FIRE CRONIN

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by Fez Hammersticks, Feb 4, 2022.

  1. STOMP

    STOMP mere fan

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    Not all drafts are the same. Last year most of the top 10 picks already look solid to great... much like it was expected. Other years, not so much. You don't trade a major asset like Dame who means so much to the fanbase for random picks. You move him for picks in a draft (or two) that you and your trusted evaluators believe in.

    I believe in this draft. If I could get a top 6 (+ salary fodder) in 2022 and a future #1, done. OKC's 2 top 2022 picks, sign me up yesterday.

    STOMP
     
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  2. SharpesTriumph

    SharpesTriumph Well-Known Member

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    Just having a player be the star of a team for 8+ years on its own is rare. Golden State and Portland are the only current NBA teams that have this.

    Its so odd how that happens, its almost as if NBA players peak at a very young age like 27 or something.
     
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  3. Freshtown

    Freshtown Well-Known Member

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  4. STOMP

    STOMP mere fan

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    Pierce with 2 other guys from the top 75 team and a 21 year old savant named Rondo running the show. Agreed thats a weird comparison, but if Dame was in a situation resembling that right now, even as a ball dominant lead his stats wouldn't be expected to be nearly as gaudy

    STOMP
     
  5. blazerfan11

    blazerfan11 Well-Known Member

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    Have as good of a year for Dame and the Blazers as possible
    OKC's #2 and #12? and our #7? That would be interesting.
     
  6. blazerfan11

    blazerfan11 Well-Known Member

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  7. Fez Hammersticks

    Fez Hammersticks スーパーバッド Zero Cool

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    Cronin will start to build trust from most of the fanbase if he keeps this pick.

    Building through the draft is the only way to go for this market.
     
  8. LayneStaley

    LayneStaley Well-Known Member

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    Yeah I’d do it in a second. 2-Smith, 7-Sharpe, 12-Duren

    Ant
    Sharpe
    Nas
    Smith
    Duren
     
  9. Tince

    Tince Well-Known Member

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    I felt certain people were suggesting this, which is why I asked them to provide an example of what their minimum return is for Dame, that way I'm not assuming.
     
  10. Tince

    Tince Well-Known Member

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    100% agree every draft is different. I think it's somewhat difficult to project the quality of a draft more than 2 years away for various reasons.

    Who do you specifically love in this draft?
     
  11. Tince

    Tince Well-Known Member

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    Agreed. Having someone as loyal to a team as Dame is not something you can easily replicate. Even if the Blazers knew they could draft a player slightly better than Dame, you've pointed out that getting that player to stay in to his prime is even harder. Another reason against blowing it up in my opinion.

    If I cut the number from 8 years with a lesser running mate than CJ, to 5 years, I'm still struggling to come up with someone. How badly Olshey botched Dame's prime has been historic.
     
  12. Tince

    Tince Well-Known Member

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    Agreed on all fronts. I've be calling for doing what it takes to surround Dame with all-star talent for a long time.
     
  13. blazerfan11

    blazerfan11 Well-Known Member

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    Thanks! Here's most of what Duncan said:

    Let me give you the guy that I think has the highest upside. and I don't even think it's close. Shaedon Sharpe.
    Here's how I went about it. obviously there's risk there because we haven't seen him do it at a high level .

    Let's say we took Shaedon Sharpe what we saw from him in high school, and compared it to all the other guys at the same point in their careers. He's probably the best of any of these guys right? So to me, Sharpe, I went back and looked at it, very good measurements for a shooting guard, 6'5", 6'11" wingspan huge hands you know pretty much a nuclear level of finisher at the basket. If he's not Anthony Edwards and Jalen Green, he's very close to that level.

    I would say his skill level at the same age was higher than either of those guys, dribbler and a shooter, footwork, getting the step backs. Maybe not quite the same level of first step as those guys to the basket. and maybe hasn't shown quite the same level of competitiveness maybe, as at least Jalen Green. All these guys had some questions about their defense and their floor game and stuff.

    And Sharpe hasn't been a number one options, he's a late bloomer relatively so. But his passing game is about the same as Green and Edwards. But if you look at that physical profile and go back in the history of like that combination of physical profile and dribbling and shooting skill. Not many guys as you go back had that at this type of age. Everyone who has had this level of athleticism and this level of skill worked out to be really good. I have him and Banchero in my top tier, and I might even have him number one.
     
  14. TBpup

    TBpup Writing Team

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    I would submit Luka has already done more in a shorter amount of time with less talent around him.
     
  15. SharpesTriumph

    SharpesTriumph Well-Known Member

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    There is Garnett and Mitch Richmond.

    You could actually make an argument for Drexler. I'm a huge Porter fan, but I don't think he was clearly superior to CJ. Those Blazers teams were all pretty even from depth chart 2-7.

    Ewing, David Robinson (years prior to Duncan). Pau Gasol. Theres probably many others. I'd say lots of NBA teams actually go 5-8 years without having a 2nd option as good as CJ. The more rare feat is Dame being an all star level player for that period of time.

    Neil 2016 free agency debacle set this franchise back many years. Also I'd argue Terry even with yes his faults, was a pretty good coach at masking many of Neil's flaws in roster construction.
     
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  16. STOMP

    STOMP mere fan

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    mostly because the guys who're going to be drafted are 16-17 so things are very much in flux.

    Tell you what, let me dream of the OKC picks + Portlands = Smith, Duren & Sochan to pair with Ant & Hart.

    My take on this draft is it's better then average... a lesser version of last years lacking the obvious early superstar talent but deep featuring lots of potential stars & solid players.

    STOMP
     
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  17. Tince

    Tince Well-Known Member

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    Disagree with the done more. Porzingis and CJ are probably similar comps for #2 options, with CJ a slight lean.

    I have no doubt there have players in their prime who have had a year or two where their GM failed to provide their star a #2 not as good as CJ, but over many years, it doesn't happen. 8 years, I still haven't seen an example. If Cuban fails to put a better #2 than CJ next to Luka from age 23-30, I'll glady eat crow. I'll bet he will though.
     
  18. Tince

    Tince Well-Known Member

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    Garnett had Marbury, a two-time all-star who average 24ppg when the league was scoring like 90ppg. That would be like CJ scoring 30ppg next to Dame. Marbury >> CJ. CJ is closer to KG's #3 option Wally Szczerbiak (all-star) than he was to Starbury

    Mitch Richmond certainly fits the bill in terms of being provided horrible talent. He doesn't come close to Dame talent wise. But let's say I give you that. One players, on one of the worst organizations in the league, over the last 3 decades has been failed near the level we have failed Dame. Further proof of the historic failure we've done to Dame.
     
  19. Tince

    Tince Well-Known Member

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    I like it! Intersting combo for sure. I wouldn't trade Dame for those 2 picks. I'm not 100% sold on Duren or Sochan, but I can see why anyone would be.
     
  20. TBpup

    TBpup Writing Team

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    Luka is just now the age Dame was his rookie year, yet he has already been a 1st Team All-NBA player and has wins in the Conference Finals. His team this last year outside of him was a collection of 'meh' and he won those Conf Finals games w/o KP.
     
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