We aren't that far away

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Last years playoff series and today's game against the Warriors shows we are able to hang with the best team in the NBA.

Hopefully with the addition of Nurkic to the lineup and some solid drafting/offeseason moves we will be able to pull even with the wests top team.

Maybe I'm crazy, a homer, or just flat out delusional of what I'm seeing?

 

[Blazinaway]

I actually agree, a little luck in the draft and a season of Dame/CJ/Nurk togther and we are IMO pretty damn good

 

[KeepOnRollin]

I love the draft (like Paul) but I think there needs to be a conversation to trade our picks for that piece that could get us over the top. I know the Bulls won today but if they lose the series I still think they take the highest offer for Butler. I not saying we have enough necessarily but I think it needs to be pursued at least.

 

[Chris Craig]

Nurk needs to come back Wednesday

 

[Rastapopoulos]

...just one quarter...

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Nurk and vet backup C like Tyson Chandler backing him up would make this series a done deal in our favor.

Sorry for banging on the TC gong but he'd be worth the money!

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

I love the draft (like Paul) but I think there needs to be a conversation to trade our picks for that piece that could get us over the top. I know the Bulls won today but if they lose the series I still think they take the highest offer for Butler. I not saying we have enough necessarily but I think it needs to be pursued at least.

The more I've thought about it the past couple days, if he were to waive his NTC, I'd warm up to the idea of Melo depending on the cost. Especially if we could retain Harkless and Crabbe.

People say he would take shots from Dame/CJ/Nurk but I'd say he'd be taking shots from guys like Turner, Aminu, Meyers, Harkless, and Vonleh... which may be a good thing... they can focus on other things that we need like defense.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

The more I've thought about it the past couple days, if he were to waive his NTC, I'd warm up to the idea of Melo depending on the cost. Especially if we could retain Harkless and Crabbe.

People say he would take shots from Dame/CJ/Nurk but I'd say he'd be taking shots from guys like Turner, Aminu, Meyers, Harkless, and Vonleh... which may be a good thing... they can focus on other things that we need like defense.

I like thinking outside the box and think POR should explore everything but if I was in charge it is a pass, personally.

Doesn't matter much. He is only waiving his no trade clause for at most 5 teams in the NBA.

 

[KingSpeed]

I'm not opposed to Melo either.

 

[Scalma]

We could beat any team in the west not named the Warriors THIS year with Nurkic. None of them scare me. The Spurs experience can't be overstated, and they have the best two way player in the league, so they might be the only other team. Other than those two though? Suck my dick.

If we hit on any of those picks.....yeah. We don't even need any of them to be stars. We have our three. We just need solid role players. It's not an unrealistic expectation.

 

[julius]

If they can upgrade Aminu and Leonard, it'll go a long way to whether or now they are not that "far away".

 

[Scalma]

If they can upgrade Aminu and Leonard, it'll go a long way to whether or now they are not that "far away".

Leonard is realistically our third string center. It'd be much more important if Davis returned to his form from last season.

 

[BigGameDamian]

I'm not opposed to Melo either.

I'm not opposed the Melo or Gay it's just they might cost a lot. I'm not 100% sold on Harkless. Harkless needs to step up and show more on a consistent basis. To me Even Turner plays with a more of a sense of urgency than Harkless does.

 

[julius]

Leonard is realistically our third string center. It'd be much more important if Davis returned to his form from last season.

They need to improve on Davis too.

 

[TBpup]

If they can upgrade Aminu and Leonard, it'll go a long way to whether or now they are not that "far away".

Sadly, upgrading Aminu and Leonard means getting someone who can dribble almost at all, and a big who can walk and chew gum without being perplexed. Granted, Aminu plays versatile D but it doesn't make up for an almost total lack on the offensive end some nights.

 

[Scalma]

They need to improve on Davis too.

Ok but which Davis? The one from last season was one of the best bench bigs in the league. I do think we could use another big body/rim protector regardless though.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Rudy Gay has a player option? He might be a nice 6th man.

 

[BonesJones]

James Johnson would be the perfect PF for us.

 

[Strenuus]

I'm not opposed to Melo either.

I am, and always will be.

 

[santeesioux]

I think we're one solid PF and maybe another bench guy that doesn't suck away from getting back up to the 4th seed.

 

[joeBlazers]

Melo will make $34 mil (when adding trade kicker) next season.
Melo plays no defense. We know that Dame and CJ are not the best defenders. Now we add one more.
Melo is on the wrong side of 30
Melo 's wife won't live in Portland anyway.
I think we need a solid defender at the #3 spot.
Is there a guy in the league you would want right now for some of our scrubs? Can we trade 3 first rounders to get in the lottery?

 

[Mediocre Man]

I've been on the Melo to Portland bandwagon in the past, but I'm off it now. We don't need guys on offense that hold the ball.

On defense, he's garbage. This team needs defense. It can score, just fine.

As for defense vs scoring, Turner is a good defender, but an awful fit because his man clogs up the lane because he can't shoot.

We have to add

A real back up center.
A vet wing defender who can stretch the defense.
A PF to either replace Vonleh or come off the bench
Just more quality depth. Unless you have have all world players, which we don't, you gotta have better players than Meyers, Aminu and Napier giving you real playoff minutes. We get better when those guys move down the depth chart

 

[RipCityDSCPL]

Nurk and vet backup C like Tyson Chandler backing him up would make this series a done deal in our favor.

Sorry for banging on the TC gong but he'd be worth the money!

Chandler is simply too old, sorry. I actually like going to get Baynes. Can't remember who suggested him.

 

[stampedehero]

Last years playoff series and today's game against the Warriors shows we are able to hang with the best team in the NBA.

Hopefully with the addition of Nurkic to the lineup and some solid drafting/offeseason moves we will be able to pull even with the wests top team.

Maybe I'm crazy, a homer, or just flat out delusional of what I'm seeing?

For three quarters we had them worried. Nurk would have made the 12 point difference. We did not have rebounds in the 4th Q. We couldn't make a string of threes and they got open shots due to their D. At least we did not get our ass kicked like OKC did.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Chandler is simply too old, sorry. I actually like going to get Baynes. Can't remember who suggested him.

Chandler is old but still put up a 16 PER this year. As a backup next yer he'd be perfect imho.

 

[illmatic99]

We need high flying athletes who aren't scared. Like physically imposing ones. It's amazing how physically overmatched we look. Noah has the tools, but he doesn't know how to use them.

 

[RipCityDSCPL]

Chandler is old but still put up a 16 PER this year. As a backup next yer he'd be perfect imho.

I like someone like Baynes over Chandler. Just the way I feel.

 

[Blazinaway]

Chandler is old but still put up a 16 PER this year. As a backup next yer he'd be perfect imho.

sorry but we can't afford to pay an OLD and injury prone Tyson 13 mil per the next 2 seasons at his age, we have Davis back for one more season and by then one of our PF/C draft picks should be able to be a capable backup to Nurk and we need have a guy like that on a rookie contract

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I like someone like Baynes over Chandler. Just the way I feel.

Yeah get to the solution how you like but Nurk and a quality backup center make me not worry so much about Game 1.

 

[HailBlazers]

We need high flying athletes who aren't scared. Like physically imposing ones. It's amazing how physically overmatched we look. Noah has the tools, but he doesn't know how to use them.

A la the Bucks