Interesting article this morning https://theathletic.com/2632377/202...nel-loom-after-blazers-eliminated-by-nuggets/ Highlights There are questions surrounding the roster and coaching staff, most notably the future of head coach Terry Stotts, who is under contract for the 2021-22 season while the team holds an option for the 2022-23 season. A decision on Stotts won’t come until after management and coaches hold exit interviews with players on Friday, and could linger into next week as ownership waits for the dust to settle from all of the NBA’s first round playoff series. The Blazers want to read the landscape of the league — which was disrupted this week with the surprising move in Boston that saw coach Brad Stevens transition to the front office to replace a retiring Danny Ainge — and be confident of options before considering moving on from Stotts. —- Stotts entered the season with two objectives clearly outlined to him by ownership and management: improve the team’s defense and win a playoff series. He failed on both accounts, finishing with the 29th rated defense and losing to a team playing without its injured starting backcourt. But perhaps more importantly, Stotts began to lose much of the support from his players, who protected him publicly but privately wondered if he was either using them correctly or making proper in-game adjustments. —- Nurkic on Thursday mistakenly suggested that his future with Portland is up in the air because the final year of his contract is non-guaranteed. It is true — only $4 million of next season’s $12-million contract is guaranteed — but the Blazers have until Aug. 1 to fully guarantee his contract, and a source says the team will guarantee his contract, barring a catastrophic injury. That non-guaranteed provision was negotiated three seasons ago as a protection for the Blazers in case Nurkic didn’t develop or suffered a major injury that prevented him from playing in his fourth year of the contract. The Blazers are committed to him and view him as a pillar of their foundation. — Two other roster decisions are less clear, and likely will be tied to whether Stotts is the coach. Norman Powell will become a highly coveted free agent, and Derrick Jones Jr. has until July 28th to opt into a second year with the Blazers at $9 million. Powell was solid for the Blazers, and the team hopes to convince him to return to Portland, but there are questions whether the way Stotts used him is conducive to him flourishing here alongside Lillard and CJ McCollum. In Portland, Powell was relegated to mostly standing in the corner waiting for Lillard or McCollum to throw him a kick-out pass, or being on the end of an occasional dribble-handoff to let him create and attack. Jones Jr., meanwhile, was buried on the bench by Stotts late in the season, losing not only his starting small forward position but his place in the rotation, period. The chances are close to nil that Jones Jr. signs up for another season of playing under a coach who clearly doesn’t value him. The Powell decision will also likely be tied into whether how committed the Blazers are to the pairing of Lillard and McCollum. The two have combined to form one of the NBA’s highest-scoring backcourts for the past six seasons, but their defense and size have been exposed in the postseason, leading to Portland being bounced in the first round in four of the past five seasons. Portland will be in the luxury tax next season, as Lillard’s salary goes from $31 million to $43.7 million and McCollum will make $30.8 million. Powell figures to command around $20 million on the free-agent market, so unless McCollum is traded, it is unlikely a return of the three-guard lineup will be feasible.
Shocked that Nurkic wasn't aware of his own contract situation - given how he continued to play like he was unaware of his foul situation.
I don't want to belabor the point, but I'll say this one final time: I don't see any reason, any reason at all to believe we're going to re-sign Norman Powell. Not because the Blazers don't want to, but because he'll have a lot or more enticing options and has no real connection to the Blazers. If the Blazers fire Stotts and trade CJ, it's part of a major shakeup. Powell can be a final piece in a better situation. What would be the motivation to come back to an uncertain situation when you have your pick of stable homes? On the other hand, if the Blazers don't trade CJ and just change the coach, what guarantee would Powell have that his role would change to anything better suited to him or that this team would be any closer to contention? He's not going to waste a chance to dictate the direction of the prime of his career on whether Dame and CJ decide to involve him. I like Powell. I thought when we traded Trent for him it wasn't a big enough upgrade to be worth it, but I was wrong. He's really, really, really good ... in the right situation. I just haven't seen anything to indicate the Blazers are or can be that situation. Worse, I don't see anything to indicate he sees something I don't. I think people expecting him to return are clinging to a pipe dream. At least, it's a real long shot. And, if Powell leaves, it's even worse than when LA left for nothing, because we essentially spent all our ammo trading for him and RoCo. His decision really determines whether the Blazers go into a full rebuild or somehow retool in a way I don't think is feasible.
I’d trade every single one of these MFs except Dame if that’s what it takes to get another All-Star here.
The only way Norm comes back is if CJ & Stotts are gone. I think that's clear as day. I viewed that as the probable outcome from the day he was traded. It got me excited because I thought NO had FINALLY seen what everyone else does. Olshey's actions in the next 3 months will speak volumes.
Yeah. I don't even see why he'd come back under those conditions. When you can get great money and pick something you know about, why would you pick it over a situation you don't know about? Why would he risk his career trajectory on a new coach and a retooling team when someone else who is looking for a final piece comes to him and says "Play for us." Or somehow the Lakers or Clippers find a way to fit him under their cap and say "Play for us." I think Powell coming back under any circumstances is very, very small. Of course, I also don't think Olshey's going to have anything to do with trying to persuade him. I see almost as little reason for him to stick around, which probably is good for the Blazers in terms of I don't think he was a good fit, but a summer when you're looking for a new GM, a new coach, probably trading one of your biggest stars ... that's a lot to turnover in a couple of months. At least we can do it without worrying about the draft ....
I really like Norm, and I think he would make a great shooting guard, but I'm not sure why he would want to stay here. I was worried since day one that Neil mortgaged GTJ for nothing.
Would you want to stay if the team doesn't use you effectively? Better hope we bring in a coach who can assuage his concerns.
The market for a 28-year-old SG isn't massive in terms of the cash teams would be willing to throw at him. Most of the teams with space would be looking to stay young and cheap as they build. The Knicks are the only team that might throw a big number at him, but still I don't think it moves the needle much for them. Portland does have his Bird rights, so they also have a bit of an advantage in terms of contract length and pay.
