Offseason

[Wizenheimer]

On point as always, but you left out... Portland not being a likable Free-Agent destination.

well, that excuse is true, to a large degree, although Portland did sign Rod Strickland and Brian Grant. Different CBA's though

however, we can't be totally sure Portland could not have done a lot better than they have over the Olshey era in terms of free agent signings. As I said, 4 times in 9 years the Blazers have had enough cap-space to offer max contracts. With that space, the #1 targets of Olshey were Roy Hibbert, Enes Kanter (that was to mess with Presti), Greg Monroe, & Chandler Parsons. Blazers were extremely lucky that Olshey failed those 4 times....small mercies. I'm not going to take the time to go back and try and figure out who else was available when Olshey invested the moratorium on those guys, but I'm certain those were wasted opportunities

it's not just cap-space either, there have been plenty of wasted exceptions. Olshey signed Tolliver to a minimum deal the same off-season Derrick Rose signed a minimum deal. Last fall, Olshey signed Derrick Jones for a max-MLE 6 days before the Suns signed Jae Crowder. Jones was sitting on the bench for Portland when they lost to Denver. Meanwhile, Crowder averaged 11 & 6 for Phoenix as they played in the finals

besides all that, if Portland is not a high-level free agent destination, and it's not, then the draft and trades become critical. The GM has to be really good at those two things if the most he can expect from free-agency are role players. Olshey is not good at either. Yeah, he's had some successes in the 2nd round, but his first round record is poor, especially considering the Blazers had landed on Lillard before Olshey was hired. As for trades, that's where the Blazers need to find that top-end talent while Olshey's comfort zone is dumpster diving. With Dame making noise, the Blazers need to take some big risks, and that's what Olshey is allergic too.

[JasonStern]

4 times in 9 years the Blazers have had enough cap-space to offer max contracts. With that space, the #1 targets of Olshey were Roy Hibbert, Enes Kanter (that was to mess with Presti), Greg Monroe, & Chandler Parsons. Blazers were extremely lucky that Olshey failed those 4 times....small mercies. I'm not going to take the time to go back and try and figure out who else was available

Spoiler:

Evan Turner, Festus Ezili, Allen Crabbe, Meyers Leonard

[Wizenheimer]

4 times in 9 years the Blazers have had enough cap-space to offer max contracts. With that space, the #1 targets of Olshey were Roy Hibbert, Enes Kanter (that was to mess with Presti), Greg Monroe, & Chandler Parsons. Blazers were extremely lucky that Olshey failed those 4 times....small mercies. I'm not going to take the time to go back and try and figure out who else was available

Spoiler:

Evan Turner, Festus Ezili, Allen Crabbe, Meyers Leonard

I'll see that and raise you this:

10 Zach Collins
13 Donovan Mitchell
14 Bam Adebayo
19 John Collins
22 Jarrett Allen
23 OG Anunoby
26 Caleb Swanigan
30 Josh Hart
42 Thomas Bryant
45 Dillon Brooks

[Wizenheimer]

Not to add on to the excuse-o-rama, but there are legitimate problems for the Blazers being in Oregon when it comes to FA's. The income tax here is some of the highest in the nation. At 1mil, Oregon State Taxes take out nearly 10% of that each year. It's even worse in California, but only marginally and you're living in a much more desirable location. But then contrast that with a state like Florida with zero income tax and it's pretty easy to see why the Heat have nnnnoooooo problem ever getting FA's. They get to immediately keep 10% of their earnings that would normally be gone in a lot of other NBA locations AND they get a desirable location.

I make nowhere near what an NBA player does (few do), but even on a personal level, this fact alone is why I don't live in Oregon anymore and have no desire to ever move back. If I'm gonna have to get screwed by Income Tax, I'd choose California over Oregon in a heartbeat as well. So far be it for me to get upset or judge NBA free agents for making the same choice I would.

remember now....NBA players are taxed according to where games are played. So, only half of any Blazer's annual salary is taxed at the Oregon rate

this is where Texas has an advantage in free agents. Not only is the half of their salary of home games exempt from taxes, 6 of their 41 road games occur in Texas and Florida and are also exempt. When you're making 30M/year, that adds up

I'd be really curious about which players are "smart' enough to max out deferred compensation if they are planning on retiring to a low or no tax state. For instance, Aldridge should have taken as much in his Blazers salary as possible in deferred compensation since he obviously is going to live in Texa

[JasonStern]

Read on Twitter

[Klinky]

But then contrast that with a state like Florida with zero income tax and it's pretty easy to see why the Heat have nnnnoooooo problem ever getting FA's. They get to immediately keep 10% of their earnings that would normally be gone in a lot of other NBA locations AND they get a desirable location.

Miami got swept in the first round and Orlando didn't qualify. Miami had brief success in the bubble, but Blazers also had brief success going to the WCF the year before. I wouldn't say over the last 7 years, Miami or Orlando are examples of great success. Much of Miami's success is having the Big Three, and that was more about friendships than taxes.

[PDXKnight]

Read on Twitter

Locking up bird rights is pretty essential especially if you think you’ve got a good pick

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Read on Twitter

Locking up bird rights is pretty essential especially if you think you’ve got a good pick

That's right, no restricted free agency for second round picks... but at 2 years we would still have early bird rights, that could let us resign him up to the "average" contract (just over 10 million at the moment).

We would have to feel pretty good that Brown could get a 10+ million/year contract after just 2 years in the league for that to really come into play. And I'll opine that is exceedingly unlikely for such a raw player.

I would guess they already had decided against using the full TPMLE and figured "well if we aren't using the full thing then it doesn't hurt to give us a team option on that 3rd year, if he blows up great we have a 3rd year and bird rights and if he sucks we can let him go at no additional cap hit".

But that means they consciously took Dame's comments that this team needs more help, ignored it, and spent that capital on securing a 3rd year for a raw second round pick. Which seems like a very poor thing to prioritize right now.

[Klinky]

I had a dream the other night we dealt both Lillard and McCollum at the same time, unfortunately the dream did not tell me for who.

[Dame Lizard]

Read on Twitter

Locking up bird rights is pretty essential especially if you think you’ve got a good pick

That's right, no restricted free agency for second round picks... but at 2 years we would still have early bird rights, that could let us resign him up to the "average" contract (just over 10 million at the moment).

We would have to feel pretty good that Brown could get a 10+ million/year contract after just 2 years in the league for that to really come into play. And I'll opine that is exceedingly unlikely for such a raw player.

I would guess they already had decided against using the full TPMLE and figured "well if we aren't using the full thing then it doesn't hurt to give us a team option on that 3rd year, if he blows up great we have a 3rd year and bird rights and if he sucks we can let him go at no additional cap hit".

But that means they consciously took Dame's comments that this team needs more help, ignored it, and spent that capital on securing a 3rd year for a raw second round pick. Which seems like a very poor thing to prioritize right now.

Admittedly I don't know much about the salary cap side of the NBA, but that does indeed send a concerning message to Dame.

[Dame Lizard]

I had a dream the other night we dealt both Lillard and McCollum at the same time, unfortunately the dream did not tell me for who.

It'd make for a great rebuild, if we could trade them both for picks and start a-fresh.

I'd actually prefer this option over our current path. If we are simply 'running it back', I think that's a horribly unwise move.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Locking up bird rights is pretty essential especially if you think you’ve got a good pick

That's right, no restricted free agency for second round picks... but at 2 years we would still have early bird rights, that could let us resign him up to the "average" contract (just over 10 million at the moment).

We would have to feel pretty good that Brown could get a 10+ million/year contract after just 2 years in the league for that to really come into play. And I'll opine that is exceedingly unlikely for such a raw player.

I would guess they already had decided against using the full TPMLE and figured "well if we aren't using the full thing then it doesn't hurt to give us a team option on that 3rd year, if he blows up great we have a 3rd year and bird rights and if he sucks we can let him go at no additional cap hit".

But that means they consciously took Dame's comments that this team needs more help, ignored it, and spent that capital on securing a 3rd year for a raw second round pick. Which seems like a very poor thing to prioritize right now.

Admittedly I don't know much about the salary cap side of the NBA, but that does indeed send a concerning message to Dame.

Actually it looks like this Brown signing put us into the luxury tax, which might send the right message but for the wrong reason lol. I can understand that the caliber of free agent available to our TPMLE (after bigger markets snatched up all the prime players) might not be worth the luxury tax - but as always that argument fails as a defense because we have been the architect of our own limitations here.

I would imagine the Blazers look to cut a tiny bit of salary during the season because being 500k in the tax is about the worse reason to start the repeater clock ticking. If we can duck it this year that gives us another year during the 50 million dollar years of Dames contract. Such is life when living between a rock and a hard place.

[soobias]

i don't know cap and all that but i would be ok with moving dame in a 3 way with phili and warriors.

portland out: dame
portland in: maxey,thybulle,wiseman,moody,kuminga,2 1st from phili,2 1st from warriors, plus pick swaps from both.

phili out:simmons,maxey,thybulle,2 picks 2 swaps
phili in: dame

warriors out:wiseman,moody,kuminga, 2 1st picks, 2 swaps
warriors in : simmons


then do another trade somewhere like cj plus picks for siakum

[PDXKnight]

i don't know cap and all that but i would be ok with moving dame in a 3 way with phili and warriors.

portland out: dame
portland in: maxey,thybulle,wiseman,moody,kuminga,2 1st from phili,2 1st from warriors, plus pick swaps from both.

phili out:simmons,maxey,thybulle,2 picks 2 swaps
phili in: dame

warriors out:wiseman,moody,kuminga, 2 1st picks, 2 swaps
warriors in : simmons


then do another trade somewhere like cj plus picks for siakum

I doubt we could get this much in return for dame

[GEE]

Current Roster Constructions:
The Blazers and Sixers both have unbalanced rosters. Philly, with Simmons, Harris and Embid, all seem to be fighting for real estate in the painted area, while their perimeter shooting isn't good enough for an opposing defense, to not pack the paint. Plus, Simmons is gone! I'd totally surprised if he ever suits up for them again. Portland's issues are obvious... we need a PF to balance our roster.

I think Philly and Portland as trading partners feels soo obvious, but Morey is fixed on Dame and wants no part of CJ. Best trade for Portland IMO is some form of Simmons for Dame giving the Blazers this:
CJ/Powell/ROCO/SImmons/Nurkic with a decent young bench and hopefully one of Love or LA.

Reasons... I don't like pairing Simons and Dame(both primary ball-handlers), and would prefer Simmons/Nurkic over Harris/Nurkic.

Simmons +++ for Dame is the trade I hope to see, but the old Olshey rinse and repeat is what it sounds like we'll get. That is until we start to get beaten down by the WC teams that DID get better, and Dame starts talking/posting again.

[GEE]

Furthermore, Dame deserves to have a title shot... he can get that with Philly, and he sure isn't getting one here considering the roster as is, which appears to be what Olshey and Chauncey have planned to go with (unless Olshey is expecting a trade demand, along with Morey).

I had also flirted with the idea of GS being a franchise that might have the vision to bring Dame, while not giving up any of their core 4: Wiseman, draftees + whatever, while sending Dame to his hometown title contender would be a decent move as well. Although I'd have to be really sold on Wiseman(Possible IMO), but I would also want to then go all the way with a CJ trade to the highest bidder, followed by Nukic. Result could also be the makings of a sale of the Blazers, which might not be the worst thing going forward, but another discussion entirely.

Side note, people talk about players recruiting players at the Olympics, but I was re-watching vs. Spain today and saw Steve Kerr coaching up Dame a little, and it made me equally curious.

[PDXKnight]

Furthermore, Dame deserves to have a title shot... he can get that with Philly, and he sure isn't getting one here considering the roster as is, which appears to be what Olshey and Chauncey have planned to go with (unless Olshey is expecting a trade demand, along with Morey).

I had also flirted with the idea of GS being a franchise that might have the vision to bring Dame, while not giving up any of their core 4: Wiseman, draftees + whatever, while sending Dame to his hometown title contender would be a decent move as well. Although I'd have to be really sold on Wiseman(Possible IMO), but I would also want to then go all the way with a CJ trade to the highest bidder, followed by Nukic. Result could also be the makings of a sale of the Blazers, which might not be the worst thing going forward, but another discussion entirely.

Side note, people talk about players recruiting players at the Olympics, but I was re-watching vs. Spain today and saw Steve Kerr coaching up Dame a little, and it made me equally curious.

Dame to gs is about like the thought of eating lunch near a sewage treatment plant, or eating lunch after repairing a drain line for a toilet without washing your hands. If we deal dame to gs and win them a title it’d be really hard to be an nba fan

[Case2012]

Sure Dame deserves a shot at a title BUT SO DOES PORTLAND. I'm so tired of people saying this crap. Portland deserves a championship and I would like to see one in my lifetime. I mean I was 7 years old the last time the blazers made to it the finals, this is bs.

Our best chance to win a title isn't trading Dame, it's for Jody "I don't give 2 craps about sports" Allen to sell the team and banish Neil olshey from the city limits.

[BlazersBroncos]

Simmons for Dame is just so bad. How anyone can think Ben Simmons is the type of competitor or leader to take a team anywhere in the playoffs is just beyond me.

Its bascially trading Dame for a version of Draymond Green that is more switchable to small guys and can push the ball. Thats it. Its horrid. Simmons is a #3, and even then a #3 ideally on a team with a #4 that can score above the norm for a #4. The mechanics behind building a team around him are tremendously unique.

[PDXKnight]

Simmons for Dame is just so bad. How anyone can think Ben Simmons is the type of competitor or leader to take a team anywhere in the playoffs is just beyond me.

Its bascially trading Dame for a version of Draymond Green that is more switchable to small guys and can push the ball. Thats it. Its horrid. Simmons is a #3, and even then a #3 ideally on a team with a #4 that can score above the norm for a #4. The mechanics behind building a team around him are tremendously unique.

The picks matter more to me than simmons. We could really put ourselves in a great position if we gain a boatload of picks from a Dame trade. Simmons is a piece of a trade with philly and holds value but clearly alone him for dame isn’t close to fair for portland. And if dame wants out of it looks like we won’t be able to give him what he wants in order to keep him here we’ve gotta start thinking about being set for our future. I think far out picks have potential, could easily be good if far enough in the future.

That being said a knicks offer of picks (or even someone like the kings) has more allure to me as i think the knicks & teams of this nature will seemingly always find a way to be bad at some point in the next 5-10 years