CJ on the WojPod

It's just weird to me that every conversation seems to end up about Damian Lillard wanting to be traded even though he has explicitly said that is not that case.
Move along people.

 

Legit question: Do you think Dame is a Blazer for the entirety of his current contract? Please explain why or why not.

My answer to this question is different this year than it was last year, but maybe I'm alone.

As much as I'd love to break down how good Cody Zeller and Tony Snell are, I think most important part of this offseason is building a roster so Dame never asks to be traded.

 

that’s what’s been reported by Fentress. He said a lot of Dames angst was because he wasn’t sure Powell would be back. Here’s the podcast if anyone wants to hear it themselves.

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aH...d=0CAUQkfYCahcKEwiondut9KnyAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQCA

 

Yeah, where is this trade request that was evidently gonna come if Olshey didn’t make big moves? Because everything being reported now by anyone in the know (no, not Hank Abbott) leans the exact other way. Almost like it was all exaggerated to begin with.

 

I don't know. I know what Damian Lillard said. Other than that i don't know much. I'm loyal to the soil as my moniker says. I'm a Blazer fan. I want Lillard here. If he gets traded i want a bunch for him. If he doesn't get traded I'm going to root for him.

Edit: That is as honest as i can be and it is not intended to be snarky in any way.

 

So CJ knew his defensive effort was shit but Stotts didn’t hold him accountable so he didn’t care

makes me want to trade him more

 

CJ's effort on D was ,actually, pretty good to start the season. It's just after the Lumox Capella landed on his foot, he was never the same. On either end. He had lost all his explosiveness. His shot was off. Legs are everything to a shooter, and a defender.

 

If CJ was the only guy in that boat you might have a point. But when you can say the same about multiple other players on the roster, it’s a coaching problem.

 

But defense is a % instinct, a % anticipation, and a BIG % effort. And to be the best at it, and still be effective on offense, you have to be in the best shape of your life. From all the stuff i've seen, CJ is training like never before. Not just shooting, but Dame style cross training. I think it will prove to be valuable in achieving the goal.

 

I actually think that with Thybulle and Shake they still have plenty of defense and if you can't rebound with guys that have the size and athleticism of Harris and Embiid... I don't know what to say for you. They need a guy that can just get buckets on the perimeter and create by penetrating. That's CJ. So I'm with Zach Lowe and a whole bunch of other sports writers and analysts when I say that CJ really fits that team. Also, CJ is a bad second option next to Dame because they are so redundant in both their strengths and weaknesses, it would be a whole different story with Embiid and Harris.

I think comparing CJ to the shell of what was once John Wall is a bit disingenuous or maybe just hyperbolic but either way. CJ isn't broken, he is a legit scorer and can be a great passer. We don't know how good he'd be a defending with good back court defenders and playing primarily against ones. I think that Wall is probably overpaid by 25-26M and CJ is probably overpaid by 6-8M.

As far as getting someone on Holiday's level, that's what we're talking about with Simmons... at the very least. So you give up CJ and the type of draft asset package that the Bucks did to get Simmons if you have to. I just think Olshey is too "nuts" to do what is necessary.

 

What's funny is the notion that Dame would want to be traded to a contender. Based on what the Blazers would get back, doesn't anyone think the pieces that made the other team a contender would be coming to the Blazers? A contending team would be gutted in salary coming back to the Blazers. Both teams could conceivably take a hit and be worse off.

 

Also, unless the contender implodes spectacularly, the picks will not be great.

 

Good point. Thank you

 

I appreciate your answer! I asked because ones answer to the question could potentially give insight to why they are or are not concerned about another stagnant offseason. Like you, I'm taking Dame at his word that he hasn't demanded a trade. He also said "I haven't made a firm decision on what my future will be." That's not in line with his unwaivering loyalty over his career.

He also requested we "be more urgent" "put action behind it." in regards to upgrading our roster. Cody Zeller/Tony Snell in and Melo/Kanter out isn't "more urgent" in my book.

Because of all this, if Olshey stays on the path of not being able to bring in starting caliber players through the draft (it's been 7 years since he has) or trading for a legit all-star level #2 (he's never done this, only lost an all-star for nothing in return), it's hard for me to see Dame staying in Portland through the remainder of the contract. Olshey could change that, the Blazers could replace Olshey with someone who can change that, but right now, there is no trend that those things are going to happen. I think that's what has some of us getting a little antsy.

 

Kanter gives fantastic effort on both ends of the floor, he's also tall and very strong. If defense was mostly about effort, Kanter would be a legit defender, not a horrible one.

The good news is that our bench got better defensively and that will help. If Nurk stays healthy and you combined that with the swap of Kanter/Zeller, we should automatically be way better on defense (top 15-20). Nothing to do with scheme or effort, just pure roster creation.

 

I finally had a chance to hear the pod. No matter what anyone thinks of him as a player or his fit, CJ is such a class act. Quality individual, for sure.

 

Hahahaahah so wait. Fentress speaks the absolute truth but other reporters are a bunch of liar liar pants on fire types?

My God that is rich.

 

It's kinda hard to move along when the words ge said have been spoken. Couple that with the inaction of olshey and its fair for people to speculate.

He never said he WANTED to be traded... but he laid out what he wanted the team to do to be better. And no one can truthfully say we've gotten better with the marginal moves we've made.

So I think it's 100% fair if it trails off to that. You may not like it, but its the reality of this situation.

 

Seems like lawyer speak to me? Legalese.
"I object your honor!"
"The witness is projecting that he knows what the defendant is thinking"
"Sustained"

"Objection"
"On what grounds"

"Counsel is leading the witness"

"Overruled"

Again and Again

How about we see what happens? The team has a new coach. As i understand Stotts couldn't coach his way out of a paper sack (though some might disagree). Improvements defensively have been made. Defensive liabilities are no longer being asked to contribute large amounts of minutes. Players that needed time to develop have now developed a bit more. Injuries have not occurred as of yet? We all know this season could get derailed very quickly with injuries. Happens pretty much every year.
Last but not least. This starting 5 has had 30 games as constructed and will now have a full training camp together to get tuned up. Add a better Nassir Little, an improved Simons, A sharp shooting Tony Snell and a serviceable Cody Zeller plus Ben McLemore not to mention Derick Jones jr? They might just surprise. Blazers are constructed better than a bunch are giving them credit for.
I'm gonna go out on a limb and say they could win 50 games. 44-45 as a team and Lillard may will them to 5 more.

 

Hence all the three team trades people are suggesting.

And, of course, Golden State has that package of young players that won't really contribute to their immediate contention.