Offseason

[Epicurus]

The lineup of Lillard, McCollum, Powell, Covington, and Nurkic worked well last season, both in the regular season and playoff. It is not impossible, actually rather easy, to check your impressions before offering them publicly.

Why don't you check your stats . You can keep showing the same selective offensive stats that the Blazers did quite well in, but most everyone here also sees how bad we were in many of the other, not so advanced stats. Anyone, even children, can see this. Why can't you? And why do you always feel the need to be offensive and insulting? Stay classy.

Running it all back with small-ball will not result in any kind of playoff success, even if you dig up John Wooden... it ain't working.

Lineup stats are available at Basketball reference and NBA.stats. Nothing selective but what each lineup did on the court. Sorry, but your stuborness and certitude are offensive and insulting. Maybe you just don't know what is meant by lineup stats or can't muster the capacity to ascertain the practical difference between individuals performance and lineup performance. Stay clueless!

[DeBlazerRiddem]

The lineup of Lillard, McCollum, Powell, Covington, and Nurkic worked well last season, both in the regular season and playoff. It is not impossible, actually rather easy, to check your impressions before offering them publicly.

Why don't you check your stats . You can keep showing the same selective offensive stats that the Blazers did quite well in, but most everyone here also sees how bad we were in many of the other, not so advanced stats. Anyone, even children, can see this. Why can't you? And why do you always feel the need to be offensive and insulting? Stay classy.

Running it all back with small-ball will not result in any kind of playoff success, even if you dig up John Wooden... it ain't working.

Lineup stats are available at Basketball reference and NBA.stats. Nothing selective but what each lineup did on the court. Sorry, but your stuborness and certitude are offensive and insulting. Maybe you just don't know what is meant by lineup stats or can't muster the capacity to ascertain the practical difference between individuals performance and lineup performance. Stay clueless!

OK guys, gentle reminder we can have this conversation without calling or insinuating each other are clowns, children or clueless. Agree to disagree is a powerful tool.

From my own perspective the truth lies in the middle. The 3 guard lineup had a fair bit of statistical success but that is meaningless without equivalent team success - meaning something is truly lost in that statistical analysis. What exactly that is may take a bigger brain than mine to figure out whether the 3 guard lineup can make the jump from statistically appearing to play well together to actually having post-season success with such a non-traditional lineup.

[Epicurus]

I thought the issue was lineup performance by the starting unit. Team success means other lineups than the starting lineup. Nothing is lost in the statistical analysis at all. Did the starting lineup mentioned score better while it was on the court v. the opponents on the court? It did, both in the regular season and in the playoffs. No appearance of playing well. It played well. Others lineups mostly not so, ergo the lost playoff series. Complaining about the small three guard starting lineup used in the playoffs (and the last part of the regular season) misses the mark completely. Except perhaps for complaining it was not on the floor long enough, but then the complaint needs be aimed at Nurkic's handful of foolish fouls.

[JasonStern]

Lillard
McCollum/Powell/Simons/McLemore/Snell/Elleby
Jones/Little
Covington/Brown
Nurkić/Zeller

Everyone craps on Olshey for trying the same thing over and over, but forcing a coach to play 3-4 shooting guards at the same time is something I can't remember other teams ever trying.

You forgot Snell at SF who lead the NBA is catch and shoot 3 point percentage and who is a decent defender.

And Covington at center because he's a decent defender.

But seriously, yes we play in an era of "positionless" basketball. But that doesn't mean that players playing out of position are playing where they are best utilized. As much as I love Dame, a case could be made that he's really more of a combo/SG than a "true" PG.

[Blazinaway]

Frankly a horrible offseason "so far" given the urgency of Dame and an eventual possible trade demand, so far another retread with some different spare parts and yes a new coach who I think could do a nice job but only so much you can do with the talent we have. Very disappointed so far and I have dimming hopes Olshey might trade CJ

[JRoy]

Frankly a horrible offseason "so far" given the urgency of Dame and an eventual possible trade demand, so far another retread with some different spare parts and yes a new coach who I think could do a nice job but only so much you can do with the talent we have. Very disappointed so far and I have dimming hopes Olshey might trade CJ

Every time I open realgm I hope to see news of CJ being traded.

I have an intuition that something big is brewing but that’s probably just signing a minimum contract guy.

[DusterBuster]

Frankly a horrible offseason "so far" given the urgency of Dame and an eventual possible trade demand, so far another retread with some different spare parts and yes a new coach who I think could do a nice job but only so much you can do with the talent we have. Very disappointed so far and I have dimming hopes Olshey might trade CJ

Yeah, it's pretty insane how quiet the Blazers have been. Like... freaking just lie to me Neil. Pretend you give a ****. Throw the Blazers name out there in a few rumors for funzies... jfc.

I won't blame Dame one bit if he demands a trade whenever he gets to camp.

[Wizenheimer]

at this point, I'm not sure which is worse for the Blazers: Olshey or the Vulcans. Sure looks like they are singing in harmony, and somewhere in the lyrics it says something good about mediocrity

there is always a rationalization for Olshey sitting on his hands....an excuse that could actually be valid, in a vacuum (vacuums suck by the way)

* he doesn't have the assets to trade (and whose fault is that?)

* he didn't have cap-space (even though he's had major cap-space 4 times in 9 years)

* it takes two to tango (LOL...sky is blue)

* Paul Allen did it

* Dame did it

and now it's "Morey is being unreasonable" and/or "Toronto wouldn't want CJ". Like I said, each excuse could be valid. But, going into the 10th year of Olshey's tenure, is there any point when all those excuses, past and present, become meaningless? When will people quit offering excuses and start demanding accountability. But of course that loops back around to the Vulcans because it's likely Olshey's risk-averse welding of mediocrity and snake oil is just fine with Seattle

and none of that goes to Olshey's character. But that was on full display in the press conference when he fired Stotts, then threw Stotts under the bus, then assured everybody it was coaching failure because the roster was fine. He displayed a championship level mixing of slime, condescension, and blame-shifting. The only time he's done anything at championship level

Portland has had an obvious problem in the Stolshey era. And it became even more obvious in the Dame/CJ era. That being that Portland lacked enough high-level talent to contend. Especially 2-way talent at the wing. In the last 4 years, Paul George has been traded twice; Chris Paul has been traded 3 times; Westbrook has been traded 3 times; as well as Kawhi, AD, James Harden, Julius Randle (twice), Jrue Holiday, Kyrie Irving. Teams have been taking big risks and plenty of all league talent has been moved. One of these trades secured the Bucks their 2nd championship and another of the moves got the Suns to the finals. In their first season of the playoffs the Suns won 6 games after the 2nd round. In 9 years of Olshey, Portland has won 0

and Portland sure doesn't appear to have been a serious participant in any of those trade talks. Of course, as we know, Portland just didn't have the assets (#1 on the excuse top-10 list!)

[JasonStern]

Didn't do any research to confirm this, but I saw yesterday a sports writer say that the roster is at 13 and that the Blazers are $2M below the luxury tax. If that is true, I fully expect Portland to be offering a veteran minimum contract to the remaining free agents, winding up with a "who?" signing, and an explanation that keeping the 15th roster spot open allows us to be flexible (as if that flexibility has ever been utilized in the past). And that's Olshey's off-season. Time to crack open a beer, sit on a beach somewhere, and collect paychecks.

[Wizenheimer]

Didn't do any research to confirm this, but I saw yesterday a sports writer say that the roster is at 13 and that the Blazers are $2M below the luxury tax. If that is true, I fully expect Portland to be offering a veteran minimum contract to the remaining free agents, winding up with a "who?" signing, and an explanation that keeping the 15th roster spot open allows us to be flexible (as if that flexibility has ever been utilized in the past). And that's Olshey's off-season. Time to crack open a beer, sit on a beach somewhere, and collect paychecks.

according to Spotrac, the tax line is 136.6M and the Blazers have 136.048M in taxable salaries...for only 12 players:

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers//cap

so, when they finally sign Brown they will be over the tax line with 13 players. And they'd need to add another player or face a surcharge for having less than 14

my guess is Olshey is out there looking for a dumpster-diving trade of Jones to determine whether or not to use the tax-MLE or just add another minimum contract

[BNM]

and now it's "Morey is being unreasonable"

He is*. Unless you think handing over your next EIGHT 1st round draft picks (4 picks + 4 pick swaps) for Ben Simmons is being reasonable. Morey is stalling. He knows the market for Simmons is at an all time low and he REALLY wants Damian Lillard. Not happening. According to Zack Lowe, Dame isn't available for trade and has not asked to be traded. So, Morey is stalling and asking for a Harden-esque hall hoping we'll all forget just how awful Ben Simmons was in his more recent playoff disappearance.

and/or "Toronto wouldn't want CJ".

They don't.

I have asked multiple times, but you have yet to provide one single valid reason why rebuilding TOR would CJ McCollum, a 30-year old who is owed $100 million over the next three seasons.

When will people quit offering excuses and start demanding accountability.

I've said multiple times in multiple threads that if CJ McCollum is on the POR roster on opening night Neil Olshey should be fired on the spot. How is that not demanding accountability?

* “One GM described it to me as (James) Harden-esque, similar to what Houston wanted in the talks that led to them trading Harden to Brooklyn,” ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported about Morey’s massive asking price for the All-Star point guard.

In the Harden deal, the Rockets got four first-round picks and four pick swaps among their haul in the four-team blockbuster for the 2018 MVP.

Despite having one All-NBA, three All-Star and two first-team All-Defense selections on his resume at age 25, Simmons’ value dipped after his worst career playoff performance this past season.

Still, Morey apparently believes Simmons is worth a lot, and continues to knock on opposing teams doors with extreme trade offers.

One team he reportedly turned to was the Spurs, according to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, who said on “The Mismatch” podcast that Philly asked San Antonio for four future first-round picks, three pick swaps and a young player.

[HoopsFanAZ]

Didn't do any research to confirm this, but I saw yesterday a sports writer say that the roster is at 13 and that the Blazers are $2M below the luxury tax. If that is true, I fully expect Portland to be offering a veteran minimum contract to the remaining free agents, winding up with a "who?" signing, and an explanation that keeping the 15th roster spot open allows us to be flexible (as if that flexibility has ever been utilized in the past). And that's Olshey's off-season. Time to crack open a beer, sit on a beach somewhere, and collect paychecks.

according to Spotrac, the tax line is 136.6M and the Blazers have 136.048M in taxable salaries...for only 12 players:
https://www.spotrac.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers//cap
so, when they finally sign Brown they will be over the tax line with 13 players. And they'd need to add another player or face a surcharge for having less than 14
my guess is Olshey is out there looking for a dumpster-diving trade of Jones to determine whether or not to use the tax-MLE or just add another minimum contract

Thanks for the numbers and the reasonable prediction.

SL Players: Mudiay and Simmons auditioning for backup PG / Blakeney a "professional scorer" according to an announcer / Faried as an off the bench, get rebounds and hustle guy. All minimum though someone might fall in love with Blakeney's scoring.

I hope Olshey/Seattle say pay the tax ...

1. Trade DJJ in a CJ package or with Little or Simons. Take back fewer $$$ by all means.
2. Trade CJ.
3. Use the TAX-MLE on someone who shakes out of a tree. There's not a ton left that's worth it to use the exception and pay tax as well. A buy-out or waiving of a veteran who can help off the bench rather than a SL guy who would be of marginal help.

If all that's left is a roster spot and a dumpster dive ...

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Kind of interesting that Paul Millsap hasn't signed anywhere and was rumored to be one of our TPMLE targets. I look for any shred of hope Olshey is still trying to make moves, although I'm trying to ask myself would there be any benefit to holding off signing him before completing a trade? Or maybe a "if we don't trade CJ for a PF you get the TPMLE" and Millsap doesn't have better offers?

Again, probably just wishful thinking...

[HoopsFanAZ]

Yup. As a back-up with load management, Millsap is a guy I've always liked and wished Utah hadn't matched the MLE offer.

It's to the point where when I saw Utah perhaps shopping Bogdanovic and Ingles, I immediately wanted Portland to get what Utah would want from someone else for CJ. Two lesser, early 30s players but really solid at SG/SF and SF/PF. CJ isn't a #2 to a superstar, anyway. Adding picks and youth to get a #2 is ideal, but if not -- cash out.

[BNM]

Kind of interesting that Paul Millsap hasn't signed anywhere and was rumored to be one of our TPMLE targets. I look for any shred of hope Olshey is still trying to make moves, although I'm trying to ask myself would there be any benefit to holding off signing him before completing a trade? Or maybe a "if we don't trade CJ for a PF you get the TPMLE" and Millsap doesn't have better offers?

Again, probably just wishful thinking...

I've always been a huge, Huge, HUGE Paul Millsap fan. I wanted POR to draft him with either the 30th or 31st pick back in 2006 (we had both, and passed on him again with the 45th pick, acquired from IND in a draft day trade). He was a beast on the boards in college, a skill that usually translates well to the NBA.

In his prime, he was one of the best defending forwards in the league (especially when he played for Mike Budenholzer in ATL). In 2015-16 he led the league in DWS and was the only player in the top 10 in both BLK (5th) and STL (9th). Yeah, who wouldn't want that Paul Millsap!

But, he's dropped off considerably the last two seasons and has been injured a lot. I'd definitely take him on a vet min deal, but I'm not sure he's worth the MLE at this point. It wouldn't be a gross overspend (we could, and have, done worse), but there is a reason he's still available and cheap.

[JasonStern]

according to Spotrac, the tax line is 136.6M and the Blazers have 136.048M in taxable salaries...for only 12 players:

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers//cap

so, when they finally sign Brown they will be over the tax line with 13 players. And they'd need to add another player or face a surcharge for having less than 14

my guess is Olshey is out there looking for a dumpster-diving trade of Jones to determine whether or not to use the tax-MLE or just add another minimum contract

Yeah. That seemed more reasonable. Still suspect another minimum contract is in the works, with an eventual "DJJ for a worse but cheap enough to get out of the tax player" trade made sometime before the trade deadline.

[DusterBuster]

I'm still absolutely baffled at why Dame wanted Jason Kidd to be coach...

[DusterBuster]

Kind of interesting that Paul Millsap hasn't signed anywhere and was rumored to be one of our TPMLE targets. I look for any shred of hope Olshey is still trying to make moves, although I'm trying to ask myself would there be any benefit to holding off signing him before completing a trade? Or maybe a "if we don't trade CJ for a PF you get the TPMLE" and Millsap doesn't have better offers?

Again, probably just wishful thinking...

I'm really surprised by this as well. It was also weird how many "thank you for your time" posts I saw from Nuggets fans on twitter at the start of FA. I guess maybe it was just made clear the Nuggets weren't going to even attempt to resign him, but for someone who was seemingly considering pretty crucial for them, the fact they're willing to cut bait without even considering to resign and the fact he's not been resigned elsewhere is eye raising.

Did he maybe fall off that much?

[GEE]

at this point, I'm not sure which is worse for the Blazers: Olshey or the Vulcans. Sure looks like they are singing in harmony, and somewhere in the lyrics it says something good about mediocrity

there is always a rationalization for Olshey sitting on his hands....an excuse that could actually be valid, in a vacuum (vacuums suck by the way)

* he doesn't have the assets to trade (and whose fault is that?)

* he didn't have cap-space (even though he's had major cap-space 4 times in 9 years)

* it takes two to tango (LOL...sky is blue)

* Paul Allen did it

* Dame did it

and now it's "Morey is being unreasonable" and/or "Toronto wouldn't want CJ". Like I said, each excuse could be valid. But, going into the 10th year of Olshey's tenure, is there any point when all those excuses, past and present, become meaningless? When will people quit offering excuses and start demanding accountability. But of course that loops back around to the Vulcans because it's likely Olshey's risk-averse welding of mediocrity and snake oil is just fine with Seattle

and none of that goes to Olshey's character. But that was on full display in the press conference when he fired Stotts, then threw Stotts under the bus, then assured everybody it was coaching failure because the roster was fine. He displayed a championship level mixing of slime, condescension, and blame-shifting. The only time he's done anything at championship level

Portland has had an obvious problem in the Stolshey era. And it became even more obvious in the Dame/CJ era. That being that Portland lacked enough high-level talent to contend. Especially 2-way talent at the wing. In the last 4 years, Paul George has been traded twice; Chris Paul has been traded 3 times; Westbrook has been traded 3 times; as well as Kawhi, AD, James Harden, Julius Randle (twice), Jrue Holiday, Kyrie Irving. Teams have been taking big risks and plenty of all league talent has been moved. One of these trades secured the Bucks their 2nd championship and another of the moves got the Suns to the finals. In their first season of the playoffs the Suns won 6 games after the 2nd round. In 9 years of Olshey, Portland has won 0

and Portland sure doesn't appear to have been a serious participant in any of those trade talks. Of course, as we know, Portland just didn't have the assets (#1 on the excuse top-10 list!)

On point as always, but you left out... Portland not being a likable Free-Agent destination.

[DusterBuster]

at this point, I'm not sure which is worse for the Blazers: Olshey or the Vulcans. Sure looks like they are singing in harmony, and somewhere in the lyrics it says something good about mediocrity

there is always a rationalization for Olshey sitting on his hands....an excuse that could actually be valid, in a vacuum (vacuums suck by the way)

* he doesn't have the assets to trade (and whose fault is that?)

* he didn't have cap-space (even though he's had major cap-space 4 times in 9 years)

* it takes two to tango (LOL...sky is blue)

* Paul Allen did it

* Dame did it

and now it's "Morey is being unreasonable" and/or "Toronto wouldn't want CJ". Like I said, each excuse could be valid. But, going into the 10th year of Olshey's tenure, is there any point when all those excuses, past and present, become meaningless? When will people quit offering excuses and start demanding accountability. But of course that loops back around to the Vulcans because it's likely Olshey's risk-averse welding of mediocrity and snake oil is just fine with Seattle

and none of that goes to Olshey's character. But that was on full display in the press conference when he fired Stotts, then threw Stotts under the bus, then assured everybody it was coaching failure because the roster was fine. He displayed a championship level mixing of slime, condescension, and blame-shifting. The only time he's done anything at championship level

Portland has had an obvious problem in the Stolshey era. And it became even more obvious in the Dame/CJ era. That being that Portland lacked enough high-level talent to contend. Especially 2-way talent at the wing. In the last 4 years, Paul George has been traded twice; Chris Paul has been traded 3 times; Westbrook has been traded 3 times; as well as Kawhi, AD, James Harden, Julius Randle (twice), Jrue Holiday, Kyrie Irving. Teams have been taking big risks and plenty of all league talent has been moved. One of these trades secured the Bucks their 2nd championship and another of the moves got the Suns to the finals. In their first season of the playoffs the Suns won 6 games after the 2nd round. In 9 years of Olshey, Portland has won 0

and Portland sure doesn't appear to have been a serious participant in any of those trade talks. Of course, as we know, Portland just didn't have the assets (#1 on the excuse top-10 list!)

On point as always, but you left out... Portland not being a likable Free-Agent destination.

Not to add on to the excuse-o-rama, but there are legitimate problems for the Blazers being in Oregon when it comes to FA's. The income tax here is some of the highest in the nation. At 1mil, Oregon State Taxes take out nearly 10% of that each year. It's even worse in California, but only marginally and you're living in a much more desirable location. But then contrast that with a state like Florida with zero income tax and it's pretty easy to see why the Heat have nnnnoooooo problem ever getting FA's. They get to immediately keep 10% of their earnings that would normally be gone in a lot of other NBA locations AND they get a desirable location.

I make nowhere near what an NBA player does (few do), but even on a personal level, this fact alone is why I don't live in Oregon anymore and have no desire to ever move back. If I'm gonna have to get screwed by Income Tax, I'd choose California over Oregon in a heartbeat as well. So far be it for me to get upset or judge NBA free agents for making the same choice I would.