The missing piece?

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Larry Sanders - Backup for LMA and Lopez, could be had on the cheap but making it work money wise would be tricky. As we all know, the Playoffs are all about defense and Larry has proved that he is capable of shutting down the paint.

Avery Bradley - RFA (iirc) and when healthy was looking like a Tony Allen-esque on-ball defender.

Luol Deng - I know we don't have the money/cap but he's a 6th man on a championship team at SF/PF.
 
Don't think we should look at trading Batum under ANY circumstances. We might find a player with better stats but our starting five are good together
as any in the league right now. Let's focus on the three or four bench players we need to have a complete team.
 
We need a better version of Mo and we need a veteran big man like a Jermaine O'Neal. I think if you add those two pieces to our bench, we're set next season. It's conceivable that CJ develops into that "better Mo," but at this juncture I don't know if we can wait to find out.
 
Okay, I've put on my shit shield, but do you know what I think we need? A defensive-oriented backup point guard that can hit the three. My choice?














































Patrick Beverley. Seriously, I think he'd thrive in that role behind Dame.
 
I wanted a veteran big like we had in Juan Howard, someone who can come in cold and eat up lots of minutes at PF/C in case of injury or foul trouble. Guy like T-rob or Freeland you have to be scared if they are going to have "young guy mistakes". I would love to keep T-rob around to develop and use that veteran as a "just in case".

Getting an upgrade from Mo would be awesome. I rather upgrade at the backup PG than backup SG because it lets Lillard "rest" as our backup SG by not having to handle the ball the entire game. Lets him play more minutes at a higher level. Also, with Batum and Lillard, you have your back 2 guards, plus you have CJ and Barton that can fill that roll in a pinch, and may develop into more.

Upgrading Wright would be another plus. Again, a guy who can play some PF if he has to and isn't as over matched as Wright was. Stotts tried to use Wright as the veteran "big" I described above, as he got the start over t-rob when LMA was down and even in this series he was our backup PF at times.
 
maxiep said:
Okay, I've put on my shit shield, but do you know what I think we need? A defensive-oriented backup point guard that can hit the three. My choice?

Patrick Beverley. Seriously, I think he'd thrive in that role behind Dame.
Click to expand...

Honestly, he is a guy everyone hates unless he is on your team. So if he became a Blazer everyone would like him.
 
maxiep said:
Okay, I've put on my shit shield, but do you know what I think we need? A defensive-oriented backup point guard that can hit the three. My choice?
Patrick Beverley. Seriously, I think he'd thrive in that role behind Dame.
Click to expand...

I don't think Houston is trading him.
 
To take the next step I would say we need one more guard who can play behind and along side of Damian. So I guess i agree with those who say a better version of Mo. Don't get me wrong, Mo has been huge for us, but a back up PG who can attack the basket and be a lock down defender would be huge. A pipe dream maybe, but that's what I want. But I would not trade a starter to get him.
 
The piece that's missing is that second championship banner hangin' from the rafters
 
I would be fantastic in the Earl Watson role.
 
... the only missing piece is a championship ring!
 
SlyPokerDog said:
I would be fantastic in the Earl Watson role.
Click to expand...

I truly believe Earl Watson will be an assistant coach on our bench next season or soon after. I'd hate to tweak the chemistry of this team too much while there's developing talent on the bench now that just needs to do what Freeland did last season and take it up a notch. Olshey will find another vet I'm sure though
 
What about bringing back Jarrett Jack? Good size, good defender, good scorer. Not a great contract, but he isn't working out in Cleveland, so they may move him for cheap.
 
Realistically with how big of a stud Lillard, and how big la has been I wouldn't be surprised if we could attract one of the top sf's in the nba, especially if we can have some serious success in the playoffs. It would be a long shot because of the whole small market thing, but you never know. How amazing would it be if we end up getting the player we fkd up and missed out on?
 
As others have said, unless a disgruntled superstar wants to force his way to Portland (yeah, that happens all the time), I wouldn't touch our starting five. They are all top 10 for their positions and have INCREDIBLE chemistry - something that should not be overlooked. In spite of the NBA's attempts to make basketball an individual sport, teams still win championships. Jordan didn't win without Pippin, Shaq without Kobe or Wade and LeBron without Wade and Bosh.

I'd look elsewhere, starting with the obvious - the bench. Mo has said he'll opt out of his very cheap contract in search of a better deal. Based on the way he's played so far in the post season, that may longer be such a great idea. If he keeps sucking in the playoffs, he may decide to sit tight, take his $2.7 million and stay put. Which is fine, he's not great, but he's worth that much at least. If Mo leaves, I'd like to see his roster spot go to a more defensive minded back-up PG or combo guard.

That said, I'd love to get Grevis Vasquez from Toronto. He's a great passer and big enough to play either guard position, but he's restricted and I doubt Toronto lets him walk.

Of course, I'd also like a solid big man on a vet minimum contract. Every team needs one of those. Somebody that doesn't need to play big minutes, but can give us a solid 10 minutes a game and more when necessary. Not sure who will be available, but someone like a late career Antonio McDyess type player - a solid, dependable veteran that still has a little something left in the tank.

I agree with making Earl Watson an assistant. It would free up his roster spot and although he contributed nothing on the court this year, he gets mentioned a LOT by the other players. Lopez mentioned him last night after the game. He's definitely a good mentor for the younger players and I think he's eager to move into coaching. It would be a good situation for him and for the team.

And that's where I'd like to see the most changes - the coaching staff. Definitely keep Stotts. He's an offensive mastermind. But, I'd like to see us add a defensive minded assistant coach - like Lionel Hollins, and another big man coach. Based on Freeland's progress, I think Kim Hughes does a good job teaching fundamental defense and rebounding, but I'd like to see someone work with Robinson and Leonard on their low post moves and footwork. Hakeem would be ideal, but he's not leaving Houston. So, I say we offer Kevin McHale the job once the Rockets fire him. Bad head coach, but good big man coach. As a player, he had the best low post moves I've ever seen. If he can just teach Robinson the basic drop step and up and under moves, it would greatly improve our points in the paint scoring off the bench.

BNM
 
probably not high on the priority list but i think vince carter would be a solid vet off the bench. im assuming we resign mo and to have him and vince off the bench that coul dbe some decent scoring. i know we need defense but i feel like Trob is be even better next year and hopefully we pick up a back up C.
 
Tough thing is anyone you bring in who's quality enough to play decent minutes...we don't really have those minutes available. The starters just fit so dang well together, that messing with that would be dangerous. So to make improvements, you have to find guys to improve the bench either from their own growth (young guys like McCollum, Robinson), or veterans who are willing to make sacrifices (like late 90's Blazers teams) in minutes.

If we go for a big name, realize the starting line-up would end up dismantled to a decent degree, and you still have the bench problem.

I think with McCollum, Robinson, Freeland you have decent pieces, but if a year from now those are our 6th-8th men, we're not looking too hot (although I still am VERY optimistic about CJ). Mo would be good to stick around if he'd do it for cheap, and basically play the hot hand between him and CJ in the late 3rd/into the 4th. I get a sense that players respect Mo, which is valuable, but can be overstated. If we can snag a Camby-type of player who still has skill (couple years ago Camby), but is willing to put his ego aside and doesn't expect 25+ minutes per night, that's ideal. Guys who know their role, but can step up when called upon because of injuries, a hot hand, or foul trouble to teammates. I don't know who fits that profile for this off-season, but that's my take.
 
I would like to see someone else instead of Mo & Dorrell. I was excited by those signings and they just frustrate me so much. Patty Mills back? I think Lance Stephenson in a 6th man role would be great, but I don't see it happening. He is going to want to break the bank and why would he come to Portland instead of resigning with Indy. Aminu could be a nice defensive piece.
 
Zybot said:
This is the alternative universe thread, where the Rockets beat the Blazers and what do we need to do to be able to beat the Rockets.
Click to expand...

Haha...well the missing piece is Lebron. He's also the missing piece for 28 other teams.
 
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