Portland needs to add a go-to player

[Orion Bailey]

I must continue to argue!

Nah. I agree. He isn't a go to in the true sense, but he was our go to. He is a 2nd tier option at best on a contending team in my opinion, probably a 3rd.

 

[HailBlazers]

Go to doesn't have to mean clutch. It means someone who can score without being assisted, a player that can open it up for the rest of the team. LA was certainly that, just look how Lillard has struggled since.

 

[tester551]

2. We have 0 good screen setters and this shows with how little room Lillard has to operate in.

Part of that is due to how CJ & Dame utilize the screen. They give too much room between them and the screener allowing the defender to jump in (or slide through)

 

[tester551]

Too many players right now are 2nd guessing.

Hence, the exact value of being in the playoffs THIS year. Gives them an opportunity to get experience and gain comfort.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Part of that is due to how CJ & Dame utilize the screen. They give too much room between them and the screener allowing the defender to jump in (or slide through)

Screens are only as good as the PG who is using it. If you dont know how to use it, then no one can set a good screen.

 

[Natebishop3]

The biggest difference between LAC and the Blazers is that they have multiple guys that they can go to to get a shot, and they know those guys will deliver.

Paul
Redick
Griffin
Crawford

Right now I'd say most of our team is in the same category as Jeff Green and Austin Rivers. They might be on one night, and put up 20, or they might be ice cold. That's fine for LAC because they have four other guys who can consistently score.

Outside of Dame and CJ, who do we have? The rest of the team is painfully inconsistent. We need AT LEAST one more guy who can consistently hit shots.

 

[Orion Bailey]

The biggest difference between LAC and the Blazers is that they have multiple guys that they can go to to get a shot, and they know those guys will deliver.

Paul
Redick
Griffin
Crawford

Right now I'd say most of our team is in the same category as Jeff Green and Austin Rivers. They might be on one night, and put up 20, or they might be ice cold. That's fine for LAC because they have four other guys who can consistently score.

Outside of Dame and CJ, who do we have? The rest of the team is painfully inconsistent. We need AT LEAST one more guy who can consistently hit shots.

Spot on.

 

[blue9]

I got off the "Trade CJ" wagon in December. With that said, I still come back to the idea of possibly trading him for Butler. I don't know that I'd do it - and I think I'd want CHI to sweeten the deal, because they are having major issues with Butler and CJ is exactly the sort of player they want/need to build for the future. This could be a win/win for both teams, but because Butler is so mercurial, it could also blow up in our faces - which, again, is why they'd need to sweeten the deal, IMO.

I'm also NOT in favor of letting players have control over personnel decisions. But this is a rare case where I'd want total buy-in from Dame before making this sort of move.

 

[HolyBackboard]

Kanter would've made a world of difference. His horrific defense aside, he's exactly what this team is missing on the offensive end.

Been saying this since Neil offered him the MAX ... Yes, his defense is poor but it's not like we have a bunch of defensive monsters down low. He's one of the best young bigs at scoring with his back to the basket and he's a rebounding machine. Dame and CJ need a low-post threat on this team to help take some of the pressure off of them and open up the court.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Been saying this since Neil offered him the MAX ... Yes, his defense is poor but it's not like we have a bunch of defensive monsters down low. He's one of the best young bigs at scoring with his back to the basket and he's a rebounding machine. Dame and CJ need a low-post threat on this team to help take some of the pressure off of them and open up the court.

im really starting to warm to the idea of a Whiteside or cousins, but we cant give up our offense to get them. We need to offer whiteside a max this off season and if we strike out, we need to try to get cousins without giving up the core. ANy ideas on how? I'm at a loss at the moment.

 

[Hobbesarable]

we need to try to get cousins without giving up the core. ANy ideas on how? I'm at a loss at the moment.

Cousins is not going anywhere unless a team offers several highly favorable 1st round draft picks and young talent in exchange. In other words, a King's Ransom would be required.

 

[blue9]

Our best shot at Cousins is at the Trade Deadline during his penultimate contract year - Kings will have little leverage and his price will be at its lowest.
I think that's one and a half seasons away?

 

[Hobbesarable]

Our best shot at Cousins is at the Trade Deadline during his penultimate contract year - Kings will have little leverage and his price will be at its lowest.
I think that's one and a half seasons away?

Yeah, he's signed through the 2017-18 season.

 

[oldmangrouch]

It just shows how big of a hole Meyers left

That may be the harshest thing anybody has ever said about Olshey and this roster.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think you have to look at teams that are underperforming.

Houston
Dallas
Toronto (if they lose to Indy)
Memphis

These will be the teams that will be more willing to make a move. Whether or not we want someone from any of those teams is another story.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Cole Aldrich will be the best player we sign.

This place is really depressing today.

 

[julius]

This place is really depressing today.

This place is always depressing after a loss, mostly because certain posters come out of the woodwork and piss in our collective cheerios

 

[Strenuus]

This place is always depressing after a loss, mostly because certain posters come out of the woodwork and piss in our collective cheerios

Thank god I cut cherrios out of my diet.

 

[kjironman1]

This place is always depressing after a loss, mostly because certain posters come out of the woodwork and piss in our collective cheerios

Whole grain goodness and doesn't get soggy in pee.....

 

[oldmangrouch]

I still prefer bourbon on Wheaties - breakfast of ex-champions!

 

[Draco]

Trade Lillard.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Trade Lillard.

Again, what makes you think the Blazers will trade a player away they just gave a max to prior to said player playing one game in that max contract. What type of vibe does that send to the rest of the league as players who might be thinking about Portland as a destination ( I know, laughable).
Seriously. Id like to hear you explain this.

 

[Strenuus]

"Hey Dame, thanks for coming in."

"For sure, man. Anytime. Loving it here. So glad I signed that contract."

"About that, we're trading you to another team. Just business."

".... what?"

"Well, you're breaking all the records and the last time someone was doing that he left for nothing. Can't do that twice."

"That makes no sense. I'm the leader of this team."

I imagine it'd go something like that.

Why would you trade the leader of a team before his contract is even half up? Or in this case, not even started. lol.

Do you know what Dame does to people/teams that shun him? You thought Wes played with a chip on his shoulder. Kobe's 81 point game would be in jeopardy every time we played him...

 

[selloutking]

half up!?
shit hasn't even started!

 

[Orion Bailey]

"Hey Dame, thanks for coming in."

"For sure, man. Anytime. Loving it here. So glad I signed that contract."

"About that, we're trading you to another team. Just business."

".... what?"

"Well, you're breaking all the records and the last time someone was doing that he left for nothing. Can't do that twice."

"That makes no sense. I'm the leader of this team."

I imagine it'd go something like that.

Why would you trade the leader of a team before his contract is even half up? lol.

Because draco knows all with his 32 game win prediction and places those on ignore who question him. HAHAHA

 

[Strenuus]

Because draco knows all with his 32 game win prediction and places those on ignore who question him. HAHAHA

To be fair, he voted one game above me.

 

[ripcityboy]

We can't be Billy Beane this summer. Let's put it that way. We have to get a NAME. A proven All Star. Olshey can't nickel and dime anymore. No more trades of protected second round draft picks for players who will leave eventually leave when they get discontent. Go look at the history of the Montreal Expos for that business model.

 

[Strenuus]

We can't be Billy Beane this summer. Let's put it that way. We have to get a NAME. A proven All Star. Olshey can't nickel and dime anymore. No more trades of protected second round draft picks for players who will leave eventually leave when they get discontent. Go look at the history of the Montreal Expos for that business model.

Funny enough, the one year the Expos were good was the strike shortened season.

 

[Orion Bailey]

To be fair, he voted one game above me.

Yeah but your not throwing out dilusional ideas that dont make sense.

I'm actually taken aback. I've read so many of Dracos posts, and though he seems to land on the negative side, I usually agree with what he says.. But this? And he wont defend his idea when its questioned and asked to explain? Blah... losing cred in my book.

 

[ripcityboy]

Funny enough, the one year the Expos were good was the strike shortened season.

Yeah. And the league took the team away..... that's a foreshadowing I don't want to think about.