Woj: Blazers plan is to pursue high end talent “now”.

[DusterBuster]

Read on Twitter

?s=21

Ok Cronin… let’s see if you can quiet us doubters…

[DeBlazerRiddem]

I don't see it, that is a lot of chips being put on "build a contender overnight" which rarely works.

[DusterBuster]

I don't see it, that is a lot of chips being put on "build a contender overnight" which rarely works.

Yeah, we'll see. That's kinda where I'm at. Nothing would surprise me at this point, I think the plan could work, but it could fall flat on its face too. I think I maybe have it at a 40/60 chance right now (more heavily tilted to not working out).

At least they are finally trying something big. After 9 years of base-hits by Olshey, I'm happy to finally see some risks being taken on bigger swings by Cornin here... I think so far his one miss (Powell trade) and one foul ball (CJ), but with more swings coming up for a homerun... (sorry for the probably not so good metaphor there, but hopefully you get my point)

[DeBlazerRiddem]

I don't see it, that is a lot of chips being put on "build a contender overnight" which rarely works.

Yeah, we'll see. That's kinda where I'm at. Nothing would surprise me at this point, I think the plan could work, but it could fall flat on its face too. I think I maybe have it at a 40/60 chance right now (more heavily tilted to not working out).

At least they are finally trying something big. After 9 years of base-hits by Olshey, I'm happy to finally see some risks being taken on bigger swings by Cornin here... I think so far his one miss (Powell trade) and one foul ball (CJ), but with more swings coming up for a homerun... (sorry for the probably not so good metaphor there, but hopefully you get my point)

Maybe just a smoke screen so teams don't low-ball Lillard thinking he is easily available or we spend half a season twisting in the wind. Because with Lillard's injury I bet we get more value next summer, probably during the draft when we can trade him for picks whose value is actually known.

[PDXKnight]

I truly believe their plan is to keep dame but i don’t know about the blazers in free agency. Hopefully we get a trade of some sort

[DusterBuster]

I truly believe their plan is to keep dame but i don’t know about the blazers in free agency. Hopefully we get a trade of some sort

Yeah, FA seems to always be fools gold. The last two major FA cap space plans the Blazers have attempted have been complete and utter failures where the Blazers were forced to sign their 2nd or 3rd choice guys (Miller and Turner) and where their 1st choice guys were terrible anyway (Parsons and Turkoglu).

GB seems to think the Blazers target would be Harden this summer... we'll see. Not holding my breath on that, but Harden did have Portland on his list of destinations he was willing to be traded to.

[Wickzki]

I don't see it, that is a lot of chips being put on "build a contender overnight" which rarely works.

Yeah, we'll see. That's kinda where I'm at. Nothing would surprise me at this point, I think the plan could work, but it could fall flat on its face too. I think I maybe have it at a 40/60 chance right now (more heavily tilted to not working out).

At least they are finally trying something big. After 9 years of base-hits by Olshey, I'm happy to finally see some risks being taken on bigger swings by Cornin here... I think so far his one miss (Powell trade) and one foul ball (CJ), but with more swings coming up for a homerun... (sorry for the probably not so good metaphor there, but hopefully you get my point)

Maybe just a smoke screen so teams don't low-ball Lillard thinking he is easily available or we spend half a season twisting in the wind. Because with Lillard's injury I bet we get more value next summer, probably during the draft when we can trade him for picks whose value is actually known.

I think you're on the money. But the Blazers will be in a panicked sell now mode when they strike out in free agency and everyone that Dame was loyal to in Portland is gone and he demands a trade outta here.

[Case2012]

I kind of expect a follow up move for either Randle or Grant. Grant seems like the most likely candidate with where DET is right now.

That tpe plus NO pick works nicely to absorb him.

[DusterBuster]

Yeah, we'll see. That's kinda where I'm at. Nothing would surprise me at this point, I think the plan could work, but it could fall flat on its face too. I think I maybe have it at a 40/60 chance right now (more heavily tilted to not working out).

At least they are finally trying something big. After 9 years of base-hits by Olshey, I'm happy to finally see some risks being taken on bigger swings by Cornin here... I think so far his one miss (Powell trade) and one foul ball (CJ), but with more swings coming up for a homerun... (sorry for the probably not so good metaphor there, but hopefully you get my point)

Maybe just a smoke screen so teams don't low-ball Lillard thinking he is easily available or we spend half a season twisting in the wind. Because with Lillard's injury I bet we get more value next summer, probably during the draft when we can trade him for picks whose value is actually known.

I think you're on the money. But the Blazers will be in a panicked sell now mode when they strike out in free agency and everyone that Dame was loyal to in Portland is gone and he demands a trade outta here.

I would assume Dame is aware of all these deals before they're made and has some idea of what the grand plan is here. If they fail on that grand plan, we'll see then... but so far everything Dame has said indicates he wants to stay forever, regardless of the outcome. A lot of people think he's going to ring chase, he might just simply be happy with the life he's built here for his family in Portland and doesn't want to uproot that just for a ring.

Once again, I think RealGM / fans are ignoring any and all human aspect to the player's thought process.

[DusterBuster]

I kind of expect a follow up move for either Randle or Grant. Grant seems like the most likely candidate with where DET is right now.

That tpe plus NO pick works nicely to absorb him.

That would be such a waste. I really don't want them to get Grant, I think he's fools gold and his numbers are just inflated on a bad Pistons team.

Unfortunately, it wouldn't shock me to see them do this either. It would be really frustrating for the Blazers to make all these moves and then once again just end up with a B- level talent.

[Jsun947]

If we traded Nurkic and took no salary back for next year, waived Bledsoe & Hart, including Simons cap hold we'd have about $15.5 mil once you factory in roster holds & our draft pick which isn't enough space to do anything other than make a lopsided trade, especially when you look at the quality of the free agent class.

I don't think Didi, Johnson, Brown, or Walker have much value so our only real assets left other than Dame is our draft pick & little.

I don't know how you're supposed to pursue "high end talent" given those resources...

[Case2012]

I just think it’s kind of a coincidence that both those players would fit into that tpe and both are PF’s. Detroit also wanted a few firsts for Grant and they’re also rebuilding.

Not saying that would be a good move at all though.

I think I would rather see where our picks land and potentially package them together for A level player on Draft night.

[Goldbum]

I think Johnson and Walker have plenty value. So does Hart.

[DusterBuster]

If we traded Nurkic and took no salary back for next year, waived Bledsoe & Hart, including Simons cap hold we'd have about $15.5 mil once you factory in roster holds & our draft pick which isn't enough space to do anything other than make a lopsided trade, especially when you look at the quality of the free agent class.

I don't think Didi, Johnson, Brown, or Walker have much value so our only real assets left other than Dame is our draft pick & little.

I don't know how you're supposed to pursue "high end talent" given those resources...

Roster and cap holds are not really ever an impediment to signing players, this forum has always made them out to be more of a roadblock than they ever are in the real world. If they had a chance to sign a really major FA like a Harden, they would do what they need to to open up all their cap space (renouncing players rights).

Portland also doesn't need to trade Nurk for no salary back, he is expiring as is.

That said, again, my assumption is they want to make one more big trade before the deadline here. That's why they are getting these moves done relatively early and have assets like Bledsoe they can re-trade or big TPE's.

Should be an interesting 48hrs if nothing else.

I'm just hoping this doesn't end up with the Blazers having Grant and Turner and that's about it, but it also wouldn't shock me.

[DusterBuster]

I just think it’s kind of a coincidence that both those players would fit into that tpe and both are PF’s. Detroit also wanted a few firsts for Grant and they’re also rebuilding.

Not saying that would be a good move at all though.

I think I would rather see where our picks land and potentially package them together for A level player on Draft night.

Yeah, in the end, all I'm getting at is this is definitely a plan that is going to require a bit of patience to grade at this point.

[Jsun947]

If we traded Nurkic and took no salary back for next year, waived Bledsoe & Hart, including Simons cap hold we'd have about $15.5 mil once you factory in roster holds & our draft pick which isn't enough space to do anything other than make a lopsided trade, especially when you look at the quality of the free agent class.

I don't think Didi, Johnson, Brown, or Walker have much value so our only real assets left other than Dame is our draft pick & little.

I don't know how you're supposed to pursue "high end talent" given those resources...

Roster and cap holds are not really ever an impediment to signing players, this forum has always made them out to be more of a roadblock than they ever are in the real world. If they had a chance to sign a really major FA like a Harden, they would do what they need to to open up all their cap space (renouncing players rights).

Portland also doesn't need to trade Nurk for no salary back, he is expiring as is.

That said, again, my assumption is they want to make one more big trade before the deadline here. That's why they are getting these moves done relatively early and have assets like Bledsoe they can re-trade or big TPE's.

Should be an interesting 48hrs if nothing else.

I'm just hoping this doesn't end up with the Blazers having Grant and Turner and that's about it, but it also wouldn't shock me.

They do matter though, you'd need to open far more cap space than we have to try and offer Harden a max contract, or to offer a RFA like Ayton for that matter. The only way to really open that much cap space is to dump a lot of our smaller guys without taking salary back, and in that scenario you'd have a hard time filling a competitive roster, or you'd have to do it by trading Dame and getting more space.

[soobias]

i still have a funny feeling that we're trading Dame... idk why but i do maybe to phili or NYC or somewhere east and i kinda hope it happens and go full rebuild instead of paying him 50+m a year and he's my favorite blazer of all times.

[Goldbum]

With our current roster I would move Dame for Simmons and 3 future picks. I don't believe it is going to happen but I would be all about it.

[Jsun947]

I suppose they could still make moves this deadline...

Nurkic for Oubre
TPE & NO Pick for Turner
Bledsoe, Little, Walker for Grant

Lillard
Simons
Oubre
Grant
Turner

would at least be interesting, and if we end up trading Dame for someone like Simmons they're all still young enough to play together and be competitive or you could really blow it up and flip them all again for picks.

[DusterBuster]

My thoughts pretty much...

Read on Twitter