I don't have the sources, good or bad, I once did. Some may think I never did. I digress. I am hearing from a couple of people, that may know things, that the Blazers are torn down the middle on how to proceed. Most agree there needs to be some change, but the organization is stalled right now in what that is, and when it should happen. Some want now, some want to wait until after the season. Another thing is that Dame has the ear of the organization. I hate this. He is a very good player, not a very good GM. Blazers have turned down deals for "prominent young players" No idea what was leaving, but must have been too much? NO is all about this draft, and using his "assets" to revamp roster
Obligatory Deal Coming Soon joke... Crabbe's deal really puts us in a tough spot. "Prominent Young Players" may put us in the luxury tax THIS year, which would be very, very, bad. Hard to judge without knowing the particulars.
Yay, pizza delivery boy is back! I disagree about Dame having input. He's our best player and most important building block. He needs to be on the same page as the front office. I like hearing that NO is focusing on the draft and wants to revamp the roster. Don't let this shit season cloud the big picture. Recognizing the mistakes and improving from them is a big step-- look at how MIL is doing this.
All very intersting and seems fairly plausible. I am curious about the part I put in bold. Who is divided and what side are they on? Is it a split between Olshey and Allen, or is it Olshey and his scouts, or is it Olshey vs. Stotts? Thanks for sharing.
Assuming Neil is committed to CJ, everything centers around Plumlee. If he's sold on him, he has to go find a power forward that compliments Plumlees game. Someone that rebounds, plays defense, and can shoot. That won't be easy to find. If he's not sold on Plumlee, he has to be traded, and traded now, and a new center will have to be brought in. But it all starts and ends with Plumlee.
Thanks for sharing MM! It sure feels like its time to make a move. ANY move. Stagnant, almost boring team right now. We have to finish season 19-11 to get to .500. Ouch! Hoping Crabbe or other bench assets hold value in someones eyes! Would love to see Noel, Vucevic, Ibaka or even Okafor here for next year.
IMO Plumlee has the highest BB IQ on the team and is our most consistent player in terms of hustle and effort on both ends of the court night after night. Not our most talented but he works his ass off. It took Przybilla 6 years to become the center we loved in Portland. Not the most talented but brought attitude and toughness every night. I would keep Plumlee because he's still getting better and his benefit to the team isn't dependent on him scoring.
What I read between the lines in the OP is. The Blazer's FO does not have a clear long term plan in place. Which "sort-of" confirms what I have suspected all along.
Oh, I think they had a long-term plan in place. I think this season is making them consider scrapping that plan though. But they haven't decided fully yet.
Would you go deep into the luxury tax to keep him? Is he worth paying him effectively 30 million a year on a sub .500 team? The alternative sucks too; we gave up a 1st round pick for him, so if he walks that's effectively no return on yet another pick. Short of Olshey hypnotizing another GM and unloading a truck-load of hot garbage before the deadline, I think Plumlee has to be moved, otherwise it's just another wasted asset Olshey failed to capitalize on (or just as bad, overpays him for not enough production to warrant his cost).
I do not see how they could have had a long term plan in place. All of the contracts given out last summer only made sense for this one season. When you extend all of the contracts out for the next 2-3 seasons, it becomes very apparent they did not have a long range plan in place, unless the plan was to tank. Next season, we are already over the luxury cap threshold, with only 9-10 players signed. We do not have a starting center, and no starting caliber true PF on the roster. How is that long range planning to improve the team??
I not saying I agree with any plan they may have had but I absolutely think they had one. It involved trading a couple of guys (which you could say is not likely but it is there plan not ours that I am speculating on).
I would move other players before Plumlee. If it's a choice between Meyers or Plums I would keep Plums.
Who contributes more overall to the team, Crabbe? Meyers? Plumlee? Crabbe better shooter, Meyers better athlete, but Plumlee does more for the team. IMO Plumlee is looking at a $14mill a year payday.
There's an actual choice between the two? I'd keep the gum underneath that courtside seat over Meyers.
I agree. I just have serious doubts about how easily moved Meyers, Crabbe, and or Turner are going to be and what it would cost the Blazers for some team to take them off of their hands.
