They still have a need for a couple of big guys and an actual backup PG. While I liked the Covington deal fine, I just have the sick feeling that Olshey will be happy to stop there. I hate that I have so little faith in the FO, but it is what it is.
Aron Baynes prolly won't be available for cheap, but he's really good and would be in our 9 man rotation in the playoffs.
I think Baynes would be a good back-up for Nurk. If Nurk goes down again, however, can he play starters minutes? He's no spring chicken.
Now is when Neil has the chance to make improvements to this roster. MLE - $9,258,000 BAE - 3,623,000 TPE - 7,069,662 (per Sportrac and ESPN's Trade Machine) Most often rumored for the MLE has been Paul Millsap, a 35 year old, 6'7", 257 lb PF who averaged 11.6/5.7 last season while shooting 43% from '3'. The BAE is hopefully used on a legit backup PG which Portland hasn't had in years. The TPE, I'd like to see them get someone like Richaun Holmes as the Blazers are thin at the 4/5. Should be other decent names to choose from.
I would not mind at all picking up a defensive oriented guard like Kris Dunn or Shaq Harrison on the cheap
What about Marcus Morris? I know he is not the most popular, but seems like he would fit in good as our 4. He at least is only 31 instead of 36 like Millsap. Not sure what he will require for a salary though.
With Nurk taking a slight step up and staying healthy, CJ having a better passing year, and Trent improving linearly, and Simons becoming a contributor, Zach staying healthy and learning to defend without foul trouble, etc etc. Is a longshot but not too far fetched if we're lucky.
meh, think the age thing with Millsap is overblown. Our window is the next two-three years. Think I'd rather have Paul than either of the twins basketball wise. Also don't want to root for those guys.
sure seems like Olshey's history says that he doesn't care about adding a backup PG. He believed CJ could fill the role and I'd bet he now thinks Simons can. I have no faith in the FO. It's mainly that Olshey apparently believes the top-of-rotation/core-trio of Dame, CJ, and Nurk is a contender. I think that's crazy this is what Olshey's teams have done in the playoffs when they've faced real contenders over the last 7 years: 1-4 1-4 1-4 0-4 0-4 0-4 0-4 yeah, that's right, the Blazers have been swept out of the playoffs 4 straight times and have now lost 18 games in a row against against better playoff teams. Portland has shown they can sometimes beat other flawed pretenders, but have no chance at all against elite teams that issue isn't going to be solved with backup PG's or 4th options on offense or 36 year old has-beens or another 4-year project
Not sure where the 18 in a row comes from, but whatever. I'm assuming you selectively included our sweep at the hands of the pelicans as one of those 0-4s, but do they count as "real contenders"? Or do you just include them to make a point, while ignoring us beating OKC and Denver the following year? Is the loss to memphis included as well? There's plenty of negative stuff to post about the blazers playoff performance without having to frame in such a way to only include the series they've lost and ignore anything else and come up with 18 games in a row that...isn't accurate?
Covington has already been added, fills a glaring need for a defensive wing, and is a legitimate starter, so isn't your question pretty much moot?
