The Official Win Total Prediction Thread

[Natebishop3]

Thats because we are on the same homer page and not gonna deviate!



Honestly, I dont think the big signing will happen this year. It will be a trade to nail down the second of a big three and then Durant will sign with us the year after when he hits free agency.

I think this trade deadline/offseason will be more about trading away who isnt fitting to find the 2nd star. NO isnt going to toss his extra cash around just to sign. He proved that this last offseason. The guy has tricks and I believe he can bring in the names in the next two years.

Durant is a free agent this summer.

 

[blue9]

Any other year I would agree, but this is an anomaly year. 8th seed tells the league and all the stars that we are much better than everyone thought. They will see the upside and our cash to spend and I think there will be a few who will want to hop on the Blazers bandwagon.

And this is why you get called delusional. Not because you think we can make the POs, but because you think players are going to want to join a 1st round Playoff team. Never mind the fact that there aren't any good free agents next summer (who are likely to come here) OR that EVERY team is going to have money to spend.

 

[Denny Crane]

I don't buy it that no top FA will come to Portland because it's Portland.

 

[Natebishop3]

I don't buy it that no top FA will come to Portland because it's Portland.

When was the last time a top flight free agent was interested in Portland? We couldn't even convince Monroe to sign here last year.

 

[riverman]

When was the last time a top flight free agent was interested in Portland? We couldn't even convince Monroe to sign here last year.

We had Monroe's interest..we had Hibbert's interest..we had Kanters interest..We had Aminu's interest..there's really no more reason to think small markets can't attract free agents...Monroe ended up going to a small market anyway ..San Antonio is a small market. Sometimes as with Steve Blake, it's a question of where you want your kids growing up.

 

[Natebishop3]

We had Monroe's interest..we had Hibbert's interest..we had Kanters interest..We had Aminu's interest..there's really no more reason to think small markets can't attract free agents...Monroe ended up going to a small market anyway ..San Antonio is a small market. Sometimes as with Steve Blake, it's a question of where you want your kids growing up.

I didn't say we couldn't attract any free agents, I said we couldn't attract top flight free agents. Hibbert, Kanter, and Aminu are not top flight. Monroe isn't really either, but he was one of the more sought after guys this past summer.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Durant is a free agent this summer.

Ahh, well, I dont want him anyhow. Too old for this team.

And this is why you get called delusional. Not because you think we can make the POs, but because you think players are going to want to join a 1st round Playoff team. Never mind the fact that there aren't any good free agents next summer (who are likely to come here) OR that EVERY team is going to have money to spend.

When was the last time a top flight free agent was interested in Portland? We couldn't even convince Monroe to sign here last year.

I already addressed this though and no one refuted anything. I think someone said I had some good points.

First, How do we not know that Monroe got some inside info on our team breaking apart and didnt want to be a part of a rebuild? Last year that's what EVEYRONE in the league thought Portland would be doing... a first of a three year rebuild. But then NO fit 2 years into 2 months. Things are MUCH different now than they were in the summer.
People seem to be living in the past, so lets take a glance....

Last years team was a 3-4 year old team. We didnt have money and had most of the pieces and didnt need another superstar. This means the last few years cant count with regards to trying to sign a big name player. Before that? We had a killer core from the draft and didnt need to sign a top tier.. we had Roy Aldridge and Oden. Before that? Pretty much the jail blazers era and if I was a free agent, I wouldnt have wanted to come here either. Before that? We DID sign Bryan Grant, Scottie Pippen, and a bunch other top tier free agents. The team before that? I honestly dont know. I lived in NY and CO during the early to mid 90's up until 03'.

Again. Aldridge met with two of the biggest markets in the NBA and decline them for a small market. Greg Monroe declined big offers to stay with an up and coming Detroit team in a small market.
Trends change man. Lets not get stuck in one gear and think thats all there ever will be. Remember those that say never.......usually get burnt and understand we should never say never. Everything changes in this world but two things. You are born and you die. Everything else can change... including NBA players mentality of where to go play ball and why.

Thats my ranting rebuttal to all this... NO ONE WILL EVER COME HERE...

Just like Denny, Im just not buying it.

 

[Denny Crane]

When was the last time a top flight free agent was interested in Portland? We couldn't even convince Monroe to sign here last year.

He was interested. Other teams went after him, and Milwaukee (ewww) was able to sign him.

It seems to me at least two guys signed max contracts here as RFAs recently, only to be matched.

If Cleveland and Milwaukee can attract big name FAs, Portland can, too.

 

[THE HCP]

Not having gone back and looked, I'd say the last quality free agent signing we've had was Danny Ainge. He was still at the top of his game when he joined us. Portland just isn't a blip on star player's radars.

 

[THE HCP]

Wes ended up being a great signing, but this place was up in arms when we gave this undrafted player all that money.

 

[blue9]

I don't buy it that no top FA will come to Portland because it's Portland.

I don't think anybody is saying that. At least I'm not. I'm saying that no top free agents will come to Portland until we've made the WCF - at that point we'll attract some top free agents. Until then we'll only attract role players.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

That suggests that the 3rd seed isn't out of reach. I mean, we'd be there right now if we'd won the majority of the losses in which we gave up a 4th quarter lead.

If we won all the games that we lost we'd be tied with Golden State.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Not having gone back and looked, I'd say the last quality free agent signing we've had was Danny Ainge. He was still at the top of his game when he joined us. Portland just isn't a blip on star player's radars.

Andre Miller.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

If we won all the games that we lost we'd be tied with Golden State.

But I'm not being unreasonable like you're trying to imply. No excuse for losing the Dallas game. Detroit shouldn't have been a loss. Houston went to OT on a lucky buzzer beater. The Memphis loss was a last second tip-in. Each of those losses could easily be a win. Our current 8-12 could just as well be 12-8.

 

[THE HCP]

Andre Miller.

I stand corrected. Should have looked before I posted.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

But I'm not being unreasonable like you're trying to imply.

I wasn't implying anything, just having a little fun. Next you're gonna claim I said something about your kids and want to fight me on Mt Tabor.

 

[THE HCP]

But I'm not being unreasonable like you're trying to imply. No excuse for losing the Dallas game. Detroit shouldn't have been a loss. Houston went to OT on a lucky buzzer beater. The Memphis loss was a last second tip-in. Each of those losses could easily be a win. Our current 8-12 could just as well be 12-8.

Have to disagree. I think we REALLY earned all of our losses and have had 3 or so wins we didn't deserve. We should be 5-15!

 

[Natebishop3]

Andre Miller.

Ummm you are CLEARLY forgetting about Jamal Crawford!

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Not having gone back and looked, I'd say the last quality free agent signing we've had was Danny Ainge. He was still at the top of his game when he joined us.

Ed Davis.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I wasn't implying anything, just having a little fun. Next you're gonna claim I said something about your kids and want to fight me on Mt Tabor.

You couldn't say anything about my kids that I haven't already said. But say something about Tabor squirrels...it's on!

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Ummm you are CLEARLY forgetting about Jamal Crawford!

Aminu.

 

[THE HCP]

Ed Davis.

NO! Ed is a quality bench guy. Love the addition though. I think Nate was joking, but I truly love Jamal Crawford's game. Put him in the right position and his ability to get hot at any moment can really help the right team.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

NO! Ed is a quality bench guy. Love the addition though. I think Nate was joking, but I truly love Jamal Crawford's game. Put him in the right position and his ability to get hot at any moment can really help the right team.

He's a quality free agent and is at the top of HIS game. That's the standard you set in your original post.

 

[THE HCP]

Sly, there are enough douchebags on here now, please don't become one yourself. I remember when we used to have quality conversations on here.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Sly, there are enough douchebags on here now, please don't become one yourself. I remember when we used to have quality conversations on here.

Hahahaha!

No seriously dude, you said...

Not having gone back and looked, I'd say the last quality free agent signing we've had was Danny Ainge. He was still at the top of his game when he joined us. Portland just isn't a blip on star player's radars.

But Ainge was a bench player when we signed him so he really wasn't on the top of his game anymore. Ed Davis is actually still at the top of his game.

 

[Denny Crane]

Have to disagree. I think we REALLY earned all of our losses and have had 3 or so wins we didn't deserve. We should be 5-15!

Forwarded to coach@blazers.com

 

[julius]

Not having gone back and looked, I'd say the last quality free agent signing we've had was Danny Ainge. He was still at the top of his game when he joined us. Portland just isn't a blip on star player's radars.

For starters, Ainge was traded to Portland. They lost him as a free agent.

The last free agent in his prime that the team signed? Wesley Matthews.

(or Brian Grant if you don't count Wesley)

 

[THE HCP]

For starters, Ainge was traded to Portland. They lost him as a free agent.

The last free agent in his prime that the team signed? Wesley Matthews.

(or Brian Grant if you don't count Wesley)

Thats right! But Grant and Matthews were ANYTHING but top tier signings. Like I said, They ENDED up being great moves, but at the time they were moving NO needles FAMS!

 

[julius]

Thats right! But Grant and Matthews were ANYTHING but top tier signings. Like I said, They ENDED up being great moves, but at the time they were moving NO needles FAMS!

I'm not sure how many top tier free agents have signed elsewhere period. Shaq is the only one I can think of, but I haven't put much effort into thinking here.

 

[THE HCP]

I'm not sure how many top tier free agents have signed elsewhere period. Shaq is the only one I can think of, but I haven't put much effort into thinking here.

You can apply not thinking to most of your posts though right?