The Current Blazers Dark Ages

[KingSpeed]

Unfortunately we're nowhere close. I was way more optimistic in the Juan Dixon era.

The Wizards are about the only worse roster than us and they even have better picks - as well as committed to a direction.

Of course getting a stud in the draft one of these years would help a ton, I was hoping Scoot or Sharpe might be that but they're not. Every year I always hope there's a chance, but odds are probably against us in 2025 especially since we already have a dozen wins.

Even with a stud we need another great pick and we need to build up assets to trade for that final piece. We have zero of those three items needed to build a playoff winner. All we have are role players, overpaid vets, and young guys with "potential". But we don't have that elite stud potential. We have the guys a hometown fan roots for and the rest of the league disregards.

My fear is ownership gets impatient and we basically become a West version of what the Bulls were the last half decade, certainly not winning but no longer even getting good picks.

I'd guess 2032 is about the break even year of when we'll likely win a playoff series again. It was what 15 year from Sheed to Dame so if things go bad if might be closer to 2035 or later.

The poor ownership is the single biggest factor but of course GM, talent, lack of draft assets, market are all factors too.

Just a very dark era to be a fan of this franchise and I often question why I even bother.

It was 8 years from Sheed to Dame but Roy made his happy in between.

 

[KingSpeed]

I'll get excited when they give me something exciting.

Right now, short or long term none of it is exciting. And that sucks. But they'll be back and I'll be back. How the world turns.

Something exciting:

 

[KingSpeed]

More exciting:

 

[KingSpeed]

More exciting: wins over Minnesota and Milwaukee. They were fun games to watch.

 

[kjironman1]

I don't see how having overpaid vets like Ayton, Ant, Grant, Thybulle earning 10-35 million each provides any benefit to doing a "rebuild as quickly as possible".

Guess if you call it an overpay? Ayton signed his with the Suns. Simons contract is probably high but not outrageous. Fit's the league for where it's at. Same with Grant. His contract might be a bit high but it won't be considered high next year at all. Thybulle 10 mil? How is that considered high? Got a player option next year but that contract is expiring.
All those contracts are only getting better to trade.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Everybody’s goal was LeBron
Everybody’s goals were Duncan and VW
Everybody’s goal was Luka

FIFU

 

[BlazerWookee]

I agree, from a coach and player AND FAN perspective.

From a management perspective, in the currwnt NBA, if you fuck the draft you are playing to lose.

REFUSE 2 ROOT 2 LOSE!

 

[Strenuus]

More exciting: wins over Minnesota and Milwaukee. They were fun games to watch.

They will bite them in the ass at the end of the season, but sure. Yay? Lol. These wins means nothing short or long term. I'm tired of having "2 games a month that are fun to watch but lead to nothing" instead of having entire fun seasons end in heartbreak.

This was a necessity to be bad, I get it. But damn, I didn't envision this bad of a rebuild. This is putrid. Maybe in 10 years we will be good again. Maybe.

 

[Phatguysrule]

REFUSE 2 ROOT 2 LOSE!

I get you. I certainly don't want the players or coaches trying to lose.

I'm rooting for improvement. Wins aren't going to happen much regardless.

Wins now cost us far more wins in the future. No two ways about that.

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

I may just be excessively pessimistic but I don't see a light at the end of the tunnel barring a really good draft pick.

Sharpe - Like the guy but he is not a leader - maybe he could grow into one but doesn't have the "give it to me" mentality
Deni - Love his all-around game but he is a key role player
Camara - Love his game but another key role player
Clingan - Like what I've seen but good supporting piece if you have quality around him
Scoot - Mixed bag; sometimes he looks good others, not so much. Seriously question is ability to learn/grow, not seeing a lot of it - occasional glimpses of promise followed by stretches of really?

Everyone else, meh (or worse).

I will add the caveat that I think there is some good raw ability on this team but that having a coach that doesn't seem to be able to develop players, or coach his way out of a one-walled-room dampens the effectiveness of our several seasons of tanking. I really see no growth as a team from three or four years ago, just as bad (or worse) and no promise of anything better in the future.

Welcome to pessimism Saturday.