Exclusive The Kanter poll

[PtldPlatypus]

If we're not, we should! And I sort of agree with you. With the Ed Davis and Aminu signings, we're just half-assing. They're good enough to help us win a few games; just enough to be out of being the bottom 5 worst teams. If we get Kanter, he's good enough for us to be a 33-41 wins team. Hurray. Welcome to purgatory!

When we lost LaMarcus and couldn't sign any of the big names to replace him, we should have went full-on tank mode. Instead, we sign two solid backups (Davis and Aminu) to long term deals. When you are this bad (and we sure as hell are), the last thing we should do is signing solid backups to long tern contracts.

Sure, because everyone on our roster is fully developed into the player they will be in their prime, right? No more opportunity for growth from any of our 10 players under the age of 27 (11 if we got Kanter).

The 2008 team was 41-41 (purgatory!!); the next year we won 54 and made the playoffs the first of three seasons, seasons which likely would have seen further improvement had Roy's knees not disintegrated (and Oden's not been made of glass). If we can switch to a complete youth movement, reach a similar point this season, and not hit bottom, I'm all in favor.

 

[magnifier661]

If we're not, we should! And I sort of agree with you. With the Ed Davis and Aminu signings, we're just half-assing. They're good enough to help us win a few games; just enough to be out of being the bottom 5 worst teams. If we get Kanter, he's good enough for us to be a 33-41 wins team. Hurray. Welcome to purgatory!

When we lost LaMarcus and couldn't sign any of the big names to replace him, we should have went full-on tank mode. Instead, we sign two solid backups (Davis and Aminu) to long term deals. When you are this bad (and we sure as hell are), the last thing we should do is signing solid backups to long tern contracts.

I think you've just been used to the old Blazers and how they had a mediocre team, old players, no cap space and bloated contracts.

Even if we are mediocre right now, most the players will be under the age of 25. Most players hit their prime at 30, so there is a lot of room for improvement.

Also, if there is a possibility to land a top tier free agent, and our young team is a 41-45 win team, it's very appealing to be here. Or, if there is a marquee player requesting a trade and we have great "manageable contracts" and cap space, we can be a good trading partner to grab em.

 

[Denny Crane]

I would be excited if the sky was falling.

barfo

You keep telling me the sky is falling.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I think they will.

This was a power move to force OKC into this.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I think you've just been used to the old Blazers and how they had a mediocre team, old players, no cap space and bloated contracts.

Even if we are mediocre right now, most the players will be under the age of 25. Most players hit their prime at 30, so there is a lot of room for improvement.

Also, if there is a possibility to land a top tier free agent, and our young team is a 41-45 win team, it's very appealing to be here. Or, if there is a marquee player requesting a trade and we have great "manageable contracts" and cap space, we can be a good trading partner to grab em.

That's another aspect that I forgot about. A .500 team with a multiple-time all star, a lot of youth, and a bunch of cap space would be much more attractive than what we were this off-season.

 

[magnifier661]

I think they will.

This was a power move to force OKC into this.

Yep we called their bluff and they can either have him and be in salary hell for Clay or give him up and let another good player slip away. Not a good example when Durant is deciding where he wants to go next summer

 

[magnifier661]

That's another aspect that I forgot about. A .500 team with a multiple-time all star, a lot of youth, and a bunch of cap space would be much more attractive than what we were this off-season.

Exactly!!!! The reason I say this is because many teams saw how we were without Dame and Aldridge being the sure fire #1. We missed the playoffs. Now if Dame can lead this core to the 8th seed, it proves he's a great leader in a tough WC.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

Neither option captures my true ambivalence.

FAIL

 

[blue32]

I put excited. Because I suffered through what 3? seasons of MEYERS FUCKING BEIBER not playing a god damn LICK of defense. And all the sudden, like out of nowhere, he learns how to play.

If this Turkish delight or whatever the fuck he is can do the same, and WANTS to play center (i know unheard of right?) then fuck ya!

 

[Orion Bailey]

Y'know, I bet if you gave this poll to all the scouts and members of the front office of the Blazers they would be evenly split. If we're divided, you can bet they are too. I just wonder who's really pushing this, and why. Is it Allen? Is it all just to fuck with the Thunder? Is it really a calculation that defense doesn't mean shit when we're going to suck anyway, and a player who both gives us what fans want and gets us closer to a top pick is a win-win?

75% vs 25% is not very divided. IN presidential campaigns, thats a landslide whopping unanimous victory.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Kanter's woeful defense aside, I think people are missing another important implication if we get him. You can only develop so many young guys who play the same position at the same time. Guys are still trying to figure out who they are in the league and there is going to be a lot of pressure on them to try and maximize their statistical output over learning to sacrifice for the team's greater good.

Maybe Neil is already planning to trade somebody and improve the youth to veteran balance, but if not I see problems ahead (and for those who are inclined to disagree, I'd suggest you have a short memory and don't remember 2007, 2008, etc. when this team was loaded with young guys and a lack of veteran leadership when the balance between old guys and young was similarly out of whack).

 

[magnifier661]

Other than Lillard, we have no one that would be considered a starter on a good team right now. Sorry, I just don't see that much room for improvement from many of our young players to be excited about.

Lillard is an all-star caliber player. I hope to see further improvement, but I don't expect him to take any great leap going forward. He's our only core player, imo.
Meyers is still up in there air. Just one year ago many were ready to show him the door. He came on strong late last season and shows promising signs, but I would not consider him a great prospect.
McCollum looks like he's going to be a terrific scorer in the role of a 6th man. Again, I don't consider him a great prospect.
Vonleh is a total wildcard. Could be a complete bust or a future all-star. I'm excited to see him play and follow his development.

The rest are meh at best.


I would argue that group had much more room for improvement than this group. That group was loaded with young talents.

I don't know if you remembered, but Aldridge was the back-up for Zach and played back-up spot minutes at center for most of his rookie year. He was considered very soft, with no inside game, poor defense and thin as a rail.

CJ was in a bad pickle his rookie year because we were actually pretty good by the time he came back from injury and had zero playing time to develop his game. He had another set back last season, but finally came around at season's end.

Leonard was a major disappointment up until last season. Many in here, including myself, ate some major crow with his huge jump in efficiency and toughness.

Plumlee has been a career back up in Brooklyn because they had a max center already there. Dinging him for not starting would be like singing Aldridge for not starting when Zach was here.

I can foresee major improvements from CJ, Plumlee, Leonard, and Crabbe. We will be better than you think.

Kanter can plug in and give us more efficient 20/10 that we lost from Aldridge on the offensive end. So we need to make up 16-18 points for Matthews, 12 points from Batum and 8 points from Lopez.

We can do it

 

[Orion Bailey]

If we're not, we should! And I sort of agree with you. With the Ed Davis and Aminu signings, we're just half-assing. They're good enough to help us win a few games; just enough to be out of being the bottom 5 worst teams. If we get Kanter, he's good enough for us to be a 33-41 wins team. Hurray. Welcome to purgatory!

When we lost LaMarcus and couldn't sign any of the big names to replace him, we should have went full-on tank mode. Instead, we sign two solid backups (Davis and Aminu) to long term deals. When you are this bad (and we sure as hell are), the last thing we should do is signing solid backups to long tern contracts.

I think you've just been used to the old Blazers and how they had a mediocre team, old players, no cap space and bloated contracts.

Even if we are mediocre right now, most the players will be under the age of 25. Most players hit their prime at 30, so there is a lot of room for improvement.

Also, if there is a possibility to land a top tier free agent, and our young team is a 41-45 win team, it's very appealing to be here. Or, if there is a marquee player requesting a trade and we have great "manageable contracts" and cap space, we can be a good trading partner to grab em.

Right Mags, Except 42 wins dammit!

 

[tlongII]

A better poll would be whether you think OKC will match or not. They will. This is much ado about nothing.

 

[magnifier661]

A better poll would be whether you think OKC will match or not. They will. This is much ado about nothing.

That's just as good because OKC will be strapped. It's a win win scenario

 

[Denny Crane]

Kanter's woeful defense aside, I think people are missing another important implication if we get him. You can only develop so many young guys who play the same position at the same time. Guys are still trying to figure out who they are in the league and there is going to be a lot of pressure on them to try and maximize their statistical output over learning to sacrifice for the team's greater good.

Maybe Neil is already planning to trade somebody and improve the youth to veteran balance, but if not I see problems ahead (and for those who are inclined to disagree, I'd suggest you have a short memory and don't remember 2007, 2008, etc. when this team was loaded with young guys and a lack of veteran leadership when the balance between old guys and young was similarly out of whack).

FWIW, Neil talked about how Elton Brand left the Clippers and how he rebuilt. Here's the Clippers' record (Brand was gone in 2008-2009 forward):



Olshey was hired by the Blazers in June of 2012.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Kanter's woeful defense aside, I think people are missing another important implication if we get him. You can only develop so many young guys who play the same position at the same time. Guys are still trying to figure out who they are in the league and there is going to be a lot of pressure on them to try and maximize their statistical output over learning to sacrifice for the team's greater good.

Maybe Neil is already planning to trade somebody and improve the youth to veteran balance, but if not I see problems ahead (and for those who are inclined to disagree, I'd suggest you have a short memory and don't remember 2007, 2008, etc. when this team was loaded with young guys and a lack of veteran leadership when the balance between old guys and young was similarly out of whack).

Asset acquisition phase.

Heavy with PF/C's -- I think he has an eye on a young SG or SF.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Other than Lillard, we have no one that would be considered a starter on a good team right now. Sorry, I just don't see that much room for improvement from many of our young players to be excited about.

Lillard is an all-star caliber player. I hope to see further improvement, but I don't expect him to take any great leap going forward. He's our only core player, imo.
Meyers is still up in there air. Just one year ago many were ready to show him the door. He came on strong late last season and shows promising signs, but I would not consider him a great prospect.
McCollum looks like he's going to be a terrific scorer in the role of a 6th man. Again, I don't consider him a great prospect.
Vonleh is a total wildcard. Could be a complete bust or a future all-star. I'm excited to see him play and follow his development.

The rest are meh at best.

It's amazing how quick you are to judge. I wonder how many minutes you've actually spent watching Aminu, Davis, Plumlee, or Kanter in order to be able to come to this "meh at best" conclusion. I also wonder what the definition of "meh" is to you. Do quality role players who contribute efficiently and defend well qualify as "meh"? If so, and "meh" isn't good enough for you, then I'd say your expectations are too high.

We have a bonafide star, potentially a superstar, in Lillard. If OKC doesn't match, we have another potential star in Kanter (don't pre-judge--just look at his offensive numbers and efficiency). And we have 5 other young guys (CJ/Aminu/Davis/Nards/Plums) who have demonstrated that they can be quality role players, if not more, along with a few "wildcards" (Frazier/Pat/Crabbe/Vonleh). That's absolutely the basis for a very good team.

 

[tlongII]

That's just as good because OKC will be strapped. It's a win win scenario

I like that it will hurt OKC's financial flexibility, but it's definitely not "just as good."

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Great point. Vonleh is the only prospect that I'm excited about, and he would be affected with Kanter on the team.

Not long-term.

Kanter is a center and only a center.

Vonleh is strictly a PF.

 

[magnifier661]

Asset acquisition phase.

Heavy with PF/C's -- I think he has an eye on a young SG or SF.

Sacramento's stud SG McLemore?

Seems Sacramento showed us they were willing to let him go when they made offers to Matthews and Ellis. Maybe they would be willing to give us something for him?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I would argue that [07-08] group had much more room for improvement than this group. That group was loaded with young talents.

Are you sure about that? Aside from Oden, Roy, Aldridge, and maybe Rudy, who were the "young talents" on that team that exuded so much more potential than what we have now?

Go ahead, I'll wait.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/POR/2008.html

 

[Blazinaway]

Great point. Vonleh is the only prospect that I'm excited about, and he would be affected with Kanter on the team.

IMO if we get Kanter my guess is on of the bigs goes and I am thinking Kaman and/or Plumlee are most likely.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Sacramento's stud SG McLemore?

Seems Sacramento showed us they were willing to let him go when they made offers to Matthews and Ellis. Maybe they would be willing to give us something for him?

Only he's not. Although he did raise his PER from 7.7 to 10.4. Came in as a "pure shooter" -- streaky at best.

Barnes would be my target. With three max deals on the books it's a viable option IMO.

 

[magnifier661]

IMO if we get Kanter my guess is on of the bigs goes and I am thinking Kaman and/or Plumlee are most likely.

I think we keep Plumlee. I have a feeling we will trade Von and maybe Henderson for McLemore. Sacramento is thin at PF and Anderson seems like a better compliment for Rondo and Gay.

 

[magnifier661]

Only he's not. Although he did raise his PER from 7.7 to 10.4. Came in as a "pure shooter" -- streaky at best.

Barnes would be my target. With three max deals on the books it's a viable option IMO.

I would be very happy to get McLemore because he's just exactly the "diamond in the rough" type athletic guard we are looking for.

But if we get Barnes, I would shit just the same.

 

[magnifier661]

Only he's not. Although he did raise his PER from 7.7 to 10.4. Came in as a "pure shooter" -- streaky at best.

Barnes would be my target. With three max deals on the books it's a viable option IMO.

Looking at what GS really wants and Sac, we could come away with both players if we do it right

That's two shits for the price of one!

 

[jlprk]

Are you sure about that? Aside from Oden, Roy, Aldridge, and maybe Rudy, who were the "young talents" on that team that exuded so much more potential than what we have now?

Go ahead, I'll wait.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/POR/2008.html

Your list shows 4-6 other young guys who everyone considered to be full of potential. Frye, Jack, Sergio, and Webster all had either 1 or 2 years of experience. Outlaw and Blake had 4.

 

[BBert]

Considering that Uncle Paul is a basketball fan, Blazers owner, and Seattle-Ite, I wonder if he may have had something to do with championing this move and putting the screws to Bennett. Because the whole Zombie Sonics thing is half the reason this move is so much fun.

They say revenge is best served cold.

Fuck Clay Bennett with a Northwest chain saw.

 

[magnifier661]

Considering that Uncle Paul is a basketball fan, Blazers owner, and Seattle-Ite, I wonder if he may have had something to do with championing this move and putting the screws to Bennett. Because the whole Zombie Sonics thing is half the reason this move is so much fun.

They say revenge is best served cold.

Fuck Clay Bennett with a Northwest chain saw.

Without lube!