Neil Olshi**y's Summer

[JDC]

For the Blazers to be in such a financial straight-jacket that they can't afford Ed Davis who takes a minuscule salary somewhere else....that's not overly confidence inspiring.

I don't think the move was financially driven...

They believe in Zach and Caleb and understood the having Ed on this team was a limiting factor in their development.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

It’s a very safe bet. He talks to Dame all the time. He’s known to be an inclusive GM. It’s hurt him in the past (Eric Gordon.) He wouldn’t make a decision like this without talking, or at least giving a heads up to Dame.

The reality is we can do better than Ed. Take the emotion out of it. He was invisible in the playoffs. Yeah so were some other guys, but a guy like Ed should never be invisible since teams don’t gameplan around him nor does he have a game that relies on rhythm and touches.

I just don’t believe in NO, but I appreciate your wait and see / optimistic approach.

 

[hoopsjock]

Maybe Neil is being directed by his boss(es) to take a more fiscally conservative approach due to overpaying guys previously.

Not acceptable in my opinion. Olshey has said numerous things this summer that go against being financially conservative.

Besides, signing Davis for one year at $4.4 million is pretty responsible. I'm still choosing to believe there is another reason for all of this.

 

[Hoopguru]

I'm thinking Nick S will be an upgrade in the back court. Hope so!

 

[Scalma]

Not acceptable in my opinion. Olshey has said numerous things this summer that go against being financially conservative.

Besides, signing Davis for one year at $4.4 million is pretty responsible. I'm still choosing to believe there is another reason for all of this.

Exactly. If they’re not gonna trade CJ then they have to be committed to being in the tax otherwise there’s absolutey zero reason to watch or support this franchise.

 

[oldmangrouch]

It’s a very safe bet. He talks to Dame all the time. He’s known to be an inclusive GM. It’s hurt him in the past (Eric Gordon.) He wouldn’t make a decision like this without talking, or at least giving a heads up to Dame.

The reality is we can do better than Ed. Take the emotion out of it. He was invisible in the playoffs. Yeah so were some other guys, but a guy like Ed should never be invisible since teams don’t gameplan around him nor does he have a game that relies on rhythm and touches.

Davis was a productive player on a reasonable salary - so no, the Blazers can't do better. Capspace mismanagement has left the team hamstrung.

 

[Scalma]

Davis was a productive player on a reasonable salary - so no, the Blazers can't do better. Capspace mismanagement has left the team hamstrung.

Oh well thanks for settling that then.

 

[tykendo]

Portland is becoming Hollywood North, has some fantastic youth basketball, good schools, and most important, excellent talent already in place. That's not any more delusional than these LA media types, and fans ,who are now clasping at the idea of LA having a so-called "Backup Plan" after PG13 gave them the bird. San Antonio, and Lebron hold all the cards. LA is a puppet right now. Portland is still a "Good" basketball team with young ,developing players. Dame is only 27. CP3 just signed a ridiculous 4 yr. 160 mil. contract. The prime of players goes a lot longer these days.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Oh well thanks for settling that then.

Fine, enlighten me - who are the Blazers going to sign in FA who is better/more cost effective than Davis?

 

[Scalma]

Fine, enlighten me - who are the Blazers going to sign in FA who is better/more cost effective than Davis?

How should I know who they’re going to sign or how much certain FAs will get? But if I had to guess? Kyle O’Quinn is better. Michael Beasley is better.

 

[tykendo]

How should I know who they’re going to sign or how much certain FAs will get? But if I had to guess? Kyle O’Quinn is better. Michael Beasley is better.

Dude, exactly. We don't know, but Neil knows the team needs firepower off the bench. Patience is needed.

 

[Orion Bailey]

It’s a very safe bet. He talks to Dame all the time. He’s known to be an inclusive GM. It’s hurt him in the past (Eric Gordon.) He wouldn’t make a decision like this without talking, or at least giving a heads up to Dame.

The reality is we can do better than Ed. Take the emotion out of it. He was invisible in the playoffs. Yeah so were some other guys, but a guy like Ed should never be invisible since teams don’t gameplan around him nor does he have a game that relies on rhythm and touches.

Anthony Davis disagrees with you.

 

[oldmangrouch]

How should I know who they’re going to sign or how much certain FAs will get? But if I had to guess? Kyle O’Quinn is better. Michael Beasley is better.

OK, O'Quinn is an interesting candidate. I'm not sure I would trust Beasley - he has always struck me as an underachiever.

 

[Scalma]

Anthony Davis disagrees with you.

What

 

[tykendo]

What

I know. Neil was with the Clippers. WTF does that have to do with the price of tea in China.

 

[Orion Bailey]

What

I know. Neil was with the Clippers. WTF does that have to do with the price of tea in China.

You have to connect the dots.

Meaning you said ed dissapeared in the playoffs and a guy of his caliber shouldn’t because he isn’t scouted.

Anthony Davis disagrees with you. He doesn’t need to scout a player like ed to totally dominate him and make it look like he dissapeared.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

You guys are too hard on Gronk. If he wants to complain then let him.

The posts inform the poster, and his posts are asinine.... most of the time. Occasionally, it's good stuff though.

 

[Hoopguru]

Dude, exactly. We don't know, but Neil knows the team needs firepower off the bench. Patience is needed.

Preach it brother!

 

[blazedanugz]

I feel like this is being overlooked and I could be wrong but cant we get the full MLE of 8 mil now instead of the 5 mil MLE?
You could bring in someone like Avery Bradley and use the tpe for Wilson chandler

 

[e_blazer]

I feel like this is being overlooked and I could be wrong but cant we get the full MLE of 8 mil now instead of the 5 mil MLE?
You could bring in someone like Avery Bradley and use the tpe for Wilson chandler

With a move to cut another player, yes, but if they used it we’d be hard capped at the apron. I think we would get better mileage by using the TPE and then using the tax payer’s MLE.

 

[blazedanugz]

With a move to cut another player, yes, but if they used it we’d be hard capped at the apron. I think we would get better mileage by using the TPE and then using the tax payer’s MLE.

So you can’t use the full MLE and the tpe?

 

[Gronk Brady]

Neil was already on most people’s shit list with the team getting swept, followed by his condescending exit interview with animosity towards fans... now he follows that with complete lies in follow up interviews... says we need vets and drafts 19 years olds... says he is willing to go over cap for this team, let’s Ed walk for only 4.4 mil and signs Nik Stauskas to minimums deal... this guy truely is a used car salesman... unbelievable he still wants to kee Dame and CJ together with no plan or realistic path forward to improve team... but why try when most fans will still buy tickets if they are just good enough to squeak into playoffs

 

[e_blazer]

So you can’t use the full MLE and the tpe?

You can use both, but if you use the full MLE you're hard capped at the apron. Right now, the Blazers are about $13 million under the apron. If they spend $8 mil on a player using the full MLE, then they only have about $5 mil left to re-sign Nurk and make any use of the TPE. If they stick to the tax-payer MLE they don't have the apron restriction.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

So we have replaced 3 crucial rotation spots with Nik Stauskas, Caleb Swanigan, and Wade Baldwin as of today.

That’s how you end up in the lottery.

 

[JoshuaHall]

So we have replaced 3 crucial rotation spots with Nik Stauskas, Caleb Swanigan, and Wade Baldwin as of today.

That’s how you end up in the lottery.

Man if you think Connaughton, Shabazz and ED kept us out of the lottery, I think you severely overvalue those players. Two of them are EASILY replaceable. Connaughton quite literally had negative value... as in, he’s worse than the average player at his position..

Shabazz, or should I say scoring guards, are easily replaceable.

ED is the biggest - and it better mean a HUGE minutes increase for Collins.

Plus, I’d rather suck and get a lotto pick than retain Connaughton and Shabazz - talk about a treadmill

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Man if you think Connaughton, Shabazz and ED kept us out of the lottery, I think you severely overvalue those players. Two of them are EASILY replaceable. Connaughton quite literally had negative value... as in, he’s worse than the average player at his position..

Shabazz, or should I say scoring guards, are easily replaceable.

ED is the biggest - and it better mean a HUGE minutes increase for Collins.

Plus, I’d rather suck and get a lotto pick than retain Connaughton and Shabazz - talk about a treadmill

I hate being a treadmill but I don’t think being in the lottery helps us with Dame... we are in a really shitty catch 22. Basketball hell, and Satan is Mike Rice tweets..

 

[Scalma]

This has probably been mentioned before but does anyone think maybe the reason they let Davis walk was because of how much of a liability his lack of shooting (and passing) is for the offense? Teams could just hedge the shit out of dame/CJ when Davis came to set a pick, because he was a complete non threat to pop and shoot, and a limited threat to roll. This was illuminated further in the playoffs.

 

[DDolla]

Sources: As he becomes eligible for five-year maximum rookie extension, Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker is upset with the front office over release of best friend Tyler Ulis, who started 43 games last season.

Hey Booker, you have Ariza to replace Ulis. Look at us, we released our energy guy and Dame’s friend Davis for Staukus.

 

[tykendo]

Sources: As he becomes eligible for five-year maximum rookie extension, Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker is upset with the front office over release of best friend Tyler Ulis, who started 43 games last season.

Hey Booker, you have Ariza to replace Ulis. Look at us, we released our energy guy and Dame’s friend Davis for Staukus.

Nah, Stauskas was a replacement for Pat Con.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

This has probably been mentioned before but does anyone think maybe the reason they let Davis walk was because of how much of a liability his lack of shooting is for the offense? Teams could just hedge the shit out of dame/CJ when Davis came to set a pick, because he was a complete non threat to pop and shoot, and a limited threat to roll? This was illuminated further in the playoffs.

No... It was likely a financial reason. Davis is an elite rebounder and a good defender, who cares if he can’t shoot? Not every player in the nba needs to be a threat...