What's ur take on this quote from Neil??

[Carlito]

"Upon conclusion of the 2014 season, we will know whether or not we have reached the fork in the road," Olshey says. "Either we are on the right course with our current roster by having drafted well, signed good contracts, acquired Bird [rights] players, and this group will stay together and we'll make a strong move forward. Or we're going to aggressively look to aggregate some of our assets to consolidate them into one player to join those players we believe represent the core of the franchise."

...

"All of our offseason moves were made with the intention of competing immediately while not jeopardizing our long-term flexibility," Olshey says. "We are still focused and committed to developing our young talent, but it will not be at the expense of winning."


Me personally.... It's playoffs or roster gets blown up and we stay in lotto hell for long time. Aldridge gets dealt and we get few picks in this years draft since bobcats likely will get our pic even if we miss playoffs. I think LA is dealt in Feb if we suck assuming his knee isn't shot.

 

[julius]

"Upon conclusion of the 2014 season, we will know whether or not we have reached the fork in the road," Olshey says. "Either we are on the right course with our current roster by having drafted well, signed good contracts, acquired Bird [rights] players, and this group will stay together and we'll make a strong move forward. Or we're going to aggressively look to aggregate some of our assets to consolidate them into one player to join those players we believe represent the core of the franchise."

...

"All of our offseason moves were made with the intention of competing immediately while not jeopardizing our long-term flexibility," Olshey says. "We are still focused and committed to developing our young talent, but it will not be at the expense of winning."


Me personally.... It's playoffs or roster gets blown up and we stay in lotto hell for long time. Aldridge gets dealt and we get few picks in this years draft since bobcats likely will get out pic even if we miss playoffs. I think LA is dealt in Feb if we suck assuming his knee isn't shot.

sounds like he's being non committal about things, because things can change.

 

[HailBlazers]

Link? I think he means we'll either continue to add to our core if we overachieve, or make some serious trades if we underachieve (After the season is over).

 

[Carlito]

Blazers edge

 

[Natebishop3]

If you're going to quote stuff, add a link broham.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

I'm reading it as if we make the playoffs we will continue to add through mle, draft etc. If we do not make the playoffs we will combinecontracts for another impact guy to add to lillard, batum, and aAldridge.

 

[StumptownHoliday]

Me personally.... It's playoffs or roster gets blown up and we stay in lotto hell for long time. Aldridge gets dealt and we get few picks in this years draft since bobcats likely will get our pic even if we miss playoffs. I think LA is dealt in Feb if we suck assuming his knee isn't shot.

Disagree. What Olshey's literally saying is that one of two things are going to happen: 1) This team grows as he hopes and we're the next Indiana Pacers, or 2) We have enough assets to trade for another piece which will help push us forward. I really don't think Neil wants to rebuild until the moment LMA lips utter that he wants out.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

"Upon conclusion of the 2014 season, we will know whether or not we have reached the fork in the road," Olshey says. "Either we are on the right course with our current roster by having drafted well, signed good contracts, acquired Bird [rights] players, and this group will stay together and we'll make a strong move forward. Or we're going to aggressively look to aggregate some of our assets to consolidate them into one player to join those players we believe represent the core of the franchise."

...

"All of our offseason moves were made with the intention of competing immediately while not jeopardizing our long-term flexibility," Olshey says. "We are still focused and committed to developing our young talent, but it will not be at the expense of winning."


Me personally.... It's playoffs or roster gets blown up and we stay in lotto hell for long time. Aldridge gets dealt and we get few picks in this years draft since bobcats likely will get our pic even if we miss playoffs. I think LA is dealt in Feb if we suck assuming his knee isn't shot.

What I read into it is that Olshey hates it here in Portland and really wants to be GM of the Lakers. He's going to trade Lillard for Steve Blake then quit and take over for Mitch Cupcake.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

What I read into it is that Olshey hates it here in Portland and really wants to be GM of the Lakers. He's going to trade Lillard for Steve Blake then quit and take over for Mitch Cupcake.

Then maybe we can get Nate back!

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Then maybe we can get Nate back!

You always seem to find the silver lining.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

You always seem to find the silver lining.

It's all unicorns and ass sunshine for me!

 

[SlyPokerDog]

It's all unicorns and ass sunshine for me!

You're like the anti-mixum.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

You're like the anti-mixum.

I'm Contradixum.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think Neil is putting a timeline on the team. Either we're competitive within that window or he blows things up. I suspect a lot of that hinges on Aldridge.

 

[Pinwheel1]

"Upon conclusion of the 2014 season, we will know whether or not we have reached the fork in the road," Olshey says. "Either we are on the right course with our current roster by having drafted well, signed good contracts, acquired Bird [rights] players, and this group will stay together and we'll make a strong move forward. Or we're going to aggressively look to aggregate some of our assets to consolidate them into one player to join those players we believe represent the core of the franchise."

...

"All of our offseason moves were made with the intention of competing immediately while not jeopardizing our long-term flexibility," Olshey says. "We are still focused and committed to developing our young talent, but it will not be at the expense of winning."


Me personally.... It's playoffs or roster gets blown up and we stay in lotto hell for long time. Aldridge gets dealt and we get few picks in this years draft since bobcats likely will get our pic even if we miss playoffs. I think LA is dealt in Feb if we suck assuming his knee isn't shot.

Seems pretty self explanatory to me. After this year he will evaluate who to keep and who to move. He won't let the cake bake for too long.

As for your personal take: "It's playoffs or roster gets blown up and we stay in lotto hell for long time" Whatever dude...

 

[Nikolokolus]

Honestly I think it means Neil sees us in the mushy middle

 

[Boise Blazer]

I think one way or another when CJ comes back we are going to have too many assets which is exactly what he planned and there will be a move made at some point due to that

 

[Natebishop3]

I think one way or another when CJ comes back we are going to have too many assets which is exactly what he planned and there will be a move made at some point due to that

Indeed. It will be interesting to see how things shake out over the first 30 or so games.

 

[Draco]

I've been saying this all summer, either this team is a legit playoff team this season or we need to blow it up and trade Aldridge, Mo, and whatever we can get for Wes or Lopez. We would target young players or picks for those guys. Vegas odds have us at ~38 wins! There is no sense in playing out the season with that winning percentage.

Either this team is over .500 and in the playoff hunt before the trade deadline, in which case we should play out the year with the current roster. We could add a veteran role player as when we acquired Marcus Camby or Gerald Wallace for minor assets; only if an enticing opportunity presents itself. Our teams starting core looked very strong last season and our new additions all have potential to be valuable rotational players.

If this team is under .500 it would be better to trade away our vets before the trade deadline. This will get us more value for them, as in Alridges case his new team will have one and a half seasons to entice him to resign instead of just being an expiring contract. That is how Utah maximized their return on Deron Williams. Trading during the season improves our chance of keeping the draft pick or having a higher selection, and a trade gives us more minutes to evaluate if young players are worth keeping in future seasons.

Thats one reason I think the first 2 months of the season should be very exciting. Teams normally are rebuilding or contending when they start the season but the Blazers have two very different roads they can take.

 

[Pinwheel1]

That is how Utah maximized their return on Deron Williams.

Should turning out like Utah really be our goal? That was two seasons ago, How is that working out for them? Not trying to be sarcastic here at all, but the fact is Utah did get a great deal for Deron and they still suck. So is that really the model we want to follow?

 

[BigGameDamian]

Aldridge for #1 baby! (Andrew Wiggins) The plan is T-Rob will be out next great PF guys. I have said this time and time again, The Blazers have always been blessed with great power forwards. Now make of that what you will.

 

[BlazerWookee]

I think it means, "Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?"

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

I take his comments as this team is expected to do better than just compete for an #8 seed. I think every coach/player outside of Lillard could be in a different city next year if we do not win.

Whether that is a complete overhaul or adding another player depends on the opportunity that presents itself.

 

[BBert]

I think it means, "Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?"

Love that movie.

 

[RR7]

How does anyone get blow it up from his comments?

Or we're going to aggressively look to aggregate some of our assets to consolidate them into one player to join those players we believe represent the core of the franchise

Consolidate assets is kind of the exact opposite of that

 

[HailBlazers]

How does anyone get blow it up from his comments?

By doing too much blow

 

[Draco]

Should turning out like Utah really be our goal? That was two seasons ago, How is that working out for them? Not trying to be sarcastic here at all, but the fact is Utah did get a great deal for Deron and they still suck. So is that really the model we want to follow?

No Utah shouldn't be a model, but them getting Favors and Kanter was way better than what the Cavs got for Lebron or Toronto got for Bosh. OKC traded away Ray Allen when they were at a similar crossroads and it helped them build their core. The goal should be to contend with Aldridge in the next few years but if that isn't possible the next best alternative is getting the most value for him.

 

[StumptownHoliday]

No Utah shouldn't be a model, but them getting Favors and Kanter was way better than what the Cavs got for Lebron or Toronto got for Bosh. OKC traded away Ray Allen when they were at a similar crossroads and it helped them build their core. The goal should be to contend with Aldridge in the next few years but if that isn't possible the next best alternative is getting the most value for him.

To be fair to Utah, they didn't have pieces like Dame and Nic to build around after D-Will dipped out of town.

 

[Pinwheel1]

To be fair to Utah, they didn't have pieces like Dame and Nic to build around after D-Will dipped out of town.

They had some decent talent last year that they decided not to resign. Plus they had some lottery picks in Hayward and Burks (Alex) that were drafted higher than both Dame and Nic. This is not counting what they got for Williams.

My point was that even though they did well in the trade for Deron in accumulating young talent and high draft picks, they are worse off than they were before.

I just wanted to point out the whole grass is not necessarily greener view. Young unproven talent
is a crap shoot. Then if they do turn out great you have to worry about keeping them......

 

[StumptownHoliday]

Well first off, neither Gordon Hayward (drafted 9th overall in 2010) or Alec Burks (drafted 12th in 2011) were drafted higher than Damian (6th in 2012). Secondly, it doesn't matter one lick where you were drafted... it matters how you play in the league once you are. And there's no denying Damian and Batum are better than Burks and Hayward (no matter what the Utah announcers will have you believe).