So: are we going to be TOO good?

[Nikolokolus]

Im with ya. I think a lot of us are. I know Kingspeed is too. Isnt that saying something though? If that many of us are starting to see potential? I think most of the pessimists are still looking at these guys numbers from previous years.

New team, potentially new life...

How is looking at past production and using that as context for judgement about a team's potential "pessimistic?" That's the definition of the empiricism. As a guy who works in a scientific field that's the only valid way I know to make predictions.

 

[illmatic99]

If we're middling near the end of the season, you have to bet that Terry/Neil will start reporting injuries to make our vets sit.

This leadership has shown that they definitely do buy into tanking (losing 13 straight to finish out the season in Dame's rookie year with injuries to LA/Wes/Nic). No reason why they won't do it again.

Not getting a top 5 pick this year will be disappointing.

 

[B-Roy]

If we're middling near the end of the season, you have to bet that Terry/Neil will start reporting injuries to make our vets sit.

This leadership has shown that they definitely do buy into tanking (losing 13 straight to finish out the season in Dame's rookie year with injuries to LA/Wes/Nic). No reason why they won't do it again.

Not getting a top 5 pick this year will be disappointing.

LMAO. The only person that needs to sit is Damian. Not like losing Ed Davis for a few games is really going to make a difference.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

If we're middling near the end of the season, you have to bet that Terry/Neil will start reporting injuries to make our vets sit.

This leadership has shown that they definitely do buy into tanking (losing 13 straight to finish out the season in Dame's rookie year with injuries to LA/Wes/Nic). No reason why they won't do it again.

Not getting a top 5 pick this year will be disappointing.

Expectations create disappointment.

Why would you want to expect to be one of the five worst teams in the league?

 

[BlazerWookee]

If we're middling near the end of the season, you have to bet that Terry/Neil will start reporting injuries to make our vets sit.

This leadership has shown that they definitely do buy into tanking (losing 13 straight to finish out the season in Dame's rookie year with injuries to LA/Wes/Nic). No reason why they won't do it again.

Not getting a top 5 pick this year will be disappointing.

Disappointment with not getting a top 5 pick this year will be disappointing.

 

[illmatic99]

Expectations create disappointment.

Why would you want to expect to be one of the five worst teams in the league?

Not as much expectation as much as it is hope. I want a legit chance at Simmons/Skal.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Not as much expectation as much as it is hope. I want a legit chance at Simmons/Skal.

I'd much rather see Harkless and Leonard show skill development equal to if not greater than these teenagers over whom you drool.

Performance from the guys we currently have is much better than potential of guys we do not have.

 

[Orion Bailey]

How is looking at past production and using that as context for judgement about a team's potential "pessimistic?" That's the definition of the empiricism. As a guy who works in a scientific field that's the only valid way I know to make predictions.

I didn't say looking at the past is being pessimistic, I said I think the pessimists are using past stats. There is a difference between the two you know right?

Also, you STILL haven't answered my question you thought you answered so directly.

 

[Orion Bailey]

I'd much rather see Harkless and Leonard show skill development equal to if not greater than these teenagers over whom you drool.

Performance from the guys we currently have is much better than potential of guys we do not have.

Thanks, Ive been trying to think of the right way to put it. Why would we want another potential, when we have so many already?

I have yet to read ANYONE from this board who is wanting a lotto pick answer my question with any type of substance.

 

[Natebishop3]

Thanks, Ive been trying to think of the right way to put it. Why would we want another potential, when we have so many already?

I have yet to read ANYONE from this board who is wanting a lotto pick answer my question with any type of substance.

I would love to see us get a top 5 pick.

The reason? As of right now, I don't see any other potential superstars on our roster other than Dame. I think there's a couple guys who have the potential to be All-Stars. CJ could maybe nab a spot. At the very least he could be a 6th man of the year a la Jamal Crawford.

I think Leonard has as good a chance right now of developing into an All-Star as Aldridge did going into his 4th season. I really like Vonleh's potential as well, but none of those guys really have that superstar feel to them, and in this league you really need at least two stars. Getting a top five pick gives us a legit chance at grabbing another possible superstar to go with Dame and whoever else we can sign this summer.

 

[illmatic99]

I think Leonard has as good a chance right now of developing into an All-Star as Aldridge did going into his 4th season. I really like Vonleh's potential as well, but none of those guys really have that superstar feel to them, and in this league you really need at least two stars. Getting a top five pick gives us a legit chance at grabbing another possible superstar to go with Dame and whoever else we can sign this summer.

Exactly.

Who wouldn't love for Leonard et al to break out? But what's the likelihood of any of our guys outside of Dame to turn into an superstar? Sure there's a lot unknown about these lotto dudes, and no one really knows how legit they are to begin with. But there's a reason they're so highly talked about and we shouldn't dismiss that

Given what it takes to win in the league, finding a high level prospect is indeed a big deal.

 

[Orion Bailey]

I would love to see us get a top 5 pick.

The reason? As of right now, I don't see any other potential superstars on our roster other than Dame. I think there's a couple guys who have the potential to be All-Stars. CJ could maybe nab a spot. At the very least he could be a 6th man of the year a la Jamal Crawford.

I think Leonard has as good a chance right now of developing into an All-Star as Aldridge did going into his 4th season. I really like Vonleh's potential as well, but none of those guys really have that superstar feel to them, and in this league you really need at least two stars. Getting a top five pick gives us a legit chance at grabbing another possible superstar to go with Dame and whoever else we can sign this summer.

I guess that's where ya lost me. I can buy into the bulk of what you said until you called the lottery a legit chance at an all star.

I will have to pull up the thread where I posted the lotto picks from years past and how most of them were busts. To me, a lotto pick next year is yet another player with a ? on his shoulders, like over half our current roster. My point is why would it be so good to trade a ? for a ?

Now, lets say in your scenario that both CJ and Leonard make those steps. I would think a much more feasible move would be to trade for that next guy, not hope the lotto comes and we get him. Heck the lotto is a way more of a crapshoot than trades. How do we know the draft isn't going to consist of the top 5 or 8 players being nothing we need? Maybe the lotto pick we get doesn't have a superstar potential available in the position of need? To tank is a huge gamble either way in my opinion.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

I hope we win as many games as possible. Winning culture > ping pong balls.

I said this back a couple years ago during Dame's rookie year and was booed off stage.

 

[Natebishop3]

I guess that's where ya lost me. I can buy into the bulk of what you said until you called the lottery a legit chance at an all star.

I will have to pull up the thread where I posted the lotto picks from years past and how most of them were busts. To me, a lotto pick next year is yet another player with a ? on his shoulders, like over half our current roster. My point is why would it be so good to trade a ? for a ?

Now, lets say in your scenario that both CJ and Leonard make those steps. I would think a much more feasible move would be to trade for that next guy, not hope the lotto comes and we get him. Heck the lotto is a way more of a crapshoot than trades. How do we know the draft isn't going to consist of the top 5 or 8 players being nothing we need? Maybe the lotto pick we get doesn't have a superstar potential available in the position of need? To tank is a huge gamble either way in my opinion.

Ah, but you're forgetting the x factor...... Neil Olshey.

He drafted Dame.

He drafted CJ.

He drafted Leonard and Crabbe.

Most of his picks are turning out to be pretty solid. Obviously we'd love to have a Gobert of a Greek Freak, but those guys were a bit of an unknown commodity. It doesn't seem like Neil is an international guy. I think if you give him a top five pick, he either uses it to trade for a real asset or he drafts someone that's going to have a high chance of being special.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Outside of Kingspeed, maybe the dad from Modern Family and HCP, are there any famous Blazer fans out there?

They mentioned one of the Baldwin brothers, and there was that guy from the TV show filmed here, but I don't know if they're fans or fans of convenience.

Ah, but you're forgetting the x factor...... Neil Olshey.

He drafted Dame.

He drafted CJ.

He drafted Leonard and Crabbe.

Most of his picks are turning out to be pretty solid. Obviously we'd love to have a Gobert of a Greek Freak, but those guys were a bit of an unknown commodity. It doesn't seem like Neil is an international guy. I think if you give him a top five pick, he either uses it to trade for a real asset or he drafts someone that's going to have a high chance of being special.

I agree. None of those guys were a top 5 though and he was planning for a major change of which he could draft almost any position. Now it is getting more specific with the needs.

You got me there, NO has been a beast at finding those who are forgotten by the league and developing them.

Okay. With that said, I still think we are worse off if we end up in the top 5 ( unless we truly, purposely and seriously tank half the season). This means that the players we wanted to take a leap, didn't do so.

Id still be happier with a missed playoffs and seeing these guys grow and improve. Otherwise that lotto pick may have to go to the replacement of a CJ or Meyers, which really gets us no better than we are now.

If we end up in the lottery for any other reason than an obviously major tank job, we are in a worse position than we are in now.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Natebishop3

Thank you for engaging!!!

 

[Pinwheel1]

D'Angelo Russel will be interesting to follow. A guy who most everyone agreed has super star written all over him while still in college. The Laker faithful were ecstatic about getting him at #2. Lot of people here said he was the best player in the draft. The Lakers tanked to get that pick. They got another high pick the year before.

Too early to tell how it will turn out for him. But fans are a little more worried about the pick than they were on draft day. It's a crap shoot.

 

[UncleCliffy'sDaddy]

I said this back a couple years ago during Dame's rookie year and was booed off stage.

That was because you forgot to drop the mic........

 

[Orion Bailey]

D'Angelo Russel will be interesting to follow. A guy who most everyone agreed has super star written all over him while still in college. The Laker faithful were ecstatic about getting him at #2. Lot of people here said he was the best player in the draft. The Lakers tanked to get that pick. They got another high pick the year before.

Too early to tell how it will turn out for him. But fans are a little more worried about the pick than they were on draft day. It's a crap shoot.

Great example of playing the lotto game and losing. It is a real gamble. Id rather steer clear, develop the ones we have and trade for what we still need.

 

[Chris Craig]

I agree that we are going to be to good to get a top 5 pick, but we could always trade up right (laughs) We are going to be underestimated and hard for teams to figure out, so we could sneak into the 8th spot while no one I looking....probably not but who knows...lets see how it plays out..it certainly is going to be an exciting season.

 

[Natebishop3]

I agree. None of those guys were a top 5 though and he was planning for a major change of which he could draft almost any position. Now it is getting more specific with the needs.

You got me there, NO has been a beast at finding those who are forgotten by the league and developing them.

Okay. With that said, I still think we are worse off if we end up in the top 5 ( unless we truly, purposely and seriously tank half the season). This means that the players we wanted to take a leap, didn't do so.

Id still be happier with a missed playoffs and seeing these guys grow and improve. Otherwise that lotto pick may have to go to the replacement of a CJ or Meyers, which really gets us no better than we are now.

If we end up in the lottery for any other reason than an obviously major tank job, we are in a worse position than we are in now.

I don't think we need to tank though. We need to stick to playing our young guys, let them grow and learn and develop, and during that process we will probably go through some rough patches. Sure, it's possible we'll shock the world, but more likely we'll see guys like CJ and Leonard go through slumps. We'll see Aminu struggle offensively. Some nights it just won't work out for us. We have a lot of unknown commodities on this roster, and it's really hard for anyone to say how it's all going to fit together. I highly doubt this is going to be the same roster next season. I anticipate a number of moves to acquire more talent and move us closer to contending.

 

[Natebishop3]

Great example of playing the lotto game and losing. It is a real gamble. Id rather steer clear, develop the ones we have and trade for what we still need.

I think it's way too early to say they lost. We haven't even played a single game yet. Russell could still end up being a stud.

 

[Tunchi]

D'Angelo Russel will be interesting to follow. A guy who most everyone agreed has super star written all over him while still in college. The Laker faithful were ecstatic about getting him at #2. Lot of people here said he was the best player in the draft. The Lakers tanked to get that pick. They got another high pick the year before.

Too early to tell how it will turn out for him. But fans are a little more worried about the pick than they were on draft day. It's a crap shoot.

Russell is turning out to be very underwhelming. Personally his lack of athleticism is going to kill him in this league. Hes a great passer though I'll give him that but so is Kendall Marshall. Russell will be considered a bust by the end of the season, hes a slightly better Kendall Marshall and thats about it.

 

[Orion Bailey]

I think it's way too early to say they lost. We haven't even played a single game yet. Russell could still end up being a stud.

I didn't say they lost. I said they are losing.

A team ten points down with 2 minutes left is losing, but can still win in the end.

 

[ThugginPaulyGAllen]

We will be another incarnation of the Bucks from last year --- they did have a high pick in Jabari Parker, whom didn't play for them much and they were still successful.

You can never be 'too' good. Winning creates a culture. Especially if you're winning as a young, up and coming team, which is actually something GREG MONROE talks about as part of his decision to choose the Bucks over NY, LA. He states that he wanted to go there --- because thats where the best opporunity for him as a player and his skills to fit and win were. Not to mention that as a young team, you will continue to improve because no one is in their prime.

Y'all need to get over this free agent thing; we will get a free agent when we are a GOOD, YOUNG team that is fighting for a 7 or 8 seed. Can you imagine what the talk around the league is if we win 40+ games, fight for the 8th seed with a bunch of first year guys who are just coming together? Players WILL take notice. Young upstart team + winning + fighting for a playoff seed + already have a PG = Intriguing place for a free agent who wants to win with a window that is pretty large.

If we are looking at next years FA class, you could catch the eye of someone like DeMar DeRozan or Harrison Barnes, who could possibly seek a larger role. Or you could bank on the team improving after nearly grabbing the 8th seed based on youth (assuming that your premise that we are 'too good' happens) and could then target 2017 free agents, with similar attributes - need to fit our team, culture and general age window.

Build a fucking winning culture and players will come. We don't need to tank for anyone else, we have talent. If we got a top pick, what would we do? Wait 4 years for that person to develop into the person we need alongside Dame? Then what do you know? Dame is 30 years old. What if who we draft is a bust? Keep tanking?

I'll take my chances on building a culture of winning, trying to package some of our talent for superior talent, and realizing that winning teams attract higher caliber players (you know how much different this offseason would've been if LMA would've been all in? I guaran-fucking-tee that we wouldn't be a FA desert if LMA was pitching others on us instead of getting wined and dined.) I have faith DAME will lead us the right way, and recruit players to join us, in the right way. He is committed to Portland, unlike some people in the past as of now. I hope that stays true.

 

[Pinwheel1]

The real question for players like D'Angelo is not whether or not they will be a bust, but whether or not they are "game changers". The Laker fans and media all wanted a player who would "transcend the sport". (another Magic or Kobe)

They can always get a good player in FA, but for most teams, including even now the Lakers, the best way to get a great player is through the top of the draft. But even taking that route........it is an extreme long shot.

 

[Orion Bailey]

We will be another incarnation of the Bucks from last year --- they did have a high pick in Jabari Parker, whom didn't play for them much and they were still successful.

You can never be 'too' good. Winning creates a culture. Especially if you're winning as a young, up and coming team, which is actually something GREG MONROE talks about as part of his decision to choose the Bucks over NY, LA. He states that he wanted to go there --- because thats where the best opporunity for him as a player and his skills to fit and win were. Not to mention that as a young team, you will continue to improve because no one is in their prime.

Y'all need to get over this free agent thing; we will get a free agent when we are a GOOD, YOUNG team that is fighting for a 7 or 8 seed. Can you imagine what the talk around the league is if we win 40+ games, fight for the 8th seed with a bunch of first year guys who are just coming together? Players WILL take notice. Young upstart team + winning + fighting for a playoff seed + already have a PG = Intriguing place for a free agent who wants to win with a window that is pretty large.

If we are looking at next years FA class, you could catch the eye of someone like DeMar DeRozan or Harrison Barnes, who could possibly seek a larger role. Or you could bank on the team improving after nearly grabbing the 8th seed based on youth (assuming that your premise that we are 'too good' happens) and could then target 2017 free agents, with similar attributes - need to fit our team, culture and general age window.

Build a fucking winning culture and players will come. We don't need to tank for anyone else, we have talent. If we got a top pick, what would we do? Wait 4 years for that person to develop into the person we need alongside Dame? Then what do you know? Dame is 30 years old. What if who we draft is a bust? Keep tanking?

I'll take my chances on building a culture of winning, trying to package some of our talent for superior talent, and realizing that winning teams attract higher caliber players (you know how much different this offseason would've been if LMA would've been all in? I guaran-fucking-tee that we wouldn't be a FA desert if LMA was pitching others on us instead of getting wined and dined.) I have faith DAME will lead us the right way, and recruit players to join us, in the right way. He is committed to Portland, unlike some people in the past as of now. I hope that stays true.

Post of the day right there...

 

[KingSpeed]

Why do people care about getting a top pick? He wouldn't fit in Lillard's window. We already have top 10 picks in Aminu, CJ, and Vonleh who fit in Lillard's window. We are going to win games this season and get better as these young talents get more experience.

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

We're sooo good it's not even funny!

 

[Orion Bailey]

Why do people care about getting a top pick? He wouldn't fit in Lillard's window. We already have top 10 picks in Aminu, CJ, and Vonleh who fit in Lillard's window. We are going to win games this season and get better as these young talents get more experience.

Not sure, for some it seems a top 5 pick = a shoe in to make the playoffs or something...