Game 19: Portland vs New York 4:30pm Root+

[BlazersBroncos]

We are so lucky to have the privilege to root for Josh Hart. My god what a dog.

We literally need him to be competitive as Ant and Grant are such poor rebounders if you dont have a uniquely good wing rebounder like Josh next to them we would be helpless on the boards and rack up many more L's IMO.

Also, my god does RJ Barrett suck. That contract is going to be the next Wiggins deal in how toxic it is, except RJ doesnt have the atlheticism and skillset to rejuvenate his career as an elite role player like Wiggins has. He just stinks.

[PDXKnight]

We are so lucky to have the privilege to root for Josh Hart. My god what a dog.

We literally need him to be competitive as Ant and Grant are such poor rebounders if you dont have a uniquely good wing rebounder like Josh next to them we would be helpless on the boards and rack up many more L's IMO.

Also, my god does RJ Barrett suck. That contract is going to be the next Wiggins deal in how toxic it is, except RJ doesnt have the atlheticism and skillset to rejuvenate his career as an elite role player like Wiggins has. He just stinks.

I really hope we can retain Hart. Guy is a baller but man just shoot the rock more, he passes up on good opportunities too often!

[Norm2953]

I do wonder if the market for Hart is going to explode for remember the guy is sacrificing his game
in a contract year to do what the team needs which is rebound and play defense.

The guy understands with Grant, Ant and Dame on the team and Nurkic also wanting some touches,
there are simply for no shots in the offense for him. I think he'll end up leaving; for elsewhere, he'll
get some shots and won't have to play up front where the big boys play.

[monopoman]

I do wonder if the market for Hart is going to explode for remember the guy is sacrificing his game
in a contract year to do what the team needs which is rebound and play defense.

The guy understands with Grant, Ant and Dame on the team and Nurkic also wanting some touches,
there are simply for no shots in the offense for him. I think he'll end up leaving; for elsewhere, he'll
get some shots and won't have to play up front where the big boys play.

If he keeps up lines where he can rebound like this, I don't think it will impact his contract much. He also does have the opportunity to score, while he won't get as many shots as say Simons, Grant, Lillard will he seems to not really be looking to score much even when given the ball and has a reasonable shot.

[Norm2953]

Hart indeed deserves to get paid by Portland but should have plenty of suitors. Could still get
moved if the team feels he's likely to walk.

[JasonStern]

We are so lucky to have the privilege to root for Josh Hart. My god what a dog.

My heart is going to break this off-season when we lose one of Hart and Grant because we overpaid Nurkić. And I love Nurkić - don't get me wrong. But not at $18M/season. I don't think he's half arsing it - I think he's just toast. So $18M/season? Yikes. Love what he does provide, but in the modern NBA he's a MLE player - especially given his injury history.

[GEE]

All the rave about Hart really deserves it's own thread, or one that addresses our concerns with the potential loss of one of our favorite players, and I don't necessarily mean Hart. We also have Winslow who is in a very similar contract situation. Grant I think, is almost a sure thing as I see Simons/Sharpe/Grant, 1-3 as the future. I really hope there's a way to keep both Hart and Winslow too, but you have to give to get.

Game 20 coming up tomorrow, and should be another fun one, regardless of who suits up. Team looks good overall, but still very thin in the Post and loaded 1 through 3. I've read blurbs about other teams recently, possibly testing the waters (tampering likely) for availability of certain players. I expect this to only heat up in the coming weeks, as we (like all other teams) should now have a better idea how the players fit, and where we stand overall. Quarter way through almost... time to take a pulse IMO.

Going back to Hart, I hope there's a way we can keep all of our favorite Blazers, but help down low is definitely needed. I think we are only going to get better, possibly much better, even with no changes. But I think considering the assets we have available (Players and Future picks), and how good we currently are... I would happy, just adding one 7'/240ish, shot blocking, defensive minded Big. M.Williams tops my personal target list, but I just hope we end up adding whoever the best available(under 25 y/o), that could contribute some right away, and has the potential to replace Nurkic, if the big fella doesn't fit with what Chauncey and Cronin are trying to build as a team. Regardless of who, we should have enough assets to be able to be creative, as to save at least $1.00 in whatever deal Cronin decides to lock in on. Going over the tax I'm sure is remains a deal breaker. As long as we can upgrade some without adding $, I think we should be able to keep any current Blazer we currently have. Hope to see something sooner rather than later... And smaller rather than bigger.

As for Nurkic, I think his deal is fine and not a burden. His last one was 4yrs/$48, new one's 4yrs/$70.