Thoughts on rebuilding

[Mediocre Man]

Can we add picks and cash?

Well we have our pick this year, which I don't think we can trade because of CBA rules, and the cash rules changed as well (not sure what they are) So in reality, no. For arguments sake, would you trade Aldridge for a below average PG who can opt out, and two role players?

 

[Eastoff]

Good point but my point is that it hasn't been happening through the draft. It's been happening through trades and free agent signings. Not drafting a young guy and riding him to the promised land, with the exception of Wade who won when Shaq was brought over. And there you go, Shaq's another guy who didn't lead the team who drafted him to a title.

I would say Dwayne Wade is the closet example.

 

[KingSpeed]

And the Celtics were going nowhere with Pierce. They had to trade for the 2004 NBA MVP in order to win a title. Minnesota was meanwhile, left high and dry.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Mavs didn't draft Dirk. Bulls didn't draft Pippen. But what about the 41 out of 42 players from 98 to now who didn't win anything?? The lottery didn't produce a single title for the winning team.

For all intents and purposes they did. Just like for all intents and purposes, we drafted Aldridge and Roy

 

[KingSpeed]

Well we have our pick this year, which I don't think we can trade because of CBA rules, and the cash rules changed as well (not sure what they are) So in reality, no. For arguments sake, would you trade Aldridge for a below average PG who can opt out, and two role players?

Hm. I'm not a GM. Cmon Chad. Make it work.

 

[KingSpeed]

For all intents and purposes they did. Just like for all intents and purposes, we drafted Aldridge and Roy

We never should've traded Foye.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Mavs didn't draft Dirk. Bulls didn't draft Pippen. But what about the 41 out of 42 players from 98 to now who didn't win anything?? The lottery didn't produce a single title for the winning team.

Semantics. They worked out a draft day trades for both.

 

[KingSpeed]

Semantics. They worked out a draft day trades for both.

Exactly!. Trades are the way to go....

 

[mook]

It's all a huge gamble. You can roll the dice on tanking for the lotto and fail forever. Look at the Clippers for basically the franchise's entire history before Griffin. And even with Griffin I'm not sure they're really on the career path to contending.

It's all about risk/reward. To me the surest bet, even now, to elevating to contention is to hope Oden recovers. Yeah, it's a big joke at this point, I know. But there's little risk in retaining him even now, and there's still the potential to have an elite-level center. Maybe not "Dwight Howard"-level, but maybe Alonzo Mourning or Dikembe Mutombo-level. Which next to Aldridge would be an absolute terror. Even if only for a year or two before the next inevitable Oden injury.

It sucks because it's the kind of gamble that doesn't actually require you really do anything except have a mediocre team. Fans want to see progress. They want to see pieces traded. Tear it down, gamble on the lottery! That means dealing Aldridge for picks, because you'll never get a decent lottery pick with him producing 35-40 win seasons.

But what if you do trade Aldridge and Oden comes back healthy? Do you scramble to put pieces around Oden, hoping his knees hold out long enough for you to contend? Is that version of Oden enough? And if so, how much luck has Orlando had with Howard? That's what Portland would be, except surrounded by rookie and "upside" players. Oden's window may be only a season or two, and if you don't maximize that you've REALLY blown your chance.

Portland is a lot different from Chicago in 1999. We've got this little potential ace-in-the-hole that they didn't have. He probably won't pan out, and we're probably fucked. But when I weigh that against the decades-long soul-crushing process of filtering through Currys and Chandlers and Wiliamses in search of the next Rose, I'll take my chances with mediocrity.

 

[B-Roy]

Hm. I'm not a GM. Cmon Chad. Make it work.

I'm not a GM, but I want LeBron. Cmon Chad, make it work.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Hm. I'm not a GM. Cmon Chad. Make it work.

Because we are who we are, no one is going to try to push their way onto our team. So unless you are the Lakers, you are going to have to make it hurt a little to get a superstar, and normally those guys are not easy to get because the team wants to keep them, or they aren't happy playing for that team, and want to play in a certain place, like Howard now. If you are in LA, Dal or NY then you can go get him.

 

[KingSpeed]

I've been up all night. Going to bed. Fun discussion.

 

[KingSpeed]

Because we are who we are, no one is going to try to push their way onto our team. So unless you are the Lakers, you are going to have to make it hurt a little to get a superstar, and normally those guys are not easy to get because the team wants to keep them, or they aren't happy playing for that team, and want to play in a certain place, like Howard now. If you are in LA, Dal or NY then you can go get him.

Why Dallas and not us?

 

[Mediocre Man]

We never should've traded Foye.

Hey, had we drafted Foye, he would still be helping us, and our numbers could have been different in the 07 lottery. Might have landed in the two spot. So potentially we really should have never traded Foye

 

[Nikolokolus]

Exactly!. Trades are the way to go....

I never said a team shouldn't make trades I just said they need to acquire their guy out of the draft ... usually on draft night. That kind of "trade" and the one you are advocating are not the same thing and you know it.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Why Dallas and not us?

Owner, market, tax system in Texas

 

[bigbailes]

it takes soooo much luck to win a title in the nba (or really any sport for that matter). not only do you have to make the correct draft moves, but then add in good free agents, hope everything gels and then get hot in the playoffs. i'd gladly take contender status, knowing that we are one of the top five teams in the league, with a chance to win it all every season for the next 5-10 years. KS, you wouldn't trade spots with OKC right now?

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Hey, had we drafted Foye, he would still be helping us, and our numbers could have been different in the 07 lottery. Might have landed in the two spot. So potentially we really should have never traded Foye

Yep. Foye vs Roy is a -2.5 wins if we keep Foye, putting us right at 30.5 wins, possibly propping up Seattle and getting 31 to their now 32 wins. We get the #2 pick and choose Al Horford.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Yep. Foye vs Roy is a -2.5 wins if we keep Foye, putting us right at 30.5 wins, possibly propping up Seattle and getting 31 to their now 32 wins. We get the #2 pick and choose Al Horford.

Hahaha

 

[Hank The Dwarf]

Unfortunately for Portland, the only chance we have to become serious contenders is to get the right guy in the draft.. and that normally means getting somewhere in the top 5 and get a little lucky.

Its time to blow it up and start over. Its the only way.

 

[magnifier661]

Unfortunately for Portland, the only chance we have to become serious contenders is to get the right guy in the draft.. and that normally means getting somewhere in the top 5 and get a little lucky.

Its time to blow it up and start over. Its the only way.

Yet the two times we reached the WCF in 99 and 00; we had 7 years of 0 draft picks below 16. Then after our tank fests with Zach attack; we get opportunities to grab a , #6, #2, #6, #1 and we haven't made it past the first round. Worked out great for us!

 

[Nikolokolus]

Yet the two times we reached the WCF in 99 and 00; we had 7 years of 0 draft picks below 16. Then after our tank fests with Zach attack; we get opportunities to grab a , #6, #2, #6, #1 and we haven't made it past the first round. Worked out great for us!

That's why it's so important to find a good GM. Hell, if they'd just used draftexpress.com to create their draft board they would have done great making selections.

 

[magnifier661]

That's why it's so important to find a good GM. Hell, if they'd just used draftexpress.com to create their draft board they would have done great making selections.

LMAO! Regardless if this was sincere or making a joke, you aren't too far from the truth.

 

[Hank The Dwarf]

Yet the two times we reached the WCF in 99 and 00; we had 7 years of 0 draft picks below 16. Then after our tank fests with Zach attack; we get opportunities to grab a , #6, #2, #6, #1 and we haven't made it past the first round. Worked out great for us!

If you remember from the O-live days, I was begging for us to draft Chris Paul and Kevin Durant, so don't blame me.

It does take a little bit of luck in the lottery, I get that..but its the only way we will ever get to the promise land. Toiling away in mediocrity is not the right thing to do.

 

[Nikolokolus]

LMAO! Regardless if this was sincere or making a joke, you aren't too far from the truth.

Absolutely NOT a joke. That's how fucking terrible John Nash was as a talent evaluator.

 

[Blazer4ever]

If that Gerald for 4 picks trade comes up again, I would do it. It would not only help us for free agency this summer, but also open up time for Nic now. Annnnd, it would keep Dwight from going to LA.

It's the ideal trade. Doubt PA would okay it, though. He seems hellbent on getting to the playoffs even if it isn't really good for the team.

We have a lot of potential in Nolan Smith, Armon Johnson, Elliot Williams and Chris Johnson and they never play.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Kevin Durant is a unicorn.

Kevin Durant is a black rhino. A healthy Greg Oden is a unicorn. As in, mythical.

 

[Hank The Dwarf]

We have a lot of potential in Nolan Smith, Armon Johnson, Elliot Williams and Chris Johnson and they never play.

Is this a serious post? Those guys are dime a dozen in the NBA.. There is a reason they were all late 1st and 2nd round picks.

We are in dangerous ground as a franchise.. a bunch of mediocre vets and no promising young players developing behind them. Scary.

 

[Nikolokolus]

We have a lot of potential in Nolan Smith, Armon Johnson, Elliot Williams and Chris Johnson and they never play.

Hardly. Of that group I'd say Williams is the only guy with a ceiling I would describe as "high." Nolan Smith might turn into a serviceable backup point, but probably not much else and the two Johnson's are probably lucky to be on an NBA roster.

 

[magnifier661]

If you remember from the O-live days, I was begging for us to draft Chris Paul and Kevin Durant, so don't blame me.

It does take a little bit of luck in the lottery, I get that..but its the only way we will ever get to the promise land. Toiling away in mediocrity is not the right thing to do.

I will admit that you wanted Durant and Paul.