Game 57: Portland vs Utah 6:00pm SNW

[red_power]

Mitchell is going to be special....he already is the best rookie. I know people are high on Collins, but in an alternate past a Mitchell/Kuzma draft for Portland would have really changed the Blazer outlook

But the Blazers needed two PF rookies to get rid of Vonleh's vast salary.

The Blazers needed to improve their big men and they did.

Edit: Time will tell if they improved enough

Blazers needed to improve overall talent level and I'm not sure they actually did so.

[red_power]

Blazers in the 2nd half tonight

They were tired as hell tonight

[PDXKnight]

I'd trade CJ plus the Blazers' first round pick this year for Donovan.

I would too but I doubt Utah would do that.

[Blazinaway]

man, what a dreadful game

[Epicurus]

It is even more dreadful when looking at popcornmachine.com's stats on the 24 to 5 run starting the third to the 5'30" or so mark. 8-15 shooting v. 2-10; 12 to 3 rebounding; 4 to 0 offensive rebounding; 1 turnover to 4; etc. An absolutely miserable stint of basketball by our "starters" (especially bad for the two "stars").

[Blazinaway]

what are you guys thinking about Nurk and his upcoming contract? He may be a defensive difference maker but his offensive effect is too often offensive, I am thinking 10-12 mil max or let him walk

[DeBlazerRiddem]

what are you guys thinking about Nurk and his upcoming contract? He may be a defensive difference maker but his offensive effect is too often offensive, I am thinking 10-12 mil max or let him walk

I cant quite tell if his inconsistency on offense is related to his relative inexperience or is just a deeper issue that will not go away. I mean, 23 is young and he didn't start until later in his life, but it often looks like he tries to finesse shots a little too much and falls in love with awkward angle floaters and other low-percentage shots.

I think he will end up a bit higher than that 10-12 number, but I'm not sure we can let him walk. Damian knows how important a decent big is and seems to like Nurkic, so we would at least need to make a significant trade to replace him.

[Epicurus]

what are you guys thinking about Nurk and his upcoming contract? He may be a defensive difference maker but his offensive effect is too often offensive, I am thinking 10-12 mil max or let him walk

The Blazers will need a center, a real one, next season and beyond. Without Nurkic, who? No one on the existing squad. Can't get a free agent decent center. Probably not a good enough draft status to grab a contributing rookie center. Who but Nurkic and his monsterous inconsistencies?

[AGE1207]

Favors?

[Blazinaway]

Favors?

MLE is at best all we will have unless we do a trade

[deanwoof]

If I was NO or PA I’d sit Dame down and say you have to choose between CJ or Nurk.

Nobody’s going to take ET’s contract.

[d-train]

Lillard is our max player. His job is to be the best player in the NBA and lead us to a championship. Olshey and Allen need Lillard to show he's working on that.

[d-train]

But the Blazers needed two PF rookies to get rid of Vonleh's vast salary.

The Blazers needed to improve their big men and they did.

Edit: Time will tell if they improved enough

Blazers needed to improve overall talent level and I'm not sure they actually did so.

They improved their core by upgrading Plumblee to Nurkic. It would be nice if we could upgrade Lillard, CJ, or Nurkic, but that may not happen. It's hard for any good team to upgrade their top 2 or 3 options. If you think you are going to get that improvement with a 10 and 2# pick, you better be a lousy team. And, 99 times out of 100 you will remain a lousy team after the draft. The draft is a place to wish for luck.