Pelton: Trail Blazers Are NBA’s Most Underrated

[blue9]

BTW lets have a little bit of fun here. Lets say Portland does in fact have sneaky success this year and plays to a level of 41 wins. Given the depth of Talent and age of talent.... and Approximately 30 million in cap space or so.... Does this team look like an up and comer? How appealing would this team potentially be to a guy like Kevin Durant?

About as appealing as we are today. The only way we're going to sign Durant, or a Durant-level free agent, is after we make the WCF. Forty-one wins might get us a Greg Monroe-level player...which is roughly what we got in Ed Davis/Aminu.

 

[blue9]

OTOH: The opportunity to NOT share a team with Russell Westbrook has got to be damn tempting.

Which is why he'll go to DCW. Their backcourt is better than ours AND they're in the weak conference which makes getting to the Finals much easier (and doesn't he have ties to the area?).

 

[Orion Bailey]

Again, I disagree. I think the big cities have MORE pull than the use to. Back in the 80s (and even 90s) it was all about teams, and not cities. POR, PHX, UTH, IND, SEA, SAC, DET - all non-destination cities that put together great teams with superstar players. It's only in the past 15-20 years that where a team is located has had a big impact on where players want to play. We saw Melo & Amare choose NYK, not because the Knicks were a good team but because they were in NYC!
And once Kobe retires players will want to play for the Lakers again (if management can get their act together).

I see your point and can agree to a point, but I also think its because players don't stay in college as long and thus come into the league less mature and more prioritized on themselves rather than winning. Melo and Amare, though good examples,have a combined IQ of a turnip and Melo has proven to be a selfish ( all be it great) player throughout his career. Portland is setting a standard for team professionalism amongst it's youth though. The players we have brought in are all younger, but seem older in many ways. They aren't players talking about wanting limelight or minutes or shots... they are all embracing that team ball that all the teams you referenced, had.

Now the key is finding an "on the verge" superstar that fits the maturity and team first, mentality we are wanting. They are out there. Though Lebron went to Miami, it was clear it was to win, not to be on the beach. He won and he came back home and now wants to win in a smaller market.
Durant will be a big percentage of this answer. What he does this next off season. run to the money and the light in a big city, or truly pick the city with the best chances of winning together is.

I also think that LMA, just this last offseason, said it isnt about the city, its about winning. Maybe he is smarter than we all think and HE knew he wasn't going to win here with him being a number one but could never say that, so he moved on... At any rate he picked a small market with a high standard of winning.

I will say this. To lure a true MVP superstar free agent, we do need to be a playoff team already. This is another reason why im cool with 42 wins and 8th-10th spot. The smart players will see our trend and path ahead of us and I think we can get some guys more interested than most think. Dame must have a stellar year and CJ must become that fringe all star though.

 

[Schilly]

About as appealing as we are today. The only way we're going to sign Durant, or a Durant-level free agent, is after we make the WCF. Forty-one wins might get us a Greg Monroe-level player...which is roughly what we got in Ed Davis/Aminu.

I don't think that's at all accurate. This summer our team.had been dismantled at an epic level. The team we have now is by most accounts a 26 win team. If the excellent and play at 41... Totally different story.

 

[Orion Bailey]

I'd be happy if we had a "fluke" player that leads us to two finals and wins a title.

I don't see how any recent NBA champ can be a "fluke" when they have to win four 7 game playoff series. On top of it the warriors won 67 games and have one of the best point differentials in NBA history.

I think Fluke is the wrong description. Any year a team wins a ring they are champs... But they aren't a dynasty. The Spurs have been a dynasty for 20 years. Several teams have been a dynasty for a 3-5 year spurt. The lakers three-peat. Miami Heat. Dynasty.

BTW lets have a little bit of fun here. Lets say Portland does in fact have sneaky success this year and plays to a level of 41 wins. Given the depth of Talent and age of talent.... and Approximately 30 million in cap space or so.... Does this team look like an up and comer? How appealing would this team potentially be to a guy like Kevin Durant?

Say for example CJ and Meyers actually do have breakout years and the rest show positive progress... From a talent perspective how good might Durant perceive the Blazers to be if he were on the team?

I think we have a legit shot.

Well with Durant he'll never even answer our phone calls. We told him he isn't good enough to be the number 1 pick. I'm sure he still has that in his mind..

If he dwells on that and its truly a factor in his decision making, then he is too immature and too ignorant to fit in well with this team anyhow and would be a cancer. He should be smart enough to know that we have a new face and GM.

 

[Draco]

Durant seems like a pipe dream. But if he leaves for DC or wherever how about his teammate, not Westbrook but Ibaka? It wouldn't be until after next season but if we add a free agent wing this summer, get development from CJ then Ibaka could be a lethal big man rotation with Vonleh and Meyers.

I wonder if Ibaka or Steven Adams is the true target of Olshey when giving Kanter that horrible contract.

 

[oldmangrouch]

How many million did LMA leave on the table just to put Portland in his rear-view mirror?

We have a better chance of finding the next Roy or Dame in the draft than we do of getting somebody like Durrant in free agency.

When the Blazers don't sign an all-star caliber player in free agency next summer, I wonder how many posters here will have the balls to stand up and admit they were wrong?

 

[Orion Bailey]

How many million did LMA leave on the table just to put Portland in his rear-view mirror?

We have a better chance of finding the next Roy or Dame in the draft than we do of getting somebody like Durrant in free agency.

When the Blazers don't sign an all-star caliber player in free agency next summer, I wonder how many posters here will have the balls to stand up and admit they were wrong?

How about if we dont land one. It might come in a trade. I dont think anyone has said we can only do it through free agency. But if we win 42 games and Dame has a Stellar year and CJ breaks out and Meyers looks solid and we dont get someone who can make a big impact... a fringe all star with upside or a true all star, I will admit im wrong. No biggy.