2019 Offseason, June 30th 3PM PT.

[Roy The Natural]

If Nurkic comes back healthy in Feb I'd gladly flip Whiteside and Bazemore for Gallinari and Love at the deadline. I'd feel a lot better about our depth chart afterwards especially if we can sign a vet C and PG to fill out our rotation.


Dame/Vet PG/Simons
McCollum/Hood/Trent Jr
Gallinari/Hezonja/Little
Love/Tolliver/Labissiere
Nurkic/Collins/Vet C

I don't think a contending team can have Nurkic and Love on the floor at the same time. The defensive issues are numerous for that pairing, and that's without even accounting for the weak defense of Portlands guards. Therefore I don't want Love.

[Village Idiot]

Hezonja is terrible, like truly bad, not a NBA player

This is probably true, but I think he has some potential still. Never played for a stable organization with this type of culture and leaders. I wouldnt be suprised if he could develop into a scoring, agressive small ball PF. Dont see starter / star potential this late in his development, but as a scorer he could be a nice compliment Zach.

I really like Trent, and Simons seems to be talented but you guys need another PG and PF/C for sure

I am fine with going into the seasons with Simons as our only backup PG. But PF/C is a huge need, and we dont even need a 3rd stringer, but someone who can actually play minutes. There are plenty of cheap guys out there that could run 12-15mpg at backup Center; Kosta Koufos, Ekpe Udoh, Amir Johnson, Zaza, Tyson Chandler, Joakim Noah, Cheick Diallo, Faried, etc.

Notably Joakim would be a great option as Stotts likes to play high post passing bball at times. After him, I lean Faried because he still brings enegry and rebounding, albeit he isnt a good defender. Diallo is the youngest with the most potential, but I prefer a vet since we are heavy on youth.

Regardless, I think the rotation will be:

PG - Damian Lillard / Anfernee Simons
SG - CJ McCollum / Rodney Hood / Gary Trent Jr
SF - Kent Bazemore / Rodney Hood / Nassir Little
PF - Zach Collins / Mario Herzonja / Anthony Tolliver
C - Hassan Whiteside / Vet Fa / Skal Labassiere

I have more trust in Mario as a rotation guy than Skal. Just dont see that much potential in Labassiere. He is sorta a Channing Frye type but much worse at shooting.

Really with we signed Tacko Fall.

Did you watch Tacko last night? Hard to not see him making an impact in a Boban kind of way...I still think Alexander-Walker might end up being the best player in this draft.

As for the rotation...Coaches generally go with team senority, and Stotts hasn't really been an exception. It would surprise me a little bit if Hood doesn't get the start over Bazemore.

If they can get them, Jeremy Lin and Joakim Noah would round out the roster nicely in case of injuries, IMO.

Noah and Lin would be my dream scenario as well.

I too think Hezonja can still be an NBA rotation player. His end of year production for the Knicks was certainly intriguing.

Labissiere is the guy I have kind of lost faith in. He seems to be a tad slow in everything he does. His 3pt shooting isn't that bad. Career 37.5% 3pt in 115 games, including 42 starts is decent, especially for a big. Hopefully the coaching staff can help him improve but I just don't see the passion in his game.

[Jsun947]

If Nurkic comes back healthy in Feb I'd gladly flip Whiteside and Bazemore for Gallinari and Love at the deadline. I'd feel a lot better about our depth chart afterwards especially if we can sign a vet C and PG to fill out our rotation.


Dame/Vet PG/Simons
McCollum/Hood/Trent Jr
Gallinari/Hezonja/Little
Love/Tolliver/Labissiere
Nurkic/Collins/Vet C

I don't think a contending team can have Nurkic and Love on the floor at the same time. The defensive issues are numerous for that pairing, and that's without even accounting for the weak defense of Portlands guards. Therefore I don't want Love.

If someone wants to explain to me how we're going to get star defensive players at SF and PF that can both keep the offense moving and make up for Dame & CJ I'm all ears. Until then I've given up on that idea and I think our best chance is just be a monster offensive and rebounding team.

[Roy The Natural]

If Nurkic comes back healthy in Feb I'd gladly flip Whiteside and Bazemore for Gallinari and Love at the deadline. I'd feel a lot better about our depth chart afterwards especially if we can sign a vet C and PG to fill out our rotation.


Dame/Vet PG/Simons
McCollum/Hood/Trent Jr
Gallinari/Hezonja/Little
Love/Tolliver/Labissiere
Nurkic/Collins/Vet C

I don't think a contending team can have Nurkic and Love on the floor at the same time. The defensive issues are numerous for that pairing, and that's without even accounting for the weak defense of Portlands guards. Therefore I don't want Love.

If someone wants to explain to me how we're going to get star defensive players at SF and PF that can both keep the offense moving and make up for Dame & CJ I'm all ears. Until then I've given up on that idea and I think our best chance is just be a monster offensive and rebounding team.

Don't need defensive stars. Just need guys who can defend and hit open 3s. 2-way players. Love is basically a bad 5 moving forward. Every year he inches closer to Ryan Anderson territory.

[Jsun947]

I don't think a contending team can have Nurkic and Love on the floor at the same time. The defensive issues are numerous for that pairing, and that's without even accounting for the weak defense of Portlands guards. Therefore I don't want Love.

If someone wants to explain to me how we're going to get star defensive players at SF and PF that can both keep the offense moving and make up for Dame & CJ I'm all ears. Until then I've given up on that idea and I think our best chance is just be a monster offensive and rebounding team.

Don't need defensive stars. Just need guys who can defend and hit open 3s. 2-way players. Love is basically a bad 5 moving forward. Every year he inches closer to Ryan Anderson territory.

Hmmmmm Ryan Anderson is a free agent.... Love's defense isn't as bad as people make it out to be. Not that hes good or anything but he's an ok team defender.

[HoopsFanAZ]

To put the rotation in a different framework, here's a list of players for the rotation from most to least minutes:

Starter minutes (30+) -- Lillard, McCollum, Hood (SG/SF), Bazemore (SG/SF), Collins, Whiteside (approximately 190 of 240 minutes)
Backup minutes (20 or fewer) -- Simons, Tolliver, Hezonja, Labissiere (minutes at PG, PF, C)

Scrapping for minutes: Little, Trent
In a suit: Nurkic

Two open spots (eventually) filled by players who we hope can take minutes from those getting backup minutes.

[Roy The Natural]

If someone wants to explain to me how we're going to get star defensive players at SF and PF that can both keep the offense moving and make up for Dame & CJ I'm all ears. Until then I've given up on that idea and I think our best chance is just be a monster offensive and rebounding team.

Don't need defensive stars. Just need guys who can defend and hit open 3s. 2-way players. Love is basically a bad 5 moving forward. Every year he inches closer to Ryan Anderson territory.

Hmmmmm Ryan Anderson is a free agent.... Love's defense isn't as bad as people make it out to be. Not that hes good or anything but he's an ok team defender.

His offense hasn't been great as of late either. 38% Frome the field last year with bad defense isn't something I want on the team.

[BlazersBroncos]

Don't need defensive stars. Just need guys who can defend and hit open 3s. 2-way players. Love is basically a bad 5 moving forward. Every year he inches closer to Ryan Anderson territory.

Yep, he is going to be a small ball Center as he ages. I like his 3PT spacing and really think we could use his rebounding with such poor options outside Whiteside and Nurkic, but he just isn't worth that contract.

Gallo is a much better fit for this team. We need a reliable 3rd ballhandler, and he gives us just that. We also really could use another guy that can draw fouls, and he can do that. He is a good-to-great 3PT shooter as well. His defense is 'meh' at best but I take that all day over Love. I seriously think he would improve this team quite a bit more than Love.

Ideally Whiteside balls out and Nurkic comes back early, then we swing a 3-way deal for Gallo using Whiteside. We would need to get a backup C in said deal too IMO.

I also think there could be a chance that SAS takes a straight up Hassan for LMA deal at the deadline if Whiteside is playing well and SAS wants to clear 2020 cap while remaining relevant in the PO race.

[PDXKnight]

Don't need defensive stars. Just need guys who can defend and hit open 3s. 2-way players. Love is basically a bad 5 moving forward. Every year he inches closer to Ryan Anderson territory.

Yep, he is going to be a small ball Center as he ages. I like his 3PT spacing and really think we could use his rebounding with such poor options outside Whiteside and Nurkic, but he just isn't worth that contract.

Gallo is a much better fit for this team. We need a reliable 3rd ballhandler, and he gives us just that. We also really could use another guy that can draw fouls, and he can do that. He is a good-to-great 3PT shooter as well. His defense is 'meh' at best but I take that all day over Love. I seriously think he would improve this team quite a bit more than Love.

Ideally Whiteside balls out and Nurkic comes back early, then we swing a 3-way deal for Gallo using Whiteside. We would need to get a backup C in said deal too IMO.

I also think there could be a chance that SAS takes a straight up Hassan for LMA deal at the deadline if Whiteside is playing well and SAS wants to clear 2020 cap while remaining relevant in the PO race.

I think if we do lama for whiteside sa demands little, anfernee or Z-Co be added In depending on who they’re the highest on

[Goldbum]

Trey Lyles?

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Livingston would be a nice veteran to have off the bench. Steady hand with tons of "been there" experience.

[Jsun947]

Don't need defensive stars. Just need guys who can defend and hit open 3s. 2-way players. Love is basically a bad 5 moving forward. Every year he inches closer to Ryan Anderson territory.

Yep, he is going to be a small ball Center as he ages. I like his 3PT spacing and really think we could use his rebounding with such poor options outside Whiteside and Nurkic, but he just isn't worth that contract.

Gallo is a much better fit for this team. We need a reliable 3rd ballhandler, and he gives us just that. We also really could use another guy that can draw fouls, and he can do that. He is a good-to-great 3PT shooter as well. His defense is 'meh' at best but I take that all day over Love. I seriously think he would improve this team quite a bit more than Love.

Ideally Whiteside balls out and Nurkic comes back early, then we swing a 3-way deal for Gallo using Whiteside. We would need to get a backup C in said deal too IMO.

I also think there could be a chance that SAS takes a straight up Hassan for LMA deal at the deadline if Whiteside is playing well and SAS wants to clear 2020 cap while remaining relevant in the PO race.

There does seem to have been a lot of conversations about Aldridge returning to Portland at some point. I think there is a possibility that San Antonio is in the 8th spot, knowing DeRozan is going to opt out, and they blow it up to rebuild. In that scenario Whiteside for Aldridge makes a lot of sense.

Then there's Otto Porter who Portland has been interested in the past. If he's not enjoying his time in Chicago we could trade Bazemore for him and be a team where if he agrees to opt out we sign him for something like 4 years $69 mil and in theory still stay below the luxury tax in 2020.


I think we'll see a lot of rumors this year about Love, Aldridge, Gallinari, Porter, and Griffin, all of which could make sense in Portland.

[Sinobas]

Kevin Love's salary will be murder in terms of the luxury tax, with Dame getting the supermax and CJ getting the max. I really don't think the Blazers would be willing to take that on.

[PDXKnight]

Kevin Love's salary will be murder in terms of the luxury tax, with Dame getting the supermax and CJ getting the max. I really don't think the Blazers would be willing to take that on.

I think they might if they are sending out whiteside

[DeBlazerRiddem]

You just don't win with bigs who don't play defense. Maybe if you have a LeBron to carry the team.

I want nothing to do with Kevin Love on this team.

[Norm2953]

Portland would be stupid to not take the time and see how Whiteside fits on this team while
Nurk is out. If the guy goes out in a contract year and is dominant, they have a very
desireable expiring contract and have a nice problem with a returning Nurk on a very
nice deal.

[BlazersBroncos]

Portland would be stupid to not take the time and see how Whiteside fits on this team while
Nurk is out. If the guy goes out in a contract year and is dominant, they have a very
desireable expiring contract and have a nice problem with a returning Nurk on a very
nice deal.

Yep. There is a good chance we have a 18/12/2.5 expiring Center at the trade deadline to dangle around for a star. That's a great situation to be in. Add a couple R1 picks and we could be in really good shape.

Love isn't a guy worth going 'all in' for in terms of salary, but if Blake becomes available and a 3rd team wants Whiteside for a playoff push, we could have a nice package to offer.

[quote
I think if we do lama for whiteside sa demands little, anfernee or Z-Co be added In depending on who they’re the highest on][/quote]

I don't view Little as anywhere near to the value as Ant or Zach so adding him would be acceptable for me. But I wouldn't come close to putting Ant or Zach on the table for LMA.

[PDXKnight]

I wonder if cj will sign an extension. He seems like he’d be less loyal than Lillard but I’m sure if olshey threw major money at him he’d think about it.

Honestly I think some team will offer cj max money whether he’s worth it or not

[Village Idiot]

I don't get the fascination with Gallinari, especially if it means giving up Bazemore or Whiteside. Sure he's skilled and can score but he is also slow, laid back and old. We have a guy with a fairly similar skillset but with a heck of a lot more athleticism in Hezonja. If he can finally put it together for a whole season he could be a lot more valuable to us long-term.

[d-train]

I don't get the fascination with Gallinari, especially if it means giving up Bazemore or Whiteside. Sure he's skilled and can score but he is also slow, laid back and old. We have a guy with a fairly similar skillset but with a heck of a lot more athleticism in Hezonja. If he can finally put it together for a whole season he could be a lot more valuable to us long-term.

I agree about Gallo's athleticism. He's not a good athlete by NBA standards at any position. Love is a better athlete than Gallo. My concern about Love is his competitiveness. I question if he is the competitor we need to battle Joker, Green, and Millsap.