Moving into the draft

[Pinwheel1]

Exactly II

Barkley begged for Portland to get him. Very vocal about it. If players are friends of Damian and LMA, they will want to join them for a few years so they can win. Portland is not exactly a hell hole. Build it and they will come....

 

[BigGameDamian]

Barkley begged for Portland to get him. Very vocal about it. If players are friends of Damian and LMA, they will want to join them for a few years so they can win. Portland is not exactly a hell hole. Build it and they will come....

If I remember right and I think I do. Blazers could have had Barkley for Buck Williams and Jerome Kersey but the Blazers where afraid they'd mess up the chemistry.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

A trade or the draft is how it would have to happen. Big time FA's don't come here. Stars seem to stay once they are here though

Just because they haven't yet doesn't mean they never will.

 

[dviss1]

If I remember right and I think I do. Blazers could have had Barkley for Buck Williams and Jerome Kersey but the Blazers where afraid they'd mess up the chemistry.

Were you even born then?

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Who thought players would want to go to OKC or Indy . . . yet we see players choosing to go there over other teams. Superstars are hard to obtain for any organization that isn't LA, NY or Chicago . . . but plenty of talented players will chase the ring in the latter stages of their career. Nothing about the Portland Trailblazers that would make it any different.

 

[Draco]

If they think LA is staying, I agree. Although I'm not sure they have to be exclusive of each other. You can add vets as well as continue to upgrade the young assets and talent level through the draft. It doesn't need to be a top pick. There seem to be a lot of guys with 2nd round grades that would probably be better for the franchise right now than Earl Watson

Earl Watson won't be resigned so I don't know why your bring him up. It would cost us an asset to get any pick in this draft. Is the cost worth it? Maybe. But there will be a cost, whereas signing a free agent in place of earl is free.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Super.

Dario.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

no, they wanted Porter, too - 3 starters is the rumor I heard back in the day.

If I remember right and I think I do. Blazers could have had Barkley for Buck Williams and Jerome Kersey but the Blazers where afraid they'd mess up the chemistry.

 

[dviss1]

Super.

Dario.

I don't see why people are so enamored with this guy. He looks like a fuckin stiff...

 

[PapaG]

So essentially both Boston and Miami added two stars. (Both had one already) We already have two, so we just need to add one. In either scenario we need to get lucky. At where we are at now, I think a sign and trade is our best option. We need to obtain assets and be patient, so when a star forces their way out......we are an option. Both for the other team, and the star who wants to go somewhere he can win.

It is not as important that Portland is a attractive city to play in, as it is that Damian and LMA are attractive to play with.

You want to go big, right? I'll play the imaginary trade guy.

What would Batum/Lopez be worth to another team? Is there a trade for those two in a package that would make Portland a better team?

 

[Mediocre Man]

Barkley begged for Portland to get him. Very vocal about it. If players are friends of Damian and LMA, they will want to join them for a few years so they can win. Portland is not exactly a hell hole. Build it and they will come....

If I remember correctly, Barkley still says the Blazers owe him money for airfare because he payed his own way here to convince them to trade for him

 

[Mediocre Man]

Just because they haven't yet doesn't mean they never will.

Very true. But it's hard to imagine happening. I mean I COULD win the lottery. What we have going for us is Dame and LA. But do big time Melo, Bron, KD stars WANT to come to Portland? They haven't to this point

 

[Mediocre Man]

Who thought players would want to go to OKC or Indy . . . yet we see players choosing to go there over other teams. Superstars are hard to obtain for any organization that isn't LA, NY or Chicago . . . but plenty of talented players will chase the ring in the latter stages of their career. Nothing about the Portland Trailblazers that would make it any different.

Which players chose to go to OKC?

David West went to indy after they over payed him following a knee injury

 

[Mediocre Man]

no, they wanted Porter, too - 3 starters is the rumor I heard back in the day.

LOL I had it as Kersey, Buck and Uncle Cliffy in my brain

 

[illmatic99]

I always used to think of PDX as podunk growin up there, but after living in shit holes or boring ass towns like CLE and Indy for 6 of the past 8 years, I have changed my opinion of PDX. It's odd but I see so many people enthused about Portland these days and they keep asking about places to visit, restaurants to hit, etc. I wonder if the show Portlandia has changed opinions

 

[Mediocre Man]

I always used to think of PDX as podunk growin up there, but after living in shit holes or boring ass towns like CLE and Indy for 6 of the past 8 years, I have changed my opinion of PDX. It's odd but I see so many people enthused about Portland these days and they keep asking about places to visit, restaurants to hit, etc. I wonder if the show Portlandia has changed opinions

I can't imagine Portlandia changing opinions for the better.

 

[Scalma]

Living in Cali the general consensus I get when Portland is brought up is that it's hipster heaven.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I don't see why people are so enamored with this guy. He looks like a fuckin stiff...

He's been on the radar for four years and most say that his feel for the game is rare, especially at his size.

He's not going to blow you away with his leaping ability or quickness but he's a straight up baller. You can't teach what he has upstairs.

At 6’10 it is very hard to find anyone in the world with the skills he possesses to play with or without the ball anywhere on the court ... He can push it in transition as well as posting up with good results ... His feel for the game is what really separates him from many other “Point forwards” ... In Europe he can easily play as a 3 or 4 thanks to his court vision and decision making, very rare for a player of his height

 

[Pinwheel1]

You want to go big, right? I'll play the imaginary trade guy.

What would Batum/Lopez be worth to another team? Is there a trade for those two in a package that would make Portland a better team?

What do you mean by going "big"? A center or a "big" star. I am no longer enamored with centers. I am fine with the Robin Lopez' of the world. I would prefer to have two of them on my team though.

One thing I want to be clear on, my sign and trade strategy was not meant for this summer. I am all for being patient with this cast of players. I don't want to sacrifice LMA for a draft pick and I doubt we will have cap space any time soon for a FA. But if we add some trade assets over the next couple of years and there is a Vet out there (i.e a Ray Allen type talent when he went to Boston) who thinks he is the missing piece, then I think that is the way we are able to jump into the championship conversation.

All I am saying is be patient. Don't do anything risky that will set the team back. Keep building the team and wait/hope for that missing piece. For the Jazz it was Jeff Hornacek, for Portland it was Buck Williams. No neither won it all...... but both came damn close.

It may not be an ideal strategy, but it is realistic. In all scenarios, we have to get lucky. I just think this way gives us the best chance.

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

LOL I had it as Kersey, Buck and Uncle Cliffy in my brain

I thought it was Kersey, Buck, and Duck. LOL

 

[BBert]

At 6’10 it is very hard to find anyone in the world with the skills he possesses to play with or without the ball anywhere on the court ... He can push it in transition as well as posting up with good results ... His feel for the game is what really separates him from many other “Point forwards” ... In Europe he can easily play as a 3 or 4 thanks to his court vision and decision making, very rare for a player of his height

He's been on the radar for four years and most say that his feel for the game is rare, especially at his size.

He's not going to blow you away with his leaping ability or quickness but he's a straight up baller. You can't teach what he has upstairs.

Who are you guys talking about? Bargnani?

 

[BigGameDamian]

You have to wonder if one of the phone calls/texts came from Olshey or Allen?

http://basketball.realgm.com/wireta...ceiving-Trade-Calls-Immediately-After-Lottery

The Cleveland Cavaliers began receiving calls for the first overall pick immediately after it was announced on Tuesday.

"I actually got calls right afterward, while I was standing there doing media," David Griffin said Wednesday during an interview on ESPN Cleveland's "The Really Big Show." "Teams were already reaching out and texting, so I think it will be an active period of time."

The Cavaliers are expected to choose between Joel Embiid, Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker.

"We're going to be open-minded to whatever it is that advances our cause the furthest."

 

[Mediocre Man]

You have to wonder if one of the phone calls/texts came from Olshey or Allen?

http://basketball.realgm.com/wireta...ceiving-Trade-Calls-Immediately-After-Lottery

The Cleveland Cavaliers began receiving calls for the first overall pick immediately after it was announced on Tuesday.

"I actually got calls right afterward, while I was standing there doing media," David Griffin said Wednesday during an interview on ESPN Cleveland's "The Really Big Show." "Teams were already reaching out and texting, so I think it will be an active period of time."

The Cavaliers are expected to choose between Joel Embiid, Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker.

"We're going to be open-minded to whatever it is that advances our cause the furthest."

IMO, drafting anyone other than Wiggins would be dumb

 

[Pinwheel1]

IMO, drafting anyone other than Wiggins would be dumb

I agree with you on this. I was thinking Parker back in October, but Wiggins came on late and has by far the most upside.
I also agree with you that wings are a bigger priority over centers.

 

[illmatic99]

Just stop, David Griffin. We all see through the smokescreens. Stop doing what your predecessors did by explicitly going against the grain while shooting yourself in the foot. You have to take Wiggins and you get your top scoring star duo for the next decade.

 

[42N8Bounce]

Absolutely NO! I think its a bad idea to trade into the draft. I'd go the other direction, I'd be looking for a trade that brings in a veteran to contribute now but sends out our 2015 pick completely unprotected. We can trade that pick immediately after the draft as the stepien rule would no longer apply. We have a core all in their prime along with a few upside young players on rookie contracts. We don't need more rookies, we need veterans that can contribute right now.

Well stated. Paul Allen definitely loves the draft and likes to get in involved. We're in win-now mode, and need to resist adding more unproven young players. Unless we can pick up Embiid or Parker in the second round.

 

[PapaG]

What do you mean by going "big"? A center or a "big" star. I am no longer enamored with centers. I am fine with the Robin Lopez' of the world. I would prefer to have two of them on my team though.

One thing I want to be clear on, my sign and trade strategy was not meant for this summer. I am all for being patient with this cast of players. I don't want to sacrifice LMA for a draft pick and I doubt we will have cap space any time soon for a FA. But if we add some trade assets over the next couple of years and there is a Vet out there (i.e a Ray Allen type talent when he went to Boston) who thinks he is the missing piece, then I think that is the way we are able to jump into the championship conversation.

All I am saying is be patient. Don't do anything risky that will set the team back. Keep building the team and wait/hope for that missing piece. For the Jazz it was Jeff Hornacek, for Portland it was Buck Williams. No neither won it all...... but both came damn close.

It may not be an ideal strategy, but it is realistic. In all scenarios, we have to get lucky. I just think this way gives us the best chance.

I meant "big star." I can see how you could think I meant size. Batum/Lopez would be the most realistic package Olshey would be willing to part with, IMO, if the players/player brought back makes the team better next season. If people are thirsting for a title, trading LMA for role players and draft picks isn't an option. It will take starters, and it had better work for the better, because 54 wins with no bench is a pretty high bar for next year.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I meant "big star." I can see how you could think I meant size. Batum/Lopez would be the most realistic package Olshey would be willing to part with, IMO, if the players/player brought back makes the team better next season. If people are thirsting for a title, trading LMA for role players and draft picks isn't an option. It will take starters, and it had better work for the better, because 54 wins with no bench is a pretty high bar for next year.

Who do you think we could get with a package of Nic and Rolo?

 

[PapaG]

IMO, drafting anyone other than Wiggins would be dumb

That there isn't consensus #1 in this draft would be troubling to me if I owned the #1 pick. I'm not talking about an Oden/Durant situation, either. Wiggins is raw, athletic, and very frail. Could he be a great player? Sure, I suppose so. Is he going to go into a situation next year and suddenly be a key player on a title team. I'd bet $100 that won't be the case, if there are any takers.

 

[PapaG]

Who do you think we could get with a package of Nic and Rolo?

I don't know, but at least it would be a major move that doesn't blow up the nucleus of the team. The idea of winning a title is to improve your roster the next season, unless you can get lucky like the Celtics did and have a friendly GM hand you a Kevin Garnett.