My Opinion: No moves. Play out the season.

[chris_in_pdx]

The Blazers aren't winning the championship this year, so why bother? Spend the rest of the year letting Roy get comfortable with Miller, develop Pendergraph and Mills. Maybe they'll get lucky again in the lottery. Maybe the San Antonio Spurs situation will repeat itself. If nothing else, the Blazer an start the 10-11 season with the same core group as this season, and KP can just move his timetable accordingly.

If anything, the Blazers should fire the entire training/medical staff, bring in all new, fresh people, and take all the players' rehabilitation with fresh looks and attitudes.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I agree with this sentiment. Sign a backup center with the exception (i.e., send Tolliver back to the D-League if possible and sign Steven Hill to back up LMA), and just play as hard as you can. There's nothing to lose now.

We'll look back on this as The Lost Season, but it really will be the beginning of our new found strength as a team.

 

[Nikolokolus]

The Blazers aren't winning the championship this year, so why bother? Spend the rest of the year letting Roy get comfortable with Miller, develop Pendergraph and Mills. Maybe they'll get lucky again in the lottery. Maybe the San Antonio Spurs situation will repeat itself. If nothing else, the Blazer an start the 10-11 season with the same core group as this season, and KP can just move his timetable accordingly.

If anything, the Blazers should fire the entire training/medical staff, bring in all new, fresh people, and take all the players' rehabilitation with fresh looks and attitudes.

No moves? What if there were moves you were thinking about doing, but didn't want to pull the trigger because you were worried about chemistry? What if we could cashier one or two of our superfluous point guards for a front court player? What if Rudy, plus expirings could get you a legitimate small forward or a player like Anthony Randolph (for instance)?

I'm all about riding it out and not sacrificing long term assets for short term gains, but there's no way in hell this team can roll with what it's got on a nightly basis for the next 52 games, absolutely impossible.

 

[Blazed Mania 52]

I agree with this sentiment. Sign a backup center with the exception (i.e., send Tolliver back to the D-League if possible and sign Steven Hill to back up LMA), and just play as hard as you can. There's nothing to lose now.

We'll look back on this as The Lost Season, but it really will be the beginning of our new found strength as a team.

I say we should keep Tolliver he has some potential, he can rebound and has some touch from downtown.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

If Howard is our starting Center....

 

[MIXUM]

nah this team needs playoffs or they will cast doubt in their heads... for the future

playoffs are a must imo. even 8th seed


trade outlaw for murphy

 

[Nikolokolus]

If Howard is our starting Center....

There's no fucking way.

I say KP explores Randolph's availability and sees if there's anything the Dubs want (like exprings, or taking back dead weight like Vlad Rad).

 

[chris_in_pdx]

No moves? What if there were moves you were thinking about doing, but didn't want to pull the trigger because you were worried about chemistry? What if we could cashier one or two of our superfluous point guards for a front court player? What if Rudy, plus expirings could get you a legitimate small forward or a player like Anthony Randolph (for instance)?

I'm all about riding it out and not sacrificing long term assets for short term gains, but there's no way in hell this team can roll with what it's got on a nightly basis for the next 52 games, absolutely impossible.

I disgree. The Blazers did well tonight by giving 150% effort and won the game.

Yes the Blazers will probably finish around .500 and miss the playoffs. So what?

Roy and Aldridge will become better, stronger players.

Pendergraph and Mills will get to develop.

Nate can experiement with quicker, smaller lineups.

As of now, it's all about next year. This year is done.

 

[MIXUM]

troy murphy.


miller/bayless
roy/rudy
webster/batum
la/howard
murphy/la?

 

[craigehlo]

The Blazers aren't winning the championship this year, so why bother?

Two reasons:

1) The Blazers want to put a winning product on the floor, no matter if they win a championship or not. Simple business. More wins = more ticket sales.

2) Who the hell knows if and when both Joel and Oden will return from such devastating injuries? We need a backup plan for next year as well as immediate help.

 

[RoyToy]

troy murphy.


miller/bayless
roy/rudy
webster/batum
la/howard
murphy/la?

And how are the Blazers going to get Murphy

 

[MIXUM]

amazingly... joel looks like hes much worse then oden. oden was a clean break.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I'm bitter.

For letting RLEC expire for nothing I have NO sympathy for KP. How does that pressure cooker feel, KP?

 

[Schilly]

nah this team needs playoffs or they will cast doubt in their heads... for the future

playoffs are a must imo. even 8th seed


trade outlaw for murphy

Dude that's just stupid. No person on the face of the planet would look at a season in which you have 7 players injured, 5 of which are in your top 8 and say that missing the playoffs would cast doubt. When you sustain that kind of circumstances you mentally ignore the immediate results because you know you would have been there if healthy.

If you make panic move now just for the chance of making the playoffs you very seriously risk your title window when everyone comes back healthy.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

Dude that's just stupid. No person on the face of the planet would look at a season in which you have 7 players injured, 5 of which are in your top 8 and say that missing the playoffs would cast doubt. When you sustain that kind of circumstances you mentally ignore the immediate results because you know you would have been there if healthy.

If you make panic move now just for the chance of making the playoffs you very seriously risk your title window when everyone comes back healthy.

Thank you for injecting some reason into the discussion.

 

[MIXUM]

no schilly...

1. IF THEY COME BACK HEALTHY.

2. JOELS OUT AT LEAST 1 YEAR.

3. YOUR 2 STARS SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET U TO PLAYOFFS IF THEY ARE REALLY STARS.

4. IT GIVES YOU MORE CONFIDENCE.

5. LOSERS USE WHAT U SAID AS AN EXCUSE.


PLAYOFFS ARE A MUST

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Two reasons:

1) The Blazers want to put a winning product on the floor, no matter if they win a championship or not. Simple business. More wins = more ticket sales.

All the home games are 90% sold out already due to season ticket owners, so I don't think this is a huge issue.

2) Who the hell knows if and when both Joel and Oden will return from such devastating injuries? We need a backup plan for next year as well as immediate help.

I agree that we do need a 3rd center. But we don't need to sell the farm to get him. We shouldn't panic and scramble. Not now, not when we have so few pieces to bargain with, and every GM in the country's looking to get a sweetheart of a deal because we'll be desperate.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

JOEL

FREELAND

We don't have the (healthy) pieces to bring in a good PF/C. We don't have a golden egg like the RLEC to entice teams. Thanks, KP. You douche bag!

Might as well look at our own assets and do whatever is possible to bring over Freeland ASAP

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I don't see the point in getting mad about the RLEC; we'd just have a nicer starting SF right now, and no Miller. Same number of active pieces, same number of injured pieces. Same number of centers. Still no one piece worth trading for a center.

 

[craigehlo]

I agree that we do need a 3rd center. But we don't need to sell the farm to get him.

I'm worried we need a legit backup for Oden next year because Joel's injury could have an extremely long recovery time. And who knows if he'll ever play at a high level again? He's older and if he loses this explosiveness for blocking and boards, his game is pretty limited.

Truth of the matter is that we are desperate for help down low. Everyone knows it. KP can't hide the fact with his poker face.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I'm worried we need a legit backup for Oden next year because Joel's injury could have an extremely long recovery time. And who knows if he'll ever play at a high level again? He's older and if he loses this explosiveness for blocking and boards, his game is pretty limited.

Truth of the matter is that we are desperate for help down low. Everyone knows it. KP can't hide the fact with his poker face.

I say fuck this season, sign a free agent big man either by getting a second exception or by dumping Tolliver, and draft a center over the summer (or bring in Joel Freeland). We don't need to negotiate with the sharks out there in the league. We don't have to come to them hat in hand and let them take advantage of us.

This season is done. Trading assets away to help with this season is in my opinion short-sighted, and begging to be accosted in a horrible trade.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I'm worried we need a legit backup for Oden next year because Joel's injury could have an extremely long recovery time. And who knows if he'll ever play at a high level again? He's older and if he loses this explosiveness for blocking and boards, his game is pretty limited.

Truth of the matter is that we are desperate for help down low. Everyone knows it. KP can't hide the fact with his poker face.

I'm guessing Cole Aldrich if we properly tank, maybe Ekpe Udoh, or Solomon Alabi if I'm being more realistic.

 

[Minstrel]

1. IF THEY COME BACK HEALTHY.

Making the playoffs this year won't make the players any more secure about health.

2. JOELS OUT AT LEAST 1 YEAR.

That's one reason why missing the playoffs won't put doubts in their heads.

3. YOUR 2 STARS SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET U TO PLAYOFFS IF THEY ARE REALLY STARS.

Not if they have you and me as teammates. We'd hustle, but we'd still lose. Even with prime Michael Jordan.

4. IT GIVES YOU MORE CONFIDENCE.

No doubt. That doesn't mean failing to make the playoffs in the face of incredible adversity would make the players doubt themselves.

5. LOSERS USE WHAT U SAID AS AN EXCUSE.

I doubt they'd say what Schilly said. But it would still be true: it's not a failure to miss the playoffs when much of your rotation is injured.

PLAYOFFS ARE A MUST

Nah. Just play hard.

 

[craigehlo]

We don't need to negotiate with the sharks out there in the league. We don't have to come to them hat in hand and let them take advantage of us.

KP isn't going to get completely fleeced. He's too shrewd for that.

I think we need to look at TO and Blake's contracts as a bundle this season like we looked at RLEC last year.

 

[Schilly]

no schilly...

1. IF THEY COME BACK HEALTHY.

2. JOELS OUT AT LEAST 1 YEAR.

3. YOUR 2 STARS SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET U TO PLAYOFFS IF THEY ARE REALLY STARS.

4. IT GIVES YOU MORE CONFIDENCE.

5. LOSERS USE WHAT U SAID AS AN EXCUSE.


PLAYOFFS ARE A MUST

You're a wolf pack of one.

I'll say this I think we should make a trade to balance our roster. But that doens't mean trading anyone but Steve Blake. We might only get a TE for him, but then we could at least sign another post player for the remainder of the season.

Trade Blake to Miami for TE and a 2nd rounder, then see about bringing Freeland over now.

The problem with your theory MIXUM is you never consider what it would take to give up to get players that you want to get to accomplish what you want.

Healthy players
Miller, Blake, Roy, Bayless, Webster, Cunningham, Howard, Aldridge, Pendergraph

Howard, Cunningham and Pendergraph have very little trade value. We aren't going to trade Roy or Aldridge as not only are they our future, but they are both Poison Pills.

That leaves Miller, Blake, Bayless and Webster to trade. What could we get with those 4 that would make us distinctively better this season?

 

[hasoos]

If the Blazers can still make the playoffs this year, it would be such such a statement to the mental strength of this team. Think about that. So we make the playoffs, lose at some point. But the point would be, we made it, we did what nobody thought we would do. All of the bench would be that much better. All of the bench would be that much more experienced. Roy and Aldridge would have to step up and lead, otherwise it has no chance. Those two have to put down 50 a night from here on out. No nights off. Then we go into next season hardened. Ready. Resolved. Deep.

Now here is the bonus. Say we make the playoffs in the #8 spot. Might as well finish it off by taking a pop at the Lakers aye? Lets go! They haven't won in Portland in years. Lets get it to a game 7 and see what happens. So what if we lose. We weren't supposed to be there to begin with.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

If the Blazers can still make the playoffs this year, it would be such such a statement to the mental strength of this team. Think about that. So we make the playoffs, lose at some point. But the point would be, we made it, we did what nobody thought we would do. All of the bench would be that much better. All of the bench would be that much more experienced. Roy and Aldridge would have to step up and lead, otherwise it has no chance. Those two have to put down 50 a night from here on out. No nights off. Then we go into next season hardened. Ready. Resolved. Deep.

Now here is the bonus. Say we make the playoffs in the #8 spot. Might as well finish it off by taking a pop at the Lakers aye? Lets go! They haven't won in Portland in years. Lets get it to a game 7 and see what happens. So what if we lose. We weren't supposed to be there to begin with.

I love the way you think. Everything is about screwing the Lakers.

 

[craigehlo]

If the Blazers can still make the playoffs this year, it would be such such a statement to the mental strength of this team.

I agree. This might be how the team learns how to play team defense without Oden or Joel as their safety net down low. I know it's wishful thinking, but I dare to dream sometimes.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

If the Blazers can still make the playoffs this year, it would be such such a statement to the mental strength of this team. Think about that. So we make the playoffs, lose at some point. But the point would be, we made it, we did what nobody thought we would do. All of the bench would be that much better. All of the bench would be that much more experienced. Roy and Aldridge would have to step up and lead, otherwise it has no chance. Those two have to put down 50 a night from here on out. No nights off. Then we go into next season hardened. Ready. Resolved. Deep.

Now here is the bonus. Say we make the playoffs in the #8 spot. Might as well finish it off by taking a pop at the Lakers aye? Lets go! They haven't won in Portland in years. Lets get it to a game 7 and see what happens. So what if we lose. We weren't supposed to be there to begin with.

I can't rep you again so soon... but man I love the way you think!

 

[oldguy]

My two cents is play it out. No tanking, no trades. Let the chips fall where they may.

Go Blazers