Is RIP CITY back? Blazers shoot for Play In ???

[Butter]

I think all of us expected to the Blazers to be one of the worst teams in the league this year. BUT all of a sudden, they are winning and beating quality teams...routinely.

Over the last ten games, the Blazers are 7-3. Only Indy, Men and Lal are better. The Blazers are four games behind the Kings for the 10th play-in spot, and 5 behind Phoenix.

IF the Blazers reversed the stream and traded for a position upgrade, they could make a push for the play in.

Obviously, they risk sending their 1st to Chicago. And the opportunity cost of missing out on a blue chip rookie.

Which would you prefer? Shoot for the playoffs or lose for a better shot at ping pong balls?

[Walton1one]

Think about that, 7-3 in last 10 and still 9 games under .500.

I have no idea what Cronin will do, I think the guy is an idiot. Trading away what few assets they have to chase a positional upgrade seems extremely shortsighted to me. Seems a great way to embrace mediocrity though

[DaVoiceMaster]

I love the winning, but I want one more high lottery pick before the team moves forward. The past two seasons the Blazers shut players down to ensure they got the high lotto pick. Maybe they'll do it again after the trade deadline passes?

[Butter]

Think about that, 7-3 in last 10 and still 9 games under .500.

I have no idea what Cronin will do, I think the guy is an idiot. Trading away what few assets they have to chase a positional upgrade seems extremely shortsighted to me. Seems a great way to embrace mediocrity though

To be clear, I'm not recommending this course of action. All I can do is evaluate what's happening / or not happening... Yet.

Evaluating the facts

1) they retained Billups as head couch. Billups is concerned with his career win rate, and is not interested in tanking

2) They retained a core of veteran players, who are not invested in a higher draft pick.

3) Sharp and Scoot are coming off the bench

Which objective do these decisions best support?

[Sinobas]

Think about that, 7-3 in last 10 and still 9 games under .500.

I have no idea what Cronin will do, I think the guy is an idiot. Trading away what few assets they have to chase a positional upgrade seems extremely shortsighted to me. Seems a great way to embrace mediocrity though

I can kinda see it.
1) Simons: with how crappy Scoot was last year, do we keep Simons or Scoot as the long term PG? Use another season to evaluate (he insinuated as much in a recent interview calling this an evaluation year)
2) Grant: I think he signed him in order to try and recoup some value via trade. But this was a dumb, expensive mistake. He repordely could have traded him for Rui/vanderbuilt and a first this summer. Grant's contract extends through a period of time when we'd need to resign Sharpe, Scoot and Camara.
3) Ayton: doesn't have much trade value, is expiring after next year anyway. We had to take salary back in the Dame trade, and with Ayton, there was at least a chance he could be our long term answer at C.

NOt sure how much those 3 really contribute to the win total anyway. But I think we should at least be trading Simons or Grant now.

[Butter]

Think about that, 7-3 in last 10 and still 9 games under .500.

I have no idea what Cronin will do, I think the guy is an idiot. Trading away what few assets they have to chase a positional upgrade seems extremely shortsighted to me. Seems a great way to embrace mediocrity though

I can kinda see it.
1) Simons: with how crappy Scoot was last year, do we keep Simons or Scoot as the long term PG? Use another season to evaluate (he insinuated as much in a recent interview calling this an evaluation year)
2) Grant: I think he signed him in order to try and recoup some value via trade. But this was a dumb, expensive mistake. He repordely could have traded him for Rui/vanderbuilt and a first this summer. Grant's contract extends through a period of time when we'd need to resign Sharpe, Scoot and Camara.
3) Ayton: doesn't have much trade value, is expiring after next year anyway. We had to take salary back in the Dame trade, and with Ayton, there was at least a chance he could be our long term answer at C.

NOt sure how much those 3 really contribute to the win total anyway. But I think we should at least be trading Simons or Grant now.

Ironically, Grant has been the least helpful. Ayton and Ant are definitely contributing

[Norm2953]

I've always thought this team had some talent but this season would depend on how much progress
Scoot/Sharpe would make this season.

Let's see how the western conference will look after the trade deadline. The league is unsettled after
the Doncic trade which could impact Portland for Portland is sitting on their surplus of bigs. Perhaps
if Ayton is playing really well, some team will reach for him for Luka can be traded, anyone can be
traded.

[PDXKnight]

I don't want to shoot for the play in this year. Nothing about this season makes sense and I'd still trade the vets for any collection of equal or better contracts plus maybd some added picks or worthwhile players despite recent success

[DaVoiceMaster]

Ayton has been playing pretty well lately. Perhaps that will draw some interest. If Ayton's contract was cut in half, would people like him?

[tester551]

Ayton has been playing pretty well lately. Perhaps that will draw some interest. If Ayton's contract was cut in half, would people like him?

I think so.... but Im not sure.

He's worth $15-$20M in the NBA, but people need something to complain about. I still think people would hate on him for his effort

[JRoy]

Got to get that 11th pick.

[Butter]

https://www.blazersedge.com/trail-blazers-videos/2025/2/2/24357379/portland-trail-blazers-phoenix-suns-nba-news-interviews-deandre-ayton-jerami-grant-toumani-camara

[DusterBuster]

Got to get that 11th pick.

Gotta get that celebration at Pioneer Square ready for making the play-in and then the parade ready for team on their return after a 1 day blowout loss to the Spurs.

[JRoy]

Chauncey is fighting for his job.

POR gutted our wind against superior teams but is woefully lacking in top end talent.

Tank and build.

[JasonStern]

Sacramento is probably out. Sad for their fans, who finally saw signs of life after years just to lose it.

Problem there is the Warriors probably take their play-in spot. And the Blazers would still have to jump the Wemby/Fox Spurs. Far more likely we end up with a mid-to-late lotto pick. Which I am fine with. Getting blown out by 50 was really hard to watch. Like "wow, we just wasted years tanking and a Simons/Grant lead team is what we have to show for it" bad.

[Norm2953]

It would be a mistake to shoot for a play in spot but there is nothing wrong with finally seeing progress
with Scoot.

I'm fine with seeing the young players developing at a normal pace. None of our young players are likely
to be all NBA level players but its fine if Scoot, Sharpe, Deni, Camara and DC get the time to grow
together as a team. Portland with their mid-late lottery pick drafts another guy who will fit in with
these guys for this current group lacks shooting if the Blazers allow Simons and Ayton to walk away
for nothing.

[DusterBuster]

Sacramento is probably out. Sad for their fans, who finally saw signs of life after years just to lose it.

Problem there is the Warriors probably take their play-in spot. And the Blazers would still have to jump the Wemby/Fox Spurs. Far more likely we end up with a mid-to-late lotto pick. Which I am fine with. Getting blown out by 50 was really hard to watch. Like "wow, we just wasted years tanking and a Simons/Grant lead team is what we have to show for it" bad.

Amazing to think just a couple years ago they had both Haliburton and Fox, now they have neither and basically just cloned the Bulls play-in team.

[Butter]

Be honest, are you hoping the Blazers win or lose tonight?

[garrick]

I can see Portland overtaking us Suns especially as our schedule gets increasingly difficult and out extremely small lineup continues to get pounded by teams with size and athleticism.

You guys got the better end of the deal shedding Nurkic's dead weight and salary and Camara is really looking like a stud right now. Unfortunately for us I believe Ishbia is one of the most moronic owners in the league and our future with aging stars and lack of high lottery picks for the next 7-8 years we have a worse future than yours. lol

[DusterBuster]

I can see Portland overtaking us Suns especially as our schedule gets increasingly difficult and out extremely small lineup continues to get pounded by teams with size and athleticism.

You guys got the better end of the deal shedding Nurkic's dead weight and salary and Camara is really looking like a stud right now. Unfortunately for us I believe Ishbia is one of the most moronic owners in the league and our future with aging stars and lack of high lottery picks for the next 7-8 years we have a worse future than yours. lol

Having Isiah Thomas anywhere around basketball decisions even as an adviser after how he mismanaged the Knicks for a decade should have been an offense so bad the leagues other owners got together and kicked him out... Unfortunately for Suns fans, they probably saw that and realized Ishbia will be an easy target to rip off in deals for the next decade of mismanagement they're about to undergo.

Camara was an absolute steal in that deal. Never really understood why the Suns wanted Nurk in the first place.