Some GREAT info from Quick (What Billups investigation took place, where Dame stands with the Team)

[PtldPlatypus]

Move a first from Toronto to Philly. 3 for Siakam seems like a lot. Maybe give them Simons or Nas.

Still, seems close to plausible.

I need to stop getting my hopes up.

 

[PCmor7]

especially if billups gets CJ off the ball and uses him more as a spot up guy ala Klay/Reddick, which I’ve been begging for for years. He is an elite spot up shooter, yet Stotts never really even thought to commit to it.

CJ has a rare ability to break down defenders, even outstanding defenders, with his dribble. He tries to do it too much, though, and the previous staff didn't seem to do anything to dissuade him.

He's shown he can pass the ball and he can be efficient and pick his spots. He just hasn't done it frequently.

I think if you can get him to tone it down a bit and take the defensive end more seriously, CJ probably stands to be the biggest individual beneficiary of Billups coaching. I also think more ball movement on offense means Dame and CJ won't have to expend so much energy on that end of the floor, which might contribute to them being defenders.

Just speculating.

 

[B-Roy]

Yup. Massive improvement on the clunky ESPN trade machine.

Well shit.

 

[Natebishop3]

So here's a question - is Bradley Beal a massive upgrade over CJ and would it be worth going after him? I believe he and Dame are close.

Would you rather have Beal than Simmons?

 

[Scalma]

I think it’s kinda funny that evidently the only way this team is gonna make a jump is if they change up the personnel. Where’s the argument for a different style of play? Cuz I’ll make it. Under Stotts our game plan was predictable and easy to defend against in the playoffs. A simple adjustment of getting CJ (and even Dame in certain situations) off the ball could be just as efficient as gutting the roster. Much more realistic too btw.

Finding a capable backup point guard should not be difficult, olshey just needs to commit to finding one. Same idea defensively. Forget the Kanters and the Melos and go after the Noels (no not Noel specifically, but those defensive specialist types)

 

[illmatic99]

Oh... yeah I did actually include him, I just forgot to mention him. Here was the trade machine

View attachment 39327

that's awful for Washington

 

[Natebishop3]

that's awful for Washington

Meant to include some picks. Oops.

 

[illmatic99]

I think it’s kinda funny that evidently the only way this team is gonna make a jump is if they change up the personnel. Where’s the argument for a different style of play? Cuz I’ll make it. Under Stotts our game plan was predictable and easy to defend against in the playoffs. A simple adjustment of getting CJ (and even Dame in certain situations) off the ball could be just as efficient as gutting the roster. Much more realistic too btw.

Finding a capable backup point guard should not be difficult, olshey just needs to commit to finding one. Same idea defensively. Forget the Kanters and the Melos and go after the Noels (no not Noel specifically, but those defensive specialist types)

well that's the argument Olshey is probably making. I thought we underacheived, but this roster isn't anything more than second round fodder even if everything breaks right.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Totally agree with all of this. This is definitely the internal dilemma with the FO. We have heard reports that suggest the FO and Dame are in conflict. Would not be surprised if this was the number 1 reason. Dame wants to push all the chips in, Olshey and the FO are clearly hesitant.

Also, I am not saying that I PERSONALLY would make that type of deal. I'm saying that's what will make Dame happy. If you stick to your guns, make some changes regarding the periphery of the roster, maybe move some guys for better fits, go ahead and do that. I guarantee you Dame will not be happy, and if we start losing expect the rumblings to get louder and for him to ask for a trade.

Conspiracy Theory:
When Olshey was throwing Stotts under the bus, he was trying to convince Dame that Stotts was our only problem.

There isn't really another good reason. I've never heard Stotts throw anyone else under the bus.

 

[illmatic99]

View attachment 39328

Well shit.

dame is getting traded to like every team. fucking depressing

 

[Natebishop3]

Conspiracy Theory:
When Olshey was throwing Stotts under the bus, he was trying to convince Dame that Stotts was our only problem.

There isn't really another good reason. I've never heard Stotts throw anyone else under the bus.

Neil was trying to convince anyone who would listen that Stotts was our only problem.

 

[B-Roy]

So here's a question - is Bradley Beal a massive upgrade over CJ and would it be worth going after him? I believe he and Dame are close.

Would you rather have Beal than Simmons?

I think Beal over CJ or LaVine over CJ is an upgrade. I think Dame would see it as such too. But if we lose Powell it's a net equal, so I dunno what we do there.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think Beal over CJ or LaVine over CJ is an upgrade. I think Dame would see it as such too. But if we lose Powell it's a net equal, so I dunno what we do there.

My concern is whether Beal is a good enough defender to not be the same problem that we have always had with Dame and CJ on defense. Powell is at least a serviceable defender.

 

[PCmor7]

CJ's on-ball defense is not good. That won't change with another defensive scheme

another thing that won't change is that CJ is being paid all-star money and uses an all-star amount of the team's possessions and doesn't have all-star talent. That's been the unsolvable riddle for 6 years

I don't think you can assume the first part of your post, partly for reasons I just mentioned in a previous post. We'll have to agree to disagree on that. I'm not saying you're absolutely wrong, just that I don't think we really can know it.

Now, the second part isn't right. He's paid in the 30s. That's not all-star money. It's close to it, which is close to what he is.

 

[B-Roy]

Neil was trying to convince anyone who would listen that Stotts was our only problem.

Think this is part of it. Neil threw Terry under the bus as if he was the only problem and Dame wasn't happy. He doesn't think Stotts is the only problem and he didn't like how Neil threw him under the bus.

This is more speculation on my end than my other takes though.

 

[riverman]

Dame's going to come back from Tokyo with a gold medal and some new friends....that's where he can market the appeal of Portland to top tier players..

 

[B-Roy]

Unrelated but:

I'm so glad we're talking basketball again instead of whatever the shitstorm was last week. I come here to talk basketball with Blazer diehards, not debate the veracity of people's intentions.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Unrelated but:

I'm so glad we're talking basketball again instead of whatever the shitstorm was last week. I come here to talk basketball with Blazer diehards, not debate the veracity of people's intentions.

 

[KristinthBonkers]

Exactly. It “sounds” like Dame told Neil blah blah Jason Quick says.

So now, we are supposed to just assume that wasn’t a positive meeting but a negative one, and believe what Jason fucking Quick is telling us?

or maybe some of us have a brain and know the media driven agenda this Portland media has, and don’t buy into the bs.

I heard Quick on the Fan while in the car last evening and he was doing his best to put a negative spin on things even though he has talked to Dame recently and said Dame said nothing about leaving. The best he could come up with was something like ‘well Dame didn’t say anything about leaving but this is the first time I (Quick) feel like ai don’t know exactly where Dame’s head is at regarding the Blazers.

So basically Quick is now a mind reader who is going by his own feelings and that’s “news.”

 

[wizenheimer]

Now, the second part isn't right. He's paid in the 30s. That's not all-star money. It's close to it, which is close to what he is.

doesn't matter....his salary leaves no room for that 2nd star that even Olshey is talking about

Portland simply can't afford 110-120M/year for Dame + 2nd Star + CJ. They'd be paying 100M in tax in 2022. Besides, without moving CJ Portland has almost no path to adding that 2nd star. And of course, a 2nd star would take over a good share of CJ's possessions and FGA's so CJ would become even more overpaid than he is

Portland just had the most critical playoffs in the Stolshey era....and CJ was outplayed by Rivers, Morris, and Campazzo....so yeah, he's overpaid

 

[KristinthBonkers]

Dude give me a fucking break. I swear to god you guys act like I'm pulling this shit out of thin air.

Who is Quick's source?

The Dame rumor came from Haynes, who is widely known to be Dame's mouthpiece, so quit fucking acting like I'm over here making 9/11 conspiracy videos.

Quick talked to Dame directly after the season and Dame said nothing about being unhappy. It was an off-the-record discussion so he couldn’t go too deep into it..

Go listen to his segment last night with RoppSuke on the 1080 app. Also, why worry so much about something none of us fans can control.

 

[KristinthBonkers]

doesn't matter....his salary leaves no room for that 2nd star that even Olshey is talking about

Portland simply can't afford 110-120M/year for Dame + 2nd Star + CJ. They'd be paying 100M in tax in 2022. Besides, without moving CJ Portland has almost no path to adding that 2nd star. And of course, a 2nd star would take over a good share of CJ's possessions and FGA's so CJ would become even more overpaid than he is

Portland just had the most critical playoffs in the Stolshey era....and CJ was outplayed by Rivers, Morris, and Campazzo....so yeah, he's overpaid

Norman Powell wasn’t good in the playoffs either yet for some reason a lot of people want him back at what’s going to be over $20 million/year. Unless CJ is traded, bringing Powell back doesn’t seem like a good move to me if he’s going to be a 6’3” SF alongside Dame and CJ.

 

[Graduate32]

Norman Powell wasn’t good in the playoffs either yet for some reason a lot of people want him back at what’s going to be over $20 million/year. Unless CJ is traded, bringing Powell back doesn’t seem like a good move to me if he’s going to be a 6’3” SF alongside Dame and CJ.

You need to bring Norm back as an asset if nothing else. I agree that a Dame-CJ-Norm group is likely ineffective, but it gives the Blazers a lot more positional and salary flexibility should they want to move CJ (or Norm for that matter) down the road.

 

[riverman]

I you keep Norm and Chauncey turns CJ into a Lindsay Hunter type 6 man you have a stronger defensive starting unit and a better scoring bench mob

 

[Natebishop3]

Quick talked to Dame directly after the season and Dame said nothing about being unhappy. It was an off-the-record discussion so he couldn’t go too deep into it..

Go listen to his segment last night with RoppSuke on the 1080 app. Also, why worry so much about something none of us fans can control.

Unless he has talked to Dame in the past week, I don't consider it to be that useful. The rumors about Dame being upset and potentially wanting out happened after the leak about Billups on Friday.

 

[B-Roy]

doesn't matter....his salary leaves no room for that 2nd star that even Olshey is talking about

Portland simply can't afford 110-120M/year for Dame + 2nd Star + CJ. They'd be paying 100M in tax in 2022. Besides, without moving CJ Portland has almost no path to adding that 2nd star. And of course, a 2nd star would take over a good share of CJ's possessions and FGA's so CJ would become even more overpaid than he is

Portland just had the most critical playoffs in the Stolshey era....and CJ was outplayed by Rivers, Morris, and Campazzo....so yeah, he's overpaid

Trading CJ + Jones lets you take back 50 million in salary. It's definitely not impossible to return two good pieces for that package. Retain Powell on top.

Also, everything is on the table. Nurk, RoCo, everything. Olshey put himself into a terrible position and it's on him to figure it out. He's forced to make a big move because he's likely losing his job otherwise. Even if he does make that move he may lose his job. But don't act like he doesn't know he can't just tinker around the margins this offseason.

Yeah the lux tax bill is a huge pill to swallow. I have no idea how far into the tax ownership is willing to go, but it likely won't be for a long time anyhow. If at any point they decide to blow it up, trading Dame will get them out of the tax and fully into rebuilding mode.

 

[KristinthBonkers]

He's no star but Neil did trade 2 first rounders for Roco last year thinking he was the missing piece because Dame said "go for it." the problem this year is we have 0 assets.

Which is why extending the QO to Collins is a must. That expiring contract is great in a trade and the team getting him has his Bird Rights. Letting him become a UFA is one less asset in any trade scenario. I don’t care if he plays a minute next season, that contract is a necessity to add in a potential trade even if it’s just $6-7 million in filler to make salaries match within the CBA margin.

 

[KristinthBonkers]

I you keep Norm and Chauncey turns CJ into a Lindsay Hunter type 6 man you have a stronger defensive starting unit and a better scoring bench mob

Not a bad idea but I could see CJ wanting out and $30 million for a 6th Man is a lot of salary space.

 

[Pinwheel1]

that's a real loaded word in my view. Even if he has good reason to believe that's accurate, I don't think he should have used that kind of descriptive word if he wasn't willing to justify it's use

Exactly how descriptive did you want him to get about the blow job? They did not exactly have selfies back in 1997.

 

[B-Roy]

Names:

Zach LaVine
Bradley Beal
Pascal Siakam (scares me because his surgery won't have him ready by training camp)
DeMar Derozan
Ben Simmons
Karl Anthony-Towns
Tobias Harris
Kevin Love
Gordon Hayward
Brandon Ingram

It's my uneducated opinion that at least one of these players will be on our team next year.