James Harden has added the Blazers to his list

Exactly. If the star checks out mentally, it’s not a very good team. Batum was awful. So glad we blew up that team.

 

You may be right but the air went out of the tires for Rolo, LA and Batum after Wes then Afflalo went down....it was the Meyers and CJ show

 

You had two HOF coaches in both those situations.

Surely, you're not suggesting Stotts is on their level?

I don't know what you do in real life, but you should do PR.

 

Not at all, never had, never would.

I'm pointing out a HOF coach like Pop has really struggled (to even make the playoffs) with only 1 HOF/all-star player on his roster, proving that even a HOF coach can't carry a team. On the flip side, some average coaches can win it all with a 2-3 all-stars. Some love to go on and on about who should be the #10 and #11 guys on our roster and who should carry a clipboard, but gloss over the lack of top end talent on this roster like it's no big deal. Top end talent is 95% of the problem, so why is the obsession on the other 5%?

I will be sure to copy you down as a reference the next time I'm looking for a PR job. Would it be safe for me to assume that when you go to look for a house, you focus on interior paint color and ignore the foundation and layout?

Edit: My banter is intended to be all in good fun, Merry Christmas!

 

And CP hated it, and the team imploded. That contradicts nothing I said.

 

when's the last time anyone of harden's skill level said they'd like to come here? not counting melo as he's past prime.

if we can move CJ/Collins/picks i think we have to roll the dice. the CJ/dame experiment has only worked cause Dame went ballistic when it mattered.

 

Does anyone know if we would be able to offer him an extension this summer?

I’d probably do a Harden deal if it didn’t include Nurkic. We’d probably be getting Tucker back in the deal to play backup SF. Zach and Nassir, is all things clicked as constructed, wouldn’t be in the rotation anyway. Picks won’t be good with a Dame/Harden backcourt.

If we got Harden and didn’t make it far, I suspect that Harden will have input in picking the coach with Dame and Neil, and hopefully his involvement in that will help us keep him here. And if everything went south, I think we would recoup most or all of what we give up to get him.

 

https://www.nbaanalysis.net/2020/12...kets-trade-james-harden-damian-lillard-duo/2/

This Blazers-Rockets trade forms a James Harden, Damian Lillard duo

Portland Trail Blazers Receive: James Harden, PJ Tucker, Ben McLemore

Houston Rockets Receive: CJ McCollum, Zach Collins, Anfernee Simons, Gary Trent Jr., Enes Kanter, 2023 1st Round Pick, 2025 1st Round Pick, 2027 1st Round Pick

 

You think Harden gets a standing O from the fans tomorrow night?

 

I would make that trade if I were Houston. And I would 100% make it if I'm Olshey. Get it done.

Dame/Harden
Harden/Hood/McLemore
Tucker/DJJ/Hood
Covington/Melo
Nurk/Tucker/Giles

We'd have to sign a backup PG too.

Anthony Davis would still be a problem but Dame/Harden would be a huge problem for them. No doubling or trapping allowed.

 

When could it happen? Are there any "trade windows" this season?

 

They added Kevin Durant. We added Derek Jones Jr. That's how. That's why we need to add Harden. HOF talent in his prime.

 

I really dislike James Harden's game, but that same game would appear to fit in seamlessly in Stotts system. Green light at all times, encouraged to shoot threes, with defense far down on the priority list, and will be heavily catered to. No wonder he wouldn't mind playing here. Right now, we're basically a two man team and a bunch of guys. Swapping CJ for Harden makes use a better two man team and a bunch of guys, so this would a no-brainer for me. The last two off seasons, Olshey has basically turned over a third of the roster with limited options, so he's well practiced.

 

I would guess Neil has made the offer and it's up to Houston now. Kinda like Neil's offer for PG13.

 

Simple. economics. The more buyers the bigger the price goes.

I never said he doesnt want to come here but i think its leverage to open up three way trade possibilities etc.

Its his way of not looking like such a snob to the next team.
Dont get me wrong. I hate him but for the right price, id take him on the team.
I just think him opening up more to teams like us is more about politics than it is about wanting to go there.

 

Cardboard cutouts all cheering him to come here!

 

Pop-up bubble quotes attached to the cardboard cutouts welcoming him to Portland.

 

Why would Harden want his new team to give up more and thus have less talent?