NBA Trade Deadline: February 6

[Neil O. Shyster]

Gotta be honest.... the prospect of keeping Hassan and letting him walk is not exciting at all.

Neil got his wish... a small 4 game win streak before the trade deadline and now he can let Whiteside contract expire for financial benefits without blowback from the media.

 

[e_blazer]

that wasn't a risk at all. Portland was in a 'nothing-to-lose' situation and Melo's contract wasn't even guaranteed when signed

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I'm thinking people have a different definition of risk than I do. For me, trading Turner for Bazemore wasn't a risk because Portland was not risking anything. Meyers & Harkless for Whiteside was very little risk, because again, they weren't risking much, and Whiteside's skills were known. Letting Layman and Curry walk was again, small risk. I really don't think risk is very cumulative. 3 or 4 tiny risks don't equal a bigger risk. Mainly, futzing around with the lower end of the rotation isn't much risk. Neither is exchanging role players

the biggest risk Olshey took last summer was betting that better offense and floor spacing was going to offset the loss of perimeter defense and rebounding. But that bet didn't fail because of who he got rid of, it failed because of who bet on...c'mon Neil, really? Bazemore, Hezonja, Tolliver, and injured Gasol? The perimeter defense was gone but the better shooting never showed up. Changing the roster so much wasn't a big risk as much as it was poor execution.

IMO, real risk occurs at a higher level in the rotation, above the average role-players. It happens when you change the core. Perhaps like a Capela for a Covington

Olshey is risk-averse. That's often worked out for him because he seems to be really tuned into the NBA's version of Craig's List. He's always rooting around in the dusty corners of other teams' garages and avoids the man-caves where all the big screen TV's are. The light from those screens is unforgiving and asses are uncovered

I can't recall Olshey ever taking a big risk; nothing even close. Maybe the closest was the Afflalo trade, and that was a failure, and it was still low-level risk. His Batum trade was a bust but circumstances gave him an excuse. Maybe Plumlee for Nurkic, but Plumlee was not a core piece and the primary motivation for that trade was to kick the can of RFA a year or two down the road

personally, I believe Portland has to take a big risk pretty soon otherwise the high water mark of the Dame/CJ team team may very well have been last season. I know many here believe that all Portland needs is just another decent supporting player, or two. But I don't think supporting players alter a team's trajectory

The biggest risk Olshey took last year is the same one he looks poised to take next year: His belief that the natural progression of Collins and Simons, coupled with a core of Nurk, CJ, Dame and Hood is enough to contend. Collins’ and Hood’s injuries gave him a pass on judgement on that belief this year. Simons’ production is far from encouraging, however.

 

[e_blazer]

Sure, done deal. If we can manage to get KAT without trading Dame or Nurk, I will never ever criticize Neil again.

Oh, I never thought for an instant that proposal had a chance of working. Just commenting on the original proposal.

 

[Natebishop3]

The massive flaw in the foundation of our current roster is the belief that we will ever be able to win a championship with Dame and CJ. We have spent Dames entire prime on this belief and it’s going to blow up in our faces.

 

[wizenheimer]

The biggest risk Olshey took last year is the same one he looks poised to take next year: His belief that the natural progression of Collins and Simons, coupled with a core of Nurk, CJ, Dame and Hood is enough to contend. Collins’ and Hood’s injuries gave him a pass on judgement on that belief this year. Simons’ production is far from encouraging, however.

that may be accurate, although Hood is not a core player, even when healthy

 

[Labinot41]

Neil is scouting the next 6.0, 175lb Point Guard right now

 

[wizenheimer]

The massive flaw in the foundation of our current roster is the belief that we will ever be able to win a championship with Dame and CJ. We have spent Dames entire prime on this belief and it’s going to blow up in our faces.

a lot of us have never believed the Dame/CJ pairing was the foundation for a contender. Few have IMO, but the one ego who believed in it was siting in the GM's office with somebody else's checkbook

 

[Cugel]

man the heat are stacked

 

[Scalma]

the one ego who believed in it was siting in the GM's office with somebody else's checkbook

Months removed from the conference finals without his second best player.

 

[illmatic99]

man the heat are stacked

Honestly feel like MEM made out much better in that deal.

 

[Natebishop3]

Months removed from the conference finals without his second best player.

In the words of the great Ricky Bobby, “if you’re not first, you’re last.”

Did anyone really think we were gonna win the championship last year? Even after we beat Denver?

 

[illmatic99]

Listening to CJ's pod right now, and I heard that Hassan actually bought that house in Portland.

Huh

 

[Scalma]

In the words of the great Ricky Bobby, “if you’re not first, you’re last.”

Did anyone really think we were gonna win the championship last year? Even after we beat Denver?

No, but if they had Nurk, maybe. They beat golden state with him. But the topic was contenders. I didn’t know the definition of contender were the two teams that made the finals.

 

[CupWizier]

BTW, in case anyone's interested, looks like the Blazers Uprise guys are having a deadline day livestream. Don't know if there's much for them to talk about, but they're doing it anyway.

Will they have the well connected Danny Marang on as a guest to fill everyone in?

 

[blazerfan11]

There is actual conversation on the Minny RealGM forum about them wanting to trade KAT.

If their management even has a fraction of alignment with their fans on that thought, we need to have Neil on the phone making offers now. I'd trade the whole team but Dame for KAT. He can learn to play defense later once people finally realize that he's miscast as a 5, but he and Dame would make the best big-small combo in the league on offense. And if we could manage to keep Nurk, that trio would absolutely be deadly.

Start with CJ + Whiteside for KAT + Wiggins.

Minny traded KAT's buddy Covington and don't have Dangelo Russell. If that stays he will want out.

 

[JoshuaHall]

Listening to CJ's pod right now, and I heard that Hassan actually bought that house in Portland.

Huh

Didn’t he say he rented out his house in Miami to Meyers Leonard and he bought his own house in PDX?

Actually, I think Meyers said it somewhere. Said that they were interested in just doing a house swap but Hassan bought his own place.

 

[blazerfan11]

Miami's going to owe 3 Unprotected 1sts over the next 5 years, not exactly smart considering they aren't close to winning a title still.

They may not win the title but they certainly can win the East.

 

[wizenheimer]

Months removed from the conference finals without his second best player.

and, not coincidentally, the same months removed from the 3rd straight season of being eliminated by being swept. And Whiteside is a worthy replacement for that 2nd best player

 

[Natebishop3]

No, but if they had Nurk, maybe. They beat golden state with him. But the topic was contenders. I didn’t know the definition of contender were the two teams that made the finals.

To me, a contender is someone who legitimately could win the Championship.

I never felt like we had a legitimate shot last year.

 

[JoshuaHall]

Neil is scouting the next 6.0, 175lb Point Guard right now

You’ve been scouting Neil’s 6 inches for the last year bro

you’re obsessed with him

it’s honestly kinda funny in addition to annoying and sad

that said

you’re probably not entirely wrong given his draft history

 

[JoshuaHall]

To me, a contender is someone who legitimately could win the Championship.

I never felt like we had a legitimate shot last year.

If Nurk was healthy and playing, I think some people have a different perspective on that.

(as GS fans would say, if KD was healthy it wouldn’t have mattered so.. shrug ‍)

 

[Neil O. Shyster]

If Nurk was healthy and playing, I think some people have a different perspective on that.

(as GS fans would say, if KD was healthy it wouldn’t have mattered so.. shrug ‍)

I highly doubt it, since Whiteside wouldn’t be here and Nurk has never had a season as good as Hassan is playing this year.

 

[blazerfan11]

If Nurk was healthy and playing, I think some people have a different perspective on that.

(as GS fans would say, if KD was healthy it wouldn’t have mattered so.. shrug ‍)

Toronto didn't have a legitimate shot and they won.

 

[blazerfan11]

Did Portland make any trades yet?

 

[Hoopguru]

a lot of us have never believed the Dame/CJ pairing was the foundation for a contender. Few have IMO, but the one ego who believed in it was siting in the GM's office with somebody else's checkbook

What players/picks would it take for Portland to find another team or teams interested in executing a blockbuster?

 

[BonesJones]

 

[GDiama]

I highly doubt it, since Whiteside wouldn’t be here and Nurk has never had a season as good as Hassan is playing this year.

Last season Nurk had a season way better than Hassan's. Nurk had the impact of an All Star last season. Winning impact.

 

[e_blazer]

that may be accurate, although Hood is not a core player, even when healthy

Tell Neil. As far as I can tell, if he can come back from his Achilles rupture, he's slotted in at the SF spot.

 

[illmatic99]

Clips are opening up a roster spot.

 

[illmatic99]