odds and ends tying up what to watch for for the year. W2W4 Part II: Post All-Star Break Close on the heels of the All-Star Break (February 14-16) is the trade deadline (February 20), which will be delved deeper into in the “Assets” profile and will probably see the Blazers as significant players, one way or the other. But assuming the best, that the team’s in playoff contention and hasn’t blown it up to go Riggin’-for-Wiggins or Panhandle-for-Randle or MIXUM-for-Exum or Horrid-for-Embiid or any other cute lotto rhyme, the schedule sets up pretty interestingly for a stretch run to the playoffs. There are 15 home games and 13 away, but a major factor is that the bulk of the road games are built into two major trips: a 5-in-8 Southwestern Swing (DAL/HOU/MEM/SAS/NOH) where 1-4 is a real possibility, and a brutal 5-in-7 trip involving CHA/MIA/ORL/ATL/CHI, where 3 games might be do-able. The other three are @DEN, @UTH and @LAL—no cakewalk. However, if the team wants to move up in the standings, they should definitely get their chance and control their own destiny. On the homefront, though, it’s a little better. There are fewer chunks of games all in a row, and a few breather games, especially as the season tails into April. Five of the last six games are at home against PHX, NOH, SAC and GSW with LAC heading to the MODA Center (just, wow) on the last day of the season. My feeling is that the April games will, for the first time in 3 years, be meaningful ones—and not for lottery purposes. By the way, the lottery is May 20, the same day the Blazers start the Western Conference Finals. No, really. The first game the Blazers play in the Western Conference Finals, whether at MODA or on the road, will be May 20th, with the draft lottery beforehand. Well, it doesn’t matter who’s playing, the lottery will be right before the first game of the conference finals. Boise Bound? Rules on D-League, from nba.com The Blazers have an sole-affiliate relationship with the Stampede. Golliver reports that: The Blazers assigned Will Barton, Victor Claver, Joel Freeland and Nolan Smith to the Stampede at various points during the 2012-13 season but did not assign another player to the Stampede following Ilett's statements. The three players cut from the squad that will be offered Idaho Stampede roster spots are 6’ 2”guard Dee Bost, who came from Mississippi State by way of the Montenegran League, 6’6” forward E.J. Singler, an undrafted rookie free agent from Oregon and 6’8” forward Richard Howell, an undrafted rookie free agent from North Carolina State. Also eligible without consent required to go to Boise are Leonard, Claver, Barton, Freeland, McCollum, Crabbe and (technically) Lillard. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least to see Crabbe, Barton and Leonard spend some time there this year, as each have shown enough talent to have some NBA skill. Each would probably develop better getting 30mpg against inferior competition than racking up the DNP-CDs with the Big Show.
Great work! What do you think Portland would do if a big time player demands a trade and we are 3rd in the West? I mean do you think Olshey would pull the trigger if our current team is already a high seeded team?
I don't think that anyone (other than you ) thinks that the 15 guys we have right now will make a Finals appearance. Now, is that just trading out a few role players and future picks for a better role player? Maybe. Is it doing a big-time Pippen-style consolidation? Dunno. But I think that if we're anywhere close to Top 4 at the deadline, you'll see Olshey answering a lot of phone calls. I think he'd think really hard before doing something that jeopardizes his 2015 flexibility, but I don't think he'll just sit it out if he can improve the team.
One thing I'm not certain I want to write about, but has been circling around in my head, is if Lillard has enough juice right now to build his own SuperFriends team in 2015. Whether LMA/Nic/Wes/Lopez are de facto in an extended tryout to be on his team in 2 years, rather than the team being good so that we have a chance to keep them.
That's where I was going at. I'm thinking the blockbuster type trade. What if a big time player wants out and we have an opportunity to get that player, but we would have to give up Aldridge or Batum in process. Would Olshey pull the trigger?
If I was to take a toke on the Homer Hash Pipe, I'd look at Durant. He's probably even less likely to stay in OKC in 2016 than LMA in Portland in 2015. But LMA might take an extension to go down there. How much would we have to add in a max-extended-LMA-for-Durant deal? Probably way too much, and this is probably way too early to make that deal, in their eyes. But if you're talking blockbusters, that's where I'd start.
Leonard should live here in Idaho for the season. Tell him he doesn't get to come home until he blocks 20 shots without fouling out.
So, in essence you are turning the question back to HCP and asking if it hurts to be that goofy looking? Another great post! Gramps...
