You're in Neil's shoes...

[Fez Hammersticks]

You have two guaranteed contracts on the books after this season - Lillard and Batum.

You'll have a ton of wiggle room to make moves.

Aldridge already has the max offer on the table and waiting.

The market for Lopez is set - he'll get at least $10-12m/per

Matthews has played himself into a contract that nearly doubles his current contract.

Do you look at make that power move at the deadline to bring in that player who vaults Portland into a real title contender?

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

What players are on the market would be considered a power move?

I'd try to do a S&T of Wes/Robin for Marc Gasol if that's a power move.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

We haven't extended Lillard yet so we don't have to have his contract next year. Also we could trade Batum for cap space. We could enter next off season with zero contracts!

 

[OneLifeToLive]

You have two guaranteed contracts on the books after this season - Lillard and Batum.

You'll have a ton of wiggle room to make moves.

Aldridge already has the max offer on the table and waiting.

The market for Lopez is set - he'll get at least $10-12m/per

Matthews has played himself into a contract that nearly doubles his current contract.

Do you look at make that power move at the deadline to bring in that player who vaults Portland into a real title contender?

I don't think he will break up this team...this year anyway.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I thought we extended Lillard on Media Day (per the Blazers podcast).

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

I think you wait to see how this team is performing. Anything different seems ridiculous.

Is this team shaping up for a Top-3 team in the West? Fighting for the playoffs? Or?? To wide-open.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I think you have to get a real third big.

The player I'd look at is Greg Monroe.

It seems like it'd be insulting to him but if you can convince him that he'd get starters minutes being the primary backup to Lopez and Aldridge, on a title team, I'd think he'd be at least open to it.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I thought we extended Lillard on Media Day (per the Blazers podcast).

Well then we could trade him for draft picks.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

What players are on the market would be considered a power move?

I'd try to do a S&T of Wes/Robin for Marc Gasol if that's a power move.

Roy Hibbert?

I think the only way I could see Neil do this is if a player they have on their radar for next offseason is available and his current team wants to move him. I could see Portland still interested in him.

 

[RR7]

as with any deal, depends on the price and the player. I'd certainly be listening, but would always be.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Roy Hibbert?

I think the only way I could see Neil do this is if a player they have on their radar for next offseason is available and his current team wants to move him. I could see Portland still interested in him.

Hibbert isn't a power move anymore... It's like an expensive Marcus Camby move.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I think you have to get a real third big.

The player I'd look at is Greg Monroe.

It seems like it'd be insulting to him but if you can convince him that he'd get starters minutes being the primary backup to Lopez and Aldridge, on a title team, I'd think he'd be at least open to it.

Were you the one who kept bringing up Monroe all summer? I know there is a guy who posts over on Oregonlive that wants to trade LMA for him.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

O-Live still has a forum?

 

[OneLifeToLive]

Hibbert isn't a power move anymore... It's like an expensive Marcus Camby move.

Dont' know about that. In this dynamic and environment he could relax into a real defensive force. And I personally consider that a power move.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Dont' know about that. In this dynamic and environment he could relax into a real defensive force. And I personally consider that a power move.

I don't consider Hibbert a better defender than Lopez at this point, Lopez will be cheaper too.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

O-Live still has a forum?

Seriously, who was the Monroe jock rider this summer?

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

I think you have to get a real third big.

The player I'd look at is Greg Monroe.

It seems like it'd be insulting to him but if you can convince him that he'd get starters minutes being the primary backup to Lopez and Aldridge, on a title team, I'd think he'd be at least open to it.

I expected you to say DMC.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

O-Live still has a forum?

Don't pretend.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

Seriously, who was the Monroe jock rider this summer?

BendBlazer?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

BendBlazer?

BendBlazer is such a goof. He cherry picks stats to make LMA look like the worst player in the NBA.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

BendBlazer is such a goof. He cherry picks stats to make LMA look like the worst player in the NBA.

That and it doesn't matter how good the team or player is. He will always have an ax to grind with 'someone'. He finds someone to pigeon each and every year.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

BendBlazer is such a goof. He cherry picks stats to make LMA look like the worst player in the NBA.

HE TAKES THE LONGEST POOPS ON THE TEAM!!! HE COULD BE PRACTICING BUT NO! THAT ASSHOLE RATHER SHIT!!

 

[SlyPokerDog]

That and it doesn't matter how good the team or player is. He will always have an ax to grind with 'someone'. He finds someone to pigeon each and every year.

He's one of the O-livers that won't come here because we don't delete posts and threads after a week like O-live does. He spent most of last season claiming the Blazers would never make the playoffs with LMA on the team then denied he ever said that.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

He's one of the O-livers that won't come here because we don't delete posts and threads after a week like O-live does. He spent most of last season claiming the Blazers would never make the playoffs with LMA on the team then denied he ever said that.

I know. I read. Jet had his back. It's hard to continue to make a case about somethin if you are wrong. And he was wrong last year. LA made him look pretty bad.

 

[Rhal]

Whoever we get would at least need to be competent defensively because we have seen what our offense is capable of but wev also seen our D constantly crap the bed. Thats why I dont like giving up anything for Monroe, he is a very below average defender.

 

[jlprk]

You have two guaranteed contracts on the books after this season - Lillard and Batum.

You'll have a ton of wiggle room to make moves.

Aldridge already has the max offer on the table and waiting.

The market for Lopez is set - he'll get at least $10-12m/per

Matthews has played himself into a contract that nearly doubles his current contract.

Do you look at make that power move at the deadline to bring in that player who vaults Portland into a real title contender?

All overpaid. All replaceable, especially Matthews and Lopez.

 

[PDXFonz]

You remain patient and stick with the plan you had earlier. The new facility, the chemistry, the way they sell the players as it sounds they've sold aldridge on staying. I won't be surprised if a lot of these players take a smaller salary to stay on a 1-2 year with the likely hood of winning a championship increasing each year they stay together.

I think that any improvement over last year will be enough to convince some of the guys to stay.

 

[julius]

Since the team owns the "Bird rights" on all of them (iirc), and the new TV contract should up the salary cap some, you keep them all.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I think locking up Wes will prove to be tougher than we think.

This past summer teams went apeshit for capable SG/SF's and Wes is certainly above average and just now entering his prime.

I think he'll get a contract worth something close to $10m/per. Gortat set Lopez's market.

 

[Blazinaway]

You have two guaranteed contracts on the books after this season - Lillard and Batum.

You'll have a ton of wiggle room to make moves.

Aldridge already has the max offer on the table and waiting.

The market for Lopez is set - he'll get at least $10-12m/per

Matthews has played himself into a contract that nearly doubles his current contract.

Do you look at make that power move at the deadline to bring in that player who vaults Portland into a real title contender?

I love Lopez, but if you have to pay him 10-12 mil are you perhaps better off offering the Clips center (Olshey connection?) or Indiana center (Hibbert) 12-15 mil? Is Gasol available as well?