Game Thread Game #28 - BLAZERS VS SUNS - DECEMBER 14, 2021 - TUESDAY - 7:00 PM (PDT) TNT

I want a high lottery pick so bad. Just give me something to be excited about

 

Team needs to make a decision. I see a few paths:

1.) Overpay for a star NOW to try and right the ship. CJ/RoCo/Nurk/1st type deal for Simmons.
2.) Let Dame get his surgery, sell the vets ASAP, and tank for as high a pick as you can.
3.) Try keeping the vets as close to the deadline as you can and trade them then. That maximizes their value. You are probably in tank mode at that point because this team does not gel. Your pick is probably worse. Maybe Dame is the all-time leading scorer at that point.

I lean towards 1 or 2. If 1 is not possible, please go with 2. This team is unwatchable right now.

 

I think Simons is a nice young player. But, he’s absolutely not untradeable.

 

I agree. Try 1 hard. If unsuccessful, go for 2. One concern....all surgeries carry risk

 

This Lillard is not a max player, let alone a supermax. We need to take that risk.

 

Why would Lillard want to stick around on a team stripped for parts? Even if you get that top-4 pick (no guarantee), one top-four pick can't be traded for an entire contending supporting cast.

 

Cronin was there, Jody was not.

 

Is............... Chauncey the right coach for Dame?

 

This offense just ... blech. Three guys standing around while there's a PnR or four guys standing around while Dame or Ant tries to take a guy one-on-one. Stotts offense had much more movement, and that's problematic.

 

Is Dame EVER going to get his groove back? He has been bad all season.

 

Because he says he wants to stay? And he is also realistic about what we can and cannot do with the roster.

Or the other option is:

4.) Trade Dame and blow up the entire team.

 

He said he wanted to stay under the assumption that the team was trying to win. I don't think that extended to the Blazers trying to go the Rockets' direction and playing the last years of his prime on a team with no hope at all.

 

Who said it would be playing the last years on his prime on a team with no hope at all? I mean, this season is a no hope season, and he's technically in his prime, even though he's not playing like it. If he wants to be realistic about staying here it means getting himself right and jettisoning some of the guys on the roster who won't be here next year and trying to make improvements before next season.

Or you may as well just trade Dame. Dame is the biggest homer but even I think he needs to see logic at some point.

Also, I wouldn't be suggesting this if Woj was not the first person to suggest this as a possibility. What else are you suggesting? Continue trying to win and just fall into the lottery naturally because we are just not very good? That sounds like a terrible plan.

 

Blow. It. Up.

Lillard might be the best individual player in Blazers history, but that doesn't mean he is the answer. In fact, I think his window for Portland has closed. Portland just doesn't have enough avenues to build a championship team around Dame like teams have done around LeBron. Dame can go elsewhere and win a championship if dealt to a team like Philly or Boston, but just don't see him leading us. Deal him and everyone else of value and do it the right way. Length and athleticism to start and go from there. My one keeper would be Powell. I like his game. Not a superstar, but a guy that can be part of a winning team. He drives and moves the ball something others on this team refuse to do.

Paul showed why he won a championship last year. He took the easier road to scoring by setting up teammates and taking 12 footers and not 25 footers.

 

Dame is a bigger homer than Kingspeed, but at some point we have to try something new.

 

I enjoyed having a top 5 offense in the league every year; never had a problem with it. If healthy, Billups can probably get us back in that range at some point.

 

geez i'm so tired of these damn quotes

 

Rockets actually looking better than us now.