Portland - 2016 Offseason

[Wizenheimer]

Wiz, The problem with upgrading from Plumlee to a rim protecting C is adding that other play maker in the line-up.

To complicate it even more, our offense sucks when we have two players on the floor together that can't shoot.

building a good team isn't easy. Shouldn't give up because it's not

and yes, if Portland spends money on a defensive C, they'll need to explore the trade value of Plumlee/Davis

That play maker would have to be at the PF spot (really Lebron, Griffin, and Green might be the only ones in the NBA) or would have to be a small forward.

keep in mind what you're trying to replace. It's not like Plumlee is Steve Nash. He had a 16.2% assist rate this season (bbref). Al Horford has beat that in 3 different seasons and has 2 other seasons when he was over 15%. Kevin Love acted as a playmaker for Minny his last season there and had 21.4% assist rate and a per36 mark of 4.4 compared to Plumlee's 3.9.

Plumlee averaged 2.8 assists/game this year. Even if the 'new' C only averages 1, that doesn't leave a big number of assists to make up. Dwight Howard has averaged 1.5 in his career

So really that leaves two options

Play making SF who can shoot + Defensive center
Or
Defensive Center who can shoot + play making SF

I think you're narrowing the options too much. Neither Plumlee nor Davis can shoot. We're talking about the possibility of replacing one of those two C's in Portland's rotation. The C wouldn't have to shoot jumpers.

Blazers might just need a player in the wing rotation who is moderately good at play-making. They had one who is excellent in Batum but he's gone now. I think that's why Evan Turner gets mentioned a lot here. He can't shoot but he's a play maker and a good defender

[Dame Lizard]

Plumlee only has one year left on his rookie deal, same as CJ. Portland's roster could get ridiculously expensive over the next 14 months if they don't make some hard decisions

This has been my thinking all along. Plumlee gets expensive just when our team looks like it's ready to take the next step.

I have been a fan of a lot of things Olshey has done, but trading for Plumlee was nonsensical imo.

On the plus side though, he did help us have this cracking playoff run.

[Jsun947]

We are extremelly unlikely to get Horford though and even more unlikely to get Love. I think Boston is very unlikely to retain Turner though and he's the only obtainable play making SF for us on the market.

[tester551]

We are extremelly unlikely to get Horford though and even more unlikely to get Love. I think Boston is very unlikely to retain Turner though and he's the only obtainable play making SF for us on the market.

Im still pushing the Tyreke Evens idea. S&T Meyers to NO for Tyreke

[Norm2953]

All bigs if they can do anything on the court get paid. I would find it unlikely Plumlee will get
that overpaid next summer when he becomes a RFA but for now, he's a good fit with the
current roster.

[esm1885]

Yo guys Twolves fan here, just wondering are the blazers likely to resign harkless this offseason with his restricted free agency? How big of a contract would another team have to offer for the blazers not to match?

[Masterfully]

Yo guys Twolves fan here, just wondering are the blazers likely to resign harkless this offseason with his restricted free agency? How big of a contract would another team have to offer for the blazers not to match?

I don't know what management is thinking, but of our free agents he is 1b or 2 on my priority list. I'd think an offer around $15 M would make our FO hesitant about matching.

[PDXKnight]

Plumlee only has one year left on his rookie deal, same as CJ. Portland's roster could get ridiculously expensive over the next 14 months if they don't make some hard decisions

This has been my thinking all along. Plumlee gets expensive just when our team looks like it's ready to take the next step.

I have been a fan of a lot of things Olshey has done, but trading for Plumlee was nonsensical imo.

On the plus side though, he did help us have this cracking playoff run.

The plumlee trade made absolute sense at the time imo. 2 years of a rookie deal left and we got him for a late first round pick that probably wasn't gonna be a superstar. And honestly I'm not sure there are better options at center that are attainable unless we draft one or do a lopsided trade for one so we may be left with no choice but to extend him

[Downtown]

Yeah everything is easy in hindsight. But at the time I thought trading for Plumlee made sense.

You can't look back and say what if we would have signed Biyumbo to a four year deal at $8mil a year which he likely would have taken over the $2mil one he signed with Toronto. Then we could have kept RHJ. But then we may not have signed Aminu because we might have still traded for Harkless.

You see it's not a simple case of should've, could've,would've.

Yesterday's history. Tomorrow's a mystery. Today is a gift.

[JasonStern]

I have been a fan of a lot of things Olshey has done, but trading for Plumlee was nonsensical imo.

the Blazers traded the #23 pick for Plumlee, #41, and dumped Steve Blake's contract. that was a solid trade value-wise.

[Tim Lehrbach]

Not sure if he's been brought up already, but David West is declining his second-year option and will be a free agent. After giving up vast sums to unsuccessfully ring-chase with the Spurs, maybe he'd take a nice payday with the Blazers? He's still quite good all-around, and he maintained his health and conditioning throughout the season despite the limited role. Instead of Horford, Howard, or Whiteside, who probably aren't coming here anyway, maybe you can get West for less than half the price (and years) and still have boatloads of money to chase Ezeli, Biyombo, Pachulia, or another second-tier FA center I'm forgetting. Getting two guys would open up trade options for Davis, Plumlee, and Vonleh and allow Harkless (if kept) to stay a bench player. I suggested trading Vonleh for Korver, which is probably a reach, but some sort of big-for-small trade could get the Blazers either a competent backup point guard or a tougher wing, while also preventing a dangerous overpay of Crabbe or Henderson. Just some thoughts.

[Dame Lizard]

I have been a fan of a lot of things Olshey has done, but trading for Plumlee was nonsensical imo.

the Blazers traded the #23 pick for Plumlee, #41, and dumped Steve Blake's contract. that was a solid trade value-wise.

It sounds more impactive if you replace "23rd pick" with "best defender in the draft, who is a freak athlete".

Andre Roberson made a very nice impact on the WCF doing exactly what RHJ does, whilst RHJ is 3-4 years younger.

RHJ and Aminu could work superbly in a lineup alongside Dame, CJ and a centre like RoLo (or Aldrich given the situation we are in now).

I was super excited as he was the first elite defender we had drafted since ......... I've lost count.

[Dame Lizard]

Happy for Olshey to fix that defensive need in the 2016 draft though!

[Wizenheimer]

I have been a fan of a lot of things Olshey has done, but trading for Plumlee was nonsensical imo.

the Blazers traded the #23 pick for Plumlee, #41, and dumped Steve Blake's contract. that was a solid trade value-wise.

It sounds more impactive if you replace "23rd pick" with "best defender in the draft, who is a freak athlete".

Andre Roberson made a very nice impact on the WCF doing exactly what RHJ does, whilst RHJ is 3-4 years younger.

RHJ and Aminu could work superbly in a lineup alongside Dame, CJ and a centre like RoLo (or Aldrich given the situation we are in now).

I was super excited as he was the first elite defender we had drafted since ......... I've lost count.

while the trade was justifiable at the time, and still is.....the notion of having Aminu, Harkless, and RHJ as a perimeter defensive trio is extremely appealing. Now, maybe that would end up being too many bricks from the three, but the length and defensive versatility would make up for some low efficiency offense

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Happy for Olshey to fix that defensive need in the 2016 draft though!

Brogdon? Its a great year to be trying to acquire a late 1st, with Boston and Philadelphia both having too many picks and too many youngsters already.

[zzaj]

Happy for Olshey to fix that defensive need in the 2016 draft though!

Brogdon? Its a great year to be trying to acquire a late 1st, with Boston and Philadelphia both having too many picks and too many youngsters already.

Not to mention a fairly deep draft that seems like it will have some players that can contribute right away off the bench, Brogdon included...

[PDXKnight]

I have been a fan of a lot of things Olshey has done, but trading for Plumlee was nonsensical imo.

the Blazers traded the #23 pick for Plumlee, #41, and dumped Steve Blake's contract. that was a solid trade value-wise.

This isn't my quote

[GreenRiddler]

I was super excited as he was the first elite defender we had drafted since ......... I've lost count.

I would say Aminu is a elite defender. In hindsight now I have to agree with y'all. I was iffy about that trade but not sure at the time. Plumlee now is a decent backup big, whereas Ed is the same kind of better backup big. Pat isn't doing anything tbh.

Wish we could turn back the clock on that one.

[cucad8]

Opinion sure has soured on plumlee again here. I'll take a good upgrade if there is one, but I don't feel it's nearly as important as many seem to. I hope he works on that 15 foot jumper this offseason, would be a huge weapon for him.
Just seems like "rim protector" has become the new drum to beat ad nauseum here and elsewhere.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

I was 100% on the RHJ train and super stoked that he fell to us and then totally bummed to see we traded him to the Nets.

Plumlee did more for us this year than Hollis-Jefferson would have, but I think the gap will close between them sooner rather than later.