Zombie This is an epic disaster.

[UKRAINEFAN]

Does Billups think he can make above average defenders out of Lillard and Simons? Don't understand keeping them both otherwise, but wouldn't that be delusional?

 

[Natebishop3]

I personally think Simmons is more likely than Durant and highly disagree that we can't get him if indeed we wanted him.

How would you get Simmons with the hard cap in play?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

What I find amusing is how often some will complain but never be able to come up with a realistic alternative option..

The problem with statements like these is that your opinion of a "realistic alternative" and mine likely differ, and trying to discuss them is just debating hypotheticals, leaving way too much room for confirmation bias.

 

[SlyPokerCat]

The problem with statements like these is that your opinion of a "realistic alternative" and mine likely differ, and trying to discuss them is just debating hypotheticals, leaving way too much room for confirmation bias.

Platy always has been strong with his words to get to the real problem at hand.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Let’s look at it this way. ITS ONLY JULY FUCKING 1ST.

 

[Hoopguru]

So you're one of them. That's fine and all, but you can't with a straight face think we have a strong path to contendership with the assets we have.

Many of us have been very pointed, wait to see what Joe does over the offseason (after destroying him for both trades, but now saying the Pelicans trade was ho hum, but the Clippers trade was horrible, and you still have people arguing that), now we waited and saw what Joe has done. It isn't enough. And some of the moves make you scratch your head. So the next stop is the trade deadline. If we are around the play in, its time to shop Lillard. It just is. One player is not who I root for. We can't continue to go around this non contender merry go round and be content with it. Blow it up. Trust the process. And try to draft other star players to get us back to contention.

By blowing it up, you mean trading Dame Dolla. That ain't happening from what the organization has said. Its Dame time!

 

[Natebishop3]

Let’s look at it this way. ITS ONLY JULY FUCKING 1ST.

Let's look at this another way.

ITS ONLY JULY FUCKING 1ST AND WE'RE ALREADY DONE!

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

So you're one of them. That's fine and all, but you can't with a straight face think we have a strong path to contendership with the assets we have.

Many of us have been very pointed, wait to see what Joe does over the offseason (after destroying him for both trades, but now saying the Pelicans trade was ho hum, but the Clippers trade was horrible, and you still have people arguing that), now we waited and saw what Joe has done. It isn't enough. And some of the moves make you scratch your head. So the next stop is the trade deadline. If we are around the play in, its time to shop Lillard. It just is. One player is not who I root for. We can't continue to go around this non contender merry go round and be content with it. Blow it up. Trust the process. And try to draft other star players to get us back to contention.

The problem with statements like these is that your opinion of a "realistic alternative" and mine likely differ, and trying to discuss them is just debating hypotheticals, leaving way too much room for confirmation bias.

I think that is the whole point of those saying there is crying going on. The assertion that its a disaster is as much an opinion based on hypotheticals, or the lack of, moving forward. No one knows what else will happen before we put our team on the floor next season.

I am personally happy that Cronin is making changes. Some will work, some will not but he knows we cant contend as is and that instills enough confidence in me for him.

 

[SlyPokerCat]

By blowing it up, you mean trading Dame Dolla. That ain't happening from what the organization has said. Its Dame time!

If we aren't going to compete then this organization sucks. I'm willing to give it this year to see how we do, but its such a detriment to just shut down a restart if fhe ultimate goal is becoming a contender and the paths to that with Dame are tied up.

 

[wizenheimer]

* I was hoping that Simons + Nurkic would be resigned for 35-38M/year. The reality of 42.5M is a little disappointing but not really enough to whine about...much...but I probably will...a little...now and then...maybe

* I was hoping for a bigger trade acquisition than Grant but I understood the chances of that were pretty small

* I was actually hoping that if a big trade target didn't land in Portland's lap they would swing for the fences with the 7th pick and it seems like they did

so, in the bigger ticket items, it was slightly disappointing but not enough to get in a twist about or believe that the positives could not overcome the flaws
***********************************************************************************

* I was hoping Portland would maintain flexibility going into the season. But Portland used the MLE on an unorthodox 6'2 guard with a limited offensive tool-box which essentially shit-canned their two remaining TPE's

* I was hoping for substantially more length and two-way talent at wing and that hasn't really materialized. Hart and Grant are the only players with any established two-way talent at wing, and realistically their talent is only a little above average

so those smaller ticket items have been a much bigger disappointment
*************************************************************************************

on the other hand: between Simons, Sharpe, and Little there may be some substantial 'break-out' potential. More than Portland has had since Dame was drafted. And there may be some lesser break-out potential in Watford-Brown-Johnson-Walker. All good things offering substantial entertainment value

also, and maybe I'm underrating this: With Payton, Hart, and Winslow, Portland probably has their best set of perimeter defenders in the Dame era. If some opposing player is gouging Portland with his offense, the Blazers have options to adjust and shut that player down

 

[blazerkor]

The only really crazy thing is that we didn't add size to the roster between this time last season and this season. It just doesn't make a lot of sense. I still feel like we could see a trade of Hart and picks for an upgrade at SF.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

* I was hoping that Simons + Nurkic would be resigned for 35-38M/year. The reality of 42.5M is a little disappointing but not really enough to whine about...much...but I probably will...a little...now and then...maybe

* I was hoping for a bigger trade acquisition than Grant but I understood the chances of that were pretty small

* I was actually hoping that if a big trade target didn't land in Portland's lap they would swing for the fences with the 7th pick and it seems like they did

so, in the bigger ticket items, it was slightly disappointing but not enough to get in a twist about or believe that the positives could not overcome the flaws
***********************************************************************************

* I was hoping Portland would maintain flexibility going into the season. But Portland used the MLE on an unorthodox 6'2 guard with a limited offensive tool-box which essentially shit-canned their two remaining TPE's

* I was hoping for substantially more length and two-way talent at wing and that hasn't really materialized. Hart and Grant are the only players with any established two-way talent at wing, and realistically their talent is only a little above average

so those smaller ticket items have been a much bigger disappointment
*************************************************************************************

on the other hand: between Simons, Sharpe, and Little there may be some substantial 'break-out' potential. More than Portland has had since Dame was drafted. And there may be some lesser break-out potential in Watford-Brown-Johnson-Walker. All good things offering substantial entertainment value

also, and maybe I'm underrating this: With Payton, Hart, and Winslow, Portland probably has their best set of perimeter defenders in the Dame era. If some opposing player is gouging Portland with his offense, the Blazers have options to adjust and shut that player down

Great post!

 

[TBpup]

Being hard-capped due to yet another 6'3" guard is a bit of a head scratcher. If either of our starting guards taking up half the salary cap could play defense, we wouldn't be so limited going forward.

 

[Hoopguru]

also, and maybe I'm underrating this: With Payton, Hart, and Winslow, Portland probably has their best set of perimeter defenders in the Dame era. If some opposing player is gouging Portland with his offense, the Blazers have options to adjust and shut that player down

This, is something that Chauncey is planning on.

 

[crandc]

First day of free agency and some people totally convinced it's a disaster.

 

[Natebishop3]

First day of free agency and some people totally convinced it's a disaster.

Because it's also pretty much the last day of free agency for us.

 

[oldmangrouch]

First day of free agency and some people totally convinced it's a disaster.

The Grant and Payton acquisitions were right out of the Olshey play-book. Didn't work for him, so why would it work for Cronin? Now that we are "hard-capped" there won't be any more moves, so what are we waiting on before judgement?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I don't think the word "epic" belongs anywhere near anything we do. The stakes just aren't that high when you're the Blazers.

 

[wizenheimer]

I don't think the word "epic" belongs anywhere near anything we do.

most here are epic posters...?

 

[Idog1976]

How would you get Simmons with the hard cap in play?

What prevents us from trading a raft of guards and a pick(s)?

 

[Natebishop3]

What prevents us from trading a raft of guards and a pick(s)?

We wouldn't be able to fill the empty roster spots because of the hard cap.

 

[Idog1976]

We wouldn't be able to fill the empty roster spots because of the hard cap.

Is there just no way around this? Isn't Cronin a salary cap guy? This seems very odd to me and nonsensical. Even Olshey didn't do that. I really, REALLY don't understand the cap so I don't see why this is bad as long as we have enough guys to be legal or are you saying we simply cannot trade anyone now?

 

[riverman]

The Grant and Payton acquisitions were right out of the Olshey play-book. Didn't work for him, so why would it work for Cronin? Now that we are "hard-capped" there won't be any more moves, so what are we waiting on before judgement?

you need to get Olshey out of your head when it comes to this team...Olshey would have never pulled off either deal...especially the Grant deal which all basketball folks considered a great, great move. As to what "works"...you're incorrect in my view...defense works...we are way, way better defensively than we have been in years. Payton led the league in steals last season...OG didn't...Payton did. He's turned into one of the best if not the best point of attack defenders in the league....Dame hasn't played next to a guy like that in his career.

 

[wizenheimer]

Is there just no way around this? Isn't Cronin a salary cap guy? This seems very odd to me and nonsensical. Even Olshey didn't do that. I really, REALLY don't understand the cap so I don't see why this is bad as long as we have enough guys to be legal or are you saying we simply cannot trade anyone now?

no way around the hard cap?...no, that's why it's called the hard cap. Can't cross the line for any reason at any time for a year.

meaning, the Blazers NEED to have some margin between their payroll and the apron. If they get smashed by a boatload of injuries they need the room to bring on players to fill holes. The hard cap also counts against 10-day contracts

I don't know what the current margin is but it probably needs to be in the 3-5M range

 

[Natebishop3]

Is there just no way around this? Isn't Cronin a salary cap guy? This seems very odd to me and nonsensical. Even Olshey didn't do that. I really, REALLY don't understand the cap so I don't see why this is bad as long as we have enough guys to be legal or are you saying we simply cannot trade anyone now?

Nope. That's why some people are so incredulous about why we used it... and why we used it on a guard.

 

[RonBrewer]

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.

Dear God. Jump off the ledge arleady.

We are finally getting some defenders and now they are too small. We got Grant for a future and kept our 7 this year.

Let the off season play out. We ain't done. Jump on the Train or jump off the ledge.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Not a disaster - just underwhelming.

The FA signings and extensions pretty much went as expected IMO.

The draft was great.

However, upgrading SF was something that should’ve been addressed. The apparent plan is to continue to play players out of position at SF with Hart and possibly even Grant.

 

[blazedanugz]

Every move we made was a need. Yea we need another wing…just because those options weren’t available doesn’t mean these other moves were wrong

 

[Natebishop3]

just because those options weren’t available

We don't know that.

 

[oldmangrouch]

you need to get Olshey out of your head when it comes to this team...Olshey would have never pulled off either deal...especially the Grant deal which all basketball folks considered a great, great move. As to what "works"...you're incorrect in my view...defense works...we are way, way better defensively than we have been in years. Payton led the league in steals last season...OG didn't...Payton did. He's turned into one of the best if not the best point of attack defenders in the league....Dame hasn't played next to a guy like that in his career.

So, in your opinion we needed another guard more than help up front? As for Payton's defense - who does he replace in the rotation? Hart (also a good defender) or Simons (who was just given a $100 Mil extension)?

While we are on the subject, what does it say about Sharpe that the team was willing to hard cap itself to bring in a guy to take his playing time for the next 3 years?