We got the #3 pick. Discuss the possibilities. (10 Viewers)

[STOMP]

The last great Blazer team was Drexler, Porter, Kersey, Duckworth and Buck. And Uncle Cliffy.
Duckworth played 51 games out of 65 games as a rookie for Portland, so I'll count him as a Blazer rookie.
Only Buck didn't start his career in Portland.
The Blazers got Buck Williams by trading Blazer draftee Sam Bowie and the #12 pick in the 1989 draft.

So the Blazers had built slowly, drafting many iconic players including arguably their greatest player. In addition to the many studs in their mid 20s you listed, Portland had just brought over a 25 year old Drazen Petrovic.

Buck was the final piece added to a team on the rise. A solid stud at a position of need.

There is precious little to compare then to now

STOMP

 

[Tince]

Jordan averaged 38 minutes per game his rookie season.
If Sharpe had started every game, averaged 38 minutes per game and taken 20 shots per game, he would have won rookie of the year.
The bad comparison is Jordan's situation as a rookie and Sharpe's.

I agree any grand Sharpe/Jordan comparison is bad. Stomp said he wasn't comparing him to Jordan (though he kinda was), so we'll take him at his word.

And Sharpe played a lot less than Jordan as a rookie, for many reasons. There should be no comparison to Sharpe/Jordan or the '84 Bulls and the '23 Blazers as far as I'm concerned.

 

[illmatic99]

just a hunch, but i feel like this is what we'll do:

1. if CHA takes Scoot:

- We take Miller then figure out trades for Ant to see if we can open up the starting SG spot for Sharpe.

2. if CHA takes Miller

- We trade Scoot for the best wing available by adding either Ant/Nurk as salary fillers.

 

[Natebishop3]

just a hunch, but i feel like this is what we'll do:

1. if CHA takes Scoot:

- We take Miller then figure out trades for Ant to see if we can open up the starting SG spot for Sharpe.

2. if CHA takes Miller

- We trade Scoot for the best wing available by adding either Ant/Nurk as salary fillers.

I think we trade Nurk and a pick for Draymond. That’s my gut.

 

[wizenheimer]

I think we trade Nurk and a pick for Draymond. That’s my gut.

I don't think there is much chance, at all, that the Blazer front office would have any discussion with the Warrior front office. Real bad blood there

 

[Strenuus]

The bottom line is you keep the #3 unless you get a no brainer deal. And there really isn't one out there.

 

[Natebishop3]

I don't think there is much chance, at all, that the Blazer front office would have any discussion with the Warrior front office. Real bad blood there

Dame loves him. I still think it could happen.

 

[STOMP]

The complaint around here since 2015 is that the Blazers haven't mad any big moves. If the Blazers have been trying to do the "quick fix" for the last decade, they've done it in a super stealthy way that looked very much like kicking the can IMO.

If you, or anyone wants a full rebuild, that's fine. I'm not as interested.

Whatever you want to term the last decade, I'm for turning the page. The big dollars they rolled out for various players not named Lillard were entirely forgettable. They gave away assets, often to fill short term needs.

Here we are today. Capped out, pretty terrible with their arguably GOAT getting agitated at seeing the end of his career approaching without ever contending. Every team wants to win, some just make better decisions along the way on talent plus there are some unfortunate injuries that derail things too but no franchise is trying to stink. That Portland fans really really want to make Dame happy when he's sad doesn't change the basic facts. The Blazers aren't good. They need many personnel upgrades to contend. They don't need to rearrange the deck chairs, they need more and better deck chairs!!!

STOMP

 

[blazerfan11]

The bottom line is you keep the #3 unless you get a no brainer deal. And there really isn't one out there.

I don't know what's going on with some people. I think they have gone insane with "win now."
They must have convinced themselves it's very unlikely the Blazers get a good/great player with the 3rd pick.
The Blazers haven't made an actual bad choice in the top 7 since Martell Webster in 2005.
Since then, it's been LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy, Greg Oden (no wrong pick between him and Durant), Damian Lillard, and Shaedon Sharpe.

 

[Strenuus]

I don't know what's going on with some people. I think they have gone insane with "win now."
They must have convinced themselves it's very unlikely the Blazers get a good/great player with the 3rd pick.
The Blazers haven't made an actual bad choice in the top 7 since Martell Webster in 2005.
Since then, it's been LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy, Greg Oden (no wrong pick between him and Durant), Damian Lillard, and Shaedon Sharpe.

And although Miller has one bad look off the court, I'd rather have him than scoot. And there just isn't any win now guys available to waste. I'd rather take the risk that can pay off in years rather than the win now that could hurt us for years if it all fails.

 

[JDC]

My dream draft scenario right now.

Amen #3

Ideally, Charlotte goes Miller and Houston wants Scoot. Move down to #4 and swap #23 for #20 (Lively)

Anfernee, Nas and future assets for OG+GTJ (accepts PO).

 

[blazerfan11]

And although Miller has one bad look off the court, I'd rather have him than scoot. And there just isn't any win now guys available to waste. I'd rather take the risk that can pay off in years rather than the win now that could hurt us for years if it all fails.

I would take either player. The Blazer offense is ridiculously dumbed down. Dame will force-telegraph a pass to a covered Jeremi Grant when other players are open. Simons does the same thing. If you know nobody's going to pass to you, why move much on offense?
Whereas if you might get hit at any time by a pass from Scoot you'd want to be in a good position to receive one.
Scoot will look at all the options without pre-deciding where's he's passing. He will also push the pace and make the Blazers a full-court team.

 

[blazerkor]

He got the Rockets to 65-17, the best record since I don’t know when. His huge stats absolutely lead to wins. The problem is under pressure when he doesn’t put up the big stats and they lose.

It was the best record since two seasons before that when the team that He and Russ couldn't beat in the conference finals set the actual record for most wins in a season. I'm not making some crazy argument that Harden shouldn't be in the hall of fame or that he never should have been MVP. I was just saying that he has had some unbelievably good rosters around him and they for whatever reason haven't been able to get it done. Great player not a big time winner. If he had Stephs rosters' and coaches' around him he definitely would have a title or two but he has lost when he has had very impressive supporting casts.

Basically I stand by my statement that Harden and PatBev joining the roster that just went 22-60 isn't scary... Harden has not shown himself to be a big time winner, just a great ball player and PatBev is garbage. The Rockets would be better off giving all of the PT PatBev would take up to Keving Porter, Jalen Green and TyTy Washington. If Harden goes back to Houston with PatBev and we make the moves I think we'll make then I think we'll be better than Houston.

 

[blazerkor]

My dream draft scenario right now.

Amen #3

Ideally, Charlotte goes Miller and Houston wants Scoot. Move down to #4 and swap #23 for #20 (Lively)

Anfernee, Nas and future assets for OG+GTJ (accepts PO).

Working from bottom to top, word is that Gary is declining his player option. Rumor has it that Masai is asking way too much for OG. The perceived fall from pick 3 to 4 right now is worth a helluva lot more than 23 to 20. Other than that though...

 

[Tince]

Whatever you want to term the last decade, I'm for turning the page. The big dollars they rolled out for various players not named Lillard were entirely forgettable. They gave away assets, often to fill short term needs.

Here we are today. Capped out, pretty terrible with their arguably GOAT getting agitated at seeing the end of his career approaching without ever contending. Every team wants to win, some just make better decisions along the way on talent plus there are some unfortunate injuries that derail things too but no franchise is trying to stink. That Portland fans really really want to make Dame happy when he's sad doesn't change the basic facts. The Blazers aren't good. They need many personnel upgrades to contend. They don't need to rearrange the deck chairs, they need more and better deck chairs!!!

STOMP

I agree on the first part and most the second part.

The big hang up I'm not following is the "need more and better deck chairs!!!". Starting over would be getting worse deck chairs that MIGHT turn out to be better. Jaylen Brown or Bridges would be better deck chairs. They're not Covington, Bazemore, Aminu, Harkless, Powell, etc.

 

[Natebishop3]

I agree on the first part and most the second part.

The big hang up I'm not following is the "need more and better deck chairs!!!". Starting over would be getting worse deck chairs that MIGHT turn out to be better. Jaylen Brown or Bridges would be better deck chairs. They're not Covington, Bazemore, Aminu, Harkless, Powell, etc.

I don’t want any deck chairs. I want a new boat.

 

[blazerkor]

I don’t want any deck chairs. I want a new boat.

I would just like to see if Dame can get it done with a legit roster. A legit 1a or 2 that fits, Shae and Jerami as 3a and 3b... and then a C/5 that actually fits what the head coach is trying to run on both sides of the court and a legit bench the bench already has the wing you need in Matisse who is restricted... we just need a PG and a guy who can play 4 and 5 off of the bench along with one more wing who we might have if Nas can stay healthy. Obviously if the 1a is Embiid to Dame's 1b leading then we might be able to do Matisse, Jerami and another legit starter with a legit bench.

So I don't want any deck chairs but a new boat can still have Dame as the mast as long as there is a new hull. The deck is not enough, let alone the deck chairs.

 

[BankTeller]

My dream draft scenario right now.

Amen #3

Ideally, Charlotte goes Miller and Houston wants Scoot. Move down to #4 and swap #23 for #20 (Lively)

Anfernee, Nas and future assets for OG+GTJ (accepts PO).

I would ask for #20 and keep #23. If they want Scoot that much, they’ll have to give more in return than getting to move up 3 spots from #23 to #20.

 

[inconceivable]

The bottom line is you keep the #3 unless you get a no brainer deal. And there really isn't one out there.

The way Utah won the Gobert trade and the way Lakers won the Westbrook trade. These are the kind of moves we hope Cronin to accomplish.

Brooklyn I think is playing hard to get with Bridges. I think they're salivating at our #3

 

[Mediocre Man]

I don't know what's going on with some people. I think they have gone insane with "win now."
They must have convinced themselves it's very unlikely the Blazers get a good/great player with the 3rd pick.
The Blazers haven't made an actual bad choice in the top 7 since Martell Webster in 2005.
Since then, it's been LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy, Greg Oden (no wrong pick between him and Durant), Damian Lillard, and Shaedon Sharpe.

Dame has said he DOES NOT want to deal with more 19 year olds. That’s why people are quick to trade the pick

 

[BigGameDamian]

Dame has said he DOES NOT want to deal with more 19 year olds. That’s why people are quick to trade the pick

That’s why I think if you use the pick maybe it’s time to move on from the Dame era and start a new one.

 

[illmatic99]

Dame has said he DOES NOT want to deal with more 19 year olds. That’s why people are quick to trade the pick

Orrrr..... Crazy thought here, I know.

But just maybe... some of us are not thrilled about the star potential of the guys available at 3 and feel like we can maximize its value by trading for guys who are all stars/ all nba right now.

 

[PCmor7]

Orrrr..... Crazy thought here, I know.

But just maybe... some of us are not thrilled about the star potential of the guys available at 3 and feel like we can maximize its value by trading for guys who are all stars/ all nba right now.

But you can't just do the Jedi mind trick on other teams and make them trade us their all-stars/all-NBA players for appropriate value, either.

Here's another way you're looking at it: You're suggesting Scoot and Miller won't be all-star/all-NBA players. If that's right, what is the incentive for anyone to trade anything worth our while for that pick? Going deeper, you've already narrowed our market to teams that have what WE want.

Then your solution is to take Schrodinger's Asset -- one we know historically has a good probability of being a Rolls Royce -- and you're going to make it a throw-in for the best forward/wing the Blazers can get.

You don't value your own resource so you're presuming no one else will value that resource either and therefore you'll give it away for pennies on the dollar. That's bad business and the kind of business that will end up turning you into the worst franchise in the league in no time flat.

 

[illmatic99]

But you can't just do the Jedi mind trick on other teams and make them trade us their all-stars/all-NBA players for appropriate value, either.

Here's another way you're looking at it: You're suggesting Scoot and Miller won't be all-star/all-NBA players. If that's right, what is the incentive for anyone to trade anything worth our while for that pick? Going deeper, you've already narrowed our market to teams that have what WE want.

Then your solution is to take Schrodinger's Asset -- one we know historically has a good probability of being a Rolls Royce -- and you're going to make it a throw-in for the best forward/wing the Blazers can get.

You don't value your own resource so you're presuming no one else will value that resource either and therefore you'll give it away for pennies on the dollar. That's bad business and the kind of business that will end up turning you into the worst franchise in the league in no time flat.

This psychoanalysis is not necessary. My comment was in response to a post that said everyone is considering trades because of Dame's comments.

 

[andalusian]

I don’t want any deck chairs. I want a new boat.

There are 29 other boats available for your consideration...

 

[STOMP]

I agree any grand Sharpe/Jordan comparison is bad. Stomp said he wasn't comparing him to Jordan (though he kinda was), so we'll take him at his word.

And Sharpe played a lot less than Jordan as a rookie, for many reasons. There should be no comparison to Sharpe/Jordan or the '84 Bulls and the '23 Blazers as far as I'm concerned.

But there is for me. The 83-84 Bulls won 27 games, w/MJ they improved to winning 38 the following year. The last two years the Blazers won 27 and 33 games. Despite having a great individual talent on their roster, both teams were/are no where close to contenders. I'm sure both fan bases wanted/want their club to be champs, but that has nothing to do with it.

STOMP

 

[PCmor7]

This psychoanalysis is not necessary. My comment was in response to a post that said everyone is considering trades because of Dame's comments.

There was no psychoanalysis in my post. It was a breakdown of the weaknesses of your process and likely outcomes. Tying that to your state of mind certainly was not my intent and I don't know where you seeing this in my post.

 

[PCmor7]

You're bargaining against yourself.

 

[Hoopguru]

If I’m Jody, and if Joe can’t swing a deal for #3 after being clear his priority objective is surrounding Dame with veteran help in order to contend within Dames shelve life, Im pissed. Sure it will be easy to just say no opportunities for deal so give me snkthdr chance by trading Dame or just stick with drafted player and see what happens. This is Joes chance to prove to Jody & Bert he is an aggressive, make it happen Gm.

 

[PCmor7]

If I’m Jody, and if Joe can’t swing a deal for #3 after being clear his priority objective is surrounding Dame with veteran help in order to contend within Dames shelve life, Im pissed. Sure it will be easy to just say no opportunities for deal so give me snkthdr chance by trading Dame or just stick with drafted player and see what happens. This is Joes chance to prove to Jody & Bert he is an aggressive, make it happen Gm.

There'll be opportunities to surround Dame with veteran help. Or, at least, veterans ... it's the "help" part that's the issue. It's about getting players that can come in and make the Blazers winners. It's also about getting proper value -- that third pick is a valuable asset and too many people are acting like it's a throw-in.

The Blazers almost certainly would be able to get OG or maybe even someone like Ingram for that pick. Both the Raptors and Pels very likely might ask for more along with the third pick, which really isn't in line with what those players are worth. Do those acquisitions make the Blazers anything more than marginally better? Do they advance the chances we'll contend during Dame's mythical "shelf life" if we're sending out Ant and Nurk, too, along with future firsts for one of those players and filler? Maybe, although I'd say probably not.

Again, just like I said above, the Blazers are bargaining against themselves. This attitude that the pick MUST be traded doesn't help the Blazers trade the pick or get optimum value for it.

We've put all kinds of conditions on how we have to go about becoming good, and we've done it unnecessarily, and, if it fails, we'll only have ourselves and our own ridiculous desperation to blame.