Free agency

[Pattycakes]

I’m honestly surprised all the negativity stemming from even our fan base about this season. The diff between last season and a 3-4 seed wasn’t all that much at the end of the day but a shift in health luck and roster reconstruction. Someone bet me a sig for the season, for you - I’m predicting now we will be a top team in the west and dame has a bounce back season with plenty of depth and development on the current roster. I like this game.

[Norm2953]

Just take a look at what's happened or could happen this summer

GSW NBA champion
Mem Will be tough for JJJ was hurt
Pho Durant?
Minn Gobert
NO Zion
LAC Kawhi?
LAL Kyrie?
Dal
Den

It just seems like the money are freely flowed this summer and its going to be a tough western conference.
Teams that will take a step back are the SAS and Utah and even the bottom feeders like OKC and Houston
after years of lottery picks are loaded with young, talented players.

I think this team will be an 8 seed and depending on match ups, might struggle to get out of the play in
round but in any event, first round fodder for whoever wins the west.

[elias808]

I’m honestly surprised all the negativity stemming from even our fan base about this season. The diff between last season and a 3-4 seed wasn’t all that much at the end of the day but a shift in health luck and roster reconstruction. Someone bet me a sig for the season, for you - I’m predicting now we will be a top team in the west and dame has a bounce back season with plenty of depth and development on the current roster. I like this game.

Define “top team”.

[Case2012]

I'm slightly bothered by K.D. possibly holding up some potential moves. I sure hope his issue doesn't drag on, and he finds a new team very soon.

Wonder if Portland quietly has some form of Dame/EBEC for K.D. with and without Kyrie. Or perhaps Cronin can also help Kyrie get to the Lakers instead. Be part of some blockbuster 3-4 team trade. I would be happy taking a shot at snatching up Ben Simmons too, if we could somehow. Regardless though, I really just want K.D. to get done already. A Dame package surely would be far from the worst that could be offered.

Happy overall with the contracts given to Simons and Nurkic. We took care of both of them nicely IMO. I will remain hopeful Dame gets moved sooner rather than later, because I'm 100% confident a Dame/Simons pairing ain't working any better than a the CJ version. IMO, Hart at SF is equally insane.

Not sure who to target for Dame, but I think Durrant is the obvious starting point. A top tier PF that fits with Nurkic is what we seem to need most: Siakam, A.D., or some lesser version would be ideal. Jalen Smith would have even been nice. I just feel this team could get really, good really fast, with the right deal for Dame.

A legit starting 4. That's all we are really missing IMO, and a 3rd C maybe.

Simons / GP2 / Williams
Hart / Little / Keon
Grant / Winslow / Sharpe
??? / Watford / GB3
Nurkic / Eubanks

What did Dame ever do to you? You’re obsessed.

[GEE]

I'm slightly bothered by K.D. possibly holding up some potential moves. I sure hope his issue doesn't drag on, and he finds a new team very soon.

Wonder if Portland quietly has some form of Dame/EBEC for K.D. with and without Kyrie. Or perhaps Cronin can also help Kyrie get to the Lakers instead. Be part of some blockbuster 3-4 team trade. I would be happy taking a shot at snatching up Ben Simmons too, if we could somehow. Regardless though, I really just want K.D. to get done already. A Dame package surely would be far from the worst that could be offered.

Happy overall with the contracts given to Simons and Nurkic. We took care of both of them nicely IMO. I will remain hopeful Dame gets moved sooner rather than later, because I'm 100% confident a Dame/Simons pairing ain't working any better than a the CJ version. IMO, Hart at SF is equally insane.

Not sure who to target for Dame, but I think Durrant is the obvious starting point. A top tier PF that fits with Nurkic is what we seem to need most: Siakam, A.D., or some lesser version would be ideal. Jalen Smith would have even been nice. I just feel this team could get really, good really fast, with the right deal for Dame.

A legit starting 4. That's all we are really missing IMO, and a 3rd C maybe.

Simons / GP2 / Williams
Hart / Little / Keon
Grant / Winslow / Sharpe
??? / Watford / GB3
Nurkic / Eubanks

What did Dame ever do to you? You’re obsessed.

I've always admired Dame, but I like winning playoff series' more. It's a business in the end, and not personal. Everyone in the Association understands this. I just don't have the blind, Man-Love for Dame that so many around here have. The fact that I was also taught at a young age that: No player is above the team, and that you play for the name on the front of your jersey... not the back. So there's that.

My ultimate stance is: With the right trade of our most valuable of asset... we could be on the inside of the playoff picture, versus fighting for a play-in spot. If we can just turn Dame into a legit staring caliber PF like Ben Simmons or better, our BLAZERS would again be: Fun to watch, Playoff bound, and have a real chance at competing for a championship, and for many years to come. Anything else is insanity by it's very definition.

Obsessed... Yes I am! But not over Dame... for my Blazers!

RIP CITY!!!

[BlazersBroncos]

I would stop watching this team if we traded a person with the gumption of Damian Lillard for the league wide laughingstock that is Ben Simmons.

Also, the whole marketing team for PDX would quit if that move went down - and the team would lose 10's of millions.

[Blazers98]

With Dames's recent comments about loyalty, I hope both sides could agree not to extend Dame for 50 million. More money for him will make his contract less desirable if he wants to be traded to a "contender" next year IMO. Not signing the extension would give him and the team more flexibility. This is a win win.

[Norm2953]

Any Durant trades to Portland would require Dame being on the team.

Best course of action would be for Dame to re-stablish his value by getting back onto the court
and showing everyone he's the same guy he was prior to 2021. It will be interesting to see who
are the suitors for Portland will want picks/pick swaps if they decide to move him.

[JRoy]

8th seed or bust!

[Pattycakes]

I’m honestly surprised all the negativity stemming from even our fan base about this season. The diff between last season and a 3-4 seed wasn’t all that much at the end of the day but a shift in health luck and roster reconstruction. Someone bet me a sig for the season, for you - I’m predicting now we will be a top team in the west and dame has a bounce back season with plenty of depth and development on the current roster. I like this game.

Define “top team”.

Did in post. Sig bet let’s go.

[BlazersBroncos]

GSW, PHX and MEM are the only teams I would bet money on being better than us. I’m cautiously optimistic. This is a team of guys that don’t coast - the talent level may be similar to last (I personally think it’s clearly better) but it’s not full of ‘coasters’ like RoCo and Norm nor is our backcourt a your-turn-my-turn duo anymore IMO. Ant has more to his game, notably simply moving the ball.

[soobias]

i would put clips in that group also if all healthy.

[elias808]

I’m honestly surprised all the negativity stemming from even our fan base about this season. The diff between last season and a 3-4 seed wasn’t all that much at the end of the day but a shift in health luck and roster reconstruction. Someone bet me a sig for the season, for you - I’m predicting now we will be a top team in the west and dame has a bounce back season with plenty of depth and development on the current roster. I like this game.

Define “top team”.

Did in post. Sig bet let’s go.

If you’re talking top 4 in west after the regular season, you got yourself a bet my friend!

[m0ng0]

I will take that bet

[GEE]

i would put clips in that group also if all healthy.

If the Clippers aren't a top 4 team in the WC, I would be shocked. I think honestly there are a few more teams that could be added to that list in the WC, that may finish ahead of us in the standings, as our roster is currently constructed. Dallas, New Orleans, Minny and the Lakers could all help to provide us with the same destiny of years past.

If the plan is to start Dame and Simons at the 1 & 2, then just like with CJ, we will pay a healthy cost on the defensive side of the ball. If this current roster wants any chance of success, I think Simons would need to accept and embrace the 6th man role. That could actually work IMO, but just like with CJ, the argument can easily be made that he's too good not to start.

The whole Dame drama is only going to carry on, until he eventually gets traded. What good reason do we have for waiting? How will things be any different than before? I just don't see it.

Dame and Simons reminds me 100% of the Green Bay Packers. Anyone remember the final years of the legendary gun slinger, Brett Favre. Aaron Rodgers, along with the team potential for any type of success, sat waiting in limbo for two plus years, until Favre finally left for the Vikings. Also interesting to note... nobody on this earth thought that Aaron Rodgers would even come close to the success' of Farve. No Chance!

[Norm2953]

I'd take the bet that the GSW, Phoenix, Memphis, LAC, Minn and likely the Pelicans would be
better than Portland. Portland lacks a PF/C which arguably was their biggest need this
off season.

It'll be interesting to see how the Lakers will fare with Lebron, AD and Kyrie. Dallas lost Brunson
and Denver has a host of injury concerns. Portland's problems will come when Nurk gets hurt for
they are counting on Trendon Watford and Drew Eubanks as backups. Teams will send three or
four guys to our offensive board for we are a weak rebounding team.

[Blazers98]

The west is tough. The only teams I would argue that are not capable of the same level as Portland or higher is:
Houston
OKC
Sacramento
Utah
San Antonio

I guess with the "play in" Portland is in good shape making the playoffs if healthy (ish).
Making it to the second round is probably the highest capablity of this team as it stands.

[Norm2953]

Both OKC and Houston have been accumulating lottery talent over multiple drafts and have plenty of future FRP to use to get any player. Utah and the SAS are following their program. It would not be a suprise if they competed for a play in spot if they chose to.

[BlazersBroncos]

Why does it matter if Ant starts or comes off the bench? He will be a 30-32mpg guy either way. It’s semantics.

[BlazersBroncos]

Would love to bring Isaiah Roby in to compete for the backup C spot, but I think we hitched our wagon to Watford at this point.