Portland - 2016 Offseason

[DusterBuster]

I hate Noah, but would probably love him playing for Portland. Just depends on his health really. Also depends how hard the Wolves go after him. He's got ties to them with Thibs and Thibs wants him there, so might be a hard sell for him to take Portland over Minny without a pretty big pay bump vs what they offer him.

[Tim Lehrbach]

GreenRiddler wrote:
Mike rice tweeted that we aren't interested in Whiteside cause no way can you lure him to Pacific NW.

Also that we are willing with Howard but not for his eligible max #. Horford is not proving your team enough to be worth the cost.

Lastly he says we want someone with good character who buys into the culture and is a good defender that improves our defense.


Sounds a lot like Joakim Noah. I wouldn't mind him if he went back to his form from 2 years ago. He is like a much better version of Plumlee. However I doubt you can play him 30+ mins a night like 2 years ago. Also still have the PnR problem unless Vonleh explodes.


sounds to me more like Biyombo or perhaps Cole Aldrich from the Clips
Re:

I could live with Noah, Biyombo, or Aldrich. While hoping for a bona fide big difference maker in the middle I never really believed we had a good chance at Whiteside or Horford, and that Howard was a longshot at best. I just want better interior defence and I don't care if it comes from the centre or power forward position.

This is where I'm at, too. And if Noah, Biyombo, or Aldrich cost somewhere between one-half to two-thirds of what Whiteside, Horford, and Howard go for, that opens up options to add another piece in trade or free agency, too. I'd love to see an upgrade to Crabbe/Henderson or a backup point guard.

[DusterBuster]

I hate seeing Portland have to settle for the 3rd tier guys once again, but the more I'm seeing this summer shake out, the more likely I think it is. Definitely starting to believe the thought that Portland may still have interest in Monroe and just trying to keep his value low.

[Downtown]

I hate seeing Portland have to settle for the 3rd tier guys once again, but the more I'm seeing this summer shake out, the more likely I think it is. Definitely starting to believe the thought that Portland may still have interest in Monroe and just trying to keep his value low.

Many teams over the years have done very well in the playoffs without having a star, or top tier centre. I don't mind at all having either power forward or centre being strictly a role player as long as he does the job required of him well. Look what Tristan Thompson, the consummate role player, does for Cleveland. Or Steven Adams in OKC. While I wouldn't stoop so low to call them 3rd tier, they definitely are not 1st tier.

To me having the right player at the right fit is as important to the teams success as just looking at individual skills. When you take away the fact that no team without a superstar is going to win it all, having two star players at any position and surrounding them with the appropriate cast can get you far into the playoffs if done correctly.

Durant and Westbrook, Lowry and Derozen. Even Curry, Thompson, Green along with Lebron and Irving. I don't see any big men in the group that were the final four centrepieces. Maybe Green, but I consider him more versatile than calling him a big man type. Sure Biyombo played above and beyond, but Love certainly didn't.

More than anything I think the big men need to be able to absorb what the coaches want out of them inside and do their job exceptionally and not try to be the ones that carry the team. Out of all the names we've discussed the one that comes closest for me is Al Horford and that's because he has versatility in a few areas. So personally I don't think not getting a super high end centre is going to make Portland worse.

If you give me a really solid centre and a defensive perimeter player I believe it will help the team up the ladder another notch.

[DusterBuster]

I hate seeing Portland have to settle for the 3rd tier guys once again, but the more I'm seeing this summer shake out, the more likely I think it is. Definitely starting to believe the thought that Portland may still have interest in Monroe and just trying to keep his value low.

Many teams over the years have done very well in the playoffs without having a star, or top tier centre. I don't mind at all having either power forward or centre being strictly a role player as long as he does the job required of him well. Look what Tristan Thompson, the consummate role player, does for Cleveland. Or Steven Adams in OKC. While I wouldn't stoop so low to call them 3rd tier, they definitely are not 1st tier.

To me having the right player at the right fit is as important to the teams success as just looking at individual skills. When you take away the fact that no team without a superstar is going to win it all, having two star players at any position and surrounding them with the appropriate cast can get you far into the playoffs if done correctly.

Durant and Westbrook, Lowry and Derozen. Even Curry, Thompson, Green along with Lebron and Irving. I don't see any big men in the group that were the final four centrepieces. Maybe Green, but I consider him more versatile than calling him a big man type. Sure Biyombo played above and beyond, but Love certainly didn't.

More than anything I think the big men need to be able to absorb what the coaches want out of them inside and do their job exceptionally and not try to be the ones that carry the team. Out of all the names we've discussed the one that comes closest for me is Al Horford and that's because he has versatility in a few areas. So personally I don't think not getting a super high end centre is going to make Portland worse.

If you give me a really solid centre and a defensive perimeter player I believe it will help the team up the ladder another notch.

Oh, I know. It's just the Blazer fan in me that hates seeing Portland constantly passed over by big names, even when I know they aren't needed to be successful if you already have some big names in place.

[Downtown]

Oh, I know. It's just the Blazer fan in me that hates seeing Portland constantly passed over by big names, even when I know they aren't needed to be successful if you already have some big names in place.

But of course if you can land a higher tier player it helps more. We wouldn't be true fans if we just settled on sirloin instead of asking for Fillet Mignon.

[Waynearchetype]

https://twitter.com/nbadraftnet/status/746080215458189312

Coming for Whiteside.

[DusterBuster]

https://twitter.com/nbadraftnet/status/746080215458189312

Coming for Whiteside.

This would sure make me happy. Probably coming more from his agent who wants to get as much money out of Miami as possible.

[The Sebastian Express]

Ugh. Would much rather have Dwight.

[DusterBuster]

Ugh. Would much rather have Dwight.

I'd be happy with either guy, but I think it shows where Olshey is thinking. He's definitely more interested in guys a bit younger as Whiteside looks like he's going to be Portland's Option 1A.

[Brandon-Clyde]

Ugh. Would much rather have Dwight.

I would rather Howard but Whiteside would be a good consolation prize

[DusterBuster]

Interestingly, the Mavericks don't have Dwight as one of their top 2 FA targets. Reportedly, they're top two targets are Conley and Whiteside. No mention of Dwight.

[Waynearchetype]

https://twitter.com/nbadraftnet/status/746080215458189312

Coming for Whiteside.

This would sure make me happy. Probably coming more from his agent who wants to get as much money out of Miami as possible.

Don't see why that would matter, it isn't like Miami doesn't know someone is going to throw the max at him.

[DusterBuster]

https://twitter.com/nbadraftnet/status/746080215458189312

Coming for Whiteside.

This would sure make me happy. Probably coming more from his agent who wants to get as much money out of Miami as possible.

Don't see why that would matter, it isn't like Miami doesn't know someone is going to throw the max at him.

Yeah, good point. Portland is likely just one of multiple teams willing to throw the max at him.

[sabi]

Whiteside fills our biggest needs of interior scoring and defense and he is the most talented FA we would be legit contenders with plenty of potential

[Brandon-Clyde]

Whiteside fills our biggest needs of interior scoring and defense and he is the most talented FA we would be legit contenders with plenty of potential

I do worry about his passing as he is a bit of a black hole on offense

[DusterBuster]

Is it just me, or does it seem like Portland and Dallas are always interested in the same players?

[Wizenheimer]

in the Whiteside vs Dwight debate, it may come down to the 'fact' that Dwight's max is 9-10 million more in the first year then Whiteside's.

Miami is the only team that can outbid Portland for Whiteside. If the Blazers are being a little conservative in an offer to Dwight, which they should be, several teams might outbid Portland

there's also the component that if the Blazers sign Whiteside to a max deal, and then renounce Meyers, they'd still have 10-12 million in cap-space for another major move

[Brandon-Clyde]

Is it just me, or does it seem like Portland and Dallas are always interested in the same players?

That may be in part because Stotts served as an assistant coach under Dallas coach Rick Carlisle and runs a similar type of offense and defense

[DusterBuster]

Whiteside and Bazemore? That'd be a solid summer to say the least.