Zombie This is an epic disaster.

[Predator]

No other way to put it.

This offseason was a complete disaster.

We blew up our team for “more flexibility”, “more size/length/athleticism” and the result?

We arguably got smaller.

I’m not sure we have any flexibility given Dame extension, Nurk (and Ant) probably got overpaid, same with GP2. Grant is probably going to get overpaid.

MLE - Guard
Draft pick - Guard

At least we got Grant, I suppose, but this off-season was truly an Olshey-esque like disaster.

We pretty much blew up the squad (good decision) in order to replicate all the same mistakes (unbalanced guard heavy roster with a bunch of overpaid players).

God damnit, Joe.

 

[RR7]

 

[tykendo]

No other way to put it.

This offseason was a complete disaster.

We blew up our team for “more flexibility”, “more size/length/athleticism” and the result?

We arguably got smaller.

I’m not sure we have any flexibility given Dame extension, Nurk (and Ant) probably got overpaid, same with GP2. Grant is probably going to get overpaid.

MLE - Guard
Draft pick - Guard

At least we got Grant, I suppose, but this off-season was truly an Olshey-esque like disaster.

We pretty much blew up the squad (good decision) in order to replicate all the same mistakes (unbalanced guard heavy roster with a bunch of overpaid players).

God damnit, Joe.

Chicken Little strikes again

 

[PDXFonz]

 

[Freshtown]

Our only hope is to have one or more of Sharpe, Little, and Ant really pop this season and boost their value for a deadline deal.

 

[illmatic99]

it's not an epic disaster.

it's just meh.

 

[Scalma]

 

[Sheldon Shape]

Disappointing and I've been a Cronin critic, but Grant is better than anyone we've ever gotten before. Sharpe has star potential. Nurk will have his best season yet.

We'll be better, but not the massive upgrade many of us were looking for if nothing else is significantly added to the team.

 

[Chris Craig]

We're the Blazers. This is how it always goes. We were lucky to get Grant and Payton. We got Sharpe. It something. The Blazers got a little better. We will have a healthy Dame. If we can stay healthy they can make a good run.

 

[Natebishop3]

We weren't a contender before we blew it up.

We're not a contender now.

We won't be a contender in the next three years unless Ant or Sharpe blow up.

This is our reality. This has BEEN our reality. Hopefully if things aren't working out, the team will realize that and make some trades before the deadline.

 

[Predator]

Chicken Little strikes again

No, it’s reality.

Where is the length? Athleticism? Size? Roster balance?

The flexibility?

Answer those questions, sir.

Everything he said he wanted. We arguably got less of.

 

[illmatic99]

i told you guys before the draft when people wanted to trade the pick for a vet or take the most NBA ready guy.... this team with Dame/Ant/Grant/Nurk is a borderline playoff team. There was no one available in the trade market (for us anyway) who would drastically change our ceiling.

that's why the Sharpe pick with his high boom (or bust) potential is the right guy, because if he pops, we can finally climb out of this treadmill.

This is hardly a disaster, this is on par with expectations. I just wish we hadn't hard capped ourselves for a guy whose only track record is from a heavily specialized system that's hard to replicate.

 

[Predator]

We weren't a contender before we blew it up.

We're not a contender now.

We won't be a contender in the next three years unless Ant or Sharpe blow up.

This is our reality. This has BEEN our reality. Hopefully if things aren't working out, the team will realize that and make some trades before the deadline.

For me it’s not even about becoming a contender ASAP. It’s about making the right foundational steps towards becoming one. We addressed nothing that Cronin said he wanted to do.

The Sharpe pick, I get.

Pretty much everything else is a disaster.

Still a short - no defense backcourt.

Still undersized overall.

Still poor roster balance.

 

[PDXFonz]

Blazer FA be like…

Front office: “We got our guy!”

“Our guy”

(Nothing personal towards the Legend)

 

[Predator]

i told you guys before the draft when people wanted to trade the pick for a vet or take the most NBA ready guy.... this team with Dame/Ant/Grant/Nurk is a borderline playoff team. There was no one available in the trade market (for us anyway) who would drastically change our ceiling.

that's why the Sharpe pick with his high boom (or bust) potential is the right guy, because if he pops, we can finally climb out of this treadmill.

This is hardly a disaster, this is on par with expectations. I just wish we hadn't hard capped ourselves for a guy whose only track record is from a heavily specialized system that's hard to replicate.

Blowing the MLE on an undersized guard is “expectations”?

 

[tykendo]

No, it’s reality.

Where is the length? Athleticism? Size? Roster balance?

The flexibility?

Answer those questions, sir.

Everything he said he wanted. We arguably got less of.

We still have trade potential, and the development of our young assets. This was going to take a couple years to develop. Rome wasn't built in a day. Keep your chin high , and enjoy the ride. Or not.

 

[MickZagger]

FML

 

[illmatic99]

Blowing the MLE on an undersized guard is “expectations”?

the hard cap sucks, but in reality, for our team that has no hope of landing Simmons/Durant/etc, it's relatively minor inconvenience.

the only reason for this level of disappointment is if you had hope that we'd build a contending team this season.

 

[Predator]

The Sharpe pick was a good move. It’s a potential ceiling raiser.

Blowing the MLE on an undersized guard is flat out stupid.

Sticking with the 3G lineup - stupid.

Not getting a SF - stupid.

 

[MickZagger]

We weren't a contender before we blew it up.

We're not a contender now.

We won't be a contender in the next three years unless Ant or Sharpe blow up.

This is our reality. This has BEEN our reality. Hopefully if things aren't working out, the team will realize that and make some trades before the deadline.

It’s why we should be looking to trade Lillard while his value is still high.

This roster is working on two completely different time windows.

You don’t want a star to grow old and get no return for him. It’s a business as much as we love Lillard and it’s an ever evolving league

 

[tykendo]

The Sharpe pick was a good move. It’s a potential ceiling raiser.

Blowing the MLE on an undersized guard is flat out stupid.

Sticking with the 3G lineup - stupid.

Not getting a SF - stupid.

Nas is on a nice trajectory to be potentially special. I think he has a higher ceiling than Ant. Plus, a trade could be in the works to acquire another SF.

 

[SlyPokerCat]

I wouldn't call it an epic disaster. I would call it par for the course.

The fact that so many people are quick to defend these moves and think we have a chance, or are just downright accepting of a middle of the road team that best case scenario they get to the second round without many assets to change that is what baffles me.

To each their own. But i'll continue to call out bad moves. And happily eat crow otherwise.

 

[Predator]

the hard cap sucks, but in reality, for our team that has no hope of landing Simmons/Durant/etc, it's relatively minor inconvenience.

the only reason for this level of disappointment is if you had hope that we'd build a contending team this season.

Nope, I was on the Sharpe train because I said for a long, long time that we won’t become a contender.

But you’ve got to use your assets in an intelligent way. GP2 is not that.

But more importantly - we are replicating what already didn’t work.

Small guards. Unbalanced roster.

 

[Natebishop3]

It’s why we should be looking to trade Lillard while his value is still high.

This roster is working on two completely different time windows.

You don’t want a star to grow old and get no return for him. It’s a business as much as we love Lillard and it’s an ever evolving league

Preaching to the choir.

 

[Predator]

Nas is on a nice trajectory to be potentially special. I think he has a higher ceiling than Ant. Plus, a trade could be in the works to acquire another SF.

Nas is always hurt.
The best ability is availability.

 

[andalusian]

Still a short - no defense backcourt.

Agree on the short, but with Hart + GP2, the no defense has certainly been addressed, so that part is wrong.

Still undersized overall.

Still poor roster balance.

Correct on both accounts, but replacing CJ's 33m contract for Hart + Ant means there is a lot more flexibility to make moves going forward. The team is still unbalanced, but now has much easier contracts to move if the opportunity presents itself.

 

[Natebishop3]

I wouldn't call it an epic disaster. I would call it par for the course.

The fact that so many people are quick to defend these moves and think we have a chance, or are just downright accepting of a middle of the road team that best case scenario they get to the second round without many assets to change that is what baffles me.

To each their own. But i'll continue to call out bad moves. And happily eat crow otherwise.

Meet the new boss.... same as the old boss.

 

[MickZagger]

Preaching to the choir.

I think a few of us believe this line of thinking. A good chunk think we should give him that absurd extension.

 

[Predator]

I wouldn't call it an epic disaster. I would call it par for the course.

The fact that so many people are quick to defend these moves and think we have a chance, or are just downright accepting of a middle of the road team that best case scenario they get to the second round without many assets to change that is what baffles me.

To each their own. But i'll continue to call out bad moves. And happily eat crow otherwise.

It was a bit hyperbolic with “epic disaster” but so far it’s a complete fail. Cronin self proclaimed goals were:

Better roster balance: Nope.
Size/Length/Athletcisim: Nope.
Flexibility: Maybe(?) but I don’t see it.
Talent: Better, but that’s pretty much only because of Sharpe. Grant too.
More assets: Slight improvement possibly(?).

 

[Hoopguru]

No other way to put it.

This offseason was a complete disaster.

We blew up our team for “more flexibility”, “more size/length/athleticism” and the result?

We arguably got smaller.

I’m not sure we have any flexibility given Dame extension, Nurk (and Ant) probably got overpaid, same with GP2. Grant is probably going to get overpaid.

MLE - Guard
Draft pick - Guard

At least we got Grant, I suppose, but this off-season was truly an Olshey-esque like disaster.

We pretty much blew up the squad (good decision) in order to replicate all the same mistakes (unbalanced guard heavy roster with a bunch of overpaid players).

God damnit, Joe.

Gees Louise - you dont know what else is in the works... give him till at least end of summer. We have assets.