Would you go all-in on the playoffs?

[Natebishop3]

The west is weak. We have a legit shot at getting that 8th spot. Would you try to make a deal or two to put us in a position to fight?

One trade that has been rehashed ad nauseam is the Brook Lopez trade. TBPup also said that maybe Boston/Philly could be interested in dealing with us.

Would you leave the team as they are, for better or worse, or would you try to add something to put us over the top?

 

[BlazerBeav]

No, not worth the short term gain. If we make it with this roster and miss out on the lottery, that's fine. But no since sacrificing in order to be the Warrior's sacrificial lamb in round 1.

 

[Natebishop3]

No, not worth the short term gain. If we make it with this roster and miss out on the lottery, that's fine. But no since sacrificing in order to be the Warrior's sacrificial lamb in round 1.

What if we could get the 6th or 7th spots though? 3 games separate Utah from Houston. 5 games separate Utah from Dallas. It's not that big of a margin. I actually like our chances in a game against OKC.

 

[Orion Bailey]

The west is weak. We have a legit shot at getting that 8th spot. Would you try to make a deal or two to put us in a position to fight?

One trade that has been rehashed ad nauseam is the Brook Lopez trade. TBPup also said that maybe Boston/Philly could be interested in dealing with us.

Would you leave the team as they are, for better or worse, or would you try to add something to put us over the top?

ONLY if it fits the long term plan. Dont do anything just to get as temp spot for the rest of the season. Were not winning it all and it will be a waste

 

[e_blazer]

I guess I've made my views known in a few dozen other threads. The team is too good to just sit back and hope for mid- to late-lottery magic. If there's a deal to be made that will bring a quality player in, go for it. Making a good showing the rest of the season and into the playoffs is the best way to increase the odds of a major FA signing this summer.

 

[blue9]

No. I would only make moves that improve us 2+ years from now. No short-term BS.

 

[BonesJones]

Brook Lopez is only 27. We'd still be better 2 years from now with him, and you can sell free agents on a Lillard/McCollum/Lopez core.

 

[Natebishop3]

No. I would only make moves that improve us 2+ years from now. No short-term BS.

The most important thing is the age range. Someone like Brolo would fit our timeline, I think, but his health is a concern. Still, it might be worth the risk.

Supposedly Denver is looking to shed salary. I read that they're trying to move Hickson, but I wonder if they'd move Faried.

If we could add Brolo/Faried, that's pretty nice frontcourt.

 

[42N8Bounce]

All in. If a move is available to make the team better, I believe the Blazers should take it. Dame and CJ are too good to waist 'waiting for the future.' I believe we're only 1 good move away (low post scorer) from being a competitive team in the playoffs. Yes, we'll probably get slaughtered by SA or GS, but if we always avoid the fight because we'll be better tomorrow, with that attitude we might as well rename our team the 76ers.

I enjoy watching this team play. I enjoy watching this team win. If we don't make the playoffs, then I'm okay with a mid lottery pick. But that player won't be helping the Blazers win for 2-3 years down the road.

At each point in time, we need to make the best decision to make the team better. Taking a step back now in the hopes of taking two steps forward in the future is not a plan that pays off very often.

 

[Natebishop3]

If we can make a move without breaking up any of the core, I'm not necessarily against it.

What I don't want to see happen is another Will Barton. I don't want to try to acquire an Afflalo, only to realize that we mortgaged our future for a half-year rental.

 

[BigGameDamian]

I guess I've made my views known in a few dozen other threads. The team is too good to just sit back and hope for mid- to late-lottery magic. If there's a deal to be made that will bring a quality player in, go for it. Making a good showing the rest of the season and into the playoffs is the best way to increasen the odds of a major FA signing this summer.

Well it seems as if the Olshey's plan is to make a push for the playoffs instead of going in the lottery. So yes, I'm all in and I'm expecting a trade to help the playoff push. It's an exciting time!

 

[Nikolokolus]

A team in the talent acquisition phase does itself no favors striving for a bottom seed, unless they really do think they have the horses in the stable to eventually turn into a really good team in a couple of years. Bottom line with this team is that I just don't see it. Lillard is very good, but he's a cut below the kind of transcendent talent that you usually associate with teams on the cusp of title contention. Outside of him I don't see a single player that's likely to make an All-Star team any time soon (if ever). So ask yourselves this: Is it more likely they will sign or trade for the transcendent talent they need or is it more likely to find that guy in the draft? In this market it's probably always going to be the latter.

 

[Nikolokolus]

If we can make a move without breaking up any of the core, I'm not necessarily against it.

What I don't want to see happen is another Will Barton. I don't want to try to acquire an Afflalo, only to realize that we mortgaged our future for a half-year rental.

What core? I don't see a core.

 

[BigGameDamian]

What core? I don't see a core.

He must mean Lillard.

 

[Orion Bailey]

What core? I don't see a core.

Seriously?

Please use green font or prepared to get blasted. If you havent see na core...you need a better prescription than the ones in your moniker picture....

 

[BigGameDamian]

Trade for Nerlens Noel and Jerami Grant. Can Terry Stotts and hire Tom Thibodeau.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Seriously?

Please use green font or prepared to get blasted. If you havent see na core...you need a better prescription than the ones in your moniker picture....

I don't need green font, because I'm serious as a heart-attack .One legitimate star player is not a "core." CJ looks like he might eventually be a nice Jamal Crawford type, but this team is littered with question marks and career roleplayers.

 

[MARIS61]

Let it bake.

 

[Red Rooster]

Though I don't post often, I read the forum everyday. I'm really tired of the people who say we need to tank for the pick.

This team is put together with young, mostly high draft picks, who didn't get to see much playing time on their previous teams due to injury or being stuck behind someone who was already a proven player. These guys are getting are chance now and are already putting it together. When people make statements that are to the effect of "we need the draft pick to be able to be a legit playoff team," you are essentially saying that this team is already good enough, but just need a draft pick to put us over the hump. To me that's a logical fallacy because the people who want the pick basically think the team isn't good enough, or close to contending in the playoffs on any level.

How is a draft pick going to put us over the hump? I believe that this team learning to play together, gel together, and gain experience together is much more important than purposely losing.

I've heard the arguments that Portland isn't a FA destination, I'd argue that the chances of getting a good player through the draft is close to being the same as acquiring a good player through FA.

Why in the world would anyone want this team to lose in lieu of growing together, and possibly gaining some playoffs experience, regardless of how poor you think the west is this year? It makes absolutely no sense to me.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Though I don't post often, I read the forum everyday. I'm really tired of the people who say we need to tank for the pick.

This team is put together with young, mostly high draft picks, who didn't get to see much playing time on their previous teams due to injury or being stuck behind someone who was already a proven player. These guys are getting are chance now and are already putting it together. When people make statements that are to the effect of "we need the draft pick to be able to be a legit playoff team," you are essentially saying that this team is already good enough, but just need a draft pick to put us over the hump. To me that's a logical fallacy because the people who want the pick basically think the team isn't good enough, or close to contending in the playoffs on any level.

How is a draft pick going to put us over the hump? I believe that this team learning to play together, gel together, and gain experience together is much more important than purposely losing.

I've heard the arguments that Portland isn't a FA destination, I'd argue that the chances of getting a good player through the draft is close to being the same as acquiring a good player through FA.

Why in the world would anyone want this team to lose in lieu of growing together, and possibly gaining some playoffs experience, regardless of how poor you think the west is this year? It makes absolutely no sense to me.

I don't know how I can make this any simpler. This team lacks sufficient talent to ever be a championship contender. The easiest path to get the kinds of guys that could push this team from the heights of mediocrity to genuine goodness means adding more transcendent talent - Like at least one more guy as good Lillard, preferably better.

 

[Red Rooster]

I don't know how I can make this any simpler. This team lacks sufficient talent to ever be a championship contender. The easiest path to get the kinds of guys that could push this team from the heights of mediocrity to genuine goodness means adding more transcendent talent - Like at least one more guy as good Lillard, preferably better.

And the draft is the ONLY way in your mind? The odds of hitting draft pick lottery jackpot is just as low as acquiring a player that meets your requirments. On top of that, you want the team to adopt a losing mentality to do so, instead of playing ball together. This isn't a video game.

 

[blue9]

I enjoy watching this team play. I enjoy watching this team win. If we don't make the playoffs, then I'm okay with a mid lottery pick. But that player won't be helping the Blazers win for 2-3 years down the road.

People keep saying this, but I don't think it's necessarily true. I think it's entirely possible that a lotto pick could perform just as well as, if not better than, Aminu. From all accounts RHJ would be outperforming Aminu, and he was a mid-20s pick in a weak draft (if I recall correctly, which perhaps I'm not).

 

[BonesJones]

The most important thing is the age range. Someone like Brolo would fit our timeline, I think, but his health is a concern. Still, it might be worth the risk.

Supposedly Denver is looking to shed salary. I read that they're trying to move Hickson, but I wonder if they'd move Faried.

If we could add Brolo/Faried, that's pretty nice frontcourt.

Ed Davis is as good as Faried.

A team in the talent acquisition phase does itself no favors striving for a bottom seed, unless they really do think they have the horses in the stable to eventually turn into a really good team in a couple of years. Bottom line with this team is that I just don't see it. Lillard is very good, but he's a cut below the kind of transcendent talent that you usually associate with teams on the cusp of title contention. Outside of him I don't see a single player that's likely to make an All-Star team any time soon (if ever). So ask yourselves this: Is it more likely they will sign or trade for the transcendent talent they need or is it more likely to find that guy in the draft? In this market it's probably always going to be the latter.

Hell we could likely trade for Brook Lopez. He was an all star a couple years ago. If we make the playoffs we'll have a chance at signing Derozen (all-star) or Whiteside (All-Star Level). But you want us to miss so that we can "acquire the talent" of Jakob Poeltl or Deontae Davis just because we need all stars? You think they're future all stars? HAHAHA

I don't need green font, because I'm serious as a heart-attack .One legitimate star player is not a "core." CJ looks like he might eventually be a nice Jamal Crawford type,

You really are on some bullshit. CJs having a better year than Crawford ever had. He's already miles ahead of him but you say he might eventually reach his level? That's comical.

but this team is littered with question marks and career roleplayers.

And yet you wanna tank to draft another one?

 

[blue9]

Though I don't post often, I read the forum everyday. I'm really tired of the people who say we need to tank for the pick.

This team is put together with young, mostly high draft picks, who didn't get to see much playing time on their previous teams due to injury or being stuck behind someone who was already a proven player. These guys are getting are chance now and are already putting it together. When people make statements that are to the effect of "we need the draft pick to be able to be a legit playoff team," you are essentially saying that this team is already good enough, but just need a draft pick to put us over the hump. To me that's a logical fallacy because the people who want the pick basically think the team isn't good enough, or close to contending in the playoffs on any level.

How is a draft pick going to put us over the hump? I believe that this team learning to play together, gel together, and gain experience together is much more important than purposely losing.

I've heard the arguments that Portland isn't a FA destination, I'd argue that the chances of getting a good player through the draft is close to being the same as acquiring a good player through FA.

Why in the world would anyone want this team to lose in lieu of growing together, and possibly gaining some playoffs experience, regardless of how poor you think the west is this year? It makes absolutely no sense to me.

Whoa whoa whoa - if this isn't a straw man post I don't know what is.
Nobody is saying "tank for the pick" - we're saying develop our players and let the chips fall where they may.
And nobody is saying that a draft pick is going to put us over the hump - we're saying needlessly losing an asset at this stage will be a hindrance to continued improvement.
And as for FA vs Draft - Olshey has a MUCH better track record with draftees than signees. I think the chances of getting a good player in the draft far outweigh the chances of getting a good Free Agent.

 

[dviss1]

People keep saying this, but I don't think it's necessarily true. I think it's entirely possible that a lotto pick could perform just as well as, if not better than, Aminu. From all accounts RHJ would be outperforming Aminu, and he was a mid-20s pick in a weak draft (if I recall correctly, which perhaps I'm not).

You gotta be kidding me. You're taking this Aminu hate to a new level.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

People keep saying this, but I don't think it's necessarily true. I think it's entirely possible that a lotto pick could perform just as well as, if not better than, Aminu. From all accounts RHJ would be outperforming Aminu, and he was a mid-20s pick in a weak draft (if I recall correctly, which perhaps I'm not).

RHJ is injured so he definitely wouldn't be outperforming Aminu. He's only played 18 games and averaged 5 points and 6 rebounds with virtually no three point shooting in those games.

 

[dviss1]

Ed Davis is as good as Faried.


Hell we could likely trade for Brook Lopez. He was an all star a couple years ago. If we make the playoffs we'll have a chance at signing Derozen (all-star) or Whiteside (All-Star Level). But you want us to miss so that we can "acquire the talent" of Jakob Poeltl or Deontae Davis just because we need all stars? You think they're future all stars? HAHAHA
You really are on some bullshit. CJs having a better year than Crawford ever had. He's already miles ahead of him but you say he might eventually reach his level? That's comical.
And yet you wanna tank to draft another one?

Damn! Bones is layin' some smack on you cats! Lol.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

RHJ is injured so he definitely wouldn't be outperforming Aminu. He's only played 18 games and averaged 5 points and 6 rebounds with virtually no three point shooting in those games.

Prior to the injury, RHJ's advanced stats were better than Aminu's pretty much across the board.

 

[Nikolokolus]

And the draft is the ONLY way in your mind? The odds of hitting draft pick lottery jackpot is just as low as acquiring a player that meets your requirments. On top of that, you want the team to adopt a losing mentality to do so, instead of playing ball together. This isn't a video game.

What's wrong with you? You can't read or something? I said EASIEST.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Ed Davis is as good as Faried.


Hell we could likely trade for Brook Lopez. He was an all star a couple years ago. If we make the playoffs we'll have a chance at signing Derozen (all-star) or Whiteside (All-Star Level). But you want us to miss so that we can "acquire the talent" of Jakob Poeltl or Deontae Davis just because we need all stars? You think they're future all stars? HAHAHA
You really are on some bullshit. CJs having a better year than Crawford ever had. He's already miles ahead of him but you say he might eventually reach his level? That's comical.
And yet you wanna tank to draft another one?

Go look up their stats at basketball-reference.com. Go ahead. I'll wait.