The missing piece?

[Stevenson]

The question today is, how do you turn this team into a legit championship team? We are close, but I don't think we would have much of a chance against Miami for instance.

Where could we improve?

PG: Damien. I think we are probably covered here.
SG: Wes. Heart and soul of the team. I would keep him forever. Tangible and intangible assets.
PF: LA. Again, as solid as can be.
C: Robin. Who could we get that would be much of an improvement? Realistically no one.
SF: Nic. I love Nic, but this may be the spot where we could significantly improve to get to the next level.

6th man: T Rob looks to be developing into a beast. Mo though leaves something to be desired. (Aside: Wouldn't it be great to have, say, Jamal Crawford in that role? Alas.)

So, as I see it. Nic and Mo (re-signed) are pieces for Olshey to play with.

You?

 

[magnifier661]

Before we question our pieces, let's wait until summer. You never know what we need until we lose a series. Right now, I think we have all the pieces.

 

[EGame]

Just need more of a bench. Our starters are good, I wish Batum was more aggressive in games, but he has been pretty aggressive throughout the whole Houston series so that is nice to see. Maybe Will and/or CJ can help be bench contributors or we may have to find them. All I know is Mo and Dorell are not getting it done for us.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Even if the team somehow found a way to win it all, I don't think that would mean that the roster is set in stone; there's always room for improvement.

 

[B-Roy]

I wouldn't touch the starting five outside of coming across a "no-brainer" deal.

Realistically we just need a proper 6th man wing (not Mo) and some role players who excel at one or two things each.

 

[magnifier661]

I wouldn't touch the starting five outside of coming across a "no-brainer" deal.

Realistically we just need a proper 6th man wing (not Mo) and some role players who excel at one or two things each.

I agree that our bench can be downright frustrating... I think we use our MLE to grab Lowry. He will definitely be offered more, but I'm hoping us being a contender may sway him!

 

[shamelessblazer]

Greivis Vasquez and Channing Frye

9 man rotation of our starters; the two above, CJ, and T-Rob

I think we could get there this off-season. Sign one for MLE, trade for the other.

 

[Sinobas]

I agree with improving the bench. I like T-Rob, and think McCollum has a lot of promise, but everyone else on the bench right now is a wash at best. Nic is our weakest starter. Just doesn't seem to have the fire to be a really good one. He's ok, but not much of a difference maker.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

I agree with improving the bench. I like T-Rob, and think McCollum has a lot of promise, but everyone else on the bench right now is a wash at best. Nic is our weakest starter. Just doesn't seem to have the fire to be a really good one. He's ok, but not much of a difference maker.

I am most certainly not against looking around but there aren't a whole heck of a lot of SF's that seem "getable" that are a huge upgrade on Nic.

Oh and thanks for the signature man!

 

[KingSpeed]

I agree that our bench can be downright frustrating... I think we use our MLE to grab Lowry. He will definitely be offered more, but I'm hoping us being a contender may sway him!

Lowry is an All Star level starting PG. He won't want to come off the bench.

 

[magnifier661]

Lowry is an All Star level starting PG. He won't want to come off the bench.

Karl Malone and Gary Payton were top 50 players of all time and took huge pay cuts to play for a contender.

 

[mook]

Our bench went from "historically terrible" last year to just "pretty bad" this year. It's time for another house cleaning, where Olshey hopefully finds some diamonds in the rough. There's nobody on our bench whom I wouldn't mind parting with. Remember what horse shit players we replaced with Lopez, Robinson and Mo? What can Neil do with pieces like McCollum, Freeland, Robinson and Barton? I know these aren't world-beaters, but it's at least something for him to work with.

The one guy I'm not that excited to trade is (and now don't shout me down before listening) Meyers Leonard. Quiet. No, really, shut up. Just listen. I know he's utter dog shit. I get that. Dumb as a box of rocks. But he's still young, he's still 7 feet tall and he's still strong and athletic as hell. And most importantly, everybody in the world thinks he's a punch line to a bad joke. And he is. But that means he has absolutely no trade value.

We have a team of quiet, intelligent professionals. Lillard, Batum, Aldridge, Lopez, Matthews. These are the kind of guys that, with a little luck, might eventually rub off on him and make him worth a damned. This is not like us hoping Travis Outlaw can learn under the wing of a young Zach Randolph. Leonard is in a place where he can learn and grow. He's just dumb as fuck, so it will take a long time. He's worth more to us as the 15th man on the bench than he's worth to anybody else. I think you have to keep him and see if he eventually makes himself of value in this league.

 

[KingSpeed]

I think what we have is good enough. Like Nik infers, even title teams make adjustments. Miami added Ray Allen after their title in 2012. Spurs didn't win but they added Bellinelli.

 

[PapaG]

I agree that our bench can be downright frustrating... I think we use our MLE to grab Lowry. He will definitely be offered more, but I'm hoping us being a contender may sway him!

There is no way Lowry is going to come to Portland for the MLE, and to come off of the bench. Come on!

 

[PapaG]

I agree with improving the bench. I like T-Rob, and think McCollum has a lot of promise, but everyone else on the bench right now is a wash at best. Nic is our weakest starter. Just doesn't seem to have the fire to be a really good one. He's ok, but not much of a difference maker.

Nic went 16/6/5 for the series, averaged 43 mpg, and had a PER of 16 on USG of 16. He also helped play solid defense on both Harden and Parsons.

I'm not sure what more you'd want from the starting SF, so I'll assume you have a bias against Nic.

 

[PapaG]

Karl Malone and Gary Payton were top 50 players of all time and took huge pay cuts to play for a contender.

They were at the end of their careers. In their primes, neither was going to take a lesser contract to come off of the bench of a 'contender.' Besides, Toronto may well be the best team in the East next season.

 

[Stevenson]

Nic went 16/6/5 for the series, averaged 43 mpg, and had a PER of 16 on USG of 16. He also helped play solid defense on both Harden and Parsons.

I'm not sure what more you'd want from the starting SF, so I'll assume you have a bias against Nic.

I love Nic, as I said. I'm just looking at where we could improve, and his spot seems the most likely spot. He has a tradable contract and is a nice glue guy. Decent numbers. But I think we need a third stud to get over the top, and you have to trade value to get value. The other 4 starters are off limits, so that leads me to say Nico.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

I love Nic, as I said. I'm just looking at where we could improve, and his spot seems the most likely spot. He has a tradable contract and is a nice glue guy. Decent numbers. But I think we need a third stud to get over the top, and you have to trade value to get value. The other 4 starters are off limits, so that leads me to say Nico.

It is fine and dandy to say upgrade but who are some realistic names that we can both get and are a big upgrade?

 

[PapaG]

I love Nic, as I said. I'm just looking at where we could improve, and his spot seems the most likely spot. He has a tradable contract and is a nice glue guy. Decent numbers. But I think we need a third stud to get over the top, and you have to trade value to get value. The other 4 starters are off limits, so that leads me to say Nico.

Unless something that is an absolute steal presents itself, the starting line-up is as close to being a lock for next season as any in the NBA right now, IMO.

 

[blue9]

I love Nic, as I said. I'm just looking at where we could improve, and his spot seems the most likely spot. He has a tradable contract and is a nice glue guy. Decent numbers. But I think we need a third stud to get over the top, and you have to trade value to get value. The other 4 starters are off limits, so that leads me to say Nico.

So then, LBJ, Melo, or George. Let's revisit this topic after the Playoffs end.

 

[BBert]

I do not assume the Blazers can't beat the Heat. Of course they can. Doesn't mean they will, but I hope we get a chance to find out.

Sure we could trade Nico or Wes, but unless you are getting a bona fide all star, you'd be crazy to trade Batum. This team is a unit and Batum is integral to that. I cannot get over how undervalued Batum is by posters on this board.

I'd rather use Mo's money on someone else, frankly. Wright is a shocking disappointment.

Other than our starters, I don't know that we have any valued pieces to trade besides TRob and CJ. I'd keep TRob. I'd rather not trade CJ, but he and everyone else on the bench is expendable.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

I love Nic, as I said. I'm just looking at where we could improve, and his spot seems the most likely spot. He has a tradable contract and is a nice glue guy. Decent numbers. But I think we need a third stud to get over the top, and you have to trade value to get value. The other 4 starters are off limits, so that leads me to say Nico.

Nic is a top 5 SF. Can't really upgrade unless we get LeBron, Durant, George, or Melo and even Melo is debatable for this team...

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Realistically every starter we have (with the possible exception of Aldridge) could be upgraded. But realistically this would not happen. (The only borderline possibility would be if Chicago totally imploded (say, Rose retires and/or Thibs leaves) and Noah wanted out. But he's not such a huge improvement over Robin as I would once have thought. And besides, they have amazing chemistry.

I would be perfectly happy, though, with a totally new bench. Mo is a great guy and a huge lockerroom presence, but he drives me insane with his tunnel vision and atrocious defense. TRob is good for some highlights, but brain-wise he's a non-rapey Ruben Patterson. Freeland is leagues better than last season, but still undersized and underathletic. CJ might have value to someone, and might develop, but at the moment he's a poor man's Mo. Will is awesome, but totally out of control, which only bad teams can tolerate, and Meyers is just a wasted pick. I'll be sorry to see Claver go, and I genuinely believe he could be good in the right situation, but it's clear Stotts doesn't value him (and his shot is broken), so it's best that we part ways.

Oh yeah, I forgot Dorrell Wright. Oh look, I just did it again. It's so easy to do!

What do we need? DEFENSE, above all else, as well as a true, pass-first PG, preferably large enough to guard 2Gs when playing alongside Lillard. I really wanted Shaun Livingston last year, but I doubt the Nets will let him go now. Can't think of any others off the top of my head.

I also really wanted us to draft Gorgui Dieng, and wouldn't he be the perfect backup big? But no, we went with CJ, and I don't think Minny would be keen to swap now.

Are there any mid-30's ish vets who might be ready to sign on for a playoff run?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Pipedream: Luol Deng signs on to be our Lamar Odom.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Pipedream: Luol Deng signs on to be our Lamar Odom.

Would be great! However, depending on the coaching hire I think he ends up a Laker. If not that then a Mav or a Sun.

I think it would be cool if we could pick up Tony Allen and either Vince Carter/Shawn Marion/Paul Pierce. The defense and hustle off the bench would be crazy... but it would limit the growth of CJ and Barton.

 

[santeesioux]

I would love to nab Pau with the MLE, but he'll probably get more from some crap team that wants to overspend.

Sign and trade for Melo

 

[H.C.]

The question today is, how do you turn this team into a legit championship team? We are close, but I don't think we would have much of a chance against Miami for instance.

Where could we improve?

PG: Damien. I think we are probably covered here.
SG: Wes. Heart and soul of the team. I would keep him forever. Tangible and intangible assets.
PF: LA. Again, as solid as can be.
C: Robin. Who could we get that would be much of an improvement? Realistically no one.
SF: Nic. I love Nic, but this may be the spot where we could significantly improve to get to the next level.

6th man: T Rob looks to be developing into a beast. Mo though leaves something to be desired. (Aside: Wouldn't it be great to have, say, Jamal Crawford in that role? Alas.)

So, as I see it. Nic and Mo (re-signed) are pieces for Olshey to play with.

You?

completely ignored your post as soon as you brought up Jamal Crawford. Who said before the season started that last offseason was the first time in his career he worked on his game in the offseason. Who is a cancer. Who puts up wild prayer shots. Who sure can go for 15 points. but he can also clank every shot off.

Oh lets not forget when we had Crawford after nate was fired and the blazers played the clippers. Crawford was heard on the broadcast saying. "i want to play for you guys, I want to be a clipper."

smh.

 

[magnifier661]

completely ignored your post as soon as you brought up Jamal Crawford. Who said before the season started that last offseason was the first time in his career he worked on his game in the offseason. Who is a cancer. Who puts up wild prayer shots. Who sure can go for 15 points. but he can also clank every shot off.

Oh lets not forget when we had Crawford after nate was fired and the blazers played the clippers. Crawford was heard on the broadcast saying. "i want to play for you guys, I want to be a clipper."

smh.

Yeah I want no part of that guy on this team. Total "me first" type player.

 

[magnifier661]

Would you guys be interested in Lin?

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Would you guys be interested in Lin?

Isn't his cap hit going to be like 15 mil? LOL FUCK NO.

Edit: 8.3 mil cap hit 14.9 mil salary