Whispers

[Mediocre Man]

I don't have the sources, good or bad, I once did. Some may think I never did. I digress. I am hearing from a couple of people, that may know things, that the Blazers are torn down the middle on how to proceed. Most agree there needs to be some change, but the organization is stalled right now in what that is, and when it should happen. Some want now, some want to wait until after the season.

Another thing is that Dame has the ear of the organization. I hate this. He is a very good player, not a very good GM.

Blazers have turned down deals for "prominent young players"

No idea what was leaving, but must have been too much?

NO is all about this draft, and using his "assets" to revamp roster

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Obligatory Deal Coming Soon joke...

Crabbe's deal really puts us in a tough spot. "Prominent Young Players" may put us in the luxury tax THIS year, which would be very, very, bad. Hard to judge without knowing the particulars.

 

[illmatic99]

Yay, pizza delivery boy is back!

I disagree about Dame having input. He's our best player and most important building block. He needs to be on the same page as the front office.

I like hearing that NO is focusing on the draft and wants to revamp the roster. Don't let this shit season cloud the big picture. Recognizing the mistakes and improving from them is a big step-- look at how MIL is doing this.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I don't have the sources, good or bad, I once did. Some may think I never did. I digress. I am hearing from a couple of people, that may know things, that the Blazers are torn down the middle on how to proceed. Most agree there needs to be some change, but the organization is stalled right now in what that is, and when it should happen. Some want now, some want to wait until after the season.

Another thing is that Dame has the ear of the organization. I hate this. He is a very good player, not a very good GM.

Blazers have turned down deals for "prominent young players"

No idea what was leaving, but must have been too much?

NO is all about this draft, and using his "assets" to revamp roster

All very intersting and seems fairly plausible. I am curious about the part I put in bold. Who is divided and what side are they on? Is it a split between Olshey and Allen, or is it Olshey and his scouts, or is it Olshey vs. Stotts? Thanks for sharing.

 

[Scalma]

Assuming Neil is committed to CJ, everything centers around Plumlee. If he's sold on him, he has to go find a power forward that compliments Plumlees game. Someone that rebounds, plays defense, and can shoot. That won't be easy to find.

If he's not sold on Plumlee, he has to be traded, and traded now, and a new center will have to be brought in.

But it all starts and ends with Plumlee.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Obligatory Deal Coming Soon joke...

Crabbe's deal really puts us in a tough spot. "Prominent Young Players" may put us in the luxury tax THIS year, which would be very, very, bad. Hard to judge without knowing the particulars.

What's always saddened me about deal coming soon is it happened 20 days later

 

[andalusian]

What's always saddened me about deal coming soon is it happened 20 days later

Fake news (Don't be sad, be happy)

 

[Harry's Raincoat]

Thanks for sharing MM! It sure feels like its time to make a move. ANY move. Stagnant, almost boring team right now.
We have to finish season 19-11 to get to .500. Ouch!

Hoping Crabbe or other bench assets hold value in someones eyes! Would love to see Noel, Vucevic, Ibaka or even Okafor here for next year.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Assuming Neil is committed to CJ, everything centers around Plumlee. If he's sold on him, he has to go find a power forward that compliments Plumlees game. Someone that rebounds, plays defense, and can shoot. That won't be easy to find.

If he's not sold on Plumlee, he has to be traded, and traded now, and a new center will have to be brought in.

But it all starts and ends with Plumlee.

IMO Plumlee has the highest BB IQ on the team and is our most consistent player in terms of hustle and effort on both ends of the court night after night. Not our most talented but he works his ass off. It took Przybilla 6 years to become the center we loved in Portland. Not the most talented but brought attitude and toughness every night.

I would keep Plumlee because he's still getting better and his benefit to the team isn't dependent on him scoring.

 

[oldfisherman]

What I read between the lines in the OP is.

The Blazer's FO does not have a clear long term plan in place. Which "sort-of" confirms what I have suspected all along.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

What I read between the lines in the OP is.

The Blazer's FO does not have a clear long term plan in place. Which "sort-of" confirms what I have suspected all along.

Oh, I think they had a long-term plan in place. I think this season is making them consider scrapping that plan though. But they haven't decided fully yet.

 

[Nikolokolus]

IMO Plumlee has the highest BB IQ on the team and is our most consistent player in terms of hustle and effort on both ends of the court night after night. Not our most talented but he works his ass off. It took Przybilla 6 years to become the center we loved in Portland. Not the most talented but brought attitude and toughness every night.

I would keep Plumlee because he's still getting better and his benefit to the team isn't dependent on him scoring.

Would you go deep into the luxury tax to keep him? Is he worth paying him effectively 30 million a year on a sub .500 team? The alternative sucks too; we gave up a 1st round pick for him, so if he walks that's effectively no return on yet another pick.

Short of Olshey hypnotizing another GM and unloading a truck-load of hot garbage before the deadline, I think Plumlee has to be moved, otherwise it's just another wasted asset Olshey failed to capitalize on (or just as bad, overpays him for not enough production to warrant his cost).

 

[oldfisherman]

Oh, I think they had a long-term plan in place. I think this season is making them consider scrapping that plan though. But they haven't decided fully yet.

I do not see how they could have had a long term plan in place.

All of the contracts given out last summer only made sense for this one season. When you extend all of the contracts out for the next 2-3 seasons, it becomes very apparent they did not have a long range plan in place, unless the plan was to tank.

Next season, we are already over the luxury cap threshold, with only 9-10 players signed. We do not have a starting center, and no starting caliber true PF on the roster. How is that long range planning to improve the team??

 

[Strenuus]

I do not see how they could have had a long term plan in place.

All of the contracts given out last summer only made sense for this one season. When you extend all of the contracts out for the next 2-3 seasons, it becomes very apparent they did not have a long range plan in place, unless the plan was to tank.

Next season, we are already over the luxury cap threshold, with only 9-10 players signed. We do not have a starting center, and no starting caliber true PF on the roster. How is that long range planning to improve the team??

Right!

Makes me reconsider the 2017-2018 season being the year we contend. Neil done fucked that up.

 

[illmatic99]

IMO Plumlee has the highest BB IQ on the team and is our most consistent player in terms of hustle and effort on both ends of the court night after night. Not our most talented but he works his ass off. It took Przybilla 6 years to become the center we loved in Portland. Not the most talented but brought attitude and toughness every night.

I would keep Plumlee because he's still getting better and his benefit to the team isn't dependent on him scoring.

For how much?

 

[KeepOnRollin]

I do not see how they could have had a long term plan in place.

All of the contracts given out last summer only made sense for this one season. When you extend all of the contracts out for the next 2-3 seasons, it becomes very apparent they did not have a long range plan in place, unless the plan was to tank.

Next season, we are already over the luxury cap threshold, with only 9-10 players signed. We do not have a starting center, and no starting caliber true PF on the roster. How is that long range planning to improve the team??

I not saying I agree with any plan they may have had but I absolutely think they had one. It involved trading a couple of guys (which you could say is not likely but it is there plan not ours that I am speculating on).

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Would you go deep into the luxury tax to keep him? Is he worth paying him effectively 30 million a year on a sub .500 team? The alternative sucks too; we gave up a 1st round pick for him, so if he walks that's effectively no return on yet another pick.

Short of Olshey hypnotizing another GM and unloading a truck-load of hot garbage before the deadline, I think Plumlee has to be moved, otherwise it's just another wasted asset Olshey failed to capitalize on (or just as bad, overpays him for not enough production to warrant his cost).

I would move other players before Plumlee. If it's a choice between Meyers or Plums I would keep Plums.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

For how much?

Who contributes more overall to the team, Crabbe? Meyers? Plumlee? Crabbe better shooter, Meyers better athlete, but Plumlee does more for the team.

IMO Plumlee is looking at a $14mill a year payday.

 

[Strenuus]

I would move other players before Plumlee. If it's a choice between Meyers or Plums I would keep Plums.

There's an actual choice between the two? I'd keep the gum underneath that courtside seat over Meyers.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I would move other players before Plumlee. If it's a choice between Meyers or Plums I would keep Plums.

I agree. I just have serious doubts about how easily moved Meyers, Crabbe, and or Turner are going to be and what it would cost the Blazers for some team to take them off of their hands.

 

[Pinwheel1]

A mid season trade "this year" won't hurt. There is really no downside. On the flip side it won't help for this season so when it is done really does not matter. It just needs to be done.

To be honest thought I think Neil's plan last summer was solid. Not perfect but it made sense. He swung for the fences on our biggest need. (Whiteside) after that it was about gathering assets. It's not like having cap space helps us get difference makers so in theory he did what he had to do.....for now. I don't believe the contracts that were signed blocked us from making deals this summer. I think assets only help. We can argue all day on whether or not he has movable pieces.

If the rumored deals for "prominent young players" involved CJ then it is hard to discuss/debate unless we know who the other party is. If it did not involve CJ then it just goes to show you that we do have movable pieces and we will again this summer. (or at the trade deadline)

 

[KeepOnRollin]

I would move other players before Plumlee. If it's a choice between Meyers or Plums I would keep Plums.

Not sure who would disagree wit that. The problem is we would have to send Meyers out and get a player back who is an expiring contract. Not an easy task. It might take a first rounder of ours going out for another team to go for that.

Now, I not one of those that thinks Meyers has no trade value (I think we could get plenty of players for him but they would be overpaid players too). But expiring contracts are valuable and teams don't give them away much anymore.

 

[blue32]

Always a deal coming soon! ;-)

but I hope they actually do something. this team is painful to watch.

 

[illmatic99]

Who contributes more overall to the team, Crabbe? Meyers? Plumlee? Crabbe better shooter, Meyers better athlete, but Plumlee does more for the team.

IMO Plumlee is looking at a $14mill a year payday.

Oh I agree on Plums' value to the team. Not sure 14 mil is realistic for a legit starting big.

Guys like Biyombo, Mozgov, and Ian Mahinmi got 16-18 mil last year.

If you climb up to that range for Plums (and don't clear space), you're gonna be in cap/lux tax hell for the near future and even fewer opportunities to right the ship.

 

[Trackjack]

I do believe they need figure out what they want to do with Plum. But if you figure you want to keep him then you just might have someone else throw a Crabbe type offer at him and we will be really bad shape then. We could not match another contract like that again. First it be bad business and second it would screw our flex ability next 4 years. Want I think even he is good hustle guy I would trade him for expire contract and late 1st. Or trade him for young center that on there rookie contract.

 

[oldfisherman]

I agree we must keep Plumlee. But how?

My guess is, some GM is going to make RFA Plumlee a toxic offer the same way the Nets did with Crabbe.

Even if we keep Plumlee, he is going to be expensive. Add in a 15% trade kicker and we have an expensive asset that will be very difficult to trade. GMs are paying Olshey back for his past sins.

 

[illmatic99]

Now, I not one of those that thinks Meyers has no trade value (I think we could get plenty of players for him but they would be overpaid players too). But expiring contracts are valuable and teams don't give them away much anymore.

The Miles Plumlee deal was a revelation. He's worse than Meyers on a worse contract, and he brought back an expiring contract (Hibbert) + a guy with a < MLE option for next season (Hawes), and MIL didn't even throw in incentives.

 

[TBpup]

I don't have the sources, good or bad, I once did. Some may think I never did. I digress. I am hearing from a couple of people, that may know things, that the Blazers are torn down the middle on how to proceed. Most agree there needs to be some change, but the organization is stalled right now in what that is, and when it should happen. Some want now, some want to wait until after the season.

I'm hearing that not everyone is in agreement on how to proceed as well but that is not uncommon. Ultimately it will come down to Paul and Neil and whoever wins out. Paul is very much a fan an has opinions but has been convinced before to go against those opinions. Case in point, he preferred Durant of Oden from the beginning of that summer. Everyone else in the 'room' convinced him that Oden was a once in a lifetime big that you just couldn't pass on (which most other people believed as well).

Who knows what would have happened if not for the injuries. But I can't imagine in this case that Paul is overly impressed with what his money has become this season in terms of results.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I do not see how they could have had a long term plan in place.

All of the contracts given out last summer only made sense for this one season. When you extend all of the contracts out for the next 2-3 seasons, it becomes very apparent they did not have a long range plan in place, unless the plan was to tank.

Next season, we are already over the luxury cap threshold, with only 9-10 players signed. We do not have a starting center, and no starting caliber true PF on the roster. How is that long range planning to improve the team??

There's no such thing as a long term plan, only a process/methodology/set of principles.

 

[oldfisherman]

There's no such thing as a long term plan, only a process/methodology/set of principles.

Agree, if you are trying to seduce a woman.

But if you are running a business, you better have a long range plan to work with. Or the competition will kick your butt.