If Blazers are in 8th place at the trade deadline, would this prevent Blazers from making any trades for the future (younger players)? I could argue it would be much better from them to trade a player like CJ and then drop out of the playoffs, in order to keep the draft pick and have a better cap situation. But, how would fans react if Blazers were in 8th and NO made a trade that dropped them out of the playoff picture?
Hell no to trading CJ. Hell no to tanking. The only way tanking would be worth it is if you're getting Simmons, Ingram, or Brown, and that ain't happening. Tanking is stupid anyways. Name one team in the past decade that's won a championship with a team built from tanking. Look at some of the recent teams that have tanked. 6ers have a bunch of lottery picks, yet no stars and they still suck. Wolves suck. Magic suck. I'll take the 8th seed over the 8th pick in the draft thank you very much.
We shall see how you feel after we get obliterated by the Warriors in 4 games and forfeit our pick to Denver.
I think you read the situation perfectly, and I think you presume correctly that the schedule will likely keep them just good enough to keep any potential CJ trades outside of the realm of possibility. Not that I think that NO is really looking to trade CJ at this point, but there are theoretically deals out there that make sense in the long term. As long as we're within a few games of .500, however, short-term thinking is going to dominate.
I don't disagree with you, BUT, you can't tell me that San Antonio didn't tank and got Tim Duncan out of it (granted they tanked less than Boston, but...) and they have won a championship in the last decade.
I wasn't really talking about tanking, but assume that some young potentially great center was available, but he is a few years away. Would the concern about dropping out of the playoffs, and the blow back, cause Olshey to avoid the trade? Even more so if you lose the pick too? I agree that I like the team winning and think they could have enough talent now (plus a free agent maybe) to compete in several years, IF several players continue to grow.
If by "tying the Blazers' hands" you mean that the players are playing well enough that they don't *have* to trade anyone, then Yes. I don't subscribe to the theory that they're playing "too well" and that they're somehow limited in their plans because of it.
I'd say the Blazers being in the 8th spot at the All-Star break makes a trade more likely, but probably not one involving CJ. Something using Kaman and cap space to get a solid vet PF would be my bet.
I'm just not thrilled with being in this 8 to 10 range. Either make a trade to try to bump up to 6th (which isn't unreasonable), or keep developing the young guys.
No it won't prevent him from trading anyone. Thankfully I have more faith in him than the fans in regards to CJ.
Just fine. Never said blazers were ready to contend. Blazers have enough young players however. They are one wing scorer away from contending. You're not getting that in this draft unless you're in the top 3..and even then it's a crapshoot
I can totally see Olshey making a trade he likes for the future even if the Blazers are currently the No. 8 seed. He would simply state what is obvious: Even though we are currently the No. 8 seed, we are not currently constructed to contend, and that is our goal. Olshey gives no fucks if the media assclowns like it or not.
I mean.... CJ is a wing scorer and we got him at 10. Crabbe is a wing scorer and we got him at 31. Neil has a really good eye for talent. I trust that if we got him a pick in the top 10, he would find us a contributor.
I wouldn't be shocked to see Leonard traded. With Vonleh getting the starting nod at PF, and Stotts not being willing to play Leonard at C, I don't see the Blazers being willing to pay him the going big man rate this summer.
Yeah, I really think we should move Meyers. Whatever offers he gets this summer, I really don't want to see the Blazers match.
I'm not convinced this would be a good idea. How many players can body up Cousins and hit the three well? He is a very unusual player and is still learning and growing. Trading him now or not matching would feel like selling low to me.
Playoff positioning is likely irrelevant. The only thing that would get CJ traded is if the deal brings back a player he thinks pushes us up the ladder in the long term.
