I wish it was just as easy as just bringing everyone back. You can bring everyone back with these same dynamics and the needle not move at all. If you aren't going to make the changes from coaching, ideology standpoint you need to make it with the character and the talent on the floor. Some how, Some way this team needs to get more competitive, tougher and better defensively. So here is an idea to make it happen. 1. Renounce the rights of Robin Lopez and assume the opt out of Arron Afflalo 2. Take the #23, Crabbe and Cash and move up to draft Sam Dekker 3 Trade Nic and Kaman to Indy for Roy Hibbert 4 Resign LA 5.Resign Wes 6. Make a Wesley Matthew toxic offer to Draymond Green and hope Warriors don't match.
Sometimes the best moves are the ones you don't make. If we get improvements from a couple of Dame, CJ, Meyers, or Crabbe and the team has less injuries next year they could contend for the title as is. The Blazers were right there battling for the second seed in the west in March and that was with missed or ineffective games from Lopez, LMA, Nic. We've seen big improvements from the team for the last two years so it's certainly possible that trend continues. There is zero chance we get Draymond Green might as well say we should target LeBron.
The only way this thread should be labeled notice is if Neil made it himself or Paul created the thread!
Well, keep in mind it's just an idea. And after thinking about it. Wes Matthews and Green are very similar players. They're almost carbon copies. Not sure that would be the best avenue to take. With that said, Dekker would be my Small Forward. And I would take the money and work to make a lopsided trade or the money add speed and depth and toughness to this roster. Which I think is lacking.
I'd never pencil a rookie into the depth chart, too much to learn. McDermit was college player of the year but can't sniff the Bulls rotation. CJ was supposed to be NBA ready 4 year guy but has taken two years to do anything, and most the season deserved to be way outside the rotation. Best to get even a veteran minimum player to play any minutes and stash the rookie for down the road.
Gotcha. I like Deckker a lot. There seems to be a late lotto-mid round SF steal every year, I think he's it. I think Green will be overpaid so I don't think that's the way to go. I knew Aminu or Crowder as a cheap starter, using the money saved by signing then to upgrade the bench
Dame, Batum, Afflalo, Leonard, McCollom, and Crabbe will all be better next season. And I'm pretty sure that one way or another we'll have a better backup PG, too. Lots of people panicking around here.
I agree with you on Green. The talent prob isn't far off. But competitively something needs to change for this team. I don't think that dynamic is in place for it to change. Terry for as much as I loved him last year, looked like he had very lil control this year. And I'm starting to buy into the idea that this organization, players(This group atleast) thinks it's ok to be competitive to make the playoffs and nothing more. And I'm NOW starting to believe some of the fans are A ok with that as well. I'm here to tell that if have a year next year like we had this year with this same group. All the same people will be claiming and crying the same thing. And that's no changes need to be made.
1 - Have a plan B in place -- Go hard after Kevin Love or Draymond Green. 2 - Trade Batum. 3 - Trade Batum. 4 - Let AA walk. 5 - Trade Batum.
I'm sure a lot of fans thought the same thing when a healthy Spurs team got whooped in the first round or when a 65 win Dallas team lost to an 8th seed. Both franchises kept their core together, had little expectations to contend and won titles. Neil has a great feel for players and if he thinks one guy needs to go as he did with JJ Hickson or Mo Williams he'll make the change. But we never heard any disagreements from this group or complaining about shots or envy of so and so getting stats even though half the roster would be free agents. I see a lot of good promise with this group. The faults were very understandable so I have no problem bringing the boys back. Of course Neil will always consider upgrades but if nothing is available it would be the best Blazers roster of at least the last 15 years so I wouldn't get greedy expecting more than that.
I love how some people do posts as if they can get inside of Neils & Pauls brain and know there master plan.
Rule #1 in trying to make fun of a mass of people on a message board. Know the difference between there and their. First one is on the house.
