The Big Picture of the season...

[SlyPokerDog]

I don't trust Dame, too shifty.

and that whole Oakland thing.

 

[BBert]

You think Dame & C.J. will wheel this team to a championship with a few small changes?

They will both wheel, and will, this team to a championship. Once we add a dependable third option on offense.

 

[BigGameDamian]

In Olshey I Trust.

Will you still trust Olshey if he chooses to deal C.J. in the off season for a big named PF? Monroe, Griffin, horford ect?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Will you still trust Olshey if he chooses to deal C.J. in the off season for a big named PF? Monroe, Griffin, horford ect?

Yes.

 

[Orion Bailey]

And picks.

Do we have picks?

Because guy 10-15 isnt gonna get a solid vet in a position of need... Are there really any low post presences (vet) that can be had for that? I can't really think of any off the top of my head.

Free Agency. And that will put the final stamp on the naysayers who say we suck, need so much more. Cant sign a quality FA. NO is gonna come out guns blazing and his targets will crumble because the world is now paying attention to Dame and other stars WILL want to come here to play with him.

Everything evolves and changes. Its time for Portland to rise out of the FA debacle and bring in a star like Derozen and another role player off the bench.

Dame/CJ
CJ/Derozen/Crabbe
Derozen/Crabbe/Aminu
Vonleh/Aminu/Harkless
Plumlee/Davis

Let this team make the playoffs next year and we find out how much better our bigs are going to get, but I think then the following year, might be the final piece to the puzzle, the star big.

If we can land DD this off season, I think you roll with it and see how far we go next year and maybe the trade deadline brings in that final piece, maybe its the off season, but I think that is a viable and realistic plan that makes us legit contenders, potential favorites in two years if one of two things happens: Our bigs improve enough to fill the need of an upgrade, or we take a couple bigs and a couple bench guys and make a move for a Monroe or something.

Still Leonard is the huge X factor. If played wrong he could end up strapping the team to not be able to make that final move. But I also don't want to let him walk and watch him become a star somewhere else.

I think everything that happens this off season will all be based on what we do with Leonard.

 

[0-Our!]

Dare I say, Portland may be seen as an attractive destination for free agents?

Fear not! I've been saying this & believe it > before! I'm right here w/ ya brother!

 

[Draco]

But I also don't want to let him walk and watch him become a star somewhere else.

I think everything that happens this off season will all be based on what we do with Leonard.

Out of the hundreds of thousands of possibilities that can happen with this team this is the one I have absolutely zero concern of.

Could he become Matt Bonner somewhere else? Yeah. Star? Only if you consider Andre Bargnani a star.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Out of the hundreds of thousands of possibilities that can happen with this team this is the one I have absolutely zero concern of.

Could he become Matt Bonner somewhere else? Yeah. Star? Only if you consider Andre Bargnani a star.

to be clear, I think Id rather watch him be a star somewhere else than pay him and be strapped to not make that final move because we cant move him.

 

[e_blazer]

You think Dame & C.J. will wheel this team to a championship with a few small changes?

As long as we can keep Dame supplied so that he can continue drinking like a fish, we're good.

 

[BBert]

and that whole Oakland thing.

And the drinking.

And the fishing.

Everyone knows, fishermen are liars.

 

[stampedehero]

I like our roster. I would grade them A-

 

[stampedehero]

People think they need more. It's the materialistic, we-never-have-enough society we live in. Marketing companies thrive on making the consumer think they never have enough. It's a societal thinking.

Ha You should get the General Manger job with the Milwaukee Bucks.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Free Agency. And that will put the final stamp on the naysayers who say we suck, need so much more. Cant sign a quality FA. NO is gonna come out guns blazing and his targets will crumble because the world is now paying attention to Dame and other stars WILL want to come here to play with him.

Everything evolves and changes. Its time for Portland to rise out of the FA debacle and bring in a star like Derozen and another role player off the bench.

Dame/CJ
CJ/Derozen/Crabbe
Derozen/Crabbe/Aminu
Vonleh/Aminu/Harkless
Plumlee/Davis

Let this team make the playoffs next year and we find out how much better our bigs are going to get, but I think then the following year, might be the final piece to the puzzle, the star big.

If we can land DD this off season, I think you roll with it and see how far we go next year and maybe the trade deadline brings in that final piece, maybe its the off season, but I think that is a viable and realistic plan that makes us legit contenders, potential favorites in two years if one of two things happens: Our bigs improve enough to fill the need of an upgrade, or we take a couple bigs and a couple bench guys and make a move for a Monroe or something.

Still Leonard is the huge X factor. If played wrong he could end up strapping the team to not be able to make that final move. But I also don't want to let him walk and watch him become a star somewhere else.

I think everything that happens this off season will all be based on what we do with Leonard.

Would you still have trust in Olshey if he traded CJ in the summer for a top PF?

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Would you still have trust in Olshey if he traded CJ in the summer for a top PF?

Yes, Olshey absolutely has my trust. However, he also knows that PF's in today's NBA are somewhat marginalized. So I don't expect the move to begin with. If he does it then I am on board because HE did it.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Would you still have trust in Olshey if he traded CJ in the summer for a top PF?

Yes, but there is an asterisk, which KOR explains very well.

Yes, Olshey absolutely has my trust. However, he also knows that PF's in today's NBA are somewhat marginalized. So I don't expect the move to begin with. If he does it then I am on board because HE did it.

I also don't expect him to make that his focus. If he does, it will depend on who he brings in, but between the game changing and the fact that there just are many dominating PF's that can truly run with our team... I also don't think NO is making this his focus. I could see him going after someone like Monroe, yet again, because he will be able to run with our team for the most part and will still be a low post presence, but I'm not sure he will work out. Stotts will have to really really coach at an optimal level and get optimal performances from Davis and Plums on the defensive end to help with Monroe's deficiencies.

The thing is, I think both those two can and will improve significantly on the Defensive end, because they both love to hustle. D is primarily about positioning and hustle. We have the players that hustle, now we would must need Stotts to implement the spacing and timing of the rotation.

So to answer your questions, hell yes I trust in NO, and I challenge anyone to name a potential better GM for OUR team. Not just any team but OUR team, because we all know our team needs special care due to history and location. NO is the perfect scrupulous, savvy GM Portland needs. He is our best bet I see to build a true contender, and so far he is doing it the right way.