What are YOU looking for to close out the ‘24-25 season?

[zzaj]

It’s pretty obvious what the GM of the Blazers and what Billups are shooting for to close out the season—try and make the play-in. That’s a pretty different stance than the team has taken in the past couple of years with some pretty blatant tanking.

What do you want to see? Win as much as possible, with or without vets? Suddenly certain players’ “tendinitis” flaring up? Scoot/Sharpe together? Clingan for 48 minutes a game to get him in shape? Jody suddenly deciding to sell? Billups getting a “tank” memo from Crolshey and just up and quitting (who gets hired?)…

Here’s your chance to sound off on exactly what fantasy you’d love to see to end the season and through the summer…

[Norm2953]

Ayton's injury likely makes a play in run hopeless

Team just needs to finish the season by going into player development mode Get ready for
the off season. Should be an interesting summer for Ayton, Ant and Thybulle assuming he does
not opt out, will all be expiring contracts and Sharpe will be eligible for an extension. Let's see
if Ant asks out and his trade to Orlando finally gets done.

[oldfishermen]

So many directions to take this. Given where we are in the season, I agree with Norm. Develop the kids.

Priority should be giving Scoot the starting job. Last season , Scoot started 32 of 62 games he played in. 51%.

This season, Scoot has only started 9 of the 48 games he played in so far, 18.75%.

Also, his minutes are down slightly from last season.

Did the Blazers already give up on Scoot? Give Scoot the starting job, and the minutes, and let him develop. Or next season will be a repeat of this one.

[Wizenheimer]

right before the season began I said it kind of looked like the Blazers were going to prematurely stop the tank and idiotically try to win enough games to be in the play-in race. I predicted no activity at all before the trade deadline

in my view that would have been the absolute worst outcome for the season. And it's sure looking like that's exactly what the Blazers will do....dive directly into the worst purgatory and NBA team can be in

they are currently 9th seed for the lottery and with Wemby out Portland will likely slide behind the Spurs for 10th seed; and an outside shot of falling even further. Oh joy

[zzaj]

right before the season began I said it kind of looked like the Blazers were going to prematurely stop the tank and idiotically try to win enough games to be in the play-in race. I predicted no activity at all before the trade deadline

in my view that would have been the absolute worst outcome for the season. And it's sure looking like that's exactly what the Blazers will do....dive directly into the worst purgatory and NBA team can be in

they are currently 9th seed for the lottery and with Wemby out Portland will likely slide behind the Spurs for 10th seed; and an outside shot of falling even further. Oh joy

If you had it your way, what would you like to see Wiz?

[JRoy]

As many losses as possible as many minutes as possible for the young guys.

[Wizenheimer]

right before the season began I said it kind of looked like the Blazers were going to prematurely stop the tank and idiotically try to win enough games to be in the play-in race. I predicted no activity at all before the trade deadline

in my view that would have been the absolute worst outcome for the season. And it's sure looking like that's exactly what the Blazers will do....dive directly into the worst purgatory and NBA team can be in

they are currently 9th seed for the lottery and with Wemby out Portland will likely slide behind the Spurs for 10th seed; and an outside shot of falling even further. Oh joy

If you had it your way, what would you like to see Wiz?

I said this repeatedly: if the Blazers traded Dame they absolutely needed to trade all the vets, Simons, Nurkic, Grant (or let him walk), & Thybulle. I wanted Portland to cash in on those vets and collect as many expiring contracts, draft assets, and young prospects as they could. For the Blazers to FINALLY stop straddling fences and go full tilt into a full rebuild; become organically bad enough to collect a series of high draft picks and no, a pair of #7's and a #3 are not nearly enough. And it's pretty clear right now that none of those 3 picks will end up as an elite player. May not even have any sniff an all-star game. Which is why you need to maximize the number of top-5 draft picks when you have the opportunity

I wanted the Blazers to abandon the purgatory of mid-first draft picks, 1st round exits, and now, seeming to hope for a 10th seed in the play-in over the next 2 or 3 seasons

But the Blazers resigned Simons and Grant, traded Dame for a grossly overpaid anachronistic C in Ayton, and added an injury magnet in Timelord...while investing a 7th pick in 3rd C who spent a good chunk of the season as the backup's backup. And I'm about 80% convinced Cronin will re-sign Simons and Ayton for more money than they are making now

IMO, there is no logic with this roster, but apparently it's what the GM wants. So, right now I want the GM fired and for the Blazers to get fresh eyes properly gauging the value of the vets; and finally hop over the damn fence instead of straddling. Portland sucks so embrace the suckage and try to find a couple of elite players in the only avenue open to them: the draft

[dckingsfan]

As many losses as possible as many minutes as possible for the young guys.

Hmmm, thinking if they play the young guys they may not get as many losses as possible

[DusterBuster]

Whiskey?

[Tim Lehrbach]

As many losses as possible as many minutes as possible for the young guys.

Hmmm, thinking if they play the young guys they may not get as many losses as possible

Lol, yeah, Grant has been our most decorated tank commander this year. Simons hasn't been a whole lot better.

[zzaj]

DcKingsFan, Duster and TimL...if you had it your way, what would you like to see?

[Tim Lehrbach]

Eh, what they're doing with what they've got doesn't offend me all that much. Cronin's sins are much deeper than what is happening on the court from one night to the next. But here we are: terrible roster, terrible coaching, mostly terrible results. It's just your average rebuild, and there are going to be more ugly seasons like this one. We all wish our GM would replace our lousy veterans with exciting prospects, but it's not realistic. Somebody's gotta eat up the minutes, and I'm not as upset by Scoot and Sharpe having a few minutes shaved off their upper limits as some people are. I do wish Clingan would play more.

I know I didn't really answer the question. If I had it my way, we would have flipped Sharpe and Deni for more draft capital at the deadline and trotted out some classic "Mark Madsen chucking threes" tanktastic lineups the rest of the way. But most teams just don't tank that hard for that much of the season.

[Sinobas]

right before the season began I said it kind of looked like the Blazers were going to prematurely stop the tank and idiotically try to win enough games to be in the play-in race. I predicted no activity at all before the trade deadline

in my view that would have been the absolute worst outcome for the season. And it's sure looking like that's exactly what the Blazers will do....dive directly into the worst purgatory and NBA team can be in

they are currently 9th seed for the lottery and with Wemby out Portland will likely slide behind the Spurs for 10th seed; and an outside shot of falling even further. Oh joy

If you had it your way, what would you like to see Wiz?

I said this repeatedly: if the Blazers traded Dame they absolutely needed to trade all the vets, Simons, Nurkic, Grant (or let him walk), & Thybulle. I wanted Portland to cash in on those vets and collect as many expiring contracts, draft assets, and young prospects as they could. For the Blazers to FINALLY stop straddling fences and go full tilt into a full rebuild; become organically bad enough to collect a series of high draft picks and no, a pair of #7's and a #3 are not nearly enough. And it's pretty clear right now that none of those 3 picks will end up as an elite player. May not even have any sniff an all-star game. Which is why you need to maximize the number of top-5 draft picks when you have the opportunity

I wanted the Blazers to abandon the purgatory of mid-first draft picks, 1st round exits, and now, seeming to hope for a 10th seed in the play-in over the next 2 or 3 seasons

But the Blazers resigned Simons and Grant, traded Dame for a grossly overpaid anachronistic C in Ayton, and added an injury magnet in Timelord...while investing a 7th pick in 3rd C who spent a good chunk of the season as the backup's backup. And I'm about 80% convinced Cronin will re-sign Simons and Ayton for more money than they are making now

IMO, there is no logic with this roster, but apparently it's what the GM wants. So, right now I want the GM fired and for the Blazers to get fresh eyes properly gauging the value of the vets; and finally hop over the damn fence instead of straddling. Portland sucks so embrace the suckage and try to find a couple of elite players in the only avenue open to them: the draft

I think fans don't give Cronin enough credit for the good moves he has made. He got Camara and Deni, with Lillard trade assets (and we still have spare change with that deal), and I think we can all agree that's 2/5ths of a good future lineup. And I think Clingan is the answer at center, and Scoot looks like a solid PG. We still need another star level player, yes, but he's gotten us good pieces.

I think he's only true stinker of a move was keeping Grant. Keeping Thy was stupid, but won't likely impact us. Now if he follows this up by KEEPING Simons and Ayton, he needs to be run out of town, but we have a lot of contracts coming off the books next year.

[m0ng0]

What Sinobas just said. I was good for starting the tank the minute we traded Dame, not resign Grant and fire it up.
.

[dckingsfan]

DcKingsFan, Duster and TimL...if you had it your way, what would you like to see?

What you said. Play the young guys.

I would like to see Scoot and Clingan get 24 minutes per game at a minimum. Sharpe on a short leash where every time he doesn't defend he gets pulled.

I am fine with the starting lineup (although I would rather see Scoot start for the remainder of the season). I don't want to see Simons or Grant play more than 28 minutes a game.

I think if you were to start Simons, Sharpe, Grant, Camara and Clingan you would minimize your wins though.

Optimally for development ("something like"):

Scoot (28); Sharpe (20) pulling when not defending, if so Banton
Avdija (20); Simons (20) pulling when not defending, if so more minutes ; Rupert (8)
Grant (28); Avdija (12); Rupert (8)
Camara (28); Walker (10)
Clingan (24); Williams (24)

[dckingsfan]

If you had it your way, what would you like to see Wiz?

I said this repeatedly: if the Blazers traded Dame they absolutely needed to trade all the vets, Simons, Nurkic, Grant (or let him walk), & Thybulle. I wanted Portland to cash in on those vets and collect as many expiring contracts, draft assets, and young prospects as they could. For the Blazers to FINALLY stop straddling fences and go full tilt into a full rebuild; become organically bad enough to collect a series of high draft picks and no, a pair of #7's and a #3 are not nearly enough. And it's pretty clear right now that none of those 3 picks will end up as an elite player. May not even have any sniff an all-star game. Which is why you need to maximize the number of top-5 draft picks when you have the opportunity

I wanted the Blazers to abandon the purgatory of mid-first draft picks, 1st round exits, and now, seeming to hope for a 10th seed in the play-in over the next 2 or 3 seasons

But the Blazers resigned Simons and Grant, traded Dame for a grossly overpaid anachronistic C in Ayton, and added an injury magnet in Timelord...while investing a 7th pick in 3rd C who spent a good chunk of the season as the backup's backup. And I'm about 80% convinced Cronin will re-sign Simons and Ayton for more money than they are making now

IMO, there is no logic with this roster, but apparently it's what the GM wants. So, right now I want the GM fired and for the Blazers to get fresh eyes properly gauging the value of the vets; and finally hop over the damn fence instead of straddling. Portland sucks so embrace the suckage and try to find a couple of elite players in the only avenue open to them: the draft

I think fans don't give Cronin enough credit for the good moves he has made. He got Camara and Deni, with Lillard trade assets (and we still have spare change with that deal), and I think we can all agree that's 2/5ths of a good future lineup. And I think Clingan is the answer at center, and Scoot looks like a solid PG. We still need another star level player, yes, but he's gotten us good pieces.

I think he's only true stinker of a move was keeping Grant. Keeping Thy was stupid, but won't likely impact us. Now if he follows this up by KEEPING Simons and Ayton, he needs to be run out of town, but we have a lot of contracts coming off the books next year.

With respect.

That is because we are on a treadmill. The very worst place you can put a team is to be perpetually drafting 9+ and needing a star to make a jump.

That is because the current "veterans" are overpaid given their production. That goes for Ayton, Grant and Simons. That also makes them untradeable, so we are essentially stuck with them. Thybulle also falls in that category. All of that together removes any flexibility going forward.

That is because as fans you see the best opportunity for this team would be making the play-in. That or get extremely lucky and hit the lottery. So, hope has to be the plan.

All-in-all, not a good look for a GM.

[Wizenheimer]

I think fans don't give Cronin enough credit for the good moves he has made. He got Camara and Deni, with Lillard trade assets (and we still have spare change with that deal), and I think we can all agree that's 2/5ths of a good future lineup. And I think Clingan is the answer at center, and Scoot looks like a solid PG. We still need another star level player, yes, but he's gotten us good pieces.

I think he's only true stinker of a move was keeping Grant. Keeping Thy was stupid, but won't likely impact us. Now if he follows this up by KEEPING Simons and Ayton, he needs to be run out of town, but we have a lot of contracts coming off the books next year.

Cronin has made some good moves and he's made some bad moves. The context is very mixed. That's probably true for a lot of GM's

but Portland's direction is muddled, and from where they are right now, the road to purgatory is wide open, while the road out is narrow and winding with hairpin turns

Camara and Avdija are good players. But the price paid for both has been high. it's probably unlikely either will ever be an all-star. Avdija might be a rich man's Boris Diaw; Camara might be a more physical Shane Battier. But more than that, as we have both mentioned, and many others as well have mentioned, is Portland needs a couple of elite players. If Avdija/Camara are the wings, Clingan the C, and Scoot the PG, the only position the Blazers can add an elite player is at SG. This is an extreme limitation on Portland's upside. It has to be that either one of Deni/Toumani is expendable for the right player, Scoot too for that matter

Matthews and Batum were good players too but their shoulders weren't broad enough to carry Blazers anywhere. Perhaps Deni/Toumani will be better than Matthews/Batum, but it's very doubtful they will be better than Aldridge/Batum, and that pair didn't have broad shoulders either. The only player Portland has had over the last 15 years with broad enough shoulders is Dame

and we saw with Dame that Portland's fatal mistake was investing heavily in a supporting cast before they had those two elite players in place, allowing the Blazers to actually determine what kind of supporting cast was needed. Portland had one of those elite players, but it wasn't nearly enough. Now, Portland has no elite players in place, but fans are excited, again, about a supporting cast. Another cart before the horse reboot. But then, for a lot of GM's, landing the cart is the easy work. Finding a couple of great horses to pull the cart is the hard part of the job.

And Cronin hasn't made a bit of progress in that direction. And generating a bunch of lottery-damaging wins on the backs of Simons-Ayton-Grant is a completely irrational way to find the horses

****************************************************************************

by the way, why would anybody think Cronin intends to trade Simons and/or Ayton? and why would anybody believe he'll let them walk? Cronin was the one who convinced Olshey to focus on Simons in the draft; and Cronin coveted Ayton for 2 years before he was able to make him the centerpiece of the return for Dame. Those are Cronin's guys and we haven't heard a single semi-credible rumor he was ever shopping either. And the last time Cronin had an unrestricted free agent who could walk he gave him an albatross 5-year/160M contract. And that was one day before he matched an idiotic offer sheet to Thybulle

nothing about Cronin's tenure indicates he'll trade those guys or let them walk. And if he re-signs them, there's nothing indicating he won't give them higher salaries and more money than they had on the previous deal

[DusterBuster]

DcKingsFan, Duster and TimL...if you had it your way, what would you like to see?

I’m pretty much in line with what Wiz said tbh.

The only other thing I’ll add is that I would be more aggressive on the trade front. I think that can be an avenue alongside the draft, but you have to be aggressive. As Cronin himself said “make a deal that shocks people by how much you paid” (or something to that effect during his “we’re all in on Dame” era).

I know most won’t agree with that path, but the point I’m trying to make is I want to see a direction more than anything. Be aggressive and have a direction. I will have more respect for a swing and a miss than just whatever this treading water **** is.

Give me an A or give me an F, I’m tired of this D+/C- crap.

[DusterBuster]

I said this repeatedly: if the Blazers traded Dame they absolutely needed to trade all the vets, Simons, Nurkic, Grant (or let him walk), & Thybulle. I wanted Portland to cash in on those vets and collect as many expiring contracts, draft assets, and young prospects as they could. For the Blazers to FINALLY stop straddling fences and go full tilt into a full rebuild; become organically bad enough to collect a series of high draft picks and no, a pair of #7's and a #3 are not nearly enough. And it's pretty clear right now that none of those 3 picks will end up as an elite player. May not even have any sniff an all-star game. Which is why you need to maximize the number of top-5 draft picks when you have the opportunity

I wanted the Blazers to abandon the purgatory of mid-first draft picks, 1st round exits, and now, seeming to hope for a 10th seed in the play-in over the next 2 or 3 seasons

But the Blazers resigned Simons and Grant, traded Dame for a grossly overpaid anachronistic C in Ayton, and added an injury magnet in Timelord...while investing a 7th pick in 3rd C who spent a good chunk of the season as the backup's backup. And I'm about 80% convinced Cronin will re-sign Simons and Ayton for more money than they are making now

IMO, there is no logic with this roster, but apparently it's what the GM wants. So, right now I want the GM fired and for the Blazers to get fresh eyes properly gauging the value of the vets; and finally hop over the damn fence instead of straddling. Portland sucks so embrace the suckage and try to find a couple of elite players in the only avenue open to them: the draft

I think fans don't give Cronin enough credit for the good moves he has made. He got Camara and Deni, with Lillard trade assets (and we still have spare change with that deal), and I think we can all agree that's 2/5ths of a good future lineup. And I think Clingan is the answer at center, and Scoot looks like a solid PG. We still need another star level player, yes, but he's gotten us good pieces.

I think he's only true stinker of a move was keeping Grant. Keeping Thy was stupid, but won't likely impact us. Now if he follows this up by KEEPING Simons and Ayton, he needs to be run out of town, but we have a lot of contracts coming off the books next year.

With respect.

That is because we are on a treadmill. The very worst place you can put a team is to be perpetually drafting 9+ and needing a star to make a jump.

That is because the current "veterans" are overpaid given their production. That goes for Ayton, Grant and Simons. That also makes them untradeable, so we are essentially stuck with them. Thybulle also falls in that category. All of that together removes any flexibility going forward.

That is because as fans you see the best opportunity for this team would be making the play-in. That or get extremely lucky and hit the lottery. So, hope has to be the plan.

All-in-all, not a good look for a GM.

I’m mixed on Cronin as a GM. I think he’s probably closer to average than some of the major critics of him here claim. Outside of his deals he made his first deadline (CJ, Powell and Covington), he’s made largely decent trades and the draft picks have been solid for the most part (on par for an average GM).

Where Cronin gets criticism from me is his lack of aggressiveness on the trade front and complete lack of any direction. I think he’s too timid, when Billups pulled that crap this summer trying to get let go via the media so he could pursue the Suns job, that should have been an immediately friable offense for Billups and he did nothing. When the Lakers were offering a FRP for Grant, not accepting that was dumb. Not making space for a player they picked #3 and caused the best player in the franchise history to leave?

Those are all the moves by Cronin where I’m like… what are we doing here?

[dckingsfan]

Well, if you want to just an FO, it wouldn't be in a vacuum. It should be against other teams as well.

And yes, he is an "average GM" which gets you where exactly? It gets you a middling lineup with a middling coach hoping to get to 40 wins per season. Oh, and an overpaid set of vets... so, maybe slightly below average.

The Blazers sit at 22nd in the league - that makes sense for a slightly below average GM. I would think we would sit somewhere between 14th and 24th in the league over time.

Or another way to look at it is via the draft, trades & signings.

Draft FRPs: Clingan, Scoot, Murray, Sharpe
Trades & Signings: Ayton, Grant, Simons, Williams, Thybulle

No homeruns in the draft but respectable, some pretty bad signings.

So, slightly below average in that context as well.