Next Years Blazers

[Chris Craig]

There are three games left but I am already looking at next season. We have the draft and free agency. We are still waiting to see if the Pelicans pick conveys(not looking good) and what pick the Blazers end up with for their own. The Blazers have several paths they can take.

It appears they will be going after Grant like it or not. Is that conditioned on getting the Pels pick this year? Will the Blazers trade their own pick if the other doesn't convey to get Grant. It's been rumored Lillard wants to play with him and the Blazers want to keep him happy. Question is are they going to focus more on building a team that can compete or appeasing Dame?

If the Blazers by the grace of the basketball Gods somehow jump into the top three in the lottery, they could use it to take Banchero, Smith Jr, Holmgren, or perhaps a dark horse like Ivey.

Or they could trade it.

There aren't really any big stars in this year's FA that are going to leave their current teams. Beal maybe? Harden? LaVine will re-sign with Chicago. I don't see the Blazers getting a star in FA.

There are a handful of solid players that could make us better. TJ Warren, Jalen Smith, Kyle Anderson, Gary Harris.

We could take a chance with Ingles. Keep McLemore around. Develop Keon.

I hope the Blazers next year consists of some variation of the following players:

Damian Lillard
Jusuf Nurkic
Anfernee Simons
Nassir Little
Josh Hart
Justice Winslow
Jerami Grant
TJ Warren
Kyle Anderson
Gary Harris
Rookie (Banchero, Smith Jr, Holmgren?)
Drew Eubanks
JaVale McGee
Trendon Watford
Joe Ingles
Ben McLemore
Keon Johnson?

Of course we will have Brandon Williams under a 2 way and another two way spot open.

 

[Pinwheel1]

There are three games left but I am already looking at next season. We have the draft and free agency. We are still waiting to see if the Pelicans pick conveys(not looking good) and what pick the Blazers end up with for their own. The Blazers have several paths they can take.

It appears they will be going after Grant like it or not. Is that conditioned on getting the Pels pick this year? Will the Blazers trade their own pick if the other doesn't convey to get Grant. It's been rumored Lillard wants to play with him and the Blazers want to keep him happy. Question is are they going to focus more on building a team that can compete or appeasing Dame?

If the Blazers by the grace of the basketball Gods somehow jump into the top three in the lottery, they could use it to take Banchero, Smith Jr, Holmgren, or perhaps a dark horse like Ivey.

Or they could trade it.

There aren't really any big stars in this year's FA that are going to leave their current teams. Beal maybe? Harden? LaVine will re-sign with Chicago. I don't see the Blazers getting a star in FA.

There are a handful of solid players that could make us better. TJ Warren, Jalen Smith, Kyle Anderson, Gary Harris.

We could take a chance with Ingles. Keep McLemore around. Develop Keon.

I hope the Blazers next year consists of some variation of the following players:

Damian Lillard
Jusuf Nurkic
Anfernee Simons
Nassir Little
Josh Hart
Justice Winslow
Jerami Grant
TJ Warren
Kyle Anderson
Gary Harris
Drew Eubanks
JaVale McGee
Trendon Watford
Joe Ingles
Ben McLemore
Keon Johnson?

Of course we will have Brandon Williams under a 2 way and another two way spot open.

Hate to give up on Brown so soon but not bad. We do need a 3rd center though. I guess it could be a two-way contract.

 

[PCmor7]

I think you need an actual backup big on that roster. Not a 4 who you can play at the 5 in spots but a guy who can fill in the Nurk role if necessary.

 

[illmatic99]

There are three games left but I am already looking at next season.

I think most of us stared looking forward to next season about 30 games ago... what took you so long?

 

[PCmor7]

As much as I love Dame, I'm not here for this thing about bringing in good players he likes and paying them like great players.

If Dame really wants to win here, he needs to let the personnel people do their job. I'm not saying he shouldn't be consulted or advised or offering his two cents, but overpaying for Jerami Grant because Dame had a good time with him in Tokyo is a mistake.

We're trying to build a championship-level team, not an entourage. Dame, go make more friends with great players who can help you win.

 

[wizenheimer]

Hate to give up on Brown so soon but not bad. We do need a 3rd center though. I guess it could be a two-way contract.

if the Blazers go with Nurkic and Eubanks, a 3rd C needs to be a guy who can slide between C and PF. Guys like Harry Giles or Skal Labissere. Yeah, those are probably bad examples because they were injury magnets. Then I meant guys like Dwight Powell (who would be a great add) or Jaxson Hayes. Too bad that Cronin couldn't have pried Hayes loose in the CJ trade...although Hayes' legal issues are a pretty big red flag

 

[wizenheimer]

I think most of us stared looking forward to next season about 30 games ago... what took you so long?

as somebody who spends all year, every year, in Oregon, what I've been looking forward too is summer. I wish it would get here

at my age, I have about a 70 day limit on what I look forward too. Tomorrow is promised to nobody

 

[Hoopguru]

As much as I love Dame, I'm not here for this thing about bringing in good players he likes and paying them like great players.

If Dame really wants to win here, he needs to let the personnel people do their job. I'm not saying he shouldn't be consulted or advised or offering his two cents, but overpaying for Jerami Grant because Dame had a good time with him in Tokyo is a mistake.

We're trying to build a championship-level team, not an entourage. Dame, go make more friends with great players who can help you win.

I think Chauncey is savvy enough to override Dame when it comes to personnel.

 

[PCmor7]

if the Blazers go with Nurkic and Eubanks, a 3rd C needs to be a guy who can slide between C and PF. Guys like Harry Giles or Skal Labissere. Yeah, those are probably bad examples because they were injury magnets. Then I meant guys like Dwight Powell (who would be a great add) or Jaxson Hayes. Too bad that Cronin couldn't have pried Hayes loose in the CJ trade...although Hayes' legal issues are a pretty big red flag

Eubanks isn't a real 5, though. He's a PF with the game of a 5. You don't want him battling on the block with Embiid or AD or Gobert for any substantial amount of time. He's your smaller lineup 5. This roster needs an actual backup 5. It needs a Plumlee kind of player.

 

[PCmor7]

I think Chauncey is savvy enough to override Dame when it comes to personnel.

That's my hope. But I see a lot of people throwing up their hands and saying we're going to have Grant on the team next year by Dame's decree, and, quite honestly, I can't say the FO or even the coach won't buckle to him if those are the wheels in motion.

 

[illmatic99]

Eubanks isn't a real 5, though. He's a PF with the game of a 5. You don't want him battling on the block with Embiid or AD or Gobert for any substantial amount of time. He's your smaller lineup 5. This roster needs an actual backup 5. It needs a Plumlee kind of player.

Eubanks won't be matched up against Embiid, AD, or Rudy. He'll be going up against their backups. We can prolly snag Drew for the minimum, and he'll out-produce that contract given his production and role.

I like him as a backup.

 

[Chris Craig]

We have already seen the Chauncey's system can work. When we try to win, we do well even with a depleted roster, imagine when everyone is healthy next year and we have some better players to fill the roster.

That and the Lakers not making the playoffs keep me going.

 

[Chris Craig]

I will be rooting for SAS in the Play-in, but it looks like the Blazers might have to wait for the Bucks 2025 pick instead of the Pels pick this year.

 

[PCmor7]

Eubanks won't be matched up against Embiid, AD, or Rudy. He'll be going up against their backups. We can prolly snag Drew for the minimum, and he'll out-produce that contract given his production and role.

I like him as a backup.

On this roster? He absolutely gets matched up with those guys and Joker, etc. and players like that for some time.

What if Nurk gets hurt or into foul trouble or gets in one of his funks? Eubanks is your only option.

That loses games. If Nurk misses a couple of months, your season is over.

That doesn't even get into who those backups are he's going against. DeAndre Jordan backs up Embiid. Hassan Whiteside backs up Gobert. Dwight backs up AD. Etc.

I get it. People like Eubanks. He dunks. He hustles. He plays hard.

If you fall in love with him because of that and think he's going to be a rotation player doing the same stuff he sometimes does now against other tanking teams versus real teams that are really trying to win, you're going to hate Eubanks sooner rather than later.

 

[Hoopguru]

That's my hope. But I see a lot of people throwing up their hands and saying we're going to have Grant on the team next year by Dame's decree, and, quite honestly, I can't say the FO or even the coach won't buckle to him if those are the wheels in motion.

Ive not seen or heard Dame state I want Grant?

 

[Hoopguru]

On this roster? He absolutely gets matched up with those guys and Joker, etc. and players like that for some time.

What if Nurk gets hurt or into foul trouble or gets in one of his funks? Eubanks is your only option.

That loses games. If Nurk misses a couple of months, your season is over.

That doesn't even get into who those backups are he's going against. DeAndre Jordan backs up Embiid. Hassan Whiteside backs up Gobert. Dwight backs up AD. Etc.

I get it. People like Eubanks. He dunks. He hustles. He plays hard.

If you fall in love with him because of that and think he's going to be a rotation player doing the same stuff he sometimes does now against other tanking teams versus real teams that are really trying to win, you're going to hate Eubanks sooner rather than later.

Sign McGee

 

[PCmor7]

Ive not seen or heard Dame state I want Grant?

Please, it's too early in the morning to be trying to be cute or pedantic on here or trying to start an argument where one need not exist.

We haven't heard Dame say that. We have a lot of people say Dame likes Grant. He have stories out there of deals that were in the works and interest we have in Grant and people saying Dame liking Grant at least moves the needle toward trying to acquire Grant.

I'm speaking hypothetically and replying directly to the OP's hypothetical, so, please, let's not go off on an out-of-context tangent based on unrelated details and make my post something other than it clearly was.

 

[PCmor7]

Sign McGee

That's the kind of player that would make sense. McGee. Harteinstein. Someone in that mold. Eubanks and Watford can't be your (only) backups to Nurk, though, if you are planning to get good placement for the playoffs and winning there.

 

[illmatic99]

I get it. People like Eubanks. He dunks. He hustles. He plays hard.

If you fall in love with him because of that and think he's going to be a rotation player doing the same stuff he sometimes does now against other tanking teams versus real teams that are really trying to win, you're going to hate Eubanks sooner rather than later.

It's got nothing to do with liking the guy. It's that he's a capable backup who plays ~15 mpg for the minimum. Given the other massive holes on our roster, I'd rather not spend anything more than the minimum on a backup C after giving Nurk his extension.

 

[Hoopguru]

Please, it's too early in the morning to be trying to be cute or pedantic on here or trying to start an argument where one need not exist.

We haven't heard Dame say that. We have a lot of people say Dame likes Grant. He have stories out there of deals that were in the works and interest we have in Grant and people saying Dame liking Grant at least moves the needle toward trying to acquire Grant.

I'm speaking hypothetically and replying directly to the OP's hypothetical, so, please, let's not go off on an out-of-context tangent based on unrelated details and make my post something other than it clearly was.

I was not wanting to rile up anyone, I sincerely havent seen anything but per conjecture or he said she said.
At going on 72 I miss a lot especially when ive been playing nurse and fulltime house keeper since wifes knee replacements. Im going fishing Friday to clear my head. Hours on here just doesn’t do it.!

 

[Predator]

Eubanks isn't a real 5, though. He's a PF with the game of a 5. You don't want him battling on the block with Embiid or AD or Gobert for any substantial amount of time. He's your smaller lineup 5. This roster needs an actual backup 5. It needs a Plumlee kind of player.

Any backup 5 is going to get worked by those guys anyway.

Depends how much a backup 5 costs us.

 

[Pinwheel1]

if the Blazers go with Nurkic and Eubanks, a 3rd C needs to be a guy who can slide between C and PF. Guys like Harry Giles or Skal Labissere. Yeah, those are probably bad examples because they were injury magnets. Then I meant guys like Dwight Powell (who would be a great add) or Jaxson Hayes. Too bad that Cronin couldn't have pried Hayes loose in the CJ trade...although Hayes' legal issues are a pretty big red flag

I agree with this but I also agree with PCmor7. If we got Grant, Watford would basically be our "biggest" PF. I like Dwight Powell a lot but isn't Watford basically the same size. He is a couple of inches shorter but 3 inches longer. Same weight. Winslow can provide minutes at PF as well, just not against everyone.

So I lean towards more size with that extra roster spot. We need 3 centers in case of injuries and centers always seem to get injured.

 

[wizenheimer]

I agree with this but I also agree with PCmor7. If we got Grant, Watford would basically be our "biggest" PF. I like Dwight Powell a lot but isn't Watford basically the same size. He is a couple of inches shorter but 3 inches longer. Same weight. Winslow can provide minutes at PF as well, just not against everyone.

So I lean towards more size with that extra roster spot. We need 3 centers in case of injuries and centers always seem to get injured.

sure....I was just hoping that the 3rd C could have the size to play C but the mobility to defend PF's and Stretch-4's

 

[wizenheimer]

Dame
Simons
Nurkic
Hart
Winslow
Little
Watford

Johnson
Louzada
Brown

Ingles
Eubanks

Williams (2-way)

that's 12 players with some possible 'flexibility' around Louzada, Ingles, Eubanks, depending on trade(s)

then you have one or two lottery picks

then you have the guys who have auditioned:

McLemore
Elleby
Dunn

and, tax-MLE & vet minimums

There is competition for the slots in the back end of the roster. And there are definite holes at starting level forward positions. It gets pretty crowded unless you assume that most of the guys we've seen lately won't return

 

[Fairly-Hard]

I just don't see how anyone could have much of a "Rosey" outlook on this team at this point. A bunch right has to happen to even become a playoff team again.
This sucks.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

From your list I agree keep
Damian Lillard
Jusuf Nurkic
Anfernee Simons
Nassir Little
Josh Hart
Justice Winslow
Trendon Watford
Keon Johnson?
Rookie

I would not keep these guys unless its for the minimum and only well after free agency
Gary Harris (doesn't fill a need)
Drew Eubanks
JaVale McGee
Joe Ingles
Ben McLemore

I would add these players if the cost is low, but not for the lottery pick or big contracts prices I've seen;
Jerami Grant
TJ Warren
Kyle Anderson


Overall the franchise needs to decide what direction they are going. Are they trying to contend with Dame; or rebuild with/without Dame?

If contend with Dame the team needs to bring in a star better than any of the players listed above. If that can't happen then contending is not feasible.

If the team is rebuilding with or without Dame none of Grant/Warren/Anderson types make sense. They should explore trading Hart and Nurk, then look to add draft picks or talent such as taking on overpaid contracts. Trading Dame for a haul is certainly possible when going down this route, but it doesn't have to be, the team could try to build assets as the Celtics did with Pierce and explore moves to contend in future seasons as they did when they acquired Garnett/Allen.

 

[PCmor7]

I was not wanting to rile up anyone, I sincerely havent seen anything but per conjecture or he said she said.
At going on 72 I miss a lot especially when ive been playing nurse and fulltime house keeper since wifes knee replacements. Im going fishing Friday to clear my head. Hours on here just doesn’t do it.!

My apologies. I hadn't had my coffee yet ... actually, I don't even drink coffee ....

But yeah, I went overboard. I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you.

 

[PCmor7]

I also missed McGee on the OP's original roster.

I'm going to take a few laps.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

if the Blazers go with Nurkic and Eubanks, a 3rd C needs to be a guy who can slide between C and PF. Guys like Harry Giles or Skal Labissere. Yeah, those are probably bad examples because they were injury magnets. Then I meant guys like Dwight Powell (who would be a great add) or Jaxson Hayes. Too bad that Cronin couldn't have pried Hayes loose in the CJ trade...although Hayes' legal issues are a pretty big red flag

Or a guy like Christian Woods?

 

[PCmor7]

Dame
Simons
Nurkic
Hart
Winslow
Little
Watford

Johnson
Louzada
Brown

Ingles
Eubanks

Williams (2-way)

that's 12 players with some possible 'flexibility' around Louzada, Ingles, Eubanks, depending on trade(s)

then you have one or two lottery picks

then you have the guys who have auditioned:

McLemore
Elleby
Dunn

and, tax-MLE & vet minimums

There is competition for the slots in the back end of the roster. And there are definite holes at starting level forward positions. It gets pretty crowded unless you assume that most of the guys we've seen lately won't return

I think with the assets we have, it's easy to see the Blazers adding four quality, rotational pieces for next year. If they don't add at least three, it'll be disappointing.

I'd consider Ingles as part of those additions if they chose to retain him, since he didn't play at all for the Blazers this year.