Notice This feels like it's one of those moments

[Natebishop3]

It feels like we're on the precipice of one of those franchise defining moments.

Bowie over Jordan.

Trading back and passing on CP3.

Trading for Brandon Roy and LMA.

Oden over Durant.

This draft has that feel. This is going to be an offseason that will change the course of this franchise, for better or worse...... and it terrifies me. I'm making this thread as a time capsule.

 

[Natebishop3]

This specifically reminds me of the Oden/Durant draft. I had a bad feeling about that draft. There was no pressure last draft. This one worries me. Does anyone else get this feeling?

 

[wizenheimer]

it's quiet....too quiet!

 

[theprunetang]

I have a generalized anxiety disorder. You are goddamned right, I am worried. This is as big of an inflection point as I have seen as a fan of this team.

 

[julius]

Like trading the pick over keeping it?

 

[Natebishop3]

Like trading the pick over keeping it?

That could be part of it. I just think overall this is going to be a draft where Blazer fans either look back and say it was a major win and set us up for the next decade or it's going to be up there with the CP3, Oden, Bowie list.

 

[wizenheimer]

That could be part of it. I just think overall this is going to be a draft where Blazer fans either look back and say it was a major win and set us up for the next decade or it's going to be up there with the CP3, Oden, Bowie list.

the 'Dame factor' certainly stirs the pot. If Portland ends up trading him it will be marking 12 years of failure. And the turn-around is going to be a lot longer than some imagine

I'd say, if there is an inflection point, it would be more like the 2017 draft than Bowie or Oden

 

[Natebishop3]

the 'Dame factor' certainly stirs the pot. If Portland ends up trading him it will be marking 12 years of failure. And the turn-around is going to be a lot longer than some imagine

I'd say, if there is an inflection point, it would be more like the 2017 draft than Bowie or Oden

That draft still pisses me off, but it doesn't put the same sour taste in my mouth that the Paul draft does. I'm worried this will be another Chris Paul draft.

 

[julius]

That could be part of it. I just think overall this is going to be a draft where Blazer fans either look back and say it was a major win and set us up for the next decade or it's going to be up there with the CP3, Oden, Bowie list.

I can see that, but who knows. I think Sharpe could be something special, especially given what he showed towards the end of the season. It might also be a case like the Celtics back in 07, when they didn't get the #1 pick and ended up trading for the right players to put around Paul Pierce and went to the finals.

Of course, it's highly unlikely the same thing would happen here, but the same concept.

 

[Natebishop3]

I can see that, but who knows. I think Sharpe could be something special, especially given what he showed towards the end of the season. It might also be a case like the Celtics back in 07, when they didn't get the #1 pick and ended up trading for the right players to put around Paul Pierce and went to the finals.

Of course, it's highly unlikely the same thing would happen here, but the same concept.

Definitely possible. I'm not getting super excited about any of the prospects available at 3. There's some pretty significant boom or bust potential.

 

[Labinot41]

Draft has always been and will always be just luck. You never know what's going to happen. You never know how players develop. Shit, even Wemby could just become a Yao Ming. Sure Yao was really good, but was he a Superstar leading his Team to a Championship? No he wasn't, Rockets never even made the Conference Finals with him. You just never know before

 

[Whyachi]

my hope is Lillard is pumping up ticket sales. When the Blazers grab a couple more Dame friendly vets this summer, without trading the #3 pick, it will be PR'd as the most epic basketball unit since Drexler. If (and when) the Blazers struggle to stay above .500, because the team is still terrible at defense, engage tank #3 > go get Shaedon and the new rookie another running mate.

Keep reshuffling the deck, by the time Lillard is in his final years of his contract, Portland will have 3-4 top rookies, a new owner, a better coach, and be well prepared to start a new era of Blazers basketball.

 

[blazerfan11]

The reason it feels like one of those moments is that suddenly (and supposedly) the Blazers face two choices:
1. Win a championship now
2. Trade Dame

The media and some fans have decided there’s no middle ground. Unless Dame demands a trade, or a “can’t say no” trade emerges, the middle ground is the correct route to take.

 

[lamlor]

This specifically reminds me of the Oden/Durant draft. I had a bad feeling about that draft. There was no pressure last draft. This one worries me. Does anyone else get this feeling?

I worry we will throw away the future for a feeble 2 year run at something unattainable with whatever they can put on the floor.

 

[LayneStaley]

We are kinda fucked either way value wise. I don’t think we will get the value we should if we trade Dame or the 3rd pick.

 

[e_blazer]

I worry that there won’t be enough threads for those set on trading Dame to express their dissatisfaction and concern over the plan of building a contender around him.

In actuality, I don’t think it has to be an either/or situation. I think Cronin may decide to keep the third pick and still get some experienced vets to compete now with Dame.

 

[lamlor]

That draft still pisses me off, but it doesn't put the same sour taste in my mouth that the Paul draft does. I'm worried this will be another Chris Paul draft.

I don't feel that way if we actually draft. I think it is Miller or Scoot and if the one we pick doesn't work out it isn't a gaf like the Paul draft. As my old brain remembers it, taking Webster was a big stretch at the time over the guys like Paul and Williams.

The Bowie draft was only upsetting to me at the time because of Bowie's injury history and how 7 footers don't do well with that history going into the NBA. Jordan wasn't Jordan yet though from what I read everyone associated with college basketball told Portland not to pass on that guy.

 

[lamlor]

We are kinda fucked either way value wise. I don’t think we will get the value we should if we trade Dame or the 3rd pick.

But we should especially with a Dame trade. No superstar coming backbit enough assets to move us along at a better rate than the current road we are on. But as we all witnessed over the last decade, they will probably prove you right.

 

[lamlor]

I think the most humorous part of all this is that people wanting us to deal the pick for a championship run know this organization hasn't had such a run in 30+ years but since the goal is to do it for Lillard we can now get it done within 2 years.

 

[blazerkor]

We are kinda fucked either way value wise. I don’t think we will get the value we should if we trade Dame or the 3rd pick.

Why would the expectation be that we get fucked? The Clippers deal was shit but it was also for two bench players. Since then Joe has been good, not great but good. We got a pretty good return on the Pelicans trade. The Detroit deal was really solid. We sent out Josh and we got back Matisse and a first round pick, that seems like another very good deal. No we haven’t really fleeced anyone but since that first trade Joe hasn’t been fleeced either.

For people that think GP2 was a misstep. We got 5 second round picks and no impact to the cap in that deal.

I honestly expect a competent off season. I’m not sure what that will entail but it is what I expect.

 

[Tince]

Any time you have a top 3 pick, the implications if it is best utilized is going ot have long term ramifications.

I'm not terrified in the least though.

 

[blazerfan11]

I worry that there won’t be enough threads for those set on trading Dame to express their dissatisfaction and concern over the plan of building a contender around him.

In actuality, I don’t think it has to be an either/or situation. I think Cronin may decide to keep the third pick and still get some experienced vets to compete now with Dame.

Last season’s bench was pretty bad. It hinged on Justise Winslow remaining healthy, which he did not.
Replace Winslow with a Bruce Brown-type and add some solid veterans and the Blazers would have easily made the playoffs last season.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

This specifically reminds me of the Oden/Durant draft. I had a bad feeling about that draft. There was no pressure last draft. This one worries me. Does anyone else get this feeling?

The only thing that concerns me is the Blazers making a dumb trade.

The actual draft pick is simple, take BPA of either Miller or Scoot. Maybe Amen ends up being MVP; whatever, the draft is an inexact science.

The only veteran trade the team should do is if it makes the Blazers a contender. I'd trade Nurk and 3 for Bridges and Claxton. Or Ant and 3 for Jaylen Brown. Embiid for a package including #3. I wouldn't do Ant and 3 for Bridges but I don't hate it.

There are no other veterans that make sense. Siakam, OG, Ayton, KAT, DeRozen, etc would all be very bad moves for #3.

I doubt any of those trade options I mentioned will be available though, in which case the Blazers should take Scoot or Miller. If they do that I'll be happy. If they trade for mediocrity then yes it could be another very dark moment in this franchise's history.

 

[Tince]

Why would the expectation be that we get fucked? The Clippers deal was shit but it was also for two bench players. Since then Joe has been good, not great but good. We got a pretty good return on the Pelicans trade. The Detroit deal was really solid. We sent out Josh and we got back Matisse and a first round pick, that seems like another very good deal. No we haven’t really fleeced anyone but since that first trade Joe hasn’t been fleeced either.

For people that think GP2 was a misstep. We got 5 second round picks and no impact to the cap in that deal.

I honestly expect a competent off season. I’m not sure what that will entail but it is what I expect.

I mostly agree with your assessment. GP2 was a misstep, but Cronin got out of it quickly, which I thought was a refreshing change.

 

[Tince]

The only thing that concerns me is the Blazers making a dumb trade.

The actual draft picks is simple, take BPA of either Miller or Scoot.

The only veteran trade the team should do is if it makes the Blazers a contender. I'd trade Nurk and 3 for Bridges and Claxton. Or Ant and 3 for Jaylen Brown. Embiid for a package including #3. I wouldn't do Ant and 3 for Bridges but I don't hate it.

There are no other veterans that make sense. Siakam, OG, Ayton, KAT, DeRozen, etc would all be very bad moves for #3.

I doubt any of those options I mentioned will be available though, in which case the Blazers should take Scoot or Miller. If they do that I'll be happy. If they trade for mediocrity then yes it could be another very dark moment in this franchise's history.

Or if we turn down a high quality player for #3 and the #3 pick ends up being a bust, that could be a dark moment as well. Works both ways.

 

[blazerfan11]

And as Captain Obvious, the Blazers need to be prepared for Nurkic’s next injury. The Bruce-Brown type could be a backup center/forward, or just a journeyman that’s better than Eubanks.

 

[blazerfan11]

Or if we turn down a high quality player for #3 and the #3 pick ends up being a bust, that could be a dark moment as well. Works both ways.

You would have to be specific about that high-quality player and the full cost. The #3 pick alone can’t get you a player with a salary.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Last season’s bench was pretty bad. It hinged on Justise Winslow remaining healthy, which he did not.
Replace Winslow with a Bruce Brown-type and add some solid veterans and the Blazers would have easily made the playoffs last season.

Yeah the bench was so poorly constructed it has me question if the team wanted to stealth tank the entire season.

We just needed a few vet minimum journeymen so we didn't have to play Grant at center or Keon at PG when we have a single starter out.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Or if we turn down a high quality player for #3 and the #3 pick ends up being a bust, that could be a dark moment as well. Works both ways.

No, this is not teue. Who is the high quality player I didn't mention, Siakam is probably the best off my don't trade for list.

The Blazers aren't winning a title with him, yes he has a higher floor than #3, but he doesn't have near as high of a ceiling. He also costs both the pick, Ant, and more salary space. We're basically following another Olshey treadmill of mediocrity for 3 years.

So even if the #3 pick is a bust, Siakam in 3 years is an overpaid declining veteran. It won't matter that much if we do or don't have him. If #3 busts then maybe we're slight worse off but it's not significant difference to any year of Portland getting a championship.

But if we do some Siakam type trade, pass on Scoot, and he's a superstar, it most certainly could be the difference in contending, for even longer than a decade.

If Portland was one small piece away from a title then yes having the higher floor of Siakam could lead to a higher chance of a title. That would change this calculus. The lottery Blazers are not this close to contending, thus a higher floor Siakam player doesn't provide a benefit.

 

[Strenuus]

my hope is Lillard is pumping up ticket sales. When the Blazers grab a couple more Dame friendly vets this summer, without trading the #3 pick, it will be PR'd as the most epic basketball unit since Drexler. If (and when) the Blazers struggle to stay above .500, because the team is still terrible at defense, engage tank #3 > go get Shaedon and the new rookie another running mate.

Keep reshuffling the deck, by the time Lillard is in his final years of his contract, Portland will have 3-4 top rookies, a new owner, a better coach, and be well prepared to start a new era of Blazers basketball.

The definition of a slow burn lol