Merged: Who would you give up for Paul George?

[dviss1]

What planet do you live on?

I live on the one where LA doesn't consider us a rival because they're not. Our Rival was Seattle.

LA has never been our rival. How long have you been a fan of the Blazers?

 

[Scalma]

I live on the one where LA doesn't consider us a rival because they're not. Our Rival was Seattle.

LA has never been our rival. How long have you been a fan of the Blazers?

Ok I'll go to the Seattle Sonics then....oh wait...

I get it, you're a contrarian. Doesn't mean you have to argue literally everything.

 

[Scalma]

And I dont care what the lakers consider the blazers as, it's the blazers that let me go, and I know for a fact there isn't a team the blazers fans love beating more than the lakers, historically speaking. So I'm going there. But feel free to argue that as well @dviss1

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I live on the one where LA doesn't consider us a rival because they're not. Our Rival was Seattle.

LA has never been our rival. How long have you been a fan of the Blazers?

LA may not consider the Blazers a rival, but most Blazer fans consider the Lakers a rival. So if Dame were looking to tweak the city and franchise if he were not wanted, what would matter would be the perspective of the the city he sought to antagonize.

 

[Five Second Violation]

I live on the one where LA doesn't consider us a rival because they're not. Our Rival was Seattle.

LA has never been our rival. How long have you been a fan of the Blazers?

Seattle was never a rival either, proximity notwithstanding.

There was just never a time when the Sonics and Blazers were simultaneously really good. At least the Blazers/Lakers were legit really good and close circa 1990-91 and again circa 2000.

 

[dviss1]

And I dont care what the lakers consider the blazers as, it's the blazers that let me go, and I know for a fact there isn't a team the blazers fans love beating more than the lakers, historically speaking. So I'm going there. But feel free to argue that as well @dviss1

You called them one of our most hated rivals. We hate them but they've never been our rival.

 

[dviss1]

Seattle was never a rival either, proximity notwithstanding.

There was just never a time when the Sonics and Blazers were simultaneously really good. At least the Blazers/Lakers were legit really good and close circa 1990-91 and again circa 2000.

Yes they were. We had the I-5 rivalry as long as I can remember.

 

[BBert]

Seattle was never a rival either, proximity notwithstanding.

There was just never a time when the Sonics and Blazers were simultaneously really good. At least the Blazers/Lakers were legit really good and close circa 1990-91 and again circa 2000.

I never really considered the Sonics a true "rival". More like a friendly rival. Like a sibling. I never hated them. I even rooted for them when they weren't playing the Blazers.

The Blazers and the Lakers have played each other with championship seeding on the line. They've broken our hearts, and we've upset them in return. They are the only team I hate with the intensity of a rival. I don't give a fuck what Lakers fans think about it. Fucking douchetards.

 

[Five Second Violation]

Yes they were. We had the I-5 rivalry as long as I can remember.

I remember the I-5 "rivalry" too, and aside from a small handful of exciting games, can never remember anybody really caring much about it. In theory I guess it could have been a rivalry, but the reality of it never matched that.

Hell, I even rooted for the Sonics a few times in the playoffs in some years where Portland sucked (2005). I wouldn't have ever been caught dead rooting for the Lakers in any scenario.

 

[dviss1]

I remember the I-5 "rivalry" too, and aside from a small handful of exciting games, can never remember anybody really caring much about it. In theory I guess it could have been a rivalry, but the reality of it never matched that.

Hell, I even rooted for the Sonics a few times in the playoffs in some years where Portland sucked (2005). I wouldn't have ever been caught dead rooting for the Lakers in any scenario.

Say what you want but I disagree. They were our rival:

http://www.nba.com/blazers/photogallery/tbt-i-5-rivalry/
http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i...ail_blazers_i-5_rivalry_oklahoma_thunder.html
http://www.realclearsports.com/lists/dead_defunct_rivalries/supersonics_trail_blazers.html

 

[B-Roy]

The poll includes a false assumption. There is no guarantee he leaves. I'm sure a lot of people voting are considering the odds he might stay, even though that's not the question.

I would absolutely do that deal, because there is a strong chance the team would be a contender, and therefore a reasonable chance that he'd stay.

Aldridge was on a contender and left. Durant was on a contender and left. Unless the Blazers somehow win the championship, and beat the Warriors in the process (yeah right), I don't think there's any chance PG re-signs.

Haven't we had enough bad luck with fickle superstars? Why torture this fanbase unnecessarily?

 

[Natebishop3]

Aldridge was on a contender and left. Durant was on a contender and left. Unless the Blazers somehow win the championship, and beat the Warriors in the process (yeah right), I don't think there's any chance PG re-signs.

Haven't we had enough bad luck with fickle superstars? Why torture this fanbase unnecessarily?

Aldridge went to a better contender.

Durant went to a better contender.

George is reportedly interested in going to the hapless Lakers. It's not the same scenario. We have some really good players, much better than Indy. If we had some really good success next year, I could see him staying.... plus the extra incentive of bird rights.

 

[B-Roy]

Aldridge went to a better contender.

Durant went to a better contender.

George is reportedly interested in going to the hapless Lakers. It's not the same scenario. We have some really good players, much better than Indy. If we had some really good success next year, I could see him staying.... plus the extra incentive of bird rights.

George is going home. Versus staying in Portland.

We've been burned so many times how are people still optimistic in these scenarios? You have a guy here LITERALLY WANTING to go to a shit franchise and they still think we have a chance to convince him to stay in freaking Portland.

Good god.

 

[B-Roy]

Per Woj: “Teams are trying to decide what’s the appropriate cost for a player who they’re being told, pretty adamantly by Paul George’s camp, will be a rental. No matter who you are, no matter who has checked in or who potentially will check in, they’re gonna be told that Paul George is gonna play the season out and then he’s gonna go to the Lakers, that that’s his plan.”

Like COME ON now.....

 

[Natebishop3]

George is going home. Versus staying in Portland.

We've been burned so many times how are people still optimistic in these scenarios? You have a guy here LITERALLY WANTING to go to a shit franchise and they still think we have a chance to convince him to stay in freaking Portland.

Good god.

What's the alternative? We can't sign superstars. They won't come here.

We're too good to get into the top 5. So unless we're finding a hidden gem, how else are we adding another star?

In the current NBA there are two teams with a legit shot at the championship. So unless you enjoy making the playoffs only to get waxed by the Warriors, we need to start swinging for the fences.

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

Per Woj: “Teams are trying to decide what’s the appropriate cost for a player who they’re being told, pretty adamantly by Paul George’s camp, will be a rental. No matter who you are, no matter who has checked in or who potentially will check in, they’re gonna be told that Paul George is gonna play the season out and then he’s gonna go to the Lakers, that that’s his plan.”

Like COME ON now.....

Woj also said during his podcast that in the right situation, he'd be tempted to stay

 

[B-Roy]

What's the alternative? We can't sign superstars. They won't come here.

We're too good to get into the top 5. So unless we're finding a hidden gem, how else are we adding another star?

In the current NBA there are two teams with a legit shot at the championship. So unless you enjoy making the playoffs only to get waxed by the Warriors, we need to start swinging for the fences.

The alternative is being patient and looking for opportunities to acquire other "Nurkic" situation players.

The answer isn't making a shitty ass deal just because you don't see any immediate alternative. That is the type of thinking that got us to make the Afflalo deal which was the worst trade made in the Olshey era.

 

[B-Roy]

Woj also said during his podcast that in the right situation, he'd be tempted to stay

This tidbit is more recent.

I don't know why you would take the risk unless it's a total no brainer of a deal, like a first and dumping a few of our bad contracts.

 

[Natebishop3]

Per Woj: “Teams are trying to decide what’s the appropriate cost for a player who they’re being told, pretty adamantly by Paul George’s camp, will be a rental. No matter who you are, no matter who has checked in or who potentially will check in, they’re gonna be told that Paul George is gonna play the season out and then he’s gonna go to the Lakers, that that’s his plan.”

Like COME ON now.....

Haven't you ever heard of a bluff? If his desire was REALLY to play out the season in Indy and then leave for LA, and he was willing to leave money on the table, he would pull an LMA. He wouldn't say anything.

He's trying to force the Pacers into trading him to LA for table scraps. That's the move. He wants his bird rights.

 

[B-Roy]

Haven't you ever heard of a bluff? If his desire was REALLY to play out the season in Indy and then leave for LA, and he was willing to leave money on the table, he would pull an LMA. He wouldn't say anything.

He's trying to force the Pacers into trading him to LA for table scraps. That's the move. He wants his bird rights.

People will always try to spin things they don't want to believe. I remember people doing the same thing during Aldridge's inevitable exit.

 

[Natebishop3]

The alternative is being patient and looking for opportunities to acquire other "Nurkic" situation players.

The answer isn't making a shitty ass deal just because you don't see any immediate alternative. That is the type of thinking that got us to make the Afflalo deal which was the worst trade made in the Olshey era.

To me, trading someone like Crabbe and a pick isn't really that shitty. That's worth the risk.

 

[Natebishop3]

People will always try to spin things they don't want to believe. I remember people doing the same thing during Aldridge's inevitable exit.

Except I saw through the Aldridge facade years before he left. I can see what George is trying to do, plain as day.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Yeah after driving for 3 hours this morning listening to about 5 different stations, I am off the Paul George bandwagon. Woj was too consistent with his "back channels" comments about PG to the Lakers. But I am in to helping him go to Cleveland For Love. I am
not a huge fan of Klove's max contract, but I do think he and Vonleh are a good tandem next to Nurk.

 

[B-Roy]

To me, trading someone like Crabbe and a pick isn't really that shitty. That's worth the risk.

Of course Crabbe and a pick is a freaking no-brainer. Crabbe is arguably negative value. If that's all it took we would be easily outbid. If they actually want a shot at acquiring George it's going to take multiple picks and even then we would probably be outbid.

None of the players on our roster outside of the big 3 have any sort of value. Harkless and Vonleh may have slightly positive value. Most have negative value.

 

[BonesJones]

Yeah after driving for 3 hours this morning listening to about 5 different stations, I am off the Paul George bandwagon. Woj was too consistent with his "back channels" comments about PG to the Lakers. But I am in to helping him go to Cleveland For Love. I am
not a huge fan of Klove's max contract, but I do think he and Vonleh are a good tandem next to Nurk.

Woj recently said the right situation could get him to stay. I think Portland could have the best chance of anyone outside of Cleveland at keeping him. I think how hard Lillard and McCollum have been pushing for him and the great fans we have here in Rip City would make him think twice about leaving for LA.

 

[blue9]

This tidbit is more recent.

I don't know why you would take the risk unless it's a total no brainer of a deal, like a first and dumping a few of our bad contracts.

And I think that's essentially what most of us are saying at this point. George has drastically driven down his trade value. I think trading out Turner or Crabbe is worth the possibility of losing one of this year's picks and next year's pick. With PG our 2018 pick probably isn't going to be that great. So we given them:

Turner (salary dump)
#20 (potential loss)
2018 Pick (potential loss)

We potentially lose two picks in the tail end of the 1st round for nothing - that's the worst case scenario.

Best case scenario is that George discovers that he likes being on a winning team competing deep into the Playoffs.

Middle of the road, we trade-flip George to the Lakers at the deadline.

 

[BonesJones]

I gotta say, it's nice that we have 3 draft picks to fall back on in case the dream of a mega-trade doesn't happen. The last two free agency periods relied on LaMarsha staying and enticing a star to sign in Rip City, both of which were far-fetched and had no good backup plans.

 

[Natebishop3]

Of course Crabbe and a pick is a freaking no-brainer. Crabbe is arguably negative value. If that's all it took we would be easily outbid. If they actually want a shot at acquiring George it's going to take multiple picks and even then we would probably be outbid.

None of the players on our roster outside of the big 3 have any sort of value. Harkless and Vonleh may have slightly positive value. Most have negative value.

On one hand you're saying that George to LA is a done deal and that only a moron would trade for him.

And then you're coming back and saying that we would be "easily outbid" if we offered a pick and a young guard who was a leader in three pointers last season.

Which is it?

 

[illmatic99]

Zach Lowe in his podcast today came up with an Aminu + Harkless + one of our picks this year and a future pick as an option. He and Arnovitz said Portland could put together both the best package and the best team, but the fear would be that PG would still leave in 2018

 

[B-Roy]

On one hand you're saying that George to LA is a done deal and that only a moron would trade for him.

And then you're coming back and saying that we would be "easily outbid" if we offered a pick and a young guard who was a leader in three pointers last season.

Which is it?

I'm saying giving up significant value (multiple picks + possibly a value player) is a mistake because he's a rental.

If Indiana was willing to accept a combination of Crabbe/Turner/Leonard/1st for George I 1000000% guarantee you there is some other team out there that will give them a better deal, and we wouldn't even be having this conversation.