Would you go all-in on the playoffs?

Lottery is by no means an assured way of getting talent. For example, look at our current roster - how many "lottery" players do we have on it and we are all talking about upgrading.

More importantly, I think the team is "all-in" on making the playoffs. More than anything, I do not want anyone on this team to fall into a "coast" or take-it-easy mentality. I want them to develop killer instinct and continual striving to win and go for the throat mentality.

If that means we make the playoffs and miss out on a another potential Vonleh, MyLo, etc. I am good with that.

Yes, talent can be found anywhere in the lottery but the lower you get, the worse the odds are of that talent being "game-changing" and at this point, I just don't see us getting far enough down in the lottery to have a high chance of success.

Win if you can, lottery is a consolation prize which sometimes pays off but often doesn't.

Gramps...

 

I understand your thoughts and sentiment, I just don't like the odds of us landing such a talent in the lottery this year. We are bad enough to get a high lottery pick and the odds of landing the kind of talent we need to raise us to the next level in mid-to-late lottery are quite low.

Gramps...

 

Agreed. I think it is a great point. I think we need to play to each of their strengths and when those strengths offset each other rather than complement each other, there is obviously improvement that can be made.

Gramps...

 

Totally agree. To answer if I'd go "all-in" to make the playoffs, I'd say no. But that really shouldn't be the question. The question is just what's the best way to improve the team longterm. For anyone to simply pick a single route as the way to go is stupid. Maybe it's the draft, maybe it's a free agent, maybe it's a lopsided trade because we can take on a bunch of capspace, but without a doubt it will include more than one of those methods. And it all depends on any number of variables, such as what options become available to Olshey in the future, how well the team plays, how well each individual player plays, etc. You keep your mind open because things change all the time. This time last year no one envisioned Wes going down and the entire core save Damian being scattered to the four corners of the earth.

This team is tied for the second youngest in the league and without Kaman we might be the youngest. At some point the answer is not going to be through drafting a 20 year old in the draft. We already have tons of young guys that we're evaluating and news flash: they're not all going to be here next year. Packaging some of our assets and/or taking on salary for proven guys or signing mid-level free agents is probably going to help Damian's prime more than hoping for a transcendent talent with the #12-#14 pick. If it comes to that maybe the pick will turn out, but I'm definitely for trying to improve the teams outlook if the right opportunity comes around before then.

 

The Red Rooster is crowing today because some people need to wake up.

 

"Go all in" implies selling off young talent for 30-34 year olds in order to make the playoffs. I don't think anyone here thinks we should do that.

A little walk down memory lane:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/POR/1986.html#per_game::none

Would you have traded Drexler. Got rid of Porter and Kersey, who accomplished nothing, in order to improve the team? They ended up 40-42, and that was Dr. Jack's last year.

 

"If you take the quick and easy path, as Vader did, you will become an agent of evil."

 

Gotta love a good, sensible Gramps post!

 

I see this roster as a chance to not trade a Jermaine Oneal to the Pacers where he becomes an allstar but show patience.....Noah Vonleh? I'm thrilled Vonleh is getting a crash course as a starter. I think you gauge the chemistry, have some talented 3rd string projects and go for the gusto. Allen Crabbe was Pat Connaugton two years ago. CJ was Mo Harkless..I think we're a long way from seeing what we've really got as far as keepers now. I just don't understand why Alexander and Montero aren't getting some D league time yet

 

Whats the point of the playoffs? This team will get swept by anyone in the West. Give a solid draft pick to add to the dearth of young talent.

 

how can the blazers be within 5?

 

Mark Cuban didn't build though the draft and his team won a championship.

 

Yes but FA's are much more willing to go to Dallas than Portland. Bigger city, no State income tax.....not even in the same conversation.

 

Blazers still only have 5 wins over >.500 teams...all at home. Love the effort but that is not a Playoff caliber record.

 

what big free agents has Dallas added?

 

Wes! LOL!
And that annoying white guy. I mean, he was kinda good the season before they signed him.

 

Those are really probably the biggest 2 they've signed in quite a while. Being named and actually signing someone are two very different things. They overpaid 2 role players. Woohoo. But it's a draw.

 

But before Wes, Dallas didn't build though the draft. Mark Cuban is a risk taker and he got a championship out of it.

 

You underestimate CJ.