Next Season: Improvement?

[Harry's Raincoat]

Thinking outside the box a little here.....don't kill me!

I really like our three guard rotation of Lillard, McCollum and Crabbe. I assume we can re-sign Crabbe to a rotational/backup role contract.

I also really like Mason Plumlee as our center. Rebounds well, sets picks, actually "rolls" to the rim, improved FT%, etc. A lot to like from him and he's very young. Team control for 2 more seasons after this one.

There is a Forward that I like, and that I think would fit well with our Stotts-type passing offense and 3pt shooting that could make us much better on offense and efficiency: Ryan Anderson.
He'll be a UFA and coming off making $8.5M. We have cap to sign him. I envision him starting at PF. With Aminu's biggest strength being defense and rebounding, offsetting him with Ryan Anderson makes sense to me. A lineup of Lillard, McCollum, Aminu, Anderson, Plumlee and key reserves of Crabbe, Harkless and Davis. Ryan Anderson will be 28 next season.

It's not a killer, Championship trade, but I believe its one that would help jump us forward in the standings and make us a Playoff team.

Thoughts?

 

[blue9]

It would certainly help us jump forward in the standings. But I'm not a fan of Aminu/Anderson as starters - that's a team that's destined for one-and-dones, and maybe a surprise 2nd round appearance at best.
We need a killer SF and a jack-of-all-trades PF.

 

[riverman]

Thinking outside the box a little here.....don't kill me!

I really like our three guard rotation of Lillard, McCollum and Crabbe. I assume we can re-sign Crabbe to a rotational/backup role contract.

I also really like Mason Plumlee as our center. Rebounds well, sets picks, actually "rolls" to the rim, improved FT%, etc. A lot to like from him and he's very young. Team control for 2 more seasons after this one.

There is a Forward that I like, and that I think would fit well with our Stotts-type passing offense and 3pt shooting that could make us much better on offense and efficiency: Ryan Anderson.
He'll be a UFA and coming off making $8.5M. We have cap to sign him. I envision him starting at PF. With Aminu's biggest strength being defense and rebounding, offsetting him with Ryan Anderson makes sense to me. A lineup of Lillard, McCollum, Aminu, Anderson, Plumlee and key reserves of Crabbe, Harkless and Davis. Ryan Anderson will be 28 next season.

It's not a killer, Championship trade, but I believe its one that would help jump us forward in the standings and make us a Playoff team.

Thoughts?

He is a really good fit for Stotts type of offense..solid player but just doesn't move the needle much considering Crabbe, Harkless and Aminu can all play the 3. I like Aminu more than most fans here, so I'd rather stay with Chief than Anderson at least as a starter. Not sure how old Anderson is either but he's a bit injury prone

 

[B-Roy]

We have a jack of all trades PF, his name is Aminu.

 

[blue9]

We have a jack of all trades PF, his name is Aminu.

Except he sucks at all of his trades.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Keep the best, trade/cut the rest, acquire new talent and repeat. Keep doing that until you get better.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Except he sucks at all of his trades.

He's not a Jack of all trades; more of an 8 of all Trades

 

[Pinwheel1]

It would certainly help us jump forward in the standings. But I'm not a fan of Aminu/Anderson as starters - that's a team that's destined for one-and-dones, and maybe a surprise 2nd round appearance at best.
We need a killer SF and a jack-of-all-trades PF.

Can't we do both. We do need a killer SF, but all the ones I can think of are in college and 4 years away from getting us past the 1st round of the playoffs. So if we can get a good draft pick this summer , we can still add Anderson as a FA.

 

[B-Roy]

Except he sucks at all of his trades.

I know you hate Aminu cause he's not as good as Batum. Doesn't mean you have to have to exaggerate.

 

[Denny Crane]

"Now you know what I was talking about last year!"

 

[blue9]

Can't we do both. We do need a killer SF, but all the ones I can think of are in college and 4 years away from getting us past the 1st round of the playoffs. So if we can get a good draft pick this summer , we can still add Anderson as a FA.

Ohhhh, add him as a FA. I thought the idea was to trade for him - which, IMO, would probably cement us as 1st round PO fodder this season which would mean missing out on our pick. I'm decided NOT down with that idea.
I'm not really down with the idea of signing him as a FA either, but it would be preferable to trading for him.

 

[blue9]

I know you hate Aminu cause he's not as good as Batum. Doesn't mean you have to have to exaggerate.

I don't like (not hate) Aminu because he's a dumb player. He appears to be the new Travis Outlaw in terms of level of intelligence, impact on the game AND being a fan favorite.

 

[B-Roy]

So you don't like him because.....other people like him?

 

[PDXFonz]

Thinking outside the box a little here.....don't kill me!

I really like our three guard rotation of Lillard, McCollum and Crabbe. I assume we can re-sign Crabbe to a rotational/backup role contract.

I also really like Mason Plumlee as our center. Rebounds well, sets picks, actually "rolls" to the rim, improved FT%, etc. A lot to like from him and he's very young. Team control for 2 more seasons after this one.

There is a Forward that I like, and that I think would fit well with our Stotts-type passing offense and 3pt shooting that could make us much better on offense and efficiency: Ryan Anderson.
He'll be a UFA and coming off making $8.5M. We have cap to sign him. I envision him starting at PF. With Aminu's biggest strength being defense and rebounding, offsetting him with Ryan Anderson makes sense to me. A lineup of Lillard, McCollum, Aminu, Anderson, Plumlee and key reserves of Crabbe, Harkless and Davis. Ryan Anderson will be 28 next season.

It's not a killer, Championship trade, but I believe its one that would help jump us forward in the standings and make us a Playoff team.

Thoughts?

I'm a big fan of this idea. Also an Anderson fan, he seems like a good person from what I've heard. He's also the kind of guy who I don't think would write us off because it's Portland, he might actually like it here if he could get past the rain. Not only is this a good idea, but a plausible one.

The only thing I feel the need to add is that I think we might be better suited to add a PF who has a strong post game so that we can play inside - out, similar to what the Spurs do. Anderson isn't a liability down there, but I'm not sure he's even top 5 in the league at his position for points within 10 feet of the basket.

 

[Harry's Raincoat]

He is a really good fit for Stotts type of offense..solid player but just doesn't move the needle much considering Crabbe, Harkless and Aminu can all play the 3. I like Aminu more than most fans here, so I'd rather stay with Chief than Anderson at least as a starter. Not sure how old Anderson is either but he's a bit injury prone

I want to sign him to play PF. Not SF. Anderson is 27 years old.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I don't like (not hate) Aminu because he's a dumb player. He appears to be the new Travis Outlaw in terms of level of intelligence, impact on the game AND being a fan favorite.

I admit Aminu frustrates the hell out of me on offense in crucial periods of games when he takes a bad 3 pt shot or drives into traffic. However I don't think he has a low BB IQ. He is too smart on D to have low BB intelligence. And he does impact the games when he is out there, but again it is on D. I am perfectly fine with his defense so far. It might not be flashy, but it is very solid.

 

[riverman]

I want to sign him to play PF. Not SF. Anderson is 27 years old.

So he's Gerald Henderson's age basically....I don't know why I thought he was a SF.

 

[Harry's Raincoat]

Like other commenters here, I really like Lillard at PG, McCollum at SG, Aminu or Harkless at SF, and Plumlee at C. I think Anderson compliments them well. He fits the age range to play right away and make impact right away.

I don't expect this team to keep building with draft age players, trying to build around Lillard. I think our "move-the-needle" new guys will be gotten via trade or Free Agency.

 

[illmatic99]

Really questioning the idea that Aminu is smart on defense. He is constantly lost on picks and sometimes just forgets his man, and switches randomly. He doesn't use his physical gifts as much as he should

 

[oldfisherman]

UFAs to sign
Al Horford @ PF. He turns 30 in June.
Mike Conley with Dame and CJ as a three guard rotation.

 

[riverman]

I want to sign him to play PF. Not SF. Anderson is 27 years old.

I watched Gordon Hayward in a couple of games recently and he's a guy who would thrive here. I just like the idea of going away from score first power forwards and going for the defenders that rebound like madmen at the 4. I watched Anderson with the Magic but haven't seen many Pelicans games where he was in the lineup

 

[riverman]

Like other commenters here, I really like Lillard at PG, McCollum at SG, Aminu or Harkless at SF, and Plumlee at C. I think Anderson compliments them well. He fits the age range to play right away and make impact right away.

I don't expect this team to keep building with draft age players, trying to build around Lillard. I think our "move-the-needle" new guys will be gotten via trade or Free Agency.

You could very well be right about this Harry...good thread. Anderson is a character guy too. I think I mentioned, Hayward in Utah is a similar player who fits Stotts schemes. Have to watch a few Pelicans games

 

[Trackjack]

Anderson would fit perfect in Stotts offense and not bad rebounder. His defense is subject at times but overall be good third scorer for the blazer but I would wait to go after him in FA.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

He fits offensively. Lacks defense though, basically an older/better Leonard.

Personally I think what could make us a lot better is drafting Sabonis and going balls to the wall after Harrison Barnes in the offseason.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Should we have gone after Kevin Love last Season??????

Im wondering if Love wouldnt be the best answer in the league right now for what would be best for this team and make the most impact. The PF is the position of greatest need and would Love fit this offense perfect.

 

[PDXFonz]

Really questioning the idea that Aminu is smart on defense. He is constantly lost on picks and sometimes just forgets his man, and switches randomly. He doesn't use his physical gifts as much as he should

I think what most people mean to say is that he is a good on ball defender, which is spot on.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Should we have gone after Kevin Love last Season??????

Im wondering if Love wouldnt be the best answer in the league right now for what would be best for this team and make the most impact. The PF is the position of greatest need and would Love fit this offense perfect.

Love is the best offensive fit possible for this team, and seeing how we play now.. his offensive impact would far outweigh is defensive general terribleness. We'd be a playoff team with Love, probably one and done but a playoff team nonetheless.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Love is the best offensive fit possible for this team, and seeing how we play now.. his offensive impact would far outweigh is defensive general terribleness. We'd be a playoff team with Love, probably one and done but a playoff team nonetheless.

Yeah, Im thinking so now, but we would get better and improve beyond the one and done with the right moves in the next year. Only thing is Im not sure of his age, Is he a bit old for Lillard? 28 already?

 

[Trackjack]

Due to GS said money no option to sign there players so Barnes properly off the table.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Yeah, Im thinking so now, but we would get better and improve beyond the one and done with the right moves in the next year. Only thing is Im not sure of his age, Is he a bit old for Lillard? 28 already?

28 and has injury issues but his game should last him into his mid 30s as a decent contributor.