Is it time to rebuild the Blazers? It looks as if this team has leveled out and is ready to decline, with Roy and Oden both cursed with weak knees that will probably only get worse over time. I hate to sit by and watch this team hover around .500 for the next several years and keep flaming out in the first round of the playoffs, or not even making the playoffs. As Kenny Rogers said, "You gotta know when to hold 'em, and know when to fold 'em." Is it time to fold 'em and start adding some first-round picks? We might be able to get a first-round pick right now for Roy, and one for Oden, too. I think trying to build a championship team around those two guys is foolhardy. I know it's hard to start over, and go through the struggles that come with a young team, but this edition of the Blazers is going nowhere fast.
Rebuild how? We JUST signed Roy and Aldridge to huge contracts. We're going to have to extend Batum, Oden, and possibly even Rudy depending on how things go. Matthews has a big contract. Camby and Miller have another year on their contracts. What would you do?
It's just pre-season. Okay, it's actually not, but you're still jumping the gun on the "tear it down and rebuild" cannon.
I'd keep Aldridge, Batum, Matthews, Cunningham, and Johnson, and build around them. I'd try to get rid of Roy, Oden, Przybilla, Miller, and Fernandez. Even as "damaged goods," Roy would be attractive to a few teams out there, and I'm positive there are several who would take a chance on Oden.
Waylon Jennings didn't say that. But he did say this, [video=youtube;zRX4mlFi06A]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRX4mlFi06A[/video]
Not with the contract he has. The guy has a max contract, and with news of his knee problems spreading, I can guarantee that you won't get decent value for him. Not even close. At this point, why give up on Oden? Why not wait until he comes back just to see how he does? It's like you're folding without even looking at your cards.
Maybe not, but I bet we'll get more for him now than we will in 2 years. Oh, I've looked at those cards, believe me. Those are very suspect cards. Every time you think you might have a winning hand, it all comes crashing down.
They are only 6 difference from having an amazing start to the season (the two OKC losses). I would give them time.
Two years of first round exits isn't a large enough sample. Even then, it was with either a)The youngest team in the league or b)an injured team without two of their main starters. Just before these past four years, we went through one of worst periods in Blazer history...and now, you want to go back. Great idea!
I want to build a team that can win a championship. Do you think this version of the Blazers is capable of that?
This is where I disagree with you. We tried building a championship team- and this is the result. It's possible we may not even make the playoffs this season. Personally I think we will, but not without healthy centers. My way of thinking is that rather than constantly shooting for the moon (and the resulting unrest from unmet expectations) I'd build a solid team with great depth. A team built to make the playoffs consistently and then see what shakes out. Once that team is in place, fine tune it to get better and possibly upgrade. Detroit won a title recently with no players that will make the hall of fame. Just a team of solid, smart veterans that had good chemistry. The Spurs have won one or two titles with a borderline hall of famer in Duncan. We can, too. We don't need a team of all-stars- just good, smart players that play well together. We took a good step when we unloaded Bayless and I think we will continue to make progress.
Duncan is first-ballot HOF IMO. While I don't think it's necessarily time to rebuild, I don't think ANYONE on the roster should be considered untouchable at this point.
