Ben Mclemore to Blazers

[Case2012]

"Look, the reality is Portland is not a free agent destination. We identified a group of cast off former lottery picks and narrowed them down to the most optimal traits we've been successful with in the past, tall and injured, and short with zero defense.

Listen, ultimately, free agents just don't come to Portland. No one likes it here. I don't like it here. Jody doesn't like it here. In fact we ******* hate this city and it's residents, which is why we plan to sell the team to a group of hedge fund managers in Seattle asap. **** You all."

*Chugs water bottle, glass tube lowers from ceiling encasing olshey. Sealed Room full of reporters rapidly fills with water. Hundreds of Piranha are released. Olshey smirks and quietly whispers, " but that's proprietary information..."

[zzaj]

Meh. Pretty lousy signing even for the minimum. He does nothing well as a Guard. He better not be getting 15+ minutes a night...he'll quickly be next seasons leader of the cringe squad.

[red_power]

Well this is the kind of dude you have to have in order to survive 82 games season. He's a really great shooter and could give you some serviceable stretches most of the night.

It's simply unfair to demand more from a perennial minimum salary NBA journeyman.

[BlazersBroncos]

Again, I hate NO but this is a rounding the deep bench type move. It will be 1 year, VM and having a competent shooter with years of experience off the bench isnt a bad thing. Calm down people.

Between the contract breakdown of Powell, the great steal of Cody at the VM and this nice little move, we have been doing well on the medium-to-small moves we needed to make. The big thing is CJ, its always been CJ and unless we can find a way to add DDR using side parts (DJJ, ZC S&T, Simons, all of them?) it will continue to be CJ.

But NO is doing well on the smaller moves right now.

[Pattycakes]

Again, I hate NO but this is a rounding the deep bench type move. It will be 1 year, VM and having a competent shooter with years of experience off the bench isnt a bad thing. Calm down people.

Between the contract breakdown of Powell, the great steal of Cody at the VM and this nice little move, we have been doing well on the medium-to-small moves we needed to make. The big thing is CJ, its always been CJ and unless we can find a way to add DDR using side parts (DJJ, ZC S&T, Simons, all of them?) it will continue to be CJ.

But NO is doing well on the smaller moves right now.

Everyone’s just freaking out for the sake of it. Running it back with a new coaching staff and a few more vets is what this team actually needed, but the folks want a 13 year old behind an nba 2k franchise type of offseason.. and that’s why I’m happy we’re just anonymous opinions on a page that has its good moments and bad. Bringing back Norm was the best thing we could do (he’s going to be a fantastic fit long term) at this point we’re just rounding things out.

[JasonStern]

He's another former high pick from the Kings (7th) in the 2013 draft. Isn't amazing how many lottery picks the Kings have missed on?

Thomas Robinson, Skal Labissière, and now Ben McLemore. Sacramento whiffing in the draft is Olshey's fallback plan.

[BlazersBroncos]

Again, I hate NO but this is a rounding the deep bench type move. It will be 1 year, VM and having a competent shooter with years of experience off the bench isnt a bad thing. Calm down people.

Between the contract breakdown of Powell, the great steal of Cody at the VM and this nice little move, we have been doing well on the medium-to-small moves we needed to make. The big thing is CJ, its always been CJ and unless we can find a way to add DDR using side parts (DJJ, ZC S&T, Simons, all of them?) it will continue to be CJ.

But NO is doing well on the smaller moves right now.

Everyone’s just freaking out for the sake of it. Running it back with a new coaching staff and a few more vets is what this team actually needed, but the folks want a 13 year old behind an nba 2k franchise type of offseason.. and that’s why I’m happy we’re just anonymous opinions on a page that has its good moments and bad. Bringing back Norm was the best thing we could do (he’s going to be a fantastic fit long term) at this point we’re just rounding things out.

I mean, I still wnt a big change (Either a CJ trade or finding a way to get DDR via S&T). I am saying these are nice roster rounding moves. But running it back with basically the same team + Ben/Zeller is a totally underwhelming offseason. A 'prepare to see Dame leave in 2022' level underwhelming offseason.

But these are the moves I expected that ideally set us up for a bigger one.

[Norm2953]

He's another former high pick from the Kings (7th) in the 2013 draft. Isn't amazing how many lottery picks the Kings have missed on?

Thomas Robinson, Skal Labissière, and now Ben McLemore. Sacramento whiffing in the draft is Olshey's fallback plan.

Their are perhaps some reasons why the Kings were amongst the 5 teams that wanted to trade for Dame. They would
be better off giving all their picks in the next four drafts to get a superstar for its likely Bagley will be joining that list
this summer.

[Soulyss]

Ben will likely play the sit in a corner shooter role for the bench 10 minutes a night. There are lots of minutes to replace with Melo, Hood being gone and DJJ being mostly unplayable.

[Blazers98]

Not a bad signing.
Thus far our second unit looks pretty weak with scoring with Melo leaving and Kantor possibly on the way out.
I think Mclemore and Simmons will have to step up their scoring game off the bench.

[monopoman]

Again, I hate NO but this is a rounding the deep bench type move. It will be 1 year, VM and having a competent shooter with years of experience off the bench isnt a bad thing. Calm down people.

Between the contract breakdown of Powell, the great steal of Cody at the VM and this nice little move, we have been doing well on the medium-to-small moves we needed to make. The big thing is CJ, its always been CJ and unless we can find a way to add DDR using side parts (DJJ, ZC S&T, Simons, all of them?) it will continue to be CJ.

But NO is doing well on the smaller moves right now.

I mean re-signing Powell was far more important before we decide to move CJ. This is the most ideal time to trade CJ we have ever had, and I have a feeling it will happen.

I still have a short list of who I would trade him for I think far too many Blazer fans feel that getting rid of CJ is a net positive no matter what, which is insane.

[durantbird]

Did they get him at the Thrift Shop?

[Beteo]

Again, I hate NO but this is a rounding the deep bench type move. It will be 1 year, VM and having a competent shooter with years of experience off the bench isnt a bad thing. Calm down people.

Between the contract breakdown of Powell, the great steal of Cody at the VM and this nice little move, we have been doing well on the medium-to-small moves we needed to make. The big thing is CJ, its always been CJ and unless we can find a way to add DDR using side parts (DJJ, ZC S&T, Simons, all of them?) it will continue to be CJ.

But NO is doing well on the smaller moves right now.

I mean re-signing Powell was far more important before we decide to move CJ. This is the most ideal time to trade CJ we have ever had, and I have a feeling it will happen.

I still have a short list of who I would trade him for I think far too many Blazer fans feel that getting rid of CJ is a net positive no matter what, which is insane.

Absolutely agree. I do not have the feeling that he can help us to improve but we may get a player which much better fit to the team.

[Wizenheimer]

Another 6'3" guard... Who coulda guessed?

Seriously, at this point, it feels like Olshey is just trolling us.

That’s just a mere detail, this is a great pickup

I was told the same thing about Hezonja, Tolliver, and DJJ

[BlazersBroncos]

Another 6'3" guard... Who coulda guessed?

Seriously, at this point, it feels like Olshey is just trolling us.

That’s just a mere detail, this is a great pickup

I was told the same thing about Hezonja, Tolliver, and DJJ

Certainly isnt a great pickup, but assuming he is seen as the 3rd SG (And depth insurance should CJ be moved), its a vet min deal that makes sense.

Mario and DJJ were penciled in as rotation guys when signed, I dont think this falls in that box.

I do question why we allowed RHJ to go. I guess we are too busy waiting for Little and Brown to eventually develop into what RHJ already is?

[whatchaknow]

That’s just a mere detail, this is a great pickup

I was told the same thing about Hezonja, Tolliver, and DJJ

Certainly isnt a great pickup, but assuming he is seen as the 3rd SG (And depth insurance should CJ be moved), its a vet min deal that makes sense.

Mario and DJJ were penciled in as rotation guys when signed, I dont think this falls in that box.

I do question why we allowed RHJ to go. I guess we are too busy waiting for Little and Brown to eventually develop into what RHJ already is?

That’s all fine and good but if Ben is not seen as a rotation player we have essentially signed 1 rotation player this offseason that wasn’t in the rotation last year and are losing 2. Kanter to zeller seems pretty lateral and the internal options replacing melo is pretty lateral unless Nasir little makes a big jump. So from the roster that dame and most sane people saw as not good enough is still not good enough. None of us want to move dame but at this point it seems the only way to get closer to a championship is to actually take a major major step back by dealing our mvp candidate. I want to win a championship with lillard on the roster but with olshey and the way he thinks and feels a roster should be built, this is impossible. I mean we’re a fringe playoff team as other teams are stepping up we are content with mediocrity

[BlazersBroncos]

I was told the same thing about Hezonja, Tolliver, and DJJ

Certainly isnt a great pickup, but assuming he is seen as the 3rd SG (And depth insurance should CJ be moved), its a vet min deal that makes sense.

Mario and DJJ were penciled in as rotation guys when signed, I dont think this falls in that box.

I do question why we allowed RHJ to go. I guess we are too busy waiting for Little and Brown to eventually develop into what RHJ already is?

That’s all fine and good but if Ben is not seen as a rotation player we have essentially signed 1 rotation player this offseason that wasn’t in the rotation last year and are losing 2. Kanter to zeller seems pretty lateral and the internal options replacing melo is pretty lateral unless Nasir little makes a big jump. So from the roster that dame and most sane people saw as not good enough is still not good enough. None of us want to move dame but at this point it seems the only way to get closer to a championship is to actually take a major major step back by dealing our mvp candidate. I want to win a championship with lillard on the roster but with olshey and the way he thinks and feels a roster should be built, this is impossible. I mean we’re a fringe playoff team as other teams are stepping up we are content with mediocrity

Not denying that. But the avenues to improvement for this team have always been via trade.

I am confused on which FA singings people think we missed out on. Did people really think Batum would chose PDX over LAC, GSW, LAL, etc? Who else did we wiff on? The 'quality F on a MLE deal' market was basically nonexistent this offseason (As it usually is). We were never going to sign anyone who moves the needle.

[Village Idiot]

Read on Twitter

Two words. Klutch Sports

Who is Ben Simmons' agent? Klutch Sports

I have to wonder how much this is about Olshey trying to ingratiate himself with Rich Paul to try to get Simmons to Portland.

Neil is saying let's get Ben Simmons to Portland. I'll do your guy Mclemore good and once we get Ben to Portland we have this nice extension for Nurk ready to sign.

Terrence Ross is another Klutch guy BTW. DJJ and Little for Ross. Get it done Neil

[DusterBuster]

Another 6'3" guard... Who coulda guessed?

Seriously, at this point, it feels like Olshey is just trolling us.

That’s just a mere detail, this is a great pickup

I was told the same thing about Hezonja, Tolliver, and DJJ

To be fair, Tolliver was still a couple years away from AARP benefits and shot in the high 30% from 3 back in 1987, soooo definitely a value signing.

[ebott]

I'll be shocked if he plays a significant role. My hope would be he takes some of Anfernee Simons minutes, but even that seems like a stretch. It's infuriating that they'd pick up another shooting guard that doesn't play defence. This team needs a defensive point guard is the worst way.