Olshey NOT in denial?

[Fez Hammersticks]

Unlike Dave from B-Edge, 'Tone and Wheels, Neil is rational about this roster: Immediate help will not help! There is simply not enough talent on the roster. To make matters worse, there is absolutely no young talent on this roster outside Nic. Keeping the picks (or trading up) is the way to go.

Indications are that general manager Neil Olshey, hired Monday, is more open to keep both lottery picks and build for the future in contrast to the previous plan that seemed to lean toward trading No. 6 and/or No. 11 for immediate help in win-now mode around LaMarcus Aldridge. The new Portland management team, wanting the roster to help dictate the coach, is more likely to see the direction of the team before deciding whether to go with an assistant in line for a first job or an experienced hand.

There were no shortage of positive reviews for Damian Lillard of Weber State, but some perspective: While he impressed people, he didn’t actually help his draft stock. Lillard was already the top-rated point guard on the board and a strong candidate to be taken as soon as the Trail Blazers at No. 6.

-B.Edge

 

[Blaze01]

Let's hope it is true....

This team needs an infusion of talent badly...

 

[oldmangrouch]

I hope this is true.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I disagree. You can only build through the draft with top 3 picks.

{Poasted via palm pilot}

 

[Rhal]

I disagree. You can only build through the draft with top 3 picks.

{Poasted via palm pilot}

Thats usually the case, this draft is an enigma because a lot of top talent stayed. Usually there are 3 people who are clearly above the others, this draft there are 6. This is the type of draft you can get a home run late in the lottery but we could just as easily get 2 okay but not great or even 2 bust picks as well.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

You're in denial.

If this team had a solid core in place you can trade these picks for veteran help.

But this team has too many needs. You don't have a core here. Unless you like living in purgatory, you have to start building with an eye on the future.

Needs:

Starting PG | backup PG
Starting SG |
Backup SF
Starting C | backup C

 

[Pinwheel1]

Unlike Dave from B-Edge, 'Tone and Wheels, Neil is rational about this roster: Immediate help will not help! There is simply not enough talent on the roster. To make matters worse, there is absolutely no young talent on this roster outside Nic. Keeping the picks (or trading up) is the way to go.

-B.Edge

I really don't see how we can move up without giving up both our current lottery picks, especially as you point out we have no other talent to offer? We need to keep both picks imo because as you mention ......we have lots of needs.

 

[Blazer Freak]

You're in denial.

If this team had a solid core in place you can trade these picks for veteran help.

But this team has too many needs. You don't have a core here. Unless you like living in purgatory, you have to start building with an eye on the future.

Needs:

Starting PG | backup PG
Starting SG |
Backup SF
Starting C | backup C

Fez, you confuse me. One post you say we need to trade up to #2 to get one talented player and in this post you say we need to accumulate as much talent as possible....In a draft where after #1, picks 2-8 and 9-14 are pretty similarly-talented tiers.

While I would love to put T-Rob next to LA, I think you take your chances on one of those intriguing players (T-Rob, Beal, etc) dropping and if not, you take Lillard at 6 and BPA available at 11.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

You're in denial.

If this team had a solid core in place you can trade these picks for veteran help.

But this team has too many needs. You don't have a core here. Unless you like living in purgatory, you have to start building with an eye on the future.

Needs:

Starting PG | backup PG
Starting SG |
Backup SF
Starting C | backup C

We have tons of cap room and tradable assets and a top pf in the league not even in his prime. Purgatory is gambling on low lottery picks that are historically non factors or signing guys that are young but will never be allstars. That will always be a team that will be waiting forever for the team to blossom and click together. Gamble for immediate wins with blockbuster trades or free agent signings, if that doesn't work...blow it up and start over.

Get the stars first. No one wins building a team focusing on role players first.


{Poasted via palm pilot}

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Thats usually the case, this draft is an enigma because a lot of top talent stayed. Usually there are 3 people who are clearly above the others, this draft there are 6. This is the type of draft you can get a home run late in the lottery but we could just as easily get 2 okay but not great or even 2 bust picks as well.

Actually, historically the chances are we get two busts...or not busts but nba journeymen

{Poasted via palm pilot}

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I really don't see how we can move up without giving up both our current lottery picks, especially as you point out we have no other talent to offer? We need to keep both picks imo because as you mention ......we have lots of needs.

Give up both then. Jarret jack and martell webster or chris paul? Fill more holes in the team or go for the better talent?

{Poasted via palm pilot}

 

[THE HCP]

I think with all the draft talk going on in the past few days........ people have forgotten that we MIGHT just be a major player in the free agent market.

 

[Blaze01]

We have tons of cap room and tradable assets and a top pf in the league not even in his prime. Purgatory is gambling on low lottery picks that are historically non factors or signing guys that are young but will never be allstars. That will always be a team that will be waiting forever for the team to blossom and click together. Gamble for immediate wins with blockbuster trades or free agent signings, if that doesn't work...blow it up and start over.

Who?

There are not any legit all star caliber players in thier prime who can be had.....


What you are advocating is unfeasible AT THIS TIME for POR...that is why they will gather young players (assets) and build up the talent on this roster, so then if a player like Chris Paul DOES become available on the market they will be ready to pounce....

 

[THE HCP]

I say we go Jailblazer and bring in Beasley and OJ Mayo. Then sign Dragic and re-sign Nic.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

I really don't see how we can move up without giving up both our current lottery picks, especially as you point out we have no other talent to offer? We need to keep both picks imo because as you mention ......we have lots of needs.

So in my zone for the evening that I can't type. So I'll shortcut....

+1.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

That took 5 minutes, BTW.

 

[THE HCP]

I'm watching Mystic River. This movie is deep!

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

HY

Who?

There are not any legit all star caliber players in thier prime who can be had.....


What you are advocating is unfeasible AT THIS TIME for POR...that is why they will gather young players (assets) and build up the talent on this roster, so then if a player like Chris Paul DOES become available on the market they will be ready to pounce....

Deron. I think carmelo could be on the block as its clearly not going to work. Maybe not, but better to use all players, cap space and picks except aldridge to go for the to talent. Give the knicks resigned batum, draft picks and whatever. Then push for deron. Or any other options...you need stars, period and we are in just so good a position to go for it.

we have lots of cap space, picks and small contacts on young talent. To say things are unfeasible is to have a chronic negative outlook taking things into consideration. To waste this time and think small and build a team of role players when we have this opportunity will be like another wasted opportunity like not trading RLEC.

My way is a gamble, but at least its better than getting bounced in round one every year or barely missing playoffs which is likely if we waste this time on non top 3 picks or goran dragic level free agents

{Poasted via palm pilot}

 

[THE HCP]

I have a feeling Philly is going to amnesty Elton Brand. He would be a nice addition and could be had for cheap.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I hope this is true as well. Our team needs an infusion of talent in the worst way. Whether that means using both picks, using them to move up to #2, using one to acquire multiple picks, or using them on youngish all star type players in the league already

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I've saying for months (and getting some abuse) that we need quantity of talent rather than trading the team for one hugely talented player. Nice to see people jumping on board finally (that's why I'm Blazer Prophet).

But with the #6 pick, trading the #11, FA... we can possibly add 3-5 players with sufficient talent. If we do, at least we can make our way back into the playoffs.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I've saying for months (and getting some abuse) that we need quantity of talent rather than trading the team for one hugely talented player. Nice to see people jumping on board finally (that's why I'm Blazer Prophet).

But with the #6 pick, trading the #11, FA... we can possibly add 3-5 players with sufficient talent. If we do, at least we can make our way back into the playoffs.

I would assume, and hope, Olshey sold PA on 2013-2014 being the season we would be in the conversation of contender

 

[Blazinaway]

also drafting and adding talent and keeping at least half of our capspace or more will IMO allow us to use that capspace more efficiently over the next 1-3 years when the new Lux tax kicks in and more teams are concerned about going over the cap and having that extra leverage could bring you a very good player

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I would assume, and hope, Olshey sold PA on 2013-2014 being the season we would be in the conversation of contender

I don't worry about being a contender. I worry about having the right talent level. I like to take the horse before the cart.

 

[Blaze01]

NY may be down on Carmelo, but mgmt may not and even if they were they are not going to rip up thier big 3, 2 years after the fact...that is a pipedream....they had coaching change, injuries, emergence of Lin etc.....They are not going to trade Carmelo for a bunch of subpar pieces.....

and Deron Williams is a UFA, meaning POR doesn't have to trade ANYTHING for him....what they need to do, is have a good draft and then send Olshey out at the start of FA to sell his vision to Deron,,just like he did to Lebron, Paul and Billups....and realize that it is a longshot, but it is certainly worth a try.

 

[julius]

NY may be down on Carmelo, but mgmt may not and even if they were they are not going to rip up thier big 3, 2 years after the fact...that is a pipedream....they had coaching change, injuries, emergence of Lin etc.....They are not going to trade Carmelo for a bunch of subpar pieces.....

and Deron Williams is a UFA, meaning POR doesn't have to trade ANYTHING for him....what they need to do, is have a good draft and then send Olshey out at the start of FA to sell his vision to Deron,,just like he did to Lebron, Paul and Billups....and realize that it is a longshot, but it is certainly worth a try.

I keep forgetting that Portland could trade a player to the Nets (+ a pick/compensation) for a sign and trade.

I think Portland would be a hard sell, despite what positives they have going for them. Strong fanbase (although I'm not sure thats a big sell to players, to the degree people say), good facilities (although the RG needs some tweaking) and an owner who is rich.

The negatives are that Portland is a once horse town (Timbers aside, although this year isn't as big of a deal as last year was with the Timbers), Portland is "lilly white", it "rains all the time" (although during the rainy season the guys are playing games, traveling or practicing, so it shouldn't matter) and Portland is not a "glamor" team (both in the sense of current makeup of players, how the league perceives them AND the league sells them).

I think the only selling point there might be is LaMarcus and Derons supposed friendship.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I don't worry about being a contender. I worry about having the right talent level. I like to take the horse before the cart.

Actually you have that backwards. You would get the cart first, then the horse. Getting the horse would be going big. You want a plan of being conservative, build over time...which does not work. So yes, it seems you do not want a contender....ever with your philosophy...just young guys you can hope one day develop.

{Poasted via palm pilot}

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

also drafting and adding talent and keeping at least half of our capspace or more will IMO allow us to use that capspace more efficiently over the next 1-3 years when the new Lux tax kicks in and more teams are concerned about going over the cap and having that extra leverage could bring you a very good player

no more imaginary cap space. Use it when you get it.otherwise we will be frozen to make necessary moves to preserve the cap space

{Poasted via palm pilot}

 

[Pinwheel1]

Give up both then. Jarret jack and martell webster or chris paul? Fill more holes in the team or go for the better talent?

{Poasted via palm pilot}

Chris Paul. That was a stupid move by the Blazers. But the two situations are not similar. JJ was the 22nd pick, not a lottery pick. And the 2005 nba draft in gerneral was horrible.

http://www.nba.com/draft2005/board.html

Overall I agree though, I would never trade down in a draft. But this one is unusually balanced. Time will tell of course. But I would have hated to trade up to # 2 in the 2005 draft.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I actually agree with El Prez.

Quality ALWAYS trumps quantity.