic.

without CJ and Nurkic, we can bring in Gordon and see if he’s a good fit and if not, trade him. And we can utilize DeRozan this year and either re-sign or part ways and free up cap space to sign Trent.

Trent is a keeper in my opinion.

DeRozan is worse than CJ, and a terrible fit. Needs the ball in his hands and cant play off the ball.

Defense is extremely important when it comes to centers, by the way.

We dont need cap space to resign Trent.

Let's take steps forwards instead.