If we can land another good borderline all star wing player, LA is back probably. However, I really hope the team plays a lot different if he comes back. I don't wanna see 22 shots a night from LA anymore.
Like who? I would love to throw max money at Kawhi and put the Spurs in a situation where they think they can get Aldridge so they don't match Kawhi and then LA re-signs with us. Pull a Chandler Parsons on the Spurs.
He said IF you're going to rebuild, I'd rather go someplace else. But if you're going to go for it here, I'm with you.
I think the 22 shots came because the coach called him to. Teams focused on Dame, knowing we didn't have any slashers or aggressive finishers, which forced Scott's to ISO Aldridge. I think that's the very reason why Olshey got Henderson, Pumlee and drafted gritty players. I don't think Aldridge wants to shoot contested jumpers every game. But if that's what teams give us because we have no one to punish teams for sagging off the wings and centers, then you gotta do what you have to do to win.
The LA ISO game still no matter what was dumb. We had no off ball movement, Stotts is a guy I'm worried about regardless of the roster.
Seems to me Olshey said he talked to LA all the time last summer too and it turned out he was telling the truth about LA staying. No reason to think this season is any different
But that's the thing... When Nic was aggressive and we moved the ball well, we saw much less of the ISO game. In fact, there was a moment where Aldridge was shooting much less from the perimeter and we were attacking the basket. We stopped doing that the moment our perimeter game went into a slump and we started ISO more often. Aldridge is a willing passer and team player. He's proven this many years. You give him a team that can punish teams for sagging and I suspect you will see more of Aldridge inside.
If the Blazers offer first, they have three days to sign Aldridge. If they can't and dad matches, they are stuck with the team they have now. I would go even farther and offer Green 10 mil as well. Make the Spurs sweat
But they COULD match after they signed Aldridge, right? What's the cap hold for Kawhi right now? I'm guessing not max money.
What Olshey said was that he talked to LaMarcus, and LaMarcus told him that the reports are wrong, that he has not told anyone on the Blazers he is definitely leaving the Blazers. Olshey then said, LaMarcus has not told him or any other Blazers staff that he is definitely leaving the Blazers. Olshey then said, the Blazers intend to compete with other teams to sign LaMarcus. No one said that LaMarcus is definitely NOT leaving the Blazers. Except Strenuus. My gut is telling me that there is an 85% chance LaMarcus is a Blazer next season. And I'm glad to see this conversation switch from the obsession with signing a big center to signing a top tier SF.
The money isn't the issue. Their teams will just match any and all offers. Paul Allens checkbook gets talked about too much. We know he has money but that doesn't mean anything in Portland or to teams with the rights to RFA of obvious stars.
I think there is some validity to this. LA has never seemed to me to be someone who is selfish when it comes to shooting. There is no doubt in my mind that he would be ok with taking different types of shots. Terry practically begged him to take more 3's. Get a legitimate 3rd scorer and many of the bad shots that LA takes will go away. That goes for Dame too. It is on the coach to dictate how the offense works. (For the most part)
I think Neil has done a very commendable job the alst couple days make this roster even more stable, without adding salary and without getting older. If we just re-signed everyone we would be a better team. I still think the gap at SF is a bit of a concern, I really hope we use Kaman in the next couple days to help fill that gap.
