Zach Lowe about the Blazers

[Labinot41]

Very good article

 

[illmatic99]

Sorry, Lebron.

Lillard is patient. "Good things come to good people, even if you get swept somewhere along the way," he says. "This is what goes through my mind: I'm gonna be in my 11th year or something here, I'm gonna stick with it, and we're gonna make the Finals."

In Portland?

"In Portland," he says.

And if they don't?

"I've treated people the right way," Lillard says. "I've put in the work. And because of that, if it doesn't happen, I can live with it. I'll have enjoyed the ride. It's worth it."

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

"One of the best leaders in sports."

This is precisely why I believe we can take on a 'troubled' player who could use a change of scenery.

 

[illmatic99]

Also interesting to read that Neil vouched for Terry along with Dame to Paul to give them one more season to run it back. Always figured that Neil-Terry relationship would be the first to fracture.

Zach didn't really get into this, but the biggest elephant in the room is how our ownership situation now will dictate the moves Neil can make.

 

[illmatic99]

But Portland cannot take a talent on McCollum's level for granted. There is no guarantee they will acquire anyone that good over the next decade. They want to supplement the Lillard/McCollum duo with a third impact player, per sources around the league.

They will not get Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, or Jimmy Butler. But how different would they look if they traded for a wing on the level of Tobias Harrisor Khris Middleton? They could dangle their first-round pick to chase someone like Taurean Prince, hoping he develops into a real 3-and-D starter with more off-the-bounce juice than Harkless or Aminu. Perhaps they could wrest Otto Porter Jr. from Washington. Throw a player like that alongside Lillard, McCollum and Collins, and Portland's future looks interesting. If Golden State breaks up, why couldn't the Blazers dream big?

Otto Porter would be absolutely ideal if he made 15 mil. At 25, he would hamstrung this payroll even more than it already is. But if you go into the lab and think of THE perfect mix of skills and size for this roster as constructed, it would be Porter at either of the forward spots. A low usage, highly efficient shooter and decent defender. Would ATL be willing to give away Prince?

 

[kjironman1]

Also interesting to read that Neil vouched for Terry along with Dame to Paul to give them one more season to run it back. Always figured that Neil-Terry relationship would be the first to fracture.

Zach didn't really get into this, but the biggest elephant in the room is how our ownership situation now will dictate the moves Neil can make.

I agree. The ownership issue is what is the biggest question mark. This team needs to make moves now and in the next year. Somebody has to step up and make some decisions and bold moves.

 

[Scalma]

Otto Porter would be absolutely ideal if he made 15 mil. At 25, he would hamstrung this payroll even more than it already is. But if you go into the lab and think of THE perfect mix of skills and size for this roster as constructed, it would be Porter at either of the forward spots. A low usage, highly efficient shooter and decent defender. Would ATL be willing to give away Prince?

I don’t see why they would. He’s young, cheap, and not in anyone’s way. Only way that would happen is if they decided they didn’t want to pay him after next season. Don’t see why they wouldn’t though?

I honestly think we should see what we have in Layman. And by that I mean expand his role. What if the guy were looking for is already on the roster? Switch roles with Aminu. Have Aminu be the guy that stands in the corner, and give his 7-8 shots a game to Layman.

 

[illmatic99]

I honestly think we should see what we have in Layman. And by that I mean expand his role. What if the guy were looking for is already on the roster? Switch roles with Aminu. Have Aminu be the guy that stands in the corner, and give his 7-8 shots a game to Layman.

How would you expand his role? I don't think they run any plays for him. Layman has looked terrific in limited minutes so far this year. Maybe just play him more?

 

[BBert]

I agree. The ownership issue is what is the biggest question mark. This team needs to make moves now and in the next year. Somebody has to step up and make some decisions and bold moves.

Paul Allen isn't walking through that door. The gravy train is over.

 

[Scalma]

How would you expand his role? I don't think they run any plays for him. Layman has looked terrific in limited minutes so far this year. Maybe just play him more?

Well, either one would work. Don’t know where the minutes would come from, but they can figure that out.

 

[Scalma]

I agree. The ownership issue is what is the biggest question mark. This team needs to make moves now and in the next year. Somebody has to step up and make some decisions and bold moves.

Allen’s death doesn’t change anything in the short term. That’s still his money. He didn’t go without something in writing about how they were to use it, or what freedoms Olshey does, or does not, have.

 

[jlprk]

3 or 4 years from now, we'll be like other teams. Some of our best players will be 2nd-round picks of Layman quality. You won't see a dozen 1st-round picks on the roster anymore.

 

[BonesJones]

Otto Porter would be absolutely ideal if he made 15 mil. At 25, he would hamstrung this payroll even more than it already is. But if you go into the lab and think of THE perfect mix of skills and size for this roster as constructed, it would be Porter at either of the forward spots. A low usage, highly efficient shooter and decent defender. Would ATL be willing to give away Prince?

How would an additional $5M in payroll stop us from acquiring a talent better than OPJ in the next three years?

 

[illmatic99]

How would an additional $5M in payroll stop us from acquiring a talent better than OPJ in the next three years?

It's not necessarily opportunity cost that I'm referring to as much as the risk. If Porter doesn't actually work, that is a bigger albatross contract than any we currently have on our roster.

 

[ripcityboy]

3 or 4 years from now, we'll be like other teams. Some of our best players will be 2nd-round picks of Layman quality. You won't see a dozen 1st-round picks on the roster anymore.

Depends on who buys the team. If we make a playoff run pretty soon, why would a potential buyer want to upset a good thing. The team has more value with good assets and a winning culture.

 

[Scalma]

It's not necessarily opportunity cost that I'm referring to as much as the risk. If Porter doesn't actually work, that is a bigger albatross contract than any we currently have on our roster.

$80m vs uhhh...a lot less.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Despite the generally positive tone of the article; they get down to the nitty-gritty:
"For all the tweaks along the margins, this is still broadly the same team, with the same flaws waiting to be exposed in the wrong playoff matchup. Big guards will bully Lillard and McCollum in slower, grimier playoff games. Nurkic struggles guarding stretchy centers, leaving Al-Farouq Aminu to jostle with Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Davis. Aminu is tireless and versatile, but inverting matchups that way mutes the impact of both him and Nurkic.

Portland gets more switchy with Collins at center -- Aminu even can play as the long big if they need to go super-small -- but there are intractable limits to the switchability of any team so reliant on two small guards. Cutesy three-guard lineups, with either Stauskas or Curry alongside the two stars, will melt defending elite offenses.

Teams ignore Portland's rangier wings -- Turner, Harkless, and Aminu -- to clog the paint and smother Lillard and McCollum. Sometimes the game is simple: Portland will survive only for as long as those guys make enough open 3s."

 

[KingSpeed]

Wowza. I fucking love that last quote!! Go get em, Lillard! We got this.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Since he mentioned Porter, here is a guy suggesting also that trade: "Putting Porter next to Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum is patently unfair. He's cut his teeth orbiting other ball-handlers, and Portland's offense has a touch more room for him to attack off the dribble. Closing games with him, Al-Farouq Aminu and Zach Collins up front should help what has been the worst crunch-time defense to date."
But, "Testing the Porter waters is something the Blazers only do if they're buying into their scorching-hot start. They're already close to $8 million over the luxury tax, and this deal tacks on another $4.2 million."
His idea for the trade is similar to what I have been thinking:

1. 
   Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Thomas Bryant, Otto Porter
   
   Washington Wizards Receive: Moe Harkless, Meyers Leonard, Anfernee Simons, 2019 first-round pick (lottery protected)
   

https://bleacherreport.com/articles...bradley-beal-otto-porter-and-john-wall#slide4

 

[Scalma]

Since he mentioned Porter, here is a guy suggesting also that trade: "Putting Porter next to Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum is patently unfair. He's cut his teeth orbiting other ball-handlers, and Portland's offense has a touch more room for him to attack off the dribble. Closing games with him, Al-Farouq Aminu and Zach Collins up front should help what has been the worst crunch-time defense to date."
But, "Testing the Porter waters is something the Blazers only do if they're buying into their scorching-hot start. They're already close to $8 million over the luxury tax, and this deal tacks on another $4.2 million."
His idea for the trade is similar to what I have been thinking:

1. 
   Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Thomas Bryant, Otto Porter
   
   Washington Wizards Receive: Moe Harkless, Meyers Leonard, Anfernee Simons, 2019 first-round pick (lottery protected)

https://bleacherreport.com/articles...bradley-beal-otto-porter-and-john-wall#slide4

 

[illmatic99]

Since he mentioned Porter, here is a guy suggesting also that trade: "Putting Porter next to Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum is patently unfair. He's cut his teeth orbiting other ball-handlers, and Portland's offense has a touch more room for him to attack off the dribble. Closing games with him, Al-Farouq Aminu and Zach Collins up front should help what has been the worst crunch-time defense to date."
But, "Testing the Porter waters is something the Blazers only do if they're buying into their scorching-hot start. They're already close to $8 million over the luxury tax, and this deal tacks on another $4.2 million."
His idea for the trade is similar to what I have been thinking:

1. 
   Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Thomas Bryant, Otto Porter
   
   Washington Wizards Receive: Moe Harkless, Meyers Leonard, Anfernee Simons, 2019 first-round pick (lottery protected)

https://bleacherreport.com/articles...bradley-beal-otto-porter-and-john-wall#slide4

Not doing Simons and a pick. One or the other. And that clutch defense stat is misleading. The sample size is 19 minutes total. We haven't been in many clutch situations this year. We were 7th with largely the same roster last season in 147 total minutes.

 

[illmatic99]

LMAO. He actually responded.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

LMAO. He actually responded.

I wonder what part he doesn't like?

 

[BonesJones]

It's not necessarily opportunity cost that I'm referring to as much as the risk. If Porter doesn't actually work, that is a bigger albatross contract than any we currently have on our roster.

Why wouldn't Porter work? He's as sure of a fit as there is. That's not much of a risk, asamd considering we'd trade $21M of middling role players, I don't see the downside.

 

[e_blazer]

I wonder what part he doesn't like?

Probably this part:

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/porteot01.html

Decent player, but only a bit over average in terms of PER over his career at 15.5, and down to 13.8 this year. Is he worth an asking price of Moe, Meyers, Simons, and a first round pick? Even the Meyers haters should have to pause a minute about losing Simons' potential plus another first rounder. I agree with ET.

 

[BonesJones]

View attachment 23387

$80m vs uhhh...a lot less.

So lets ignore their whole body of work the past two seasons and focus on a small sample size with Porter battling against his own teams dysfunction and Layman shooting only 67 shots...

 

[PCmor7]

"One of the best leaders in sports."

This is precisely why I believe we can take on a 'troubled' player who could use a change of scenery.

Certainly depends what kind of "troubled," but I really thought DeMarcus Cousins could have flourished with Dame as a big brother here.

 

[Natebishop3]

Why wouldn't Porter work? He's as sure of a fit as there is. That's not much of a risk, asamd considering we'd trade $21M of middling role players, I don't see the downside.

I mean we're paying CJ max money to be a middling SG.

 

[PCmor7]

I always say not to fall in love with your own players, but I think Simons' upside is so intriguing that I wouldn't give him up unless you are talking a deal bringing back an all-star small forward.

Throw in a first for Otto Porter?

Ugh. No way.

 

[Scalma]

So lets ignore their whole body of work the past two seasons and focus on a small sample size with Porter battling against his own teams dysfunction and Layman shooting only 67 shots...

You could compare Porters best season with Layman this season and it still wouldn’t convince me he’s that big of an upgrade.



The conclusion I come to is that I’d rather see how Layman reacts to more touches rather than drop $80M or whatever on someone that may just be a glorified version of what we already have.