I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Do you subscribe to the idea that a team needs a third star to be a contender? Miami has LeBron/Wade/Bosh. San Antonio has Duncan/Parker/Manu. Dallas had a mish-mash of former and current stars. Not sure if they would really fit the mold when they won the championship a few years ago. Are we going back to the two star setup? OKC has Westbrook/Durant. Houston has Howard/Harden. LAC has Paul/Blake. So in your opinion, are we good with LA/Dame or do we need a third star? Are three stars too much? Do we have a third star in Batum? I'm just curious what people think about this.
Miami is cap strapped even with the big 3 taking less than $MAX contracts. You can get 3x $10M players for what two of those guys make. All-Star caliber players even. What is for sure is you don't want a single point of failure. One guy who is the only guy who can get his shot off when it counts, and score. One guy who handles the ball. You give opponents a single focus to defeat you. I like the Blazers' scheme for all the 3pt attempts, but you don't have to live/die with the 3pt shot. You could thrive with an inside/outside kind of game that features the 3pt shot and easier baskets from the post. Those post shots are much higher % shots.
I don't think the Webber Kings had a third star, but they were certainly a contender for several years. Really, I'm not even sure if they had a second real star. Peja was good, but it's not like he was light years better than Matthews. Speaking of Wes, it's been a real eye-opener how he's expanded his game this year. If he started getting more touches I really think he could be a 22ppg scorer on some teams. The way he plays in the post now kind of reminds me of Bonzi Wells, but with deadly three point range (and of course without all the baggage). Interesting to compare the stats: http://bkref.com/tiny/lQWgY
I think as Lillard gains experience and grows as a point guard, he will get better at driving and kicking out. He's already pretty good but he could be better. I agree though. Three stars eat up a ton of cap space, and it's already going to be tight with Wes and Lopez coming up for extensions in the not too distant future, plus LA can sign an extension this summer. The Blazers are going to be over the cap for a while in the next couple years. They can't let guys like Wes leave for nothing, and I don't see many options out there to replace his defense or shooting. I remember when shooting guard was one of the easiest positions to fill, now there's a plethora of point guards and power forwards. I wonder why the league goes through feast or famine with certain positions. Look at the All-Star teams. How many true shooting guards are there? In the west there's only Kobe and Harden. The east has a few more with Wade, DeRozan, and Joe Johnson. There could potentially be only one shooting guard on the west after Silver replaces Kobe.
I subscribe to the Militant, Cooks Illustrated, Discover, Consumer Reports, Skeptical Inquirer oh, not what you mean Frankly, no. I think what this team needs most of all is a good 6th man. Like Danny Ainge was. Clifford Robinson. Like Sheed was when he came off the bench and totally dominated the other team's second unit. Someone who can come in, play two or more positions, shoot and defend. The Blazers have improved their bench but there is still too huge a gap between starting five and the other guys.
Rodney Stuckey. Unrestricted free agent. Can play both guard positions. Unguardable at times. I'm curious what kind of deal he'll get this summer. He would be the perfect guy to come off the bench.
Yes, we need Batum to blossom into one. Most will say it's not possible, but then again LMA wasn't always a star. If Nic fostered his offensive skillset over the summer and became a reliable third option, with a post game or some reliable go-to moves, then there's your star right there. Batum has starpower stats in all other categories.
Doubt Neil will, I'd rather use Paul Allens money to get one in free agency. Regardless the perception, Portland will be a destination now with our recent success and two all stars in the spotlight.
Well, just going off the list of perspective free agents this summer, I'm not sure if that would work. It would have to be a trade. If we lock up LA this summer, I'm not sure if we'll have cap space anytime soon. http://hoopshype.com/free_agency_2014.htm I would really like to see us go after Paul Pierce this summer, but he would be a bench guy. Outside of LeBron, Melo, Wade, and Bosh, that's pretty much it.
Someone like Melo? Not easy to find. But sure we could use a big strong wing who can attack the basket. Realistically I would go with the 6th man option as being our best. I still say our turnovers are our biggest problem. I am leaning towards a true PG over a combo guard, but Stuckey is not a bad option as he could play well with Dame.
Not a third "star", but a third scorer who is consistent and aggressive. And not a Mo Williams/Jamal Crawford aggressive. Two players in the 20's (LaMarcus and Damian) and a third played around 18 (Wesley is close) and about 15 from the 4th scorer. But more importantly, this team needs a bench that actually has scorers. Someone besides Mo needs to provide some punch off the bench. It's almost scary to think of how good the team could be if they had 2 scorers off the bench (at or around 9-12 ppg) would be a much better goal. Of course, a better SF/SG could create that.
From the Free agency list the ones that would be helpful are Stephenson , Bledsoe, and Evan Turner. But they will all command too much $ for us.
I really want Nic to assume this role, but am losing hope. Melo really intrigues me. He's the 2nd best pure scorer in the world and plays so hard. I think he's at a place in his career when he doesn't care as much about money and fame as much as he does about winning and improving his legacy (which compared to his 03 draft class peers, has really suffered). So I think he would be okay with signing in POR longterm. He has always been classified as a chucker , but I think this is more because of necessity. His best teammates in DEN were a rapidly declining AI/Billups, and in NY, he has had a decrepit Amare. He'd be part of a sick 3 headed monster with LA and Dame here. If we can get someone like a Bowen/Thabo to play 2 alongside these guys, we'd be set. Nic/Wes for a re-signed Melo I could get behind.
Getting a big-name FA to sign here is a long shot. The new era of stars are all about lifestyle rather than winning. Melo is the epitome of that.
I think the starting unit is set but the obvious problem is frontcourt depth. A guy like Jeff Green makes a lot of sense if you're willing to spend. He has two years after this season at $9m/per. Thad Young also.
We need another starter that can create a shot when a play breaks down. Wes and Batum aren't guys that can just take their men one-on-one very often. I'd like to see a Evan Turner or Deng in a Blazers uni.
NY does not think he is going to walk. At least his wife does not think he will leave. Besides he would not re-sign first so he could go to Portland. We did not make his list the first time. This guy will be in NY or LA. Maybe Chicago, but that is about it. He loves the bright lights.
