We don't have a plan (and it is pretty obvious)

[JasonStern]

That doesn't change the fact that these are very likely situations the team is dealing with this summer

Other than maybe the 76ers who overvalue Simmons and could see a Dame/Simmons trade, what team do you believe is not accepting a realistic trade that benefits both sides because of Damian Lillard trade speculation?

The Blazers aren't playing from a position of power. But they also aren't playing from a position of weakness. Maybe the Dame uncertainty affected free agency signings, but even that is questionable as Powell came back, the Blazers are dangerously close to the luxury tax threshold, and the only signings they have made have been veteran minimum contracts.

I like Jason Quick and all, but if Olshey says to push an agenda, he kind of has to or risk losing access to the team. And the idea that - gosh, darn it! We were this close to making a big move for the first time in Olshey's tenure, but uncertainty about Dame's future in Portland caused the trade to fall apart reeks of someone making excuses to cover their ---.

CJ is overpaid and is a win-now piece that doesn't have much value to any team attempting a rebuild.

Totally true. Rebuilding teams should stay away from CJ. However, there are some teams who are at the beginning of their climb, and they might be enticed to give up significant value in return. And, there are teams who feel they underachieved last season, and these teams may also be enticed to give significant value in return.

I'm not saying CJ isn't positive value. 20+ppg fringe all-star players, even when overpaid, aren't as common as RealGM makes you believe. But CJ has his flaws. And if you can't route him to a rebuilding team, the best you can realistically expect is routing him to another win-now team. But if you're doing that, you risk the other win-now team cutting Portland out if Portland is getting the best player in the deal. That's why the CJ for Tobias Harris trade gets thrown around so much. Both are talented but flawed players on large contracts whose skillsets could potentially benefit the other team.

[BNM]

Do you think we have a plan?
Do you think we don't have a plan?
Do you like that plan or not plan?
If the plan we have is the plan you like, why?
If we don't have a plan and this is the plan you like, why?

Your entire post is based on implicit bias, baseless speculation, incorrect facts and blatant hyperbole. Its really just you publicly venting your displeasure. Not really worth responding to your "plan" questions. The fact is neither you, nor I, know what POR's plan is. We aren't involved in those discussions and Neil Olshey is known for keeping things under wraps until something actually happens.

He fired Kim Hughes for leaking Aldridge to San Antonio. Not a blip about the Nurk trade until after it happened, same with the Covington trade and basically every other trade and free agent signing that has happened under Olshey's watch.

I don't have a clue what his plan is, and neither do you. The difference is I don't feel the need to start a thread about things I know nothing about.

[Blazer77]

Do you think we have a plan?
Do you think we don't have a plan?
Do you like that plan or not plan?
If the plan we have is the plan you like, why?
If we don't have a plan and this is the plan you like, why?

Your entire post is based on implicit bias, baseless speculation, incorrect facts and blatant hyperbole. Its really just you publicly venting your displeasure. Not really worth responding to your "plan" questions. The fact is neither you, nor I, know what POR's plan is. We aren't involved in those discussions and Neil Olshey is known for keeping things under wraps until something actually happens.

He fired Kim Hughes for leaking Aldridge to San Antonio. Not a blip about the Nurk trade until after it happened, same with the Covington trade and basically every other trade and free agent signing that has happened under Olshey's watch.

I don't have a clue what his plan is, and neither do you. The difference is I don't feel the need to start a thread about things I know nothing about.

I agree with everything you said, save your righteous hubris (best evidence not only in this reply but also in your reply to HoopsFanAZ where you reinforce how

"I (sic) really love the 3-team trade I proposed in the CJ Trade thread that would get us back Siakam and Boucher, while keeping Nurk. I love the 3-man rotation up front, as Boucher can back up both the 4 (next to Nurk) and 5 (next to Siakam) spots. But that's my pipe dream."

It would seem your pipe dreams are allowable, however speculative they are, and that your "don't have a clue" is more acceptable than my "don't have a clue." And like me, you probably love your own ideas.

This entire forum has always been built upon rampant speculation, and none of us "know the mind" of management. The difference between you and me on this post is that your focus is on attacking alliteration, honest errors of omission, and not a substantive analysis of the game. If you're looking for a literary board to pick a fight on, you should probably spend your time energy, and effort there.

This forum is reserved for exactly the subject matter posted here; speculation from passionate fans who want to explore a shared community of ideas regard the fanaticism of their team.

If you don't see a reason to reply, then don't. My questions to you are genuine. You seem to share a passion for the same franchise I do. You seem to be speculating on the best path for individual personnel, fit of players on other teams. Answer the questions or don't but you don't need to be indignant, or obtuse toward me about it.

[Blazer77]

That doesn't change the fact that these are very likely situations the team is dealing with this summer

Other than maybe the 76ers who overvalue Simmons and could see a Dame/Simmons trade, what team do you believe is not accepting a realistic trade that benefits both sides because of Damian Lillard trade speculation?

The Blazers aren't playing from a position of power. But they also aren't playing from a position of weakness. Maybe the Dame uncertainty affected free agency signings, but even that is questionable as Powell came back, the Blazers are dangerously close to the luxury tax threshold, and the only signings they have made have been veteran minimum contracts.

I like Jason Quick and all, but if Olshey says to push an agenda, he kind of has to or risk losing access to the team. And the idea that - gosh, darn it! We were this close to making a big move for the first time in Olshey's tenure, but uncertainty about Dame's future in Portland caused the trade to fall apart reeks of someone making excuses to cover their ---.

CJ is overpaid and is a win-now piece that doesn't have much value to any team attempting a rebuild.

Totally true. Rebuilding teams should stay away from CJ. However, there are some teams who are at the beginning of their climb, and they might be enticed to give up significant value in return. And, there are teams who feel they underachieved last season, and these teams may also be enticed to give significant value in return.

I'm not saying CJ isn't positive value. 20+ppg fringe all-star players, even when overpaid, aren't as common as RealGM makes you believe. But CJ has his flaws. And if you can't route him to a rebuilding team, the best you can realistically expect is routing him to another win-now team. But if you're doing that, you risk the other win-now team cutting Portland out if Portland is getting the best player in the deal. That's why the CJ for Tobias Harris trade gets thrown around so much. Both are talented but flawed players on large contracts whose skillsets could potentially benefit the other team.

I've always struggled with Tobias Harris. I feel like the idea of Tobias Harris is better than actual Tobias Harris. It seems like he lives in the land of potential. One of those "young" players who one day you turn around and realize that this is all they'll be. I think the appeal of CJ is that because he's often duplicative of Lillard, there's an appeal to how his game might expand away from Lillard. CJ, to me, has a strong potential to get 25+ ppg on a win-now team, simply because he could (emphasis here on could) get more touches and higher usage.

It's a tough one. It's easy for me to say the type of player I want in return, but ultimately that player has to have a name. Theoretically, I'd love to move him for a PF who can defend both spots (totally Siakam in my head), but that's a shortlist. And my biased opinion slots CJ's value as equivalent to Simmons (who I'd like to see utilized as a PF). In my head a deal centered around CJ for Simmons is a win-win. . .but I don't think that's near the reality.

One thing that gives me hope that a trade is possible (again emphasis on possible and not likely) is retaining Powell. He seems like a really good fit next to Dame in the backcourt. And that point we can seek out an asset (or maybe two) that could make things interesting.

I just wish I wasn't so underwhelmed by the Billups hire.

[Pattycakes]

After game one when it’s clear Chauncey was the right choice, we have O/D balance, Nurk looks good and we are “mysteriously” cohesive - I will be back.

[BlazersBroncos]

That doesn't change the fact that these are very likely situations the team is dealing with this summer

Other than maybe the 76ers who overvalue Simmons and could see a Dame/Simmons trade, what team do you believe is not accepting a realistic trade that benefits both sides because of Damian Lillard trade speculation?

The Blazers aren't playing from a position of power. But they also aren't playing from a position of weakness. Maybe the Dame uncertainty affected free agency signings, but even that is questionable as Powell came back, the Blazers are dangerously close to the luxury tax threshold, and the only signings they have made have been veteran minimum contracts.

I like Jason Quick and all, but if Olshey says to push an agenda, he kind of has to or risk losing access to the team. And the idea that - gosh, darn it! We were this close to making a big move for the first time in Olshey's tenure, but uncertainty about Dame's future in Portland caused the trade to fall apart reeks of someone making excuses to cover their ---.

Totally true. Rebuilding teams should stay away from CJ. However, there are some teams who are at the beginning of their climb, and they might be enticed to give up significant value in return. And, there are teams who feel they underachieved last season, and these teams may also be enticed to give significant value in return.

I'm not saying CJ isn't positive value. 20+ppg fringe all-star players, even when overpaid, aren't as common as RealGM makes you believe. But CJ has his flaws. And if you can't route him to a rebuilding team, the best you can realistically expect is routing him to another win-now team. But if you're doing that, you risk the other win-now team cutting Portland out if Portland is getting the best player in the deal. That's why the CJ for Tobias Harris trade gets thrown around so much. Both are talented but flawed players on large contracts whose skillsets could potentially benefit the other team.

I've always struggled with Tobias Harris. I feel like the idea of Tobias Harris is better than actual Tobias Harris. It seems like he lives in the land of potential. One of those "young" players who one day you turn around and realize that this is all they'll be. I think the appeal of CJ is that because he's often duplicative of Lillard, there's an appeal to how his game might expand away from Lillard. CJ, to me, has a strong potential to get 25+ ppg on a win-now team, simply because he could (emphasis here on could) get more touches and higher usage.

It's a tough one. It's easy for me to say the type of player I want in return, but ultimately that player has to have a name. Theoretically, I'd love to move him for a PF who can defend both spots (totally Siakam in my head), but that's a shortlist. And my biased opinion slots CJ's value as equivalent to Simmons (who I'd like to see utilized as a PF). In my head a deal centered around CJ for Simmons is a win-win. . .but I don't think that's near the reality.

One thing that gives me hope that a trade is possible (again emphasis on possible and not likely) is retaining Powell. He seems like a really good fit next to Dame in the backcourt. And that point we can seek out an asset (or maybe two) that could make things interesting.

I just wish I wasn't so underwhelmed by the Billups hire.

Tobias Harris 20/21 29YO
PER 20.0
TS .597
3PTar .225
FTr .221
AST% 17.6
USG 23.9
OWS 4.1 DWS 3.1 WS 7.1
WS48 .170
OBPM 2.8 DBPM 0.5 BPM 3.4
VORP 2.7
On/Off +4.0

Ben Simmons 20/21 25YO
PER 18.2
TS .584
3PTar .017
FTr .492
AST% 31.3
USG 20.2
OWS 2.7 DWS 3.3 WS 6.0
WS48 .153
OBPM 0.8 DBPM 1.9 BPM 2.7
VORP 2.2
On/Off +6.2

Pascal Siakiam 20/21 27YO
PER 17.7
TS .547
3PTar .256
FTr .313
AST% 20.5
USG 26.3
OWS 2.3 DWS 2.0 WS 4.2
WS48 .101
OBPM 0.8 DBPM -0.4 BPM 0.4
VORP 1.2
On/Off +8.6

I know advanced stats are not everything, and this doesnt really address contract, but its hard to convince me the difference between Tobias and Ben/Pascal is worth numerous FRP's (Which, again, it absolutely would take). Not only that, but we likely, IMO, could get an additional asset in a CJ/Harris swap.

Harris gets a bad wrap, but he is absolutely a high-to-middle tier #3 option. I think neither Pascal or Ben are middle tier #2's, and Simmons skillset is so odd that its hard to argue where the hell he would fit in an 'option' pecking order.

IDK, I think literally the body type of Pascal as a skinny, twitchy looking jumbo forward gets him overrated in comparison to the almost pudgy Tobias, but the playing level on court just isnt that far apart.

These are the best options we have in a CJ swap, and none of them vaults us into contention. Get the cheapest one, keep the picks and give us some false hope. And if the stars align (As they sorta did this PO w/ all the superstar injuries) we would have a punchers chance to make some PO noise. Then again, the stars aligning two POs in a row is very unlikely. But Harris is 100% the best value while keeping the future in play.

[Wizenheimer]

I think CJ for Tobias Harris would move the needle a bit, maybe even quite a bit, but it wouldn't make Portland a contender. There would have to other move(s)

IMO: Dame-Powell-RoCo-Harris-Nurkic is better than Dame-CJ-Powell-RoCo-Nurkic

but it's true that the Blazers would still be in the situation of paying all-star money to a non-all-star, which in turn, limits flexibility

however, there seems to be a lot of rumors that Philly has no interest in CJ. No wonder because CJ had a worse playoffs than Simmons, stat-wise

[red_power]

In fact, Harris' contract is even worse than CJ's, so it makes this flip quite an unreasonable thing.

I think no one will make that move happen simply because Portland would have to pay an additional $5M every year for... WHAT?

[Wizenheimer]

in response to the assertion of the OP of Portland "not having a plan", I don't think that's accurate. reading tea leaves, I think there are several plans at work

one is Seattle's, and that sure looks like a don't-rock-the-boat-much plan to keep the Blazers profitable while limiting luxury tax exposure; and maybe prepping for a sale of the team. While there has been an assumption that the prospect of losing Dame is a worry to Seattle, I think they look at the fact that the only time profits waned was briefly in the jail-blazer era, not when the team was lottery bound. I'd bet they have already signed off on Olshey trading Dame if Dame demands a trade

the more concerning plan is the one Olshey has. I think his long term plan has always been to service his vision of an NBA team. That's probably pretty common for any GM. Unfortunately, it's pretty obvious Olshey doesn't have good roster vision

but more to the point is that Olshey revealed his plan in the presser when he fired Stotts and explicitly said the roster wasn't the problem. He got massive amounts of push-back on that assertion, from both local and national media; and Olshey is well aware of that. So, his plan this season is painfully obvious that he's absolutely determined to prove that the roster wasn't the problem by only making minor changes. He's banking on Billups making Portland a contender, or at least making the Blazers different enough that another early exit from the playoffs next April will look different than the last 8 years. It won't to Dame, assuming he's still a Blazer

Blazer nation is held hostage to Olshey's snake-oil ego

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Tobias Harris 20/21 29YO
PER 20.0
TS .597
3PTar .225
FTr .221
AST% 17.6
USG 23.9
OWS 4.1 DWS 3.1 WS 7.1
WS48 .170
OBPM 2.8 DBPM 0.5 BPM 3.4
VORP 2.7
On/Off +4.0

Ben Simmons 20/21 25YO
PER 18.2
TS .584
3PTar .017
FTr .492
AST% 31.3
USG 20.2
OWS 2.7 DWS 3.3 WS 6.0
WS48 .153
OBPM 0.8 DBPM 1.9 BPM 2.7
VORP 2.2
On/Off +6.2

Pascal Siakiam 20/21 27YO
PER 17.7
TS .547
3PTar .256
FTr .313
AST% 20.5
USG 26.3
OWS 2.3 DWS 2.0 WS 4.2
WS48 .101
OBPM 0.8 DBPM -0.4 BPM 0.4
VORP 1.2
On/Off +8.6

I know advanced stats are not everything, and this doesnt really address contract, but its hard to convince me the difference between Tobias and Ben/Pascal is worth numerous FRP's (Which, again, it absolutely would take). Not only that, but we likely, IMO, could get an additional asset in a CJ/Harris swap.

Harris gets a bad wrap, but he is absolutely a high-to-middle tier #3 option. I think neither Pascal or Ben are middle tier #2's, and Simmons skillset is so odd that its hard to argue where the hell he would fit in an 'option' pecking order.

IDK, I think literally the body type of Pascal as a skinny, twitchy looking jumbo forward gets him overrated in comparison to the almost pudgy Tobias, but the playing level on court just isnt that far apart.

These are the best options we have in a CJ swap, and none of them vaults us into contention. Get the cheapest one, keep the picks and give us some false hope. And if the stars align (As they sorta did this PO w/ all the superstar injuries) we would have a punchers chance to make some PO noise. Then again, the stars aligning two POs in a row is very unlikely. But Harris is 100% the best value while keeping the future in play.

Defense? Harris is far below the other two in terms of impact.

[GEE]

in response to the assertion of the OP of Portland "not having a plan", I don't think that's accurate. reading tea leaves, I think there are several plans at work

one is Seattle's, and that sure looks like a don't-rock-the-boat-much plan to keep the Blazers profitable while limiting luxury tax exposure; and maybe prepping for a sale of the team. While there has been an assumption that the prospect of losing Dame is a worry to Seattle, I think they look at the fact that the only time profits waned was briefly in the jail-blazer era, not when the team was lottery bound. I'd bet they have already signed off on Olshey trading Dame if Dame demands a trade

the more concerning plan is the one Olshey has. I think his long term plan has always been to service his vision of an NBA team. That's probably pretty common for any GM. Unfortunately, it's pretty obvious Olshey doesn't have good roster vision

but more to the point is that Olshey revealed his plan in the presser when he fired Stotts and explicitly said the roster wasn't the problem. He got massive amounts of push-back on that assertion, from both local and national media; and Olshey is well aware of that. So, his plan this season is painfully obvious that he's absolutely determined to prove that the roster wasn't the problem by only making minor changes. He's banking on Billups making Portland a contender, or at least making the Blazers different enough that another early exit from the playoffs next April will look different than the last 8 years. It won't to Dame, assuming he's still a Blazer

Blazer nation is held hostage to Olshey's snake-oil ego

You analysis of the situation seems quite logical and likely: I too think Olshey would prefer to trade Dame over CJ, as it would return the power and control solely to Olshey. Seattle on the other hand, I can't imagine wants to trade Dame, as he is the cash-cow that is keeping this franchise in the black, in a time of Covid, where most NBA franchises may be struggling to stay profitable.

[Blazers98]

For the Blazers to take the next step they need a good GM.
Olshey is one of those guys that thinks he is clever by doing something totally stupid yet savvy enough to talk others into the bad idea being a clever one. That is not a recipe for success.
It has long been apparent that the Lillard/CJ backcourt can only take us so far. But it is good enough to consistently get into the playoffs and look like a decent team to owners who pay Olshey's salary. This is all by design.
If we want a different outcome, we have to make meaningful changes.

[BlazersBroncos]

Tobias Harris 20/21 29YO
PER 20.0
TS .597
3PTar .225
FTr .221
AST% 17.6
USG 23.9
OWS 4.1 DWS 3.1 WS 7.1
WS48 .170
OBPM 2.8 DBPM 0.5 BPM 3.4
VORP 2.7
On/Off +4.0

Ben Simmons 20/21 25YO
PER 18.2
TS .584
3PTar .017
FTr .492
AST% 31.3
USG 20.2
OWS 2.7 DWS 3.3 WS 6.0
WS48 .153
OBPM 0.8 DBPM 1.9 BPM 2.7
VORP 2.2
On/Off +6.2

Pascal Siakiam 20/21 27YO
PER 17.7
TS .547
3PTar .256
FTr .313
AST% 20.5
USG 26.3
OWS 2.3 DWS 2.0 WS 4.2
WS48 .101
OBPM 0.8 DBPM -0.4 BPM 0.4
VORP 1.2
On/Off +8.6

I know advanced stats are not everything, and this doesnt really address contract, but its hard to convince me the difference between Tobias and Ben/Pascal is worth numerous FRP's (Which, again, it absolutely would take). Not only that, but we likely, IMO, could get an additional asset in a CJ/Harris swap.

Harris gets a bad wrap, but he is absolutely a high-to-middle tier #3 option. I think neither Pascal or Ben are middle tier #2's, and Simmons skillset is so odd that its hard to argue where the hell he would fit in an 'option' pecking order.

IDK, I think literally the body type of Pascal as a skinny, twitchy looking jumbo forward gets him overrated in comparison to the almost pudgy Tobias, but the playing level on court just isnt that far apart.

These are the best options we have in a CJ swap, and none of them vaults us into contention. Get the cheapest one, keep the picks and give us some false hope. And if the stars align (As they sorta did this PO w/ all the superstar injuries) we would have a punchers chance to make some PO noise. Then again, the stars aligning two POs in a row is very unlikely. But Harris is 100% the best value while keeping the future in play.

Defense? Harris is far below the other two in terms of impact.

That is true, but is the difference worth mortgaging our future in the form of picks? Does anyone really think it doesnt take a ton of draft capital to turn CJ into Ben or Pascal? And is that worth it, as the team we come out with still isnt a top-5 contender and we still have to deal with the chance that Dame requests out in the future, leaving us with no star and no picks?

The middle road move of CJ for Harris and incentive is much more risk averse, while giving us a squad that is only incrementally worse (IMO) than making the pricier move for Ben or Pascal. If we were talking Butler or PG13 or something of that caliber, its different. But I think Simmons is too flawed, and Pascal too meh, to really be the type to push us into that clear contender tier.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Tobias Harris 20/21 29YO
PER 20.0
TS .597
3PTar .225
FTr .221
AST% 17.6
USG 23.9
OWS 4.1 DWS 3.1 WS 7.1
WS48 .170
OBPM 2.8 DBPM 0.5 BPM 3.4
VORP 2.7
On/Off +4.0

Ben Simmons 20/21 25YO
PER 18.2
TS .584
3PTar .017
FTr .492
AST% 31.3
USG 20.2
OWS 2.7 DWS 3.3 WS 6.0
WS48 .153
OBPM 0.8 DBPM 1.9 BPM 2.7
VORP 2.2
On/Off +6.2

Pascal Siakiam 20/21 27YO
PER 17.7
TS .547
3PTar .256
FTr .313
AST% 20.5
USG 26.3
OWS 2.3 DWS 2.0 WS 4.2
WS48 .101
OBPM 0.8 DBPM -0.4 BPM 0.4
VORP 1.2
On/Off +8.6

I know advanced stats are not everything, and this doesnt really address contract, but its hard to convince me the difference between Tobias and Ben/Pascal is worth numerous FRP's (Which, again, it absolutely would take). Not only that, but we likely, IMO, could get an additional asset in a CJ/Harris swap.

Harris gets a bad wrap, but he is absolutely a high-to-middle tier #3 option. I think neither Pascal or Ben are middle tier #2's, and Simmons skillset is so odd that its hard to argue where the hell he would fit in an 'option' pecking order.

IDK, I think literally the body type of Pascal as a skinny, twitchy looking jumbo forward gets him overrated in comparison to the almost pudgy Tobias, but the playing level on court just isnt that far apart.

These are the best options we have in a CJ swap, and none of them vaults us into contention. Get the cheapest one, keep the picks and give us some false hope. And if the stars align (As they sorta did this PO w/ all the superstar injuries) we would have a punchers chance to make some PO noise. Then again, the stars aligning two POs in a row is very unlikely. But Harris is 100% the best value while keeping the future in play.

Defense? Harris is far below the other two in terms of impact.

That is true, but is the difference worth mortgaging our future in the form of picks? Does anyone really think it doesnt take a ton of draft capital to turn CJ into Ben or Pascal? And is that worth it, as the team we come out with still isnt a top-5 contender and we still have to deal with the chance that Dame requests out in the future, leaving us with no star and no picks?

The middle road move of CJ for Harris and incentive is much more risk averse, while giving us a squad that is only incrementally worse (IMO) than making the pricier move for Ben or Pascal. If we were talking Butler or PG13 or something of that caliber, its different. But I think Simmons is too flawed, and Pascal too meh, to really be the type to push us into that clear contender tier.

Price-wise I am on board with your argument for Harris.

I do like Siakam though, I think he can be that #2 guy (as long as our 3/4/5 guys are solid) with Dame. Simmons is too entitled, I used to be a fan but his prima-donna act is more headache than he is worth, even assuming we get a steal of a deal. Guys like that do fine in the regular season but are exposed in the post-season and hit a wall. He's a paper tiger in that regard. In this league you need to be mentally strong and resilient while still being adaptable. Siakam has that, he knows the struggle, he knows what its like to be underrated and have to work. In that regard he would have way more in common with Dame that Ben ever would. So I would give significantly more for Siakam than for Simmons because I think his locker-room fit with Dame would be just as good as his on-court fit with Dame.

[monopoman]

I am so not into a Harris move, I feel this is the type of safe move the Blazers have made over and over again during Dame's career here.

We have a top 10 player here that outside of the LMA years has never played with an all-star level talent. While I do care about the future of the Blazers in the post Dame years, I think we owe it to the man to make a swing for the fences type of trade.

I also think defensively a potential starting 5 of.

Lillard
Powell
Covington
Siakam
Nurk

Is really impressive, this is the type of team that could defend very well against the majority of teams, and would at worst lose a bit offensively, but we have plenty of scorers on the bench that could also sub in when that is a problem. If we never make a move to give Dame a legitimate chance at being a contender or at least a dark horse contender, I will have 0 problem if he leaves.

Every other team out there with a top 10 talent has made these types of moves trying to compete mostly, but since Lillard seems content in Portland management just shrugs their shoulders and keeps with the stats quo.

Even if this trade takes multiple FRP to get done I think we do it, if it's CJ+Picks for Siakam this is a no brainer move in my opinion. We have a tailor made team for a guy like him an he would likely flourish in Portland.

I understand Toronto might not be interested in this type of trade, but it appears that Toronto was at least listening to a proposed trade for Siakam before the draft. So this is not in some far off reality where it would never happen in a million years.

[BlazersBroncos]

I just have a hard time seeing TOR move Pascal for CJ, I think they would want a rebuild package.

But if we added 2022 FRP, 2024 FRP, 2026 FRP, they might have to say 'yes'. But at that cost, and I do think thats the cost it would take, are we ready for the non-zero change Dame still asks out before those picks convey and we are left a rudderless rebuilding team lacking picks? I suppose it depends on the return for Lillard (And subsequent assumed return for vets too).

[Norm2953]

I do see there is an expansion talk thread on the general board. Universally, Seattle is the #1 choice for
an expansion target but at times I wonder Portland would be better off if the Blazers moved to Seattle
to become the Sonics and Portland ended up with the expansion team.

If that happened, we'd finally be rid of the Vulcan's (Seattle) and Neal Olshey and could start afresh with
no salary obligations other than the guys we pick in expansion and in the draft. Perhaps if the team moved
to Seattle, the team might make moves to satisfy Dame but that would be the new Sonics problem.

[monopoman]

I do see there is an expansion talk thread on the general board. Universally, Seattle is the #1 choice for
an expansion target but at times I wonder Portland would be better off if the Blazers moved to Seattle
to become the Sonics and Portland ended up with the expansion team.

If that happened, we'd finally be rid of the Vulcan's (Seattle) and Neal Olshey and could start afresh with
no salary obligations other than the guys we pick in expansion and in the draft. Perhaps if the team moved
to Seattle, the team might make moves to satisfy Dame but that would be the new Sonics problem.

I mean this is pretty radical, she isn't the worst owner in the NBA or something. At most you can say they are too conservative with trades, but we have it better than a good number of NBA teams out there.

****, if the Blazers throughout their history were a bit luckier on the injury front we would likely have at least 3 championships by now.

[PDXKnight]

I do see there is an expansion talk thread on the general board. Universally, Seattle is the #1 choice for
an expansion target but at times I wonder Portland would be better off if the Blazers moved to Seattle
to become the Sonics and Portland ended up with the expansion team.

If that happened, we'd finally be rid of the Vulcan's (Seattle) and Neal Olshey and could start afresh with
no salary obligations other than the guys we pick in expansion and in the draft. Perhaps if the team moved
to Seattle, the team might make moves to satisfy Dame but that would be the new Sonics problem.

I mean this is pretty radical, she isn't the worst owner in the NBA or something. At most you can say they are too conservative with trades, but we have it better than a good number of NBA teams out there.

****, if the Blazers throughout their history were a bit luckier on the injury front we would likely have at least 3 championships by now.

I think jodie allen is a bit too status quo and even pa with his sticking with neil for so long likely would’ve made the move that needs to be made by now.

There’s win/lose in everything and i think a less active owner can be good at times as it gives management free reign to make personnel decisions. That being said you need a good management team for that to work and right now it seems like NO isn’t the right manager for the job as he’s pushing a decade of not getting portland over the top & continually making moves that make us good but not great

[monopoman]

I do see there is an expansion talk thread on the general board. Universally, Seattle is the #1 choice for
an expansion target but at times I wonder Portland would be better off if the Blazers moved to Seattle
to become the Sonics and Portland ended up with the expansion team.

If that happened, we'd finally be rid of the Vulcan's (Seattle) and Neal Olshey and could start afresh with
no salary obligations other than the guys we pick in expansion and in the draft. Perhaps if the team moved
to Seattle, the team might make moves to satisfy Dame but that would be the new Sonics problem.

I mean this is pretty radical, she isn't the worst owner in the NBA or something. At most you can say they are too conservative with trades, but we have it better than a good number of NBA teams out there.

****, if the Blazers throughout their history were a bit luckier on the injury front we would likely have at least 3 championships by now.

I think jodie allen is a bit too status quo and even pa with his sticking with neil for so long likely would’ve made the move that needs to be made by now.

There’s win/lose in everything and i think a less active owner can be good at times as it gives management free reign to make personnel decisions. That being said you need a good management team for that to work and right now it seems like NO isn’t the right manager for the job as he’s pushing a decade of not getting portland over the top & continually making moves that make us good but not great

I mean how much is she hand's on with this team though?

I think she just let's Neil do whatever he wants more or less, she isn't like Paul Allen who was an extremely hands on owner. At least she shows she is willing to spend for this team, the re-signing of Powell shows that.

Now, if public opinion after this season really turns against Neil she might fire him then. In my mind the worst thing an owner can be is cheap, an owner that will shrug their shoulders and let good players slip away because they aren't willing to meet their salary demands.