Jason Quick @jwquick The Blazers, right now, will be rebuilt through the draft and free agency - not trades.>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I did see Olshey sitting next to Quick yesterday during shoot around for about 15 minutes chatting.........
So what's new here? Hasn't the plan always been to get another decent draft pick this year and try to use the cap space to sign a talented veteran? That's been my impression all along. As others have said, we're kind of slim in the trade asset department.
This isn't news. Some people here want to trade Aldridge to get even worse but Olshey has been clear that he is building around Aldridge. As was said, we have no one to trade that isn't part of the core going forward.
Why would you want to sign a talented veteran? Signing a talented veteran to a work in progress can bring you to the playoffs, but it's not going to win you anything of significance. The way the league is these days is to go big or go home, so a team like the Blazers needs to follow up on the home-run they hit with Lillard by bringing in other young talent through trades and the draft. You have to wonder how Lillard and Aldridge fit together long term. I know that Aldridge is only a few years older than Lillard, but in terms of their development and NBA miles, Aldridge's best years are behind him and Lillard's are ahead. Wouldn't it make more sense to shift the benchmark from making the playoffs to making the Finals, trade Aldridge for some younger assets, and bolster the rebuilding process with a core that's not heading to a decade of mediocrity?
We have had this discussion 100 times over the years. There is no clear cut successful blue print on how to do it. Look how many teams have never won a NBA championship. Going big has not worked, just like building slow has not worked. What does work ......luck. Winning the lottery that one year that a super star happens to be in the draft. Or having someone drop in your lap. The Lakers are about the only exception to the rule. So to answer your question, IMO yes sign a talented Vet if you have the option. Accumulate as many assets as possible and hold on to the right ones.
I get your point, but "going big" doesn't necessarily have to mean that you have all the stars align and win the title. Just being a contender... a real contender... is sufficient. Every fan of a team that's "competing for the playoffs" struggles through watching regular season games, opposed to being the fan of a team that made the big moves, had the chance, but ultimately fell short. I guess I'm just saying, as a small market fan, that I'd rather my team make bold moves, rather than play it safe, experiment with team chemistry, and wallow in mediocrity. I'm going to be behind my team regardless of their success, but I'd rather watch them make bold moves and either be the team that could win the West, or the team that's going to get the #1 draft prospect. I've had too many years as a fan of a team that's a perennial first round exit, and it's very unfulilling. True. It'd be interesting to see one of these NBA journalists do a report on how teams scout free agents. You always have your "MAX" guys, your MLE vets, etc., but then there's that class of player like Trevor Ariza or Courtney Lee, who have team scouts convinced that there's more to their game than there is and that they can tap some untapped potential that will make these guys All-Stars... those guys are usually huge letdowns. I'm curious how many players out there are on at least their second NBA contract and are making less than they should (ie: the kind of players that scouts from teams like Portland should be looking for this summer). I can think of one personal example on Memphis with Tony Allen. He's the heart of our team and more responsible for a current success than anyone outside Z-Bo/Gasol, but he only makes about 3 mill a year. That's less than Mo "I never learned how to play defense in college" Speights makes. The Blazers need to find themselves a Tony Allen in free agency. They need an absolute bargain. Otherwise, trade or draft.
With a team as talent poor as this one, a slow rebuild is going to happen regardless of tactics. The bench has been even worse than I thought it could be; guys like Claver and Freeland have been major disappointments, Leonard is pretty far away, Barton is still pretty much unknown and the rest looks like dreck. The one saving grace is that the starting unit is good (not great) and Lillard has a shot to be special offensively, his defense is going to need some major work in subsequent seasons for him to be a true top twenty or top ten player and that remains to be seen.
That may have been a bit harsh, and it's pretty hard to peg a guy's "prime" when they're in their late 20's, but "age" has also taken on a new meaning with Aldridge's generation of early entries. The reality is that he's a seventh year, 6'11" stick figure. He could be a freak of nature, play til his late 30's, and have incredible career longevity, but isn't it more likely that he's currently at or approaching his prime, whereas Lillard is just starting to develop as a pro?
Aldridge's best days aren't behind him. Please. When some of us (including Nash himself) thought we might bring Nash here this season, Olshey shot that down by saying he was looking for a PG that would fit with Aldridge's window. Lillard is that PG.
Aldridge is approaching his prime and Lillard is already playing at a high level. Players don't have to be the exact same age to win titles together.
I think the point is to get as many assets as possible then try and trade for a disgruntled star to try and push you over the top. Kind of like what the Clippers did with Paul. So we get another high draft pick, we make smart signings and do as well as you can do and wait for trades that Olshey thinks can push the Blazers over the top. Its a fairly risky move because it can back fire in your face and leave us in the basketball purgatory (8th-6th seed 1 and done for years) but everything is risky. Sucking and getting draft pick after draft pick is risky because they don't always work out.
If you're the GM and you're holding your nose next to Quick, will you say, "Oh yeah, I'm trying to trade these guys. Print that so they'll become unmotivated and lose trade value" or will you say, "Oh no, I love these negative PER guys, I'd trade my mother before them."
Olshey is probably not aware that Portland can't build through free agency. If they can offer some player the max and get him though, with a high lottery pick next year and a max player, we should be pretty damn good
