Why Did The Blazers Not Make This List?

[ABM]

http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2013/08/11/mired-in-monotony-seven-teams-in-a-rut/?cid=nba.2013

MIRED IN MONOTONY: SEVEN TEAMS IN A RUT
By Jonathan Hartzell, NBA.com

There are very few ways to build a championship contender in the NBA and they’re all centered around obtaining a superstar.

Option 1: Sign an already established superstar through free agency (the Miami Heat model)

Option 2: Use young talent and Draft picks to trade for a superstar (the Boston Celtics model)

Option 3: Draft well and stockpile young talent in hopes they develop into superstars (the San Antonio Spurs model)

The first option is usually only available to organizations in major markets that have the appeal to attract superstars. So for non-major market teams, the more feasible option is to acquire young talent and high Draft picks and hope one of those players turns into a star. But this route requires a lot of luck and usually a lot of losing for cities that usually can’t afford such a steep decline. It’s a tough but necessary route.

Organizations find themselves stagnated in obscurity when they fail to get lucky in the lottery or they spend their money unwisely. It’s an unfortunate place to be and it’s where seven teams find themselves going into this season. They’re not bad enough to get better and not good enough to matter.

Let’s breakdown how each of these teams got here and what their plans seem to be moving forward.......

 

[Wizard Mentor]

because we've had multiple superstars on our team in the last 5 years - they just got injured. By the premise of the article, we weren't mired, we were just unlucky.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Also becasue we're making positive changes.

 

[SheedSoNasty]

And not overspending on mediocre players. At least not this season.

 

[ABM]

Also because we're making positive changes.

"Appears" those 7 teams are, as well.

 

[Draco]

I wonder what our worst move of the last 5 years is? I'd say trading Andre Miller for Raymond Felton was bad but nothing like some of those teams mistakes. Drafting Luke Babbit?

 

[magnifier661]

I wonder what our worst move of the last 5 years is? I'd say trading Andre Miller for Raymond Felton was bad but nothing like some of those teams mistakes. Drafting Luke Babbit?

and drafting Nolan Smith.

Our last 5 years wasn't as bad as many other teams. I don't see a single contract that is insanely over-valued; with the exception of Freeland. And really is Freeland such a hit? I think our brass has done a fine job recovering from some bad luck. <--- Thank God for the Amnesty!

 

[Draco]

Ahhh yes giving a bad knee Brandon Roy $84 million has got to be this franchises biggest mistake. I could not imagine if we had that deal on the cap until 2015. No Lopez, Trob, or Wright here this offseason. Paul Allen has got to be pissed every month he keeps having to write that check.

 

[blue9]

The worst move we've made is probably one that we didn't make. For example, NOT trading Oden for Duncan. Though there could be other moves we didn't make that may be worse.

 

[dviss1]

Look at the Raptors biggest mistake:

"Biggest mistake, last five seasons: Signing Hedo Turkoglu to a 5-year/$53 million contract in 2009."

And people want to give KP a pass for offering 50MM to Hedon't...