"I don't really see one trade turning us into a championship favorite. Like I said, I would like to see the same guys that are in the locker room right now. But it's also a business and people have a job to do so you've got to respect that." I agree completely with Lillard at this point. You guys can come up with all the cockamamy trades you want but there is no trade that will make this team a contender this year. Even gutting the team for Griffin or Howard isn't going to make them good enough to beat the Spurs or the Warriors. Building a championship caliber team takes time and a number of good moves. The cumulative action over a number of years. What we want here is a good team that stays good. Not a one hit wonder or a talent pool that doesn't mesh. Stay the course and don't let emotions control your intellect when it comes to wins and losses. Play hard and win as many games as possible. Then if they lose the pick due to quality play so be it. Go and procure another pick if need be. Then work the free agent market this summer.
Good PR from Lillard. Yeah no trade will make us a contender but one could put us in a better position to take that next step in the summer. I don't think we give up a long term piece for a win now vet. Agree Howard or Griffin make no sense. But still lot of other moves we could make. I think most likely we use some cap space for a pick and possibly even keep the same 15 guys we have. But if we can give up a guy that isn't a long term core piece for more value; pull the trigger.
It's not about one trade turning us into a contender; it's about one trade moving us incrementally closer to that goal. If the options are lose Kaman/Henderson for nothing, or trade them for something that could eventually contribute to a title, you make that deal.
"I don't really see one trade turning us into a championship favorite" - The 29 other teams in the NBA that aren't the Warriors
Of course no one trade will turn the Blazers into a contender overnight. But a strategic move MIGHT pay off and contribute to moving the team closer to contender status in the future. That's the whole point. It's a process.
Actually, trading for Ryan Anderson and starting him at PF would give us a LOT of shooting in the starting lineup. It wouldn't make us contenders immediately, but I could see that team learning to play defense and becoming an elite team.
I think he wants the chance to offer a max to a FA. We have all discussed the odds of that working out for us, but I bet he wants the ability to try. Is it the best strategy? He went all in for Kanter, Monroe, and Hibbert (all bigs), does he want to do the same for Harrison Barnes. Barnes is far from perfect, but neither were the others........ I just don't think he wants to take back a big contract right now. The one contract that makes some sense (arguably) is KLove. He is locked in for a few years and I think Cleveland wants desperately to save some money. If I am Cleveland's owner..... I would consider Leonard, Harkless, and the reduction in the cap penalty. That is one big ass tax bill he will be looking at.
Anderson would halp our shooting; might be one of the only bigs thats a worse defender than Meyers though.
Looking like that cap flexibility we have kept might end up being a negative. Players locked up on long term contracts are far more valuable than cap space. Its good we have such a competitive team paid so little; but if nothing happens today we missed an opportunity. Being able to offer restrctied free agents a contract that their team will certainly match has little value as your Kanter and Hibbert examples show.
So many of us believe the NBA is a talent driven league. Get the best players/talent available and watch the win count increase and improve the odds of winning a ring. If you take a look around the league, many of the teams built on acquiring the best talent are now suffering below expectations. The Rockets and Cavs come to mind. However, when you look at teams that are built on culture and chemistry, they are achieving above expectations. The Spurs, Warriors, and now the Blazers are heading in that direction. The Blazers have achieved a high level of culture and chemistry, and they are improving. Why would a GM want to break that up? Dr. Jack was ahead of his time.
Back when the game was ground-and-pound, where you would drop it in to the tallest guy on the team and let him work, individual talent meant more. But the reliance on long-range assisted shots in the modern game demands more chemistry. Portland is ahead of the curve; Golden State busted the curve up hard, with recent San Antonio teams as the prototype of the modern team-oriented game.
Roberts over Frazier gives us an even better bench. I feel much better knowing that we added a pick and a veteran pt guard for a D league level talent in Frazier. What intrigues me the most is the show of faith for Monetero and Alexander...the organization obviously values keeping them
I think Alexender could be something in 2-3 years. They are our projects, thus why we didn't take in any projects, even if around Dame's arc.
I agree and Montero has a lot of athleticism and a huge upside. I'm glad we kept them both..I'm actually much happier with the roster today..and we got a future pick without tanking!
DUDE... it's a 2021 1st round UNPROTECTED. That could be amazing... Dame will be 30... It could really help us. I fail. 2nd rounder. STill, though, I like it.
