What Now?

[MickZagger]

I feel a lot better about this trade deadline than last year. If we weren't going to get an absolute great player, IMO, this was probably the next best path.

Hart's a loss, but he only was going to be here for 30 more games. We got a probable pick in the teens and a high-upside lottery ticket in return.

Sharpe probably gets more development and actual game development as a result. I think that's a win.

GP2 was never healthy and quite honestly didn't live up to the hype. He's a one-dimensional player and that one dimension wasn't reliable on this team. TBH, Keon offers similar defensive potential and can do so many other things ... among them handle the ball. He'll get on the court now, which, at the very least, showcases him for trades.

We got Thybulle who also is an upgrade over Payton for nothing.

We got five 2nd round picks and another young guy we can kick the tires on down the stretch in Knox.

I would have liked to see Nurk moved and/or found a legit backup center, even if it was a 6-11 version of Reddish or Knox, but we didn't. Maybe we see Butler or Badji at some point.

I like where our scouting department is compared to this time last year. We've got some cap flexibility now.

We've got 30 games and then a likely low lottery pick but a lottery pick nonetheless and a mid 1.

It's not the big deal a lot of people wanted but it's a path to moving up the charts. We aren't stuck at the bottom with Houston and Orlando and OKC. We have proven star players AND assets to get better.

I’d rather be in the bottom like those teams instead of perpetually being a middling team.

 

[blazerkor]

Thybulle, Reddish and Knox plus the picks we got for the two players we traded is a plus for talent and flexibility. Im a Hart fan forever but he wasn't going to stay unless we gave him a significant raise.
I just think we got better talent wise with some depth.

You think we're in position to win more games than we were in before the trades, less games, or the same? This isn't some kind of trap question that I'm going to argue about with you after your answer, I'm just curious because I respect your position.

 

[maxiep]

Just to be prepared, expect Hart and GPII to be HUGE pieces that improve both NYK and GSW. These were both fit trades for those teams. It's okay by me, because Hart as an undersized SF and GPII as a backup G who never fit weren't making us demonstrably better.

 

[Hoopguru]

You think we're in position to win more games than we were in before the trades, less games, or the same? This isn't some kind of trap question that I'm going to argue about with you after your answer, I'm just curious because I respect your position.

I think the team will win more by a nets ass maybe.

 

[andalusian]

Just to be prepared, expect Hart and GPII to be HUGE pieces that improve both NYK and GSW. These were both fit trades for those teams. It's okay by me, because Hart as an undersized SF and GPII as a backup G who never fit weren't making us demonstrably better.

Especially if Hart ensures that NYK gets in the playoffs.

 

[Whyachi]

Blazers weren't very good before the trade deadline.

Blazers win a few more games after this deadline?
- see, Cronin is amazing
Blazers lose more games after all this horse crap?
- our draft pick improved, Cronin is amazing

I have yet to see Cronin do anything amazing, other then getting lucky finding Jerami Grant, who wanted to move back home to Portland and be a Blazer.

 

[Shaboid]

What now? Well, this season is basically over. I'll still watch and probably attend a couple more games, but nothing else good/major is going to happen until the offseason. Hopefully we make some moves that will make the 23-24 season something to be optimistic about.

In the meantime, pitchers and catchers report to spring training on Monday. At least my Mariner's are on the upswing

 

[e_blazer]

With the room under the tax we now have given the salary that we shed, do the Blazers look for a big in the FA/buy out market?

I certainly hope we go shopping for another FA big. The Blazers now have about $6M of room under the threshold.

 

[blazerkor]

Just looking at the standings in the Western Conference and I'm pretty sure we'll end the season in 11th. The Lakers obviously got a lot better so they will pass us. The Pelicans didn't do anything and they were already ahead of us. The Wolves got better in my opinion because they didn't have a floor general and now they have one and not only is Conley a floor general he's one that has won a lot of regular season games with Gobert, so I see their record getting a little better. The Warriors got better and should finish with a better record than us. None of the teams 1-6 in the standings got worse. We're not going to lose more games than the Jazz, I guess OKC could pass us, the Spurs and Rockets are in full tank mode.

The larger picture is that the Raptors are the only team in the east with a worse record than we have right now that I could see passing us. So our lottery position should be somewhere in the range of 10-12.

 

[Irish Trader]

Best thing that happens now is Phil Knight and son buy the blazers. Jody I believe has to sell the blazers due to trust obligations in a fiduciary manner.

 

[Duckhook]

Take note of when this thread is being started.

What do you guys think the rest of this season will look like? What is our record at the end of the season? Are you over or under @THE HCP prediction of 39? What Now?

I think during the off-season we’ll unload Nurk and those 5 second rounders… for 6 second rounders…

 

[Hoopguru]

What now? Well, this season is basically over. I'll still watch and probably attend a couple more games, but nothing else good/major is going to happen until the offseason. Hopefully we make some moves that will make the 23-24 season something to be optimistic about.

In the meantime, pitchers and catchers report to spring training on Monday. At least my Mariner's are on the upswing

Maybe they will make the playoffs for the second time in 22 years? lol

I was listening to Blazersuprise earlier and Tory said the Blazers and Mariners have traded places, as for organization status, I couldn't imagine what this town would be like if we hadn't made the offs in 20 years or Sac Town or Minnie playoff participation.

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

I feel a lot better about this trade deadline than last year. If we weren't going to get an absolute great player, IMO, this was probably the next best path.

Hart's a loss, but he only was going to be here for 30 more games. We got a probable pick in the teens and a high-upside lottery ticket in return.

Sharpe probably gets more development and actual game development as a result. I think that's a win.

GP2 was never healthy and quite honestly didn't live up to the hype. He's a one-dimensional player and that one dimension wasn't reliable on this team. TBH, Keon offers similar defensive potential and can do so many other things ... among them handle the ball. He'll get on the court now, which, at the very least, showcases him for trades.

We got Thybulle who also is an upgrade over Payton for nothing.

We got five 2nd round picks and another young guy we can kick the tires on down the stretch in Knox.

I would have liked to see Nurk moved and/or found a legit backup center, even if it was a 6-11 version of Reddish or Knox, but we didn't. Maybe we see Butler or Badji at some point.

I like where our scouting department is compared to this time last year. We've got some cap flexibility now.

We've got 30 games and then a likely low lottery pick but a lottery pick nonetheless and a mid 1.

It's not the big deal a lot of people wanted but it's a path to moving up the charts. We aren't stuck at the bottom with Houston and Orlando and OKC. We have proven star players AND assets to get better.

You said about just about everything I was thinking as well as @MickZagger saying we just rearranged the deck chairs.

When GP was signed, I was hoping we would see less Simons/Lillard on the court at the same time. It does not look like that will change. I do not think it matters much who is playing SF and C if those two are on the floor with Grant. I like Grant but his rebounding totals are not ideal.

We are never going to be able to fully tank with Lillard healthy. Hopefully his minutes are less and some of the projects we have see minutes.

I would go the under on HCP's 39 win projection.

 

[Hoopguru]

Best thing that happens now is Phil Knight and son buy the blazers. Jody I believe has to sell the blazers due to trust obligations in a fiduciary manner.

Man I hope you are right and I think it could happen. I could see Phil cutting in guys like Dame or LeBron once their careers are over.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Just looking at the standings in the Western Conference and I'm pretty sure we'll end the season in 11th. The Lakers obviously got a lot better so they will pass us. The Pelicans didn't do anything and they were already ahead of us. The Wolves got better in my opinion because they didn't have a floor general and now they have one and not only is Conley a floor general he's one that has won a lot of regular season games with Gobert, so I see their record getting a little better. The Warriors got better and should finish with a better record than us. None of the teams 1-6 in the standings got worse. We're not going to lose more games than the Jazz, I guess OKC could pass us, the Spurs and Rockets are in full tank mode.

The larger picture is that the Raptors are the only team in the east with a worse record than we have right now that I could see passing us. So our lottery position should be somewhere in the range of 10-12.

Jazz still have this odd Clarkson, Sexton, Markanan, Olynyk core that is better than it looks.... I wouldn't be surprised at all if they finish ahead of the Blazers. Thunder have so many picks they probably just try to win too. Spurs and Rockets I agree we finish ahead of. So 13th in the West is in play for the Blazers; which if they get it would end up the same as last season.

 

[Chris Craig]

Jazz still have this odd Clarkson, Sexton, Markanan, Olynyk core that is better than it looks.... I wouldn't be surprised at all if they finish ahead of the Blazers. Thunder have so many picks they probably just try to win too. Spurs and Rockets I agree we finish ahead of. So 13th in the West is in play for the Blazers; which if they get it would end up the same as last season.

And we probably fall to 8th instead of seventh this time.

 

[Shaboid]

Maybe they will make the playoffs for the second time in 22 years? lol

I was listening to Blazersuprise earlier and Tory said the Blazers and Mariners have with places as for organization status, I couldn't imagine what this town would be like if we had made the offs in 20 years or Sac Town or Minnie playoff participation.

This place would be a shit show. Oh wait, it already is.

 

[Irish Trader]

Hey we are only 4 1/2 games from the fifth worse record in the league out of thirty teams. We have a shot at the number one loterry pick for a once in a generation player.

 

[rotary111]

Hard to believe we don't pick up a big.

As long as we're taking a flyer on players, Goga Bitadze was released today. He was stuck behind Myles Turner and Sabonis etc in Indiana. We've done worse..

 

[BassPlaya]

The day I see only championships as a reason to follow a team.......is the day I go do something else. My joy is way too fucking important to decided it's existence or fate on a really low odds accomplishment.

Instead, I choose to enjoy the sport when high character players give their all for the team I follow. LOVE following this current squad of people. That win was really satisfying last night. Livin large fams!

 

[maxiep]

It seems like Cronin is taking flyers on highly touted guys to see if a change in scenery will help. We didn't give up much as Hart wasn't staying. We also got a bit younger as well as longer at the wing.

 

[julius]

What's next ?

Running the hell out of the lotto simulator

 

[Hoopguru]

The rich get richer and the poor get poorer is what I’ve gathered from this deadline.

Teams in the west truly trying to win a championship while they are in the window.

The scrubby teams trying their best at the Wemby sweepstakes.

We stood pat.

Before anyone says well we didn’t have the assets. Well the Blazers have no one to blame but themselves. It’s been one of the most mismanaged sports franchises in all of sports. Despite already checking off one of the biggest hurdles of bad teams; they have a superstar, top player that is 100% all in on trying to win it all in Portland.

Honestly the rearranging of the chairs is exhausting for me as a diehard fan.

Good thing you haven't been a mariner fan!

 

[LayneStaley]

We could easily end up with the 5th worst record in the league with a few “injuries”, that’s a 10.5% chance at Wemby.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

Size up the rings, take my lawn chairs and stake out a spot on the parade route.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

Maybe they will make the playoffs for the second time in 22 years? lol

I was listening to Blazersuprise earlier and Tory said the Blazers and Mariners have traded places, as for organization status, I couldn't imagine what this town would be like if we hadn't made the offs in 20 years or Sac Town or Minnie playoff participation.

OMG we're the Mariners? We're the Mariners!

I'm George! I'm George!