Lob City....Roster spots...Holy Crap!

[TBpup]

Destroy the Rim:

This team (as currently constructed...more additions coming) is build to run more or at the least, get more lobs to the rim. Whiteside lives off of those, Mario throws a good lob pass, Layman thrives on them, Bazemore has ridiculous wingspan, Ant can flat out fly.

Is it too much to ask to get some easy baskets this season?

Roster:

Blazers with one in (Whiteside) and two out (Meyers/Mo) the Blazers are now at 13 roster spots. I think they will keep one open for a 2-way guy who might pop or flexibility in adding someone although managing the cap around that will be tough. Still need another 4/5.

Holy Crap!!

In 2 days, the Blazers have let go, not signed or traded Aminu, Harkless, Turner, and Meyers....four of either the worst contracts or production offenders on the roster. (Meyers Swish 3's aside). Throw in Curry being let go who was a great 3-pt shooter but didn't get/couldn't get the amount of shots to really make him more of a threat.

In their place are Whiteside, Bazemore, Super Mario, the return of Hood and the drafting of Nassir Little....the #2 high school prospect just a year ago.

That is a win-win in almost every sense of the word ESPECIALLY with Nurk on the shelf for a good part of the season. I've been very tough on Olshey for signing such horrible contracts and especially for the 4 years he gave all of them. However, this has been a VERY good couple of days. Credit where credit is due.

 

[B-Roy]

Good shit Neil.

Also no matter what happens next Stotts will be forced to rework the team. No more sagging off Harkless/Aminu. No more dealing with 20 unproductive minutes of Turner. No more playing Leonard and praying he doesn't fuck up.

I'm just so happy we'll see some fresh faces on the team next year.

 

[HailBlazers]

@TBpup how you like Olshey now!?

 

[Orion Bailey]

Destroy the Rim:

This team (as currently constructed...more additions coming) is build to run more or at the least, get more lobs to the rim. Whiteside lives off of those, Mario throws a good lob pass, Layman thrives on them, Bazemore has ridiculous wingspan, Ant can flat out fly.

Is it too much to ask to get some easy baskets this season?

Roster:

Blazers with one in (Whiteside) and two out (Meyers/Mo) the Blazers are now at 13 roster spots. I think they will keep one open for a 2-way guy who might pop or flexibility in adding someone although managing the cap around that will be tough. Still need another 4/5.

Holy Crap!!

In 2 days, the Blazers have let go, not signed or traded Aminu, Harkless, Turner, and Meyers....four of either the worst contracts or production offenders on the roster. (Meyers Swish 3's aside). Throw in Curry being let go who was a great 3-pt shooter but didn't get/couldn't get the amount of shots to really make him more of a threat.

In their place are Whiteside, Bazemore, Super Mario, the return of Hood and the drafting of Nassir Little....the #2 high school prospect just a year ago.

That is a win-win in almost every sense of the word ESPECIALLY with Nurk on the shelf for a good part of the season. I've been very tough on Olshey for signing such horrible contracts and especially for the 4 years he gave all of them. However, this has been a VERY good couple of days. Credit where credit is due.

you wanted reboundS?

 

[TBpup]

@TBpup how you like Olshey now!?

As stated above, credit where credit is due.

 

[Orion Bailey]

As stated above, credit where credit is due.

Quality info in your threads. You happy so far? Im ecstatic!

 

[TBpup]

Quality info in your threads. You happy so far? Im ecstatic!

They (Olshey) have addressed huge areas of need.

Big man/rebounding/shot-block especially while Nurk is out - Whiteside
Shooting so teams can't collapse on Dame - Bazemore and return of Hood
Point forward to help out Ant on the 2nd unit - Super Mario
Athletic freak with length and TONS of potential - it seems so long ago we stole Nassir Little.

Happy so far?

 

[Orion Bailey]

They (Olshey) have addressed huge areas of need.

Big man/rebounding/shot-block especially while Nurk is out - Whiteside
Shooting so teams can't collapse on Dame - Bazemore and return of Hood
Point forward to help out Ant on the 2nd unit - Super Mario
Athletic freak with length and TONS of potential - it seems so long ago we stole Nassir Little.

Happy so far?

Well. I just creamed my jeans again reading your synopsis.

 

[BrianFromWA]

May not be the right thread spot for this, but...

NO took a team that went to the WCF and removed the players who played 53% of the minutes, including the 3rd (Kanter), 4th (Aminu), 5th (Harkless), 7th (Curry), 9th (Turner) and 10th (Leonard)-most minutes.
Added in Whiteside and Bazemore and Super Mario, while paying Hood somewhere in the MLE range. Nurk will still be out a while.

That's expecting a decent amount of growth from Ant/Trent/Little/Layman.

 

[Orion Bailey]

May not be the right thread spot for this, but...

NO took a team that went to the WCF and removed the players who played 53% of the minutes, including the 3rd (Kanter), 4th (Aminu), 5th (Harkless), 7th (Curry), 9th (Turner) and 10th (Leonard)-most minutes.
Added in Whiteside and Bazemore and Super Mario, while paying Hood somewhere in the MLE range. Nurk will still be out a while.

That's expecting a decent amount of growth from Ant/Trent/Little/Layman.

Bring it. Time to grow up!

 

[EGame]

Good shit Neil.

Also no matter what happens next Stotts will be forced to rework the team. No more sagging off Harkless/Aminu. No more dealing with 20 unproductive minutes of Turner. No more playing Leonard and praying he doesn't fuck up.

I'm just so happy we'll see some fresh faces on the team next year.

Yup. Part of me was worried since the Blazers made the WCF that Olshey was going to try and steer course with what he had, but I think seeing the Warriors sweep us may have woken him up a little to show that we just were not that close. Now with the west wide open at least this year potentially, Olshey is trying to make moves to help improve the team and I have loved every one of them at this point.

 

[Chris Craig]

How much better are the Blazers now? 60 wins? Heavy contenders to make the finals? Where are they in the west position wise now?

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

How much better are the Blazers now? 60 wins? Heavy contenders to make the finals? Where are they in the west position wise now?

I'd put their Win total at about 50-52. We'll see if Collins is ready to be a starter, and Simons is ready to play 20+ mins

 

[maxiep]

Destroy the Rim:

This team (as currently constructed...more additions coming) is build to run more or at the least, get more lobs to the rim. Whiteside lives off of those, Mario throws a good lob pass, Layman thrives on them, Bazemore has ridiculous wingspan, Ant can flat out fly.

Is it too much to ask to get some easy baskets this season?

Roster:

Blazers with one in (Whiteside) and two out (Meyers/Mo) the Blazers are now at 13 roster spots. I think they will keep one open for a 2-way guy who might pop or flexibility in adding someone although managing the cap around that will be tough. Still need another 4/5.

Holy Crap!!

In 2 days, the Blazers have let go, not signed or traded Aminu, Harkless, Turner, and Meyers....four of either the worst contracts or production offenders on the roster. (Meyers Swish 3's aside). Throw in Curry being let go who was a great 3-pt shooter but didn't get/couldn't get the amount of shots to really make him more of a threat.

In their place are Whiteside, Bazemore, Super Mario, the return of Hood and the drafting of Nassir Little....the #2 high school prospect just a year ago.

That is a win-win in almost every sense of the word ESPECIALLY with Nurk on the shelf for a good part of the season. I've been very tough on Olshey for signing such horrible contracts and especially for the 4 years he gave all of them. However, this has been a VERY good couple of days. Credit where credit is due.

May not be the right thread spot for this, but...

NO took a team that went to the WCF and removed the players who played 53% of the minutes, including the 3rd (Kanter), 4th (Aminu), 5th (Harkless), 7th (Curry), 9th (Turner) and 10th (Leonard)-most minutes.
Added in Whiteside and Bazemore and Super Mario, while paying Hood somewhere in the MLE range. Nurk will still be out a while.

That's expecting a decent amount of growth from Ant/Trent/Little/Layman.

I think that's the bet. The big bet is on someone you didn't mention: Collins.

Of course, that's assuming NO is done. I don't think so by a long shot.

 

[Wade Garrett]

How much better are the Blazers now? 60 wins? Heavy contenders to make the finals? Where are they in the west position wise now?

The regular season will not he the true barometer, with Jusuf missing a part if it.
But the west (news flash) is wide wide open.
I'd say Portland and Utah are two teams nobody should want to face come playoff time, with maybe Denver as the favorite?
Blazer fans:
It's ok to really truly have championship intentions.
For real.

 

[TBpup]

What I believe this move does is keep the Blazers legitimate until Nurk returns. Without some of these changes, Portland could have fallen down to the #5-8 spots and then had to fight through the Playoffs as a road team the entire way. This way, I think they stay in that 3-4 range and when Nurk gets back, makes a charge towards the top spots and enter the Playoffs with momentum and HCA of at least 1 round and maybe 2.

 

[Scalma]

As stated above, credit where credit is due.

That’s a step many others wouldn’t take so I’ll give you that.

 

[Samuel]

Of course, that's assuming NO is done. I don't think so by a long shot.

Not sure what you mean by that. How would Neil NOT be done outside of adding 1-2 guys at the vet minimum?

 

[maxiep]

The regular season will not he the true barometer, with Jusuf missing a part if it.
But the west (news flash) is wide wide open.
I'd say Portland and Utah are two teams nobody should want to face come playoff time, with maybe Denver as the favorite?
Blazer fans:
It's ok to really truly have championship intentions.
For real.

I think Denver has to be considered the odds-on favorite. They were so young and inexperienced. That run will have done wonders for their composure and maturity.

 

[maxiep]

What I believe this move does is keep the Blazers legitimate until Nurk returns. Without some of these changes, Portland could have fallen down to the #5-8 spots and then had to fight through the Playoffs as a road team the entire way. This way, I think they stay in that 3-4 range and when Nurk gets back, makes a charge towards the top spots and enter the Playoffs with momentum and HCA of at least 1 round and maybe 2.

I also think it was an acknowledgment that we need two quality bigs, especially complimentary ones. It will be very tough to score inside against us next year.

 

[crandc]

I'm getting motion sickness from all this movement

 

[TBpup]

I'm getting motion sickness from all this movement

And at least one more to go.

 

[dviss1]

I've been very tough on Olshey for signing such horrible contracts and especially for the 4 years he gave all of them.

The thing about offering big contacts is that you have to have them to trade for a big contract.

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

And at least one more to go.

? blazers?

 

[Strenuus]

My only wish is we didnt have Stotts.

somehow, he's gonna fuck it up and Dame and company is gonna have to win again in spite of him.

If we were to win the championship, it will not be because of Stotts. I will never give him credit for it.

 

[Eastoff]

And at least one more to go.

You tease!

 

[Hoopguru]

My only wish is we didnt have Stotts.

somehow, he's gonna fuck it up and Dame and company is gonna have to win again in spite of him.

If we were to win the championship, it will not be because of Stotts. I will never give him credit for it.

Sure ya can!

 

[Hoopguru]

Good shit Neil.

Also no matter what happens next Stotts will be forced to rework the team. No more sagging off Harkless/Aminu. No more dealing with 20 unproductive minutes of Turner. No more playing Leonard and praying he doesn't fuck up.

I'm just so happy we'll see some fresh faces on the team next year.

If we can push the ball the floor more it will make it very exciting and effective.

 

[TBpup]

If we can push the ball the floor more it will make it very exciting and effective.

They can....but if it happens, it will only be the 2nd unit.

Dame/CJ/Hood/Collins/Whiteside....not exactly a group that wants to get out and run.

Ant/Baze/Mario/Layman/Skal.....now that group can run and dunk all day!

 

[Stevenson]

One other point not mentioned a lot: Dame is turning 29. CJ 28. The "career arc" that Olshey always talked about is now at its apex. The time to go for it is now, and for the next three years. Happily, it coincides with the Warriors decline, but our stars in their prime is the other real factor in finally making big moves.