Roy Hibbert - Indy says they will match/offer same terms.

Sabzi · Post #581 » by **Sabzi** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 5:12 am

frizzledizzle wrote:Um... okay.

They didn't have any top 5 picks and they didn't sign free agents to build their team.

I guess you're right. Top 5 picks is the only way to win. Sheesh

Kidd, Marion, & Chandler does not fit the small market model.

Post #582 » by **DeBlazerRiddem** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 5:13 am

Sabzi wrote:
frizzledizzle wrote:What multiple top 5 picks did the Mavs have? They drafted their franchise player with the 9th pick.

I stopped reading right there. Dallas isn't Portland.

That still doesn't mean you should trade Aldridge if you don't get a top 5 pick.

Of course the Blazers are fighting an up-hill battle because of our location. But do you try and jump straight to the top of a mountain, or do you go step by step and build on previous successes?

Literally the only small market example recently has been San Antonio. I am not even sure how small they are compared to Portland. Doesn't mean we should give up. There is absolutely no guarantee of success in trading away non-superstar assets so you can tank. Show me a team that successfully did that.

frizzledizzle · Post #583 » by **frizzledizzle** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 5:14 am

mojomarc wrote:
Sabzi wrote:
frizzledizzle wrote:What multiple top 5 picks did the Mavs have? They drafted their franchise player with the 9th pick.

I stopped reading right there. Dallas isn't Portland. You are wasting my time. SMALL MARKET.

It is worth pointing out Kidd and Chandler were both second overall players.

That they traded for, they didn't sign them. And again, did you see what they traded to acquire Chandler? A bunch of garbage. He was averaging 6 points and 6 rebounds when they acquired him. And Kidd was 35 years old he arrived in Dallas.

I don't get this idea that you need a bunch of top 5 picks or you can't win.

To each their own. I gave my opinion but I guess some people are so full of themselves it's cool just to say "I didn't bother reading it". It's always funny having conversations with people like that.

frizzledizzle · Post #584 » by **frizzledizzle** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 5:16 am

Sabzi wrote:
frizzledizzle wrote:Um... okay.

They didn't have any top 5 picks and they didn't sign free agents to build their team.

I guess you're right. Top 5 picks is the only way to win. Sheesh

Kidd, Marion, & Chandler does not fit the small market model.

What do you mean? Dallas traded for all of them.

I get your point about small market teams not being able to sign superstars but the Mavs didn't sign anybody. They made trades and they did it without top 5 picks and they traded mostly junk.

Sabzi · Post #585 » by **Sabzi** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 5:18 am

DeBlazerRiddem wrote:There is absolutely no guarantee of success in trading away non-superstar assets so you can tank. Show me a team that successfully did that.

Oklahoma City moved Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. I'm still waiting for my example of your plan.

Sabzi · Post #586 » by **Sabzi** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 5:25 am

frizzledizzle wrote:
Sabzi wrote:
frizzledizzle wrote:Um... okay.

They didn't have any top 5 picks and they didn't sign free agents to build their team.

I guess you're right. Top 5 picks is the only way to win. Sheesh

Kidd, Marion, & Chandler does not fit the small market model.

What do you mean? Dallas traded for all of them.

I get your point about small market teams not being able to sign superstars but the Mavs didn't sign anybody. They made trades and they did it without top 5 picks and they traded mostly junk.

The Blazers need a Dirk first and the city of Dallas to sell. The players have too much power.

Post #587 » by **DeBlazerRiddem** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 5:25 am

Sabzi wrote:
DeBlazerRiddem wrote:There is absolutely no guarantee of success in trading away non-superstar assets so you can tank. Show me a team that successfully did that.

Oklahoma City moved Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. I'm still waiting for my example of your plan.

An example of my plan? My plan is simply to keep acquiring assets rather than trade and tank.

Hawks - Horfort at 3 (similar to Aldridge) and Smith at 17, Johnson at 10

Pacers - Granger and Hibbert at 17, made smart trades and capspace to get other players

Sabzi · Post #588 » by **Sabzi** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 5:27 am

DeBlazerRiddem wrote:
Sabzi wrote:
DeBlazerRiddem wrote:There is absolutely no guarantee of success in trading away non-superstar assets so you can tank. Show me a team that successfully did that.

Oklahoma City moved Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. I'm still waiting for my example of your plan.

An example of my plan? My plan is simply to keep acquiring assets rather than trade and tank.

Hawks - Horfort at 3 (similar to Aldridge) and Smith at 17, Johnson at 10

Pacers - Granger and Hibbert at 17, made smart trades and capspace to get other players

Those two franchises are mired in purgatory. Those are not successful examples.

Post #589 » by **DeBlazerRiddem** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 5:29 am

The Thunder have had some of the most incredible luck... It really is not a reliable or repeatable way to win.

Franchises have tried to do it and ended up even worse.

Post #590 » by **DeBlazerRiddem** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 5:32 am

Whatever though.

I am not opposed to a bit of a tanking. Sometimes it truly is necessary. I just don't think the Blazers are there yet. Aldridge is a good player and in his prime. We have young draft picks. It is not time to hit the panic button, it is time to acquire assets and build the value of this team.

Clarity · Post #591 » by **Clarity** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 1:46 am

DeBlazerRiddem wrote:The Thunder have had some of the most incredible luck... It really is not a reliable or repeatable way to win.

Franchises have tried to do it and ended up even worse.

INSANELY, MIND BOGGLING, UNHEARD OF type of luck.

OKC is the luckiest franchise ive ever encountered in my life as a sports fan.

RTG HD · Post #592 » by **RTG HD** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 5:33 am

Lakers have luck of location. Think of the lopsided deals they get handed to them. Long history of location based luck far before Miami and will still be there when the Heat are sitting there waiting for their lotto balls to be drawn.

BTW I hate the freaking Lakers. Maybe even more than I hated the Sonics.

d-train · Post #593 » by **d-train** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 5:50 am

I love the OKC Sonics.

RTG HD · Post #594 » by **RTG HD** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 5:55 am

d-train wrote:I love the OKC Sonics.

If Clay Bennett went out with a Xavier McDanial jersey on a stick and light it on fire in the streets of Seattle I would become a Thunder fan for life.

Post #595 » by **mojomarc** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 11:18 am

RTG HD wrote:
d-train wrote:I love the OKC Sonics.

If Clay Bennett went out with a Xavier McDanial jersey on a stick and light it on fire in the streets of Seattle I would become a Thunder fan for life.

I hated the X Man when he played, but how great is it that he's the guy Larry Bird abused so badly with his taunting? McDaniel was the guy guarding Bird when Bird pointed to a spot on the court and said "next time down the floor, that's where I'm going to score on you and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it" (or words to that effect). And being Larry Bird, of course he did exactly that.

Man, I wish we had a Larry Bird on our team. We haven't had any swagger since Roy's play in the fourth quarter in Dallas.

Post #596 » by **DaVoiceMaster** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 1:10 pm

Hilarious, I didn't know that about Bird and X Man. I recall Kersey and X Man getting into it a number of times over the years. Back then, the Seattle Portland rivalry was awesome. Ellis and Drexler got into it a number of times, X Man and Kersey and it seems like there was always a third pair to get into a little tangle, too. That was a rivalry like I don't think I've seen since.

Post #597 » by **mojomarc** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 4:29 pm

DaVoiceMaster wrote:Hilarious, I didn't know that about Bird and X Man.

The X Man specific part starts at about 5:17, but the whole thing is worth watching because Bird was just that awesome. Anyone who says he wouldn't be that effective in today's NBA flat out doesn't know what they're talking about. Anyone who can shoot like that and has that kind of footwork to create separation and that kind of creativity could play in any era.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NIKK_OFvFY[/youtube]

d-train · Post #598 » by **d-train** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 5:41 pm

Who is the idiot that says Bird wouldn't be just as great a player in today’s NBA?

Larry Bird picked on whoever was supposed to be the baddest man on the other team. When he played the Sonics, the X-man got it. And, when he played the Blazers, Kersey got it. I remember Bird lighting up Jerome while playing left handed.

Post #599 » by **mojomarc** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 5:49 pm

d-train wrote:Who is the idiot that says Bird wouldn't be just as great a player in today’s NBA?

Larry Bird picked on whoever was supposed to be the baddest man on the other team. When he played the Sonics, the X-man got it. And, when he played the Blazers, Kersey got it. I remember Bird lighting up Jerome while playing left handed.

Go on the Player Comparison board. You'll see plenty of people who say Bird isn't athletic enough to play in the NBA today and how XYZ player today (usually Lebron) would just shut him down. These are people who probably never saw Bird in his prime.

d-train · Post #600 » by **d-train** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 6:13 pm

mojomarc wrote:
d-train wrote:Who is the idiot that says Bird wouldn't be just as great a player in today’s NBA?

Larry Bird picked on whoever was supposed to be the baddest man on the other team. When he played the Sonics, the X-man got it. And, when he played the Blazers, Kersey got it. I remember Bird lighting up Jerome while playing left handed.

Go on the Player Comparison board. You'll see plenty of people who say Bird isn't athletic enough to play in the NBA today and how XYZ player today (usually Lebron) would just shut him down. These are people who probably never saw Bird in his prime.

I have heard people under estimate Bird's athleticism even back in the late 70's and 80's. It was baloney then and still is. Bird was a great athlete. I doubt even LeBron could match Bird's strength. Sure, Bird's speed wasn't that great but speed is overrated. And, Bird's strength, quickness, and overall basketball skills were so superior they more than compensated for his weaknesses, which were few. In fact, his only weakness was straight-line speed. Since, I don't know any great sprinters that can play basketball. I don't give much weight to the importance of that skill.