The Draft is Next.....start the Tank

[TBpup]

With no moves made today, the Blazers go into this summer projected to be WELL over the Luxury Tax. They have until the following Trade Deadline to address that but now the best thing this team can do for itself is to make that Draft pick as valuable as possible.

Whether you use it for yourself or use it in a trade to add talent more ready to contribute, this is no time to go on a winning streak so that they can get torched by the Warriors or make their Lottery pick somewhere in the teens.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Assuming we pay Ezeli $1M, we're what $8M over the luxury tax line?

 

[KeepOnRollin]

I bet it is bye bye Leonard at the draft even if he takes the CLE pick with him.

 

[TBpup]

I bet it is bye bye Leonard at the draft even if he takes the CLE pick with him.

Hopefully they don't have to give up picks just to lose salary. You want to use those to improve your talent, not just to have to bail you out of where you are in the Lux Tax.

 

[Natebishop3]

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Hopefully they don't have to give up picks just to lose salary. You want to use those to improve your talent, not just to have to bail you out of where you are in the Lux Tax.

I understand. Last resort, but they would do it if needed imo.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I was asked on Twitter, "Would you rather the team go 6-20 the rest of the way or 20-6?"

I can't help myself; I still go with 20-6. If the Nurkic deal turns us into a 63-win team over the final 1/3 of the season, I'd be really excited for next season.

I'll always opt for hope.

 

[TBpup]

Outside of the players, they need a legit defensive coach and a real big man coach.

 

[ripcityboy]

Assuming we pay Ezeli $1M, we're what $8M over the luxury tax line?

Ugh. I can't believe the amount Allen is paying for this level of talent. It's almost like a friend buying some vintage guitar set and you tell him it's crap. Except the 62 Les Paul Gold Top is actually Meyers Leonard....

 

[Natebishop3]

Here is my plan for the rest of the season:

Shut Dame down. Tell him to rest.

Start:

CJ
Crabbe
Harkless
Vonleh
Nurk

Play:

Layman
Napier
Davis

Don't Play:

Leonard (he can only hurt his value further)

Hope that our young guys show enough to boost their value for a trade this summer. See if CJ is capable of being a point guard long term.

 

[TBpup]

@Natebishop3 ...I agree with resting Dame until that ankle is 100%. You don't want it to not heal completely correctly and be something that is nagging into next season.

 

[Haakzilla]

...do you know who made this gif originally a few years ago? It has to be one of the best ever!

 

[Reep]

Here is my plan for the rest of the season:

Shut Dame down. Tell him to rest.

Start:

CJ
Crabbe
Harkless
Vonleh
Nurk

Play:

Layman
Napier
Davis

Don't Play:

Leonard (he can only hurt his value further)

Hope that our young guys show enough to boost their value for a trade this summer. See if CJ is capable of being a point guard long term.

Sorry, like 95%, but Leonard needs to play some. Even if they want to trade him he needs to get his shot back and show some potential. But, I would take what you have above, just add Leonar_ to the bench for 15 or so minutes. And I would still like to see a couple of games with this lineup, just to see how it looks:

CJ
Crabbe
Harkless
Leonard
Nurk

If Leonard could find his shot that would be a very hard team to guard.

 

[Reep]

@Natebishop3 ...I agree with resting Dame until that ankle is 100%. You don't want it to not heal completely correctly and be something that is nagging into next season.

Do you think Dame will allow it? What happens if that proposed lineup without Dame starts winning and playing good defense?

 

[Natebishop3]

Do you think Dame will allow it? What happens if that proposed lineup without Dame starts winning and playing good defense?

Trade Dame, I guess

 

[ripcityboy]

Here is my plan for the rest of the season:

Shut Dame down. Tell him to rest.

Start:

CJ
Crabbe
Harkless
Vonleh
Nurk

Play:

Layman
Napier
Davis

Don't Play:

Leonard (he can only hurt his value further)

Hope that our young guys show enough to boost their value for a trade this summer. See if CJ is capable of being a point guard long term.

I feel like if we play any of them it will lesson there value. I'm hoping Crabbe can improve his shooting some and maybe Davis gets some agility back after losing weight... but that's about it. If we are hoping that Nurkic's will somehow make this team go on a winning stretch of games? That's absolute delusion. The thing I'm looking forward to most is Layman's development. I think he might have some real talent.

 

[Natebishop3]

I feel like if we play any of them it will lesson there value. I'm hoping Crabbe can improve his shooting some and maybe Davis gets some agility back after losing weight... but that's about it. If we are hoping that Nurkic's will somehow make this team go on a winning stretch of games? That's absolute delusion. The thing I'm looking forward to most is Layman's development. I think he might have some real talent.

Crabbe has historically played better as a starter.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I understand. Last resort, but they would do it if needed imo.

I really don't see PA caring enough to waste a pick. He loves the draft

 

[KeepOnRollin]

I really don't see PA caring enough to waste a pick. He loves the draft

He can buy a pick for 3 MIL. I think he does that before spending 12 MIL on tax for Leonard.

Hopefully we can trade Leonard without a pick though.

 

[tester551]

Does anyone know how long NO contract with the Blazers runs for? I'm wondering how soon PA might decide to make a change there.

 

[Chris Craig]

I bet it is bye bye Leonard at the draft even if he takes the CLE pick with him.

Probably have to give up our pick to get someone to take him.

 

[Schilly]

The thing thats hard to know is if Paul is as upset and impatient as Canzano is telling us everyone should be.

 

[BBert]

I love this GIF so much. LOL

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Probably have to give up our pick to get someone to take him.

Nah man. Positive thinking!

 

[PDXFonz]

This gif is ripe for the editing

 

[BBert]

 

[Denny Crane]

Hopefully they don't have to give up picks just to lose salary. You want to use those to improve your talent, not just to have to bail you out of where you are in the Lux Tax.

The picks are rookie scale contracts to be signed. No trivial amount when you're dealing with the luxury tax.

 

[ripcityboy]

I hope their performance level remains high and they give it their all.....

 

[PDXFonz]

Honestly I'd still be fine with this team playing their best basketball and winning games, even if it means matching up against the warriors in the first round. Don't get me wrong the odds of everything clicking and us winning a first round series against the Warriors isn't high, but I'm definitely taking the Lloyd Christmas if that situation becomes a reality.

I'd also be fine playing our developing players heavy minutes for the rest of the season. Get Layman out there for 20 minutes, give Napier more minutes and let Dame and CJ take it easy...

Definitely do not want to see guys phone it in and not give effort on the court in order to lose. Don't think there is any chance of this happening though.

It is Stotts, so ultimately I feel fairly confident predicting no changes to the rotation or allocation of minutes.

 

[Blazinaway]

Here is my plan for the rest of the season:

Shut Dame down. Tell him to rest.

Start:

CJ
Crabbe
Harkless
Vonleh
Nurk

Play:

Layman
Napier
Davis

Don't Play:

Leonard (he can only hurt his value further)

Hope that our young guys show enough to boost their value for a trade this summer. See if CJ is capable of being a point guard long term.

I'd buy into that, hard to fathom Meyers could worsen his value more by playing...lol