Offseason

[Norm2953]

If thats the case, they are better off trading him and beginning the rebuild for Dame's value drops next summer

[GEE]

If there is a trade out there to be made, that would make this roster into a championship TEAM... then I'm all for it. I'm just not as convinced as everyone else that Dame is as good as he's made out to be. Greatest shooter/scorer in Blazer history, no doubt, but he has always had some major flaws in his game as another scoring guard, converted to play PG in the NBA. Historically a great one-way player in my book.

I'm also getting really tired of his ego... it's pretty out of control IMO. I'm starting to get that Barry Bonds feeling from him, and wondering if he too may have a large leather custom chair in the locker room like Barry had... allegedly.

Wonder what Dame + Nurkic could fetch?

[Blazer50]

The more I read it seems Dame / CJ & Nurk remain the Olshey core for the Blazers with promises from the front office and letting the Woke dust settle on the Billups hire. I believe there is a chance that Chauncy will be an outstanding Basketball move - which I think was Dame's opinion. I think RoCo has been a nice acquisition on a reasonable - though expiring - contract. So how does the front court get strengthened? Would Norm Stay or Is there a sign and trade target for Norman Powell? Can Billups provide the defensive schemes so we go with 3 guard lineup to move us to the next level? Will Zach finally be able to compete and blend with our starters to make the Blazers actual contenders?

How Does Neil Olshey complete / update this roster? Give me more to root for.

[Dame Lizard]

If Olshey told CJ that he isn't getting traded, then Olshey has simply proven he is not fit to be GM.

I'm not suggesting we trade CJ for pennies on the dollar, but to call a player like him untradeable after these 8 years of first round fodder-ing (that lucky WCF appearance aside) is laughable.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

If Olshey told CJ that he isn't getting traded, then Olshey has simply proven he is not fit to be GM.

I'm not suggesting we trade CJ for pennies on the dollar, but to call a player like him untradeable after these 8 years of first round fodder-ing (that lucky WCF appearance aside) is laughable.

Lets remember that Eric Gordon carried a huge animosity toward Olshey for doing the same thing - promising him he would not be traded and then just days later sending him to New Orleans.

Olshey is a snake-oil salesman who says what people want to hear. KP was the same in a lot of ways prior as well, I honestly still get those two mixed up sometimes in my memory. Seems Paul Allen had a type..

[Epicurus]

If Olshey told CJ that he isn't getting traded, then Olshey has simply proven he is not fit to be GM.

I'm not suggesting we trade CJ for pennies on the dollar, but to call a player like him untradeable after these 8 years of first round fodder-ing (that lucky WCF appearance aside) is laughable.

It is really not difficult to get facts straight. The Blazers moved into the 2nd round 3 of the last 8 years. Cases are more compelling when they deliberately don't eschew historical reality.

[DET_Athletics]

Love that team but think its a bit pie-in-the-sky. Dont think DET makes that move.

Why do you love that team? It's not any significant improvement over what the Blazers had this year. It's totally playoff caliber, but it's still likely a 1-and-done.

Not in your dreams, but DET would trade you Mason Plumlee+Josh Jackson+two of our 2nd rounders for Nurkic.

Sent from my SM-G986U using RealGM mobile app

[Andre 2999]

If Olshey told CJ that he isn't getting traded, then Olshey has simply proven he is not fit to be GM.

I'm not suggesting we trade CJ for pennies on the dollar, but to call a player like him untradeable after these 8 years of first round fodder-ing (that lucky WCF appearance aside) is laughable.

Lets remember that Eric Gordon carried a huge animosity toward Olshey for doing the same thing - promising him he would not be traded and then just days later sending him to New Orleans.

Olshey is a snake-oil salesman who says what people want to hear. KP was the same in a lot of ways prior as well, I honestly still get those two mixed up sometimes in my memory. Seems Paul Allen had a type..

To be fair, I believe the Hornets had just told Olshey that they were going to accept the Lakers offer. Obviously, there had been a lot of rumors involving Eric Gordon and other Clippers, so Olshey told them they could relax as there was no deal between LAC/NOH happening. Suddenly, the deal with the Lakers fell through at the last second, and the Hornets called Olshey back to re-negotiate. I can't blame Olshey for breaking that promise to get Chris Paul in his prime, and it really seems like he had no idea it was going to end up like it did.

[Dame Lizard]

If Olshey told CJ that he isn't getting traded, then Olshey has simply proven he is not fit to be GM.

I'm not suggesting we trade CJ for pennies on the dollar, but to call a player like him untradeable after these 8 years of first round fodder-ing (that lucky WCF appearance aside) is laughable.

It is really not difficult to get facts straight. The Blazers moved into the 2nd round 3 of the last 8 years. Cases are more compelling when they deliberately don't eschew historical reality.

The fact that it feels like we've been first round fodder, outside of the WCF appearance, is telling enough.

[Epicurus]

Feelings are a poor substitute for reality and certainly a poor justification for factual mistakes.

[Norm2953]

Portland's #1 priority this off season is to not go into next season without enough bigs. Team cannot
play long stretches of next season with only player taller than 6'9

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Portland's #1 priority this off season is to not go into next season without enough bigs. Team cannot
play long stretches of next season with only player taller than 6'9

Absolutely, but bigs that translate to effective players in the post-season are becoming a bit harder to find, especially at the bargain prices Portland is able to pay. Most are too easily picked apart by competent coaches with a post-season game plan.

[Norm2953]

Likely good news for the TJ Leaf's of the world but let's say they do a CJ trade that basically breaks his
contract into two $15 million players. Find a team that needs a back court scorer and do a deal that
brings back needed pieces for this team needs more length up front for the Clippers are showing they
can compete with Nic Batum at center for they seem to have plenty of 6-7 to 6-10 guys to rotate in
and out of their lineups even when Kwahi decides not to play.

[Dame Lizard]

Feelings are a poor substitute for reality and certainly a poor justification for factual mistakes.

I appreciate the philosophical contributions. I hope you realise the initial statement was caveated with 'feelings' as quite frankly the point of the argument is our complete lack of post-season success and Olshey's highly concerning statements about retaining the team's current core. Call me lazy for not bothering to fact-check things which wouldn't change the essence of the argument.

Do you disagree with my argument that Olshey's statements are naive on face value? (I appreciate other contributor's counterpoints that just because he says something, doesn't mean he truly means it).

When we beat the Clippers, they had injuries to Blake Griffin and CP3 - which hardly makes it a compelling feat. Feeling like we've been first round fodder is relevant, as taking that year as an example, we probably wouldn't have beaten the Clippers if their two All Star/Superstar players weren't injured for half the series.

If you want factual information, from the four times we've lost in the first round over the past five years, we've lost 4-0, 4-0, 4-1 and 4-2.

[Epicurus]

Why do you say "complete lack of post-season success?" That is simply not true. BTW, the only disappointing series loss of those you list above is the Pelican one. The others three should have been expected, given the seeding and what the Lakers (4-1) and the Warriors ( 4-0) did to opponents in the next rounds.

Olshey is a pr man whose career's foundation is the capacity to blow smoke up rear ends. On the other hand, I think he is also self-delusional--believing he has built a championship roster.

[PTPaQ]

CJ and Jones for Ben Simmons and Curry

Simons, Nurk and Powell for Beal.

[JasonStern]

Kanter spending the off-season hosting free basketball camps with the Boys and Girls club. Despite being unplayable at times, I really hope that the Blazers can bring him back on a cheap contract. He's always seemed like a legitimate good guy.

[Epicurus]

Kanter spending the off-season hosting free basketball camps with the Boys and Girls club. Despite being unplayable at times, I really hope that the Blazers can bring him back on a cheap contract. He's always seemed like a legitimate good guy.

Yes to all. Yet he is a poor defensive match without a defensive big next to him. On offense opponents were double and triple teaming him on Blazers misses. The positive was this meant they had less players for their transition offense. The negative was it prevent Kanter from doing what he did best--grabbing and putting back misses at a high rate. so even on offense he needed another true big (not 6'7" small forwards playing at PFs).

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Kanter spending the off-season hosting free basketball camps with the Boys and Girls club. Despite being unplayable at times, I really hope that the Blazers can bring him back on a cheap contract. He's always seemed like a legitimate good guy.

Yeah, you absolutely cannot doubt his heart. Really good to have in the regular season but we cannot afford to pay him too much because he gets picked apart in the post-season. But hey you still gotta play the regular season.

[Matt800]

I'd like Kanter as a 3rd center. He is very good in some matchups and if he is inexpensive it would be great to have him on the team. But he shouldn't be relied on when he doesn't have a favorable matchup.