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

[Wizard Mentor]

He wants to win. He doesn't want to keep losing in the first round. I think that's reasonable. I think it's reasonable for him to look at the roster and think if we just run it back with the same roster the same thing is going to happen. Keep in mind, he's stayed loyal to this franchise through years and years of terrible moves. We botched our window to improve so badly between 16-18 that he has a right to be asking these questions.

And truthfully speaking as a fan, I want to win too. When are we ever going to have another top 10 player IN PORTLAND? Dame is 31, he's not going to be in his prime forever. If you don't think you can win with Dame you should blow it up now. I don't want to go through another season with minor changes and end up getting bounced in the first round again. That does no good for no one.

So, he's allowed to be a Prima Donna?
He's complicit. Keeping Terry around.

I agree he should have a say, and he's been getting one.
But, if "he wants to win" translates into "we need to keep Carmelo", then you're really saying Dame is a fucking idiot.

You've been suggesting that Dame is pressuring Olshey to make moves. That is what he definitely should be doing.

 

[B-Roy]

View attachment 39334

Idea based purely on these other teams saving a ton of $.

Dame
Powell
Hayward
Ingram
Adams

I think you need to throw in some lightly protected first for New Orleans.

Also the resulting team is all offense, no defense.

 

[B-Roy]

So, he's allowed to be a Prima Donna?
He's complicit. Keeping Terry around.

I agree he should have a say, and he's been getting one.
But, if "he wants to win" translates into "we need to keep Carmelo", then you're really saying Dame is a fucking idiot.

You've been suggesting that Dame is pressuring Olshey to make moves. That is what he definitely should be doing.

If you're referring to the Melo thing, I just threw that in there lol. I have no idea whether or not Dame would really care if Melo is here if we made my proposed trade.

 

[Natebishop3]

It's beyond frustrating that Neil has sat on his fucking hands for so long that Dame is at a point where it's all or nothing. So damn annoying. Fuck Neil Olshey.

 

[illmatic99]

I think you need to throw in some lightly protected first for New Orleans.

Also the resulting team is all offense, no defense.

Sure, send whatever you picks you want.

Hayward is more than adequate defensively as is Adams, and Ingram was borderline elite in LA.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Yes, but he also said they don't need to S&T Zeller, they can take Nurk into space. Which would mean using our TPMLE to find a center that could reasonably start in certain matchups. I would need to see who is available. I don't think you can go into next season without a traditional center.

If they did take Nurk into space, then we would also have a TPE to possibly use to acquire another center.

 

[B-Roy]

If they did take Nurk into space, then we would also have a TPE to possibly use to acquire another center.

Great point. Derrick Favors would fit into that TPE and I think Utah might actually do that.

Key is to be creative here. It's going to be hard to improve.

 

[Natebishop3]

Quick also said that he doesn't think Norm comes back. He doesn't think Norm wants to play in Portland. I hate to say it, but that was my fear as well. I wasn't super thrilled about the trade because Gary was a restricted free agent and we had the right to match. We really didn't do a good job of showing Norm our best. Chauncey needs to reach out to him.

 

[julius]

Quick also said that he doesn't think Norm comes back. He doesn't think Norm wants to play in Portland. I hate to say it, but that was my fear as well. I wasn't super thrilled about the trade because Gary was a restricted free agent and we had the right to match. We really didn't do a good job of showing Norm our best. Chauncey needs to reach out to him.

If you're Norman, and you see that they're keeping the guy who plays your position (after being played out of position for most of the time he was in Portland), why would you want to play there?

 

[B-Roy]

BY THE WAY, on Jerami Grant:

https://pistonpowered.com/2021/06/29/detroit-pistons-why-durant-lillard-jerami-grant-olympic-team/

How Jerami Grant of the Detroit Pistons ended up on Team USA for the Tokyo Olympics
According to the Associated Press, Grant and Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls were the last players to accept invitations to Team USA.

James Harden had committed to play for Team USA but, due to the hamstring injury that limited him in the playoffs, had to withdraw.

When the opening occurred, Brian Windhorst of ESPN reports (PAID CONTENT) that Lillard and Durant went to coach Gregg Popovich and Team USA managing director Jerry Colangelo, and lobbied for Grant to get Harden’s spot.

It was interesting that both stars went to bat for Grant. He has never played with either of them (Durant left OKC the year before Grant got there). Grant and Durant did both grow up in the Maryland suburbs of Washington D.C.

Lillard and Durant campaigned for Grant to be on the Olympic team. Keep an eye out for Grant.

 

[B-Roy]

Quick also said that he doesn't think Norm comes back. He doesn't think Norm wants to play in Portland. I hate to say it, but that was my fear as well. I wasn't super thrilled about the trade because Gary was a restricted free agent and we had the right to match. We really didn't do a good job of showing Norm our best. Chauncey needs to reach out to him.

Where did he say this? I didn't hear it. Also it would make a lot of sense if Dame knows Norm is not likely to come back. Now he's going into the next season knowing we have a worse roster. YIKES

 

[Natebishop3]

If you're Norman, and you see that they're keeping the guy who plays your position (after being played out of position for most of the time he was in Portland), why would you want to play there?

Quick still thinks that CJ is going to be traded (gun to his head). But he also said he thinks Norm wants to be a #1 or a #2 and that wouldn't be the case if we traded CJ for another star level player.

 

[B-Roy]

Sure, send whatever you picks you want.

Hayward is more than adequate defensively as is Adams, and Ingram was borderline elite in LA.

I think that's a huge overpayment for Hayward, FWIW.

 

[illmatic99]

BY THE WAY, on Jerami Grant:

https://pistonpowered.com/2021/06/29/detroit-pistons-why-durant-lillard-jerami-grant-olympic-team/



Lillard and Durant campaigned for Grant to be on the Olympic team. Keep an eye out for Grant.

CJ also campaigned for him to come here the year before (on twitter when Grant was playing really well in a playoff game).

 

[Natebishop3]

Where did he say this? I didn't hear it. Also it would make a lot of sense if Dame knows Norm is not likely to come back. Now he's going into the next season knowing we have a worse roster. YIKES

Towards the end. Maybe at like 17 minutes in?

Ropp - do you have any sense on Norman Powell?

Quick - I don't. I reached out to him today. I haven't heard back. The first step to all this is that he has an option to pick up or opt out. Everyone is expecting him to opt out because if he opts in he makes something like 11.8 next year, but if he opts out people are forecasting him to make around 20 million. My sense is he is probably leaning towards opting out and not signing with Portland. I think it's a tough sell for him at this point in his career in that I think he wants to spread his wings and blossom and become a focal point on a team, and I don't think he feels like he would be a focal point on the Blazers. He hasn't told me that, nobody from his camp has told me that, that's just a sense that I get. I think he's ready at this point to be a #1 or a #2 option on a team and obviously there's not that role for him in Portland."

 

[B-Roy]

Towards the end. Maybe at like 17 minutes in?

Ropp - do you have any sense on Norman Powell?

Quick - I don't. I reached out to him today. I haven't heard back. The first step to all this is that he has an option to pick up or opt out. Everyone is expecting him to opt out because if he opts in he makes something like 11.8 next year, but if he opts out people are forecasting him to make around 20 million. My sense is he is probably leaning towards opting out and not signing with Portland. I think it's a tough sell for him at this point in his career in that I think he wants to spread his wings and blossom and become a focal point on a team, and I don't think he feels like he would be a focal point on the Blazers. He hasn't told me that, nobody from his camp has told me that, that's just a sense that I get. I think he's ready at this point to be a #1 or a #2 option on a team and obviously there's not that role for him in Portland."

Okay that doesn't sound nearly as bad as I thought. I think it's totally reasonable that he won't want to re-sign if CJ is still there taking his spot. Just means Neil has to be even more creative.

 

[Natebishop3]

Okay that doesn't sound nearly as bad as I thought. I think it's totally reasonable that he won't want to re-sign if CJ is still there taking his spot. Just means Neil has to be even more creative.

I think the sentiment still stands though. If Dame is the #1, and whoever we trade CJ for is likely to be another star level player, would Norm really be the #2? I think regardless of what we do with CJ, Norm is looking at being option #3 on this team.

 

[Natebishop3]

Also, if I'm Norm and I'm watching this shit show play out, do I want to commit to Portland long term if I'm not 100% sure that Dame is going to be here?

 

[Boise Blazer]

Are there a lot of teams out there that are willing to build with Norm as their #2? I like him and would like to keep him in place of CJ but I'm not sure if him as a #2 in todays NBA is realistic.

Totally agree that this mess will likely scare off some players including our own.

 

[B-Roy]

I think the sentiment still stands though. If Dame is the #1, and whoever we trade CJ for is likely to be another star level player, would Norm really be the #2? I think regardless of what we do with CJ, Norm is looking at being option #3 on this team.

I think he's the number 2 option if my trade goes down. Him and Grant.

On other deals, less sure. We'll see. Neil cannot sit on his hands.

 

[wizenheimer]

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

he was vague all over that press conference...consensual is actually a legal term in this context

 

[Strenuus]

the money doesn't change the minutes...just the role and as I said..Kevin McHale was the second highest paid celtic and a 6 man ....the 6 man is important to a winning team...Chauncey had Lindsay Hunter....Dirk had Jason Terry...we have CJ

Making Kevin McHale money and cj money are like peeing in a Porta potty and peeing in a golden bidet.

 

[Graduate32]

Towards the end. Maybe at like 17 minutes in?

Ropp - do you have any sense on Norman Powell?

Quick - I don't. I reached out to him today. I haven't heard back. The first step to all this is that he has an option to pick up or opt out. Everyone is expecting him to opt out because if he opts in he makes something like 11.8 next year, but if he opts out people are forecasting him to make around 20 million. My sense is he is probably leaning towards opting out and not signing with Portland. I think it's a tough sell for him at this point in his career in that I think he wants to spread his wings and blossom and become a focal point on a team, and I don't think he feels like he would be a focal point on the Blazers. He hasn't told me that, nobody from his camp has told me that, that's just a sense that I get. I think he's ready at this point to be a #1 or a #2 option on a team and obviously there's not that role for him in Portland."

Neil: "Well, Norm... you see we got this shiny new Ben Simmons toy here... he has indicated that he is more than happy to pass up all his uncontested, point-blank shots to give you corner threes. What do you say, eh???"

 

[wizenheimer]

Quick also said that he doesn't think Norm comes back. He doesn't think Norm wants to play in Portland. I hate to say it, but that was my fear as well. I wasn't super thrilled about the trade because Gary was a restricted free agent and we had the right to match. We really didn't do a good job of showing Norm our best. Chauncey needs to reach out to him.

shit....IF, the first thing that happens in the off-season is Powell signing elsewhere, and Olshey is still the GM at the end of that day, there's no fucking hope for the Blazers. None at all

 

[julius]

Quick still thinks that CJ is going to be traded (gun to his head). But he also said he thinks Norm wants to be a #1 or a #2 and that wouldn't be the case if we traded CJ for another star level player.

Chances are, if they trade CJ, they aren't getting a #2 in return

 

[B-Roy]

Chances are, if they trade CJ, they aren't getting a #2 in return

Especially if he's the level of player people here think he is....

 

[julius]

Are there a lot of teams out there that are willing to build with Norm as their #2? I like him and would like to keep him in place of CJ but I'm not sure if him as a #2 in todays NBA is realistic.

Totally agree that this mess will likely scare off some players including our own.

I totally agree about Norman here. Love to have him back (esp if it means MeJ is gone), but he's a hard sell as a #1.

One year of solid production does not a #1 make.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Towards the end. Maybe at like 17 minutes in?

Ropp - do you have any sense on Norman Powell?

Quick - I don't. I reached out to him today. I haven't heard back. The first step to all this is that he has an option to pick up or opt out. Everyone is expecting him to opt out because if he opts in he makes something like 11.8 next year, but if he opts out people are forecasting him to make around 20 million. My sense is he is probably leaning towards opting out and not signing with Portland. I think it's a tough sell for him at this point in his career in that I think he wants to spread his wings and blossom and become a focal point on a team, and I don't think he feels like he would be a focal point on the Blazers. He hasn't told me that, nobody from his camp has told me that, that's just a sense that I get. I think he's ready at this point to be a #1 or a #2 option on a team and obviously there's not that role for him in Portland."

What? He is ready to be the 1st option on a team? #2 yes but #1? First off if that were true he would be getting more than 20 million per. At least Quick clarified it by saying it was just a sense he got without talking to anyone in his camp. But to me, it makes No sense.

We need to re-sign Norman.

 

[TBpup]

If you're Norman, and you see that they're keeping the guy who plays your position (after being played out of position for most of the time he was in Portland), why would you want to play there?

Which is why if you could do CJ for Simmons, Powell is your #2 scorer because Ben's talents are greater on offense and passing.

Imagine how much our fast break points improve with Simmons and Powell pushing the ball vs just Powell often being a 1-man fast break. Simmons also takes pressure off of Ant and plays all the bench minutes when Simons is in the game.

 

[riverman]

I have zero interest in what Quick "has a feeling" about...that means he has a word quota to fill and not much else