Portland's Off-Season Has Officially Arrived

[DusterBuster]

It's really hard to get exciting about this off-season. For me the most frustrating thing about this off-season is how few options we seem to have. Trading CJ probably needs to happen, but won't. Unless the return is a high quality two way wing like Leonard or PG we're not going to get better. Our draft pick is highly unlikely to yield a quality player. It all comes back to the 2016 off-season and all of the idiotic decisions Olshey and Allen made.

At this point, NBA seasons are so predictable that I prefer the offseason to in-season. I disagree about a dull summer for Portland, just the fact that the Blazers have a few FAs they need to figure out what's going to happen with, i think that will require some moves. We'll see tho. Typically, the pattern I've seen in the league is when fans think it's going to be super quiet, that's when it's pretty busy.

Plus, the NBA as a whole should see some pretty big shakeups this summer I think.

[red_power]

what about something around Gallinari for Turner+incentive (Swanigan?). contracts are fairly similar, but 20 games a season of Gallinari is probably better than 82 of Turner.

You should never rush for Gallinari when you have an opportunity to snap a player like Blake Griffin who got an even worse contract.

[Wizenheimer]

It's really hard to get exciting about this off-season. For me the most frustrating thing about this off-season is how few options we seem to have. Trading CJ probably needs to happen, but won't. Unless the return is a high quality two way wing like Leonard or PG we're not going to get better. Our draft pick is highly unlikely to yield a quality player. It all comes back to the 2016 off-season and all of the idiotic decisions Olshey and Allen made.

At this point, NBA seasons are so predictable that I prefer the offseason to in-season. I disagree about a dull summer for Portland, just the fact that the Blazers have a few FAs they need to figure out what's going to happen with, i think that will require some moves. We'll see tho. Typically, the pattern I've seen in the league is when fans think it's going to be super quiet, that's when it's pretty busy.

Plus, the NBA as a whole should see some pretty big shakeups this summer I think.

it could be a dull summer for Portland if they just re-sign Nurkic & Davis without much back & forth. Napier and Connaughton won't raise excitement levels, whatever happens with them. It will be a lot less dull if the Blazers and Nurkic get into a protracted struggle over fair value...and that's possible. We might get a partial idea about how much stomach PA has fro paying luxury tax, but in July, there would still be 7 months till the trade deadline so assumptions could be false

the NBA off-season could be a lot more exciting though. First there's the draft and all the jockeying that goes on around that. And several teams like Phoenix and Boston could be pushing trade talks with draft picks

then, there's free agency and there will be some big dominoes to fall there...Lebron - Paul George - Boogie. You'd think it was a forgone conclusion that Chris Paul would re-sign with the Rockets; but if the Rockets get swamped by the Warriors, CP3 may have some 2nd thoughts

and there will be several 3rd tier UFA's that might make things interesting: Derrick Favors, Brook Lopez, JJ Redick, Greg Monroe, Avery Bradley, Trevor Ariza, Ed Davis, Isaiah Thomas, Will Barton, Tyreke Evans....are any of those guys due for a big payday or will most of them have to settle for a lot less then they imagined in 2016?

and there's the RFA market which might be interesting. Besides Nurkic, there's Clint Capella, Aaron Gordon, Julius Randle, Marcus Smart, Elfrid Payton, Rodney Hood. It may not be a forgone conclusion that all offer sheets will be matched

there's also some interesting stories around non-bird rights. Rajon Rondo will be a non-bird UFA. That means the most the Pelicans could re-sign him for using their non-bird rights is 120% of his salary is 3.96M. The Pelicans could renounce his rights and then use the MLE to give him more but there's a problem. With the cap-hold of Cousins, the Pelicans are right at the tax-line; so they'd have to renounce Cousins because the tax-payer MLE would land them in the apron, and using an exception to end up in he apron could hard-cap the Pelicans for the year. A trade could potentially solve the problem, but that makes things more interesting

keeping with the non-bird free agents, besides Rondo, there's Aaron Baynes, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Jeff Green, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (Houston has a lot of 'issues' this summer), Marco Bellinelli, Irsan Ilyasova...some interesting names and Portland won't be the only team dealing with the luxury tax, so many players could be truly free agents from their current teams

[Shem]

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[DusterBuster]

It's really hard to get exciting about this off-season. For me the most frustrating thing about this off-season is how few options we seem to have. Trading CJ probably needs to happen, but won't. Unless the return is a high quality two way wing like Leonard or PG we're not going to get better. Our draft pick is highly unlikely to yield a quality player. It all comes back to the 2016 off-season and all of the idiotic decisions Olshey and Allen made.

At this point, NBA seasons are so predictable that I prefer the offseason to in-season. I disagree about a dull summer for Portland, just the fact that the Blazers have a few FAs they need to figure out what's going to happen with, i think that will require some moves. We'll see tho. Typically, the pattern I've seen in the league is when fans think it's going to be super quiet, that's when it's pretty busy.

Plus, the NBA as a whole should see some pretty big shakeups this summer I think.

it could be a dull summer for Portland if they just re-sign Nurkic & Davis without much back & forth. Napier and Connaughton won't raise excitement levels, whatever happens with them. It will be a lot less dull if the Blazers and Nurkic get into a protracted struggle over fair value...and that's possible. We might get a partial idea about how much stomach PA has fro paying luxury tax, but in July, there would still be 7 months till the trade deadline so assumptions could be false

the NBA off-season could be a lot more exciting though. First there's the draft and all the jockeying that goes on around that. And several teams like Phoenix and Boston could be pushing trade talks with draft picks

then, there's free agency and there will be some big dominoes to fall there...Lebron - Paul George - Boogie. You'd think it was a forgone conclusion that Chris Paul would re-sign with the Rockets; but if the Rockets get swamped by the Warriors, CP3 may have some 2nd thoughts

and there will be several 3rd tier UFA's that might make things interesting: Derrick Favors, Brook Lopez, JJ Redick, Greg Monroe, Avery Bradley, Trevor Ariza, Ed Davis, Isaiah Thomas, Will Barton, Tyreke Evans....are any of those guys due for a big payday or will most of them have to settle for a lot less then they imagined in 2016?

and there's the RFA market which might be interesting. Besides Nurkic, there's Clint Capella, Aaron Gordon, Julius Randle, Marcus Smart, Elfrid Payton, Rodney Hood. It may not be a forgone conclusion that all offer sheets will be matched

there's also some interesting stories around non-bird rights. Rajon Rondo will be a non-bird UFA. That means the most the Pelicans could re-sign him for using their non-bird rights is 120% of his salary is 3.96M. The Pelicans could renounce his rights and then use the MLE to give him more but there's a problem. With the cap-hold of Cousins, the Pelicans are right at the tax-line; so they'd have to renounce Cousins because the tax-payer MLE would land them in the apron, and using an exception to end up in he apron could hard-cap the Pelicans for the year. A trade could potentially solve the problem, but that makes things more interesting

keeping with the non-bird free agents, besides Rondo, there's Aaron Baynes, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Jeff Green, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (Houston has a lot of 'issues' this summer), Marco Bellinelli, Irsan Ilyasova...some interesting names and Portland won't be the only team dealing with the luxury tax, so many players could be truly free agents from their current teams

Re: Portland, i mean, i guess it depends on one's view of exciting for this summer. I find player contract negotiations fairly interesting, so I'm pretty curious to see what happens and the back and forth that'll go on with Ed and Nurk.

I also do suspect the Blazers make a trade of two this summer, may not be earth shattering deals, but i can honestly see Leonard going out finally this year, probably with a pick to some rebuilding team now that he's only got 2 years left. You look at a team like Atlanta for example, they have no designs on winning games anytime soon and want to focus on player development and asset collection. In their view, they could look at Meyers and think maybe he just needs a change of scenery, at this rate they get one year to see what they have in him, and if he flames out, he's an expiring contact next summer. Cap space is meaningless to them as no FAs are coming anytime soon and they have no budding stars waiting in the wings and needing fat extensions. Little to no risk on their part, and they can get a FRP (or maybe they'd want Swanigan) out if it in the process. That's not meant to be an exact trade offer to get in a rabbit hole debate over, just more getting into the mindset of some teams just starting a big rebuild and how they might look at some of the Blazers contracts. It's also to show that I think some of those 2016 contracts are becoming movable assets (movable =/= positive) for the Blazers and other teams who made similar blunders that summer.

[JasonStern]

You look at a team like Atlanta for example, they have no designs on winning games anytime soon and want to focus on player development and asset collection.

problem with Atlanta is that they already have 4 picks in this draft, making #24 a lot less enticing. otherwise, I'd love something based around Turner+sweetener for Bazemore.

[DusterBuster]

You look at a team like Atlanta for example, they have no designs on winning games anytime soon and want to focus on player development and asset collection.

problem with Atlanta is that they already have 4 picks in this draft, making #24 a lot less enticing. otherwise, I'd love something based around Turner+sweetener for Bazemore.

As I said, that wasn't meant to be an exact trade offer that needed to be dissected, it was just meant to get into the mind of a team that may be looking at the Blazers 2016 contracts as something less-than horrific at this point.

[JasonStern]

As I said, that wasn't meant to be an exact trade offer that needed to be dissected, it was just meant to get into the mind of a team that may be looking at the Blazers 2016 contracts as something less-than horrific at this point.

the Clippers might be interesting in that respect. curious what their long-term plan is. they have several mid-tier players, but no real stars or youth. two lottery picks this year, but they're late lotto. do they go full rebuild?

if so, I'd love to pry Harris away from them. Collins+#24+Turner for Harris+Beverley works, but ruins any 2019 cap space plans they might have. still a nice youth infusion for the Clippers if they intend to do a full rebuild. Harris' shooting would be much appreciated by Stotts. and if Beverley recovers, he'd easily be the best backup point guard the Blazers have had since McMillan irrationally brought Andre Miller off the bench to start Steve Blake.

[DusterBuster]

As I said, that wasn't meant to be an exact trade offer that needed to be dissected, it was just meant to get into the mind of a team that may be looking at the Blazers 2016 contracts as something less-than horrific at this point.

the Clippers might be interesting in that respect. curious what their long-term plan is. they have several mid-tier players, but no real stars or youth. two lottery picks this year, but they're late lotto. do they go full rebuild?

if so, I'd love to pry Harris away from them. Collins+#24+Turner for Harris+Beverley works, but ruins any 2019 cap space plans they might have. still a nice youth infusion for the Clippers if they intend to do a full rebuild. Harris' shooting would be much appreciated by Stotts. and if Beverley recovers, he'd easily be the best backup point guard the Blazers have had since McMillan irrationally brought Andre Miller off the bench to start Steve Blake.

Clippers seem to be in it for the long haul and I'd be surprised if Harris is in their longterm plans. Listening to Jerry Wests comments about the Blake trade made it sound more like that deal was all about simply getting rid of an albatross contract and breaking it up into smaller more manageable / movable pieces.

Not sure they would make that trade you laid out, but i like it. I could care less about any cap space in 2019... I don't know how many more "cap space plans" I can stomach after the failures of KPs 09 plan and NeOs 16 plan.

[Sinobas]

I feel that the NBA is getting boring. I probably wouldn't feel that way if the Blazers were a power-house, but I think they play too many games, and the players pace themselves because of that. It would be better if they just played 40 games. 2 games a week over a 20 week period. Then have a 12 teams make the playoffs with 4 byes.

Playoff series should be best of 3. You'd get better action, akin to college basketball. Every game would be meaningful, like the NFL.

[Norm2953]

I'd like to see some uncertainty to the NBA for making each series 4/7 virtually ensures the best team
wins unless something happens to one team (LAC) that allows a lesser team to win.

I'd make the championship series one game at a neutral court ala the super bowl. Not going to happen
of course due to playing less games would impact league wide salaries but imagine how much hype
a single game would bring.

I would introduce what amounts to a league wide draft of existing players in the league. All players would
be included including UFA for let's say each team could protect seven players and were forced to protect
their UFA. The worst teams by record could then select any of the eligible players and for this one time
only, the salary cap would be set aside. Theoretically Lebron if not protected could be picked by Phoenix
for his bird rights which would allow Phoenix to offer him the supermax if they chose to.

Presumably Portland would protect Dame, CJ, Nurkic, Collins, Aminu, Harkless and Ed Davis exposing
Meyers, Turner, Swanigan, Napier, Connaughton and others to be drafted.

[Downtown]

Just some random thoughts. While I want Nurkic back as much as anyone I'm still pondering scenarios where he gets such a big offer from a team like Dallas it would be too much for Paul Allen to match. And I've been obviously following the current draft talk. Mo Bamba is getting a lot of hype, deservedly so. Then I started to think about how Nerlens Noel received the same accolades coming into his draft year and was also a high pick.

If for whatever reason Portland doesn't bring Nurkic back I think Noel will be a good player to sign with the MLE. I've also considered Alex Len and he might be cheaper and he's put up some really good game stats he's also looked lost as many times. And one dark horse player I think can be a good contributor in a quick system defensively is Kevon Looney from Golden State. He hasn't had a chance over the last couple seasons but I see a lot of potential in him. He's a free agent and is only 22 years old. I can see him at the MLE alongside Zach Collins for the future.

Looney might actually be my favourite.

[Norm2953]

Just some random thoughts. While I want Nurkic back as much as anyone I'm still pondering scenarios where he gets such a big offer from a team like Dallas it would be too much for Paul Allen to match. And I've been obviously following the current draft talk. Mo Bamba is getting a lot of hype, deservedly so. Then I started to think about how Nerlens Noel received the same accolades coming into his draft year and was also a high pick.

If for whatever reason Portland doesn't bring Nurkic back I think Noel will be a good player to sign with the MLE. I've also considered Alex Len and he might be cheaper and he's put up some really good game stats he's also looked lost as many times. And one dark horse player I think can be a good contributor in a quick system defensively is Kevon Looney from Golden State. He hasn't had a chance over the last couple seasons but I see a lot of potential in him. He's a free agent and is only 22 years old. I can see him at the MLE alongside Zach Collins for the future.

Looney might actually be my favourite.

Likely Portland will match any RFA offer for Nurkic but I'm skeptical he's going to get a large RFA offer for the teams
with high lottery picks with a need for a big can simply draft one of the 4-5 quality bigs in this draft.

[Fitz303]

Just some random thoughts. While I want Nurkic back as much as anyone I'm still pondering scenarios where he gets such a big offer from a team like Dallas it would be too much for Paul Allen to match. And I've been obviously following the current draft talk. Mo Bamba is getting a lot of hype, deservedly so. Then I started to think about how Nerlens Noel received the same accolades coming into his draft year and was also a high pick.

If for whatever reason Portland doesn't bring Nurkic back I think Noel will be a good player to sign with the MLE. I've also considered Alex Len and he might be cheaper and he's put up some really good game stats he's also looked lost as many times. And one dark horse player I think can be a good contributor in a quick system defensively is Kevon Looney from Golden State. He hasn't had a chance over the last couple seasons but I see a lot of potential in him. He's a free agent and is only 22 years old. I can see him at the MLE alongside Zach Collins for the future.

Looney might actually be my favourite.

Likely Portland will match any RFA offer for Nurkic but I'm skeptical he's going to get a large RFA offer for the teams
with high lottery picks with a need for a big can simply draft one of the 4-5 quality bigs in this draft.

I've actually become less sold on the idea that Portland re-signs Nurkic this summer. They are 100% sold on Collins being a cornerstone piece, guys like Casey Holdahl have made mention multiple times that he thinks that Collins is a Center longterm. Olshey just said at the combine that they want to bring Collins closer to the basket next year. He said that playing him with Davis last year made that impossible at the time, but they want to change that.

I would no longer be surprised if they let Nurkic walk, stayed right around the tax line, and sold everybody on Zach Collins being the future at Center.

[Downtown]

I still like Kevon Looney for the Blazers regardless. He reminds me of a younger, more mobile Ed Davis.

[Blazinaway]

I still like Kevon Looney for the Blazers regardless. He reminds me of a younger, more mobile Ed Davis.

another guy 'I'd consider is Alex Len of PHX. He's had 3 coaches since he's been there, different systems all the time, and a pretty decent season last yr and still 24. He's a UFA this off season where a lot of C's are available, could be fairly cheap and someone to consider if Nurk wants too much.

[Norm2953]

I see the GSW are talking about buying more second round picks. I see this strategy as a winning strategy
for teams that are over the cap and likely paying luxury taxes for how many of us groaned when the GSW
bought a second round pick to get Jordan Bell. I'd love the team to buy a second round pick to get Melvin
Frazier who looked good at the combine as well. If we could add Frazier and Divincenzo (sp) we'd had a
good draft.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

I see the GSW are talking about buying more second round picks. I see this strategy as a winning strategy
for teams that are over the cap and likely paying luxury taxes for how many of us groaned when the GSW
bought a second round pick to get Jordan Bell. I'd love the team to buy a second round pick to get Melvin
Frazier who looked good at the combine as well. If we could add Frazier and Divincenzo (sp) we'd had a
good draft.

Early second round is good value if you can buy it with cash or promises of future seconds. As long as you don't extend the Allen Crabbe tier players you can get cheap servicable guys.

I think there is a pretty good chance Frazier goes in the first with his insane wingspan and athleticism, I would take him at our pick 24 and not feel like its a reach.

The other guy I want to go after in the second is Jevon Carter. Just a solid all-around backup level PG (could be starter someday, but I think he can be a backup almost from day 1). Apparently he is having a pretty good combine though, so he may rise above where we can get as well.

[Unbiased hater]

I feel that the NBA is getting boring. I probably wouldn't feel that way if the Blazers were a power-house, but I think they play too many games, and the players pace themselves because of that. It would be better if they just played 40 games. 2 games a week over a 20 week period. Then have a 12 teams make the playoffs with 4 byes.

Playoff series should be best of 3. You'd get better action, akin to college basketball. Every game would be meaningful, like the NFL.

Players would be less injury prone and stamina wouldnt be big factor like now

[DaVoiceMaster]

I'd like to see Harkless take his man off the dribble more often. He's got a pretty good drive to the basket; we just don't see it very often.

I'd be cautious about that....it could just end up being more one-on-one basketball and Portland already had a surplus of that. But having a slasher could be a good thing, especially if it was off of back cuts and weak-side screens. But Blazers might need a couple of better passers to take full advantage...and a little bit different offense

He doesn't need to do it every time he touches the ball. 2-3 times per game isn't bad though if he's successful.