Making Sense of a Senseless Summer

DusterBuster · Post #141 » by **DusterBuster** » Thu Jul 17, 2025 10:37 pm

I'm **** speechless.

DusterBuster · Post #142 » by **DusterBuster** » Fri Jul 18, 2025 5:04 am

I just genuinely cant remember a more confusing offseason than this.

Man, I started following this team as a kid with the JR Ryder / Sheed teams, than trading for Pip, BG, and Sabas... there was always a lot of offseasons to build around someting... post-Sheed, it was Zbo. Post-Z, it was Roy, LA and Oden, than came Dame and CJ... since that previous crew broke up, it's felt like throwing pickles against the wall... maybe this is still that, but you have a real core of something... I think Deni is more impressive than people think (and Vegas agrees for MIP)... this just has that sense I've seen of teams where the vibes matter.

I could be 100000% wrong, but a good lockerroom and every player locked can bring you really far. Not in the playoffs! but in the regular season, you can Rockets this ****... I think THIS seasons roster has the potential... POTENTIAL... to be 40+ wins. Defense locked in, unconventional offense (so opposing teams struggle to find a clear gameplan) and just a really "we dont know any better" mindset...

I'm telling you this is an easy Vegas over if the line is still 32.5.

JRoy · Post #143 » by **JRoy** » Fri Jul 18, 2025 5:18 am

If healthy, sure.

DusterBuster · Post #144 » by **DusterBuster** » Fri Jul 18, 2025 5:25 am

JRoy wrote:If healthy, sure.

And if not, what's the problem?

Why I've been hammering the "who cares if JG is dead cap" mantra all summer... why does it matter AT THIS TIME...

I get not wanting dead cap. Being the Bucks WITH GIANNIS... Ok, I get it. Having 22+ mil of dead cap is NOT good. The Suns, having no picks and 5 years of Beal's dead cap ... NOT IDEAL with a 28yo Booker and being capped out... again, I totally GET it.

WHERE THE BLAZERS ARE NOW in July 17 2025..........

Why does it matter?!?!?!

They don't have a Giannis or Booker. They don't even have a Thompson! You HOPE Deni is something... we'll see.

Why is ANYONE worrying about cap OR tax money right now or even for the next 2-3 years?

Everyone keeps bringing up (valid) reasons when you have a star to work that money around... but this is NOT the current Blazers situation... WHY does it matter...

Please someone tell me WHY!

Walton1one · Post #145 » by **Walton1one** » Fri Jul 18, 2025 5:36 am

There is no sense to be made of this summer.

The train to mediocreville has left the station

DusterBuster · Post #146 » by **DusterBuster** » Fri Jul 18, 2025 5:50 am

Walton1one wrote:There is no sense to be made of this summer.

The train to mediocreville has left the station

Give me a plan that wasn't going to that destination...

For me, at this point, where the Blazers are (which is a weird **** spot)... At least mediocreville has a fun **** bar.

Walton1one · Post #147 » by **Walton1one** » Fri Jul 18, 2025 5:55 am

Well, you were right on that point, Cronin screwed that plan over 2 years ago? Shame on me for expecting him to act like a normal GM, I kept hoping, but that is now dead

DusterBuster · Post #148 » by **DusterBuster** » Fri Jul 18, 2025 6:02 am

Walton1one wrote:Well, you were right on that point, Cronin screwed that plan over 2 years ago? Shame on me for expecting him to act like a normal GM, I kept hoping, but that is now dead

Look, I agree. If I were GM, I would have just burnt this **** to the ground from day 1. I totally agree. My frustrations of Scoot not just given the reigns to learn from mistakes from day 1 are WELL documented here.

I argued carrying dead cap of JG is worth it for development!

That said, what you AND I! expect a "normal GM" to do doesn't always work out. I absolutely love Danny Ainge. I think the Blazers should have hired him after Olshey was fired and before Cronin got the full time job... I still to this day think that was the right move! That said, Ainge has done every move I want a "normal GM" to make... and what does he have to show for it? That's an injured 50mil per year player, some bust top 10 picks and a player who doesn't seem to want to play for his team... but... draft capital?!

I'm saying I agree with you, none of this makes sense and I would have done it entirely differently... but the GM who made the moved I would have done has been unimpressive... sooooo, lets see what the **** this does?

JasonStern · Post #149 » by **JasonStern** » Fri Jul 18, 2025 9:00 pm

Scoot is probably a bust - at least by draft time expectations. Might be able to carve out a Ricky Rubio tier future. It happens. Ayton went #1 and the Blazers are paying him $25M to go play with the Lakers.

Sharpe was a great pick. Future face of the franchise? No. But still on that Darius Miles trajectory. If you look back at that 2022 draft, you have Jalen Williams as the only player picked after Shaedon that you think to yourself, man. I wish we could do that draft over.

Norm2953 · Post #150 » by **Norm2953** » Fri Jul 18, 2025 9:21 pm

One has to think bringing back Dame was not for basketball reasons but to drum up interest
in the team's sale.

Dame Lizard · Post #151 » by **Dame Lizard** » Sat Jul 19, 2025 5:40 am

Having read the Toronto were offering Barrett and #9 for Jrue. Oh man I'd love that package. I don't particularly like RJ, but being able to draft another of Coward/Bryant/Essengue in exchange for Simons would have been great.

RJ's contract is also a year shorter than Jrue's.

PDXKnight · Post #152 » by **PDXKnight** » Sat Jul 19, 2025 7:08 am

Dame Lizard wrote:Having read the Toronto were offering Barrett and #9 for Jrue. Oh man I'd love that package. I don't particularly like RJ, but being able to draft another of Coward/Bryant/Essengue in exchange for Simons would have been great.

RJ's contract is also a year shorter than Jrue's.

Yeah I like that trade as well. If thats truly the market and not just chatter maybe we did alright on value

PDXKnight · Post #153 » by **PDXKnight** » Sat Jul 19, 2025 7:20 am

JasonStern wrote:Scoot is probably a bust - at least by draft time expectations. Might be able to carve out a Ricky Rubio tier future. It happens. Ayton went #1 and the Blazers are paying him $25M to go play with the Lakers.

Sharpe was a great pick. Future face of the franchise? No. But still on that Darius Miles trajectory. If you look back at that 2022 draft, you have Jalen Williams as the only player picked after Shaedon that you think to yourself, man. I wish we could do that draft over.

Sharpe really was a good pick, missing on 1 isnt awful as theres always 1-2 teams overlook. That draft as a whole looks good not great after the high lotto besides the aforementioned jalen Williams.

Sinobas · Post #154 » by **Sinobas** » Sat Jul 19, 2025 1:39 pm

Dame Lizard wrote:Having read the Toronto were offering Barrett and #9 for Jrue. Oh man I'd love that package. I don't particularly like RJ, but being able to draft another of Coward/Bryant/Essengue in exchange for Simons would have been great.

RJ's contract is also a year shorter than Jrue's.

I don't believe that, because RJ and Simons are pretty equal, so why wouldn't the Celtics take the #9? I'd trade Jrue for that package right now just to get the pick.

Sinobas · Post #155 » by **Sinobas** » Sat Jul 19, 2025 1:45 pm

JasonStern wrote:Scoot is probably a bust - at least by draft time expectations. Might be able to carve out a Ricky Rubio tier future. It happens. Ayton went #1 and the Blazers are paying him $25M to go play with the Lakers.

Sharpe was a great pick. Future face of the franchise? No. But still on that Darius Miles trajectory. If you look back at that 2022 draft, you have Jalen Williams as the only player picked after Shaedon that you think to yourself, man. I wish we could do that draft over.

I think he's going to turn out to be an above average starter. Remember that Scoot is still a year younger than Dame was as a rookie. He improved his efficiency in year 2, from terrible to just slightly below average. He can get to the rim, but needs to learn how to get to the FT line more, which is something that typically comes with experience.

He has the tools to be a good defender too, and is going to have an army of PGs training him next year.

Wizenheimer · Post #156 » by **Wizenheimer** » Sat Jul 19, 2025 7:20 pm

Dame Lizard wrote:Having read the Toronto were offering Barrett and #9 for Jrue. Oh man I'd love that package. I don't particularly like RJ, but being able to draft another of Coward/Bryant/Essengue in exchange for Simons would have been great.

RJ's contract is also a year shorter than Jrue's.

this was from Jake Fischer

I watched the video and while he was pretty certain the offer was for White, he was a lot less certain the offer was for Jrue

Braggins · Post #157 » by **Braggins** » Sun Jul 20, 2025 5:29 pm

Does anyone else think Scoot is going to start this year even if they keep Jrue? I feel like the most likely scenario is he starts over Grant and the lineup is Scoot/Jrue/Deni/Camara/Clingan.

oldfishermen · Post #158 » by **oldfishermen** » Sun Jul 20, 2025 7:03 pm

Braggins wrote:Does anyone else think Scoot is going to start this year even if they keep Jrue? I feel like the most likely scenario is he starts over Grant and the lineup is Scoot/Jrue/Deni/Camara/Clingan.

Short answer. Scoot should start. We have this season to find out if he is the starter of the future.

The same case can be made for starting Sharpe.

Jrue is a Swiss army knife of guards. And can backup both Scoot and Sharpe.

Braggins · Post #159 » by **Braggins** » Sun Jul 20, 2025 7:14 pm

oldfishermen wrote:
Braggins wrote:Does anyone else think Scoot is going to start this year even if they keep Jrue? I feel like the most likely scenario is he starts over Grant and the lineup is Scoot/Jrue/Deni/Camara/Clingan.

Short answer. Scoot should start. We have this season to find out if he is the starter of the future.

The same case can be made for starting Sharpe.

Jrue is a Swiss army knife of guards. And can backup both Scoot and Sharpe.

I feel similarly. I lean towards thinking they would also start Jrue if they keep him, but I personally think i like him more off the bench.

JasonStern · Post #160 » by **JasonStern** » Sun Jul 20, 2025 9:37 pm

Norm2953 wrote:One has to think bringing back Dame was not for basketball reasons but to drum up interest
in the team's sale.

Nah. It was about keeping fan interest. No potential buyer was thinking, I wasn't going to pay billions for a franchise, but now that they have a 35 year old Damian Lillard that has to sit out a year, I'll pony up.

Sinobas wrote:
JasonStern wrote:Scoot is probably a bust - at least by draft time expectations. Might be able to carve out a Ricky Rubio tier future. It happens. Ayton went #1 and the Blazers are paying him $25M to go play with the Lakers.

Sharpe was a great pick. Future face of the franchise? No. But still on that Darius Miles trajectory. If you look back at that 2022 draft, you have Jalen Williams as the only player picked after Shaedon that you think to yourself, man. I wish we could do that draft over.

I think he's going to turn out to be an above average starter. Remember that Scoot is still a year younger than Dame was as a rookie. He improved his efficiency in year 2, from terrible to just slightly below average. He can get to the rim, but needs to learn how to get to the FT line more, which is something that typically comes with experience.

He has the tools to be a good defender too, and is going to have an army of PGs training him next year.

I never said Scoot would be a bust. I have repeatedly player comparisoned him to Ricky Rubio. Guy who dominated against lesser competition, thus had some insane hype behind him, only to be humbled when playing against the elite. Plus they both can't shoot. But Rubio still had a solid career.

Braggins wrote:Does anyone else think Scoot is going to start this year even if they keep Jrue? I feel like the most likely scenario is he starts over Grant and the lineup is Scoot/Jrue/Deni/Camara/Clingan.

If he isn't flipped, Jrue will start. You can argue whether or not he should start, but he'll start and close. Hopefully, they split the minutes to keep his wear down.