..at least, according to Dave from BlazersEdge. Did anyone listed to this morning's interview with him on The Game's MSP? Barring any trade which "may" materialize, he feels that what we (currently) see, is what we'll get. Is that the way you understood him?
I dont know what to think of this.. On one hand, the team trimmed the fat (sergio, Raef, and scrubs right?) On the other hand, it seems as though we could have used RLEC, and some other pieces (Trout, Blake, etc) to really improve our roster.... Oh well, As long as B-rex gets his shot at backup PG this season, I'll be happy. I want to see how he'll do w/real talent in the game.
That is what I heard too. I'm not shocked or upset that this is the case, but I know I'm in the minority.
FWIW, and while I respect Dave from BlazersEdge, he really doesn't have any more inside info than any of us. He's purely speculating at this point.
I'm with you. I would have liked to see Blake moved, but I also am excited to see what Bayless can do. My biggest thing is that I still feel like we could be better off without Outlaw, and getting a legit backup PF. Hopefully one of Outlaw, Cunningham, and Graph will step up if we don't sign a vet big man.
Been saying that all along. The reality is this is Portland. Until Portland shows it is a legit contender for a title, all we will be used for is leverage to jack up salaries of players going elsewhere. Players have no interest playing here unless the team is contenders and they want a ring. That has been the reality of the history of the franchise. I cannot think of one big name free agent who didn't come in until after the Blazers were contenders. The city has a small market, and a rep for being small in the scheme of things. That is reality.
Mid Season trades rarely put teams over the top, and in many cases destroys team chemistry. If we don't make a big move before October, I really hope we don't do something during the season. It's hard for a team to gel and give it all if they think one of them is going to be traded during the season. Remember when SAR kept thinking he was getting traded? Remember just last season how the whole team was a little edgy right before the trade deadline? If we are going to do anything, just do it before Oct.
Only for teams on the verge/contending for the championship though does that matter. PDX is in the perfect place to make a move at the deadline for the following seasons as they are still building a team. They aren't winning a championship this year. It doesn't matter when they make a trade as it wont be to get over the top this season per se. I agree it can be a setback mid season before a team regroups and gels again, but at this point that shouldn't be a concern in Portland.
I agree with you about chemistry. However, if you can get a guy that fits our needs and our window, I'd still make a move at the deadline Sure, it might ruin chemistry for the year, but are we really going to win a championship this season? If a mid-season trade costs us a couple wins this year, but increases our chances of winning a title down the road, I'm all for it.
They'll come if it pays. A big offer to Sessions (assuming Milwaukee declines an S&T) would land him. That might be the silver lining of this summer program - realizing that Bayless is not able to run the offense, at least not this year. iWatas
I don't agree. If the Blazers don't make a trade prior to the start of the season, they better make one before the trade deadline. Why - Because that is the very last chance the Blazers will have to use their asset of caproom, the last time the Blazers can get a lopsided trade. Sure, any trade has risks, but the odds of improving are much better when you look at what the Blazers would be looking to give up (Money, caproom, talent) for what they would be looking to take back (just better talent). KP needs to keep looking around and he will find a good trade or two. It just does not make sense to completely let our trade assets melt away. With the Hedo and Milsap attempts, it shows that at least KP and crew are trying to use their assets. Things may not have worked out so far, but I see zero reason to believe that they will all of the sudden stop attempts to use their assets to improve their team.
Dave said KP has repeatedly stated that any player who is acquired needs to be a "perfect fit." When Gavin asked Dave about why KP has gone after Sessions, Dave indicated that "for whatever reason, Sessions isn't a 'perfect fit'....whether it's de to specific skill(s) fit, money, or whatever...."
Brian Grant signed as a free agent. Kenny Anderson was a good starting PG addition. Jim Jackson signing back in 1999 forming the best SG tandem in the league, allowing us to trade the duo for Steve Smith. Detlef signed as a cheap free agent in 2000, he had very similar stats to Hedo but with a higher PER of over 18. His role was almost eliminating by the Pippen trade, otherwise he would have been our starting SF. Greg Anthony was an outstanding value pickup. Derek Anderson chose Portland when the Spurs were offering similar money to resign. At the time he was the 3rd best player after Duncan/Robinson. Those are some of the better players that typically move as free agents. It's extremely rare to see stars moving to new teams. For a number of years Trader Bob was able to bring in top free agent targets and while Portland was a solid playoff team they weren't a dominant title favorite. 1999-00 is the only year we had more wins (59) than last seasons 54.
Well the whole problem with your premise is that Bayless is running the offense. He only would at times. Brandon Roy runs the offense. Sometimes Rudy will run the offense. Nate has said so many times, that it is important that they don't try to turn Bayless into what he isn't. He knows Bayless is a scorer. That is why they got him, so when Roy is playing point, Bayless can be a guy that can get a bucket in a hurry playing off the ball, or with only a few seconds off the clock. He can also penetrate and break down the D, and Bayless has shown he can run the pick and roll. He will actually be more effective than Blake in the pick and roll because Blake is not a threat to score at the rim. Secondly are you the type that would have given up on Chauncey Billups before he became a good player? How about GP, he only took 4 years to become really good. Steve Nash was a late bloomer. Point guards take a long time to find their way a lot of the time. The guy has only played limited minutes in one season.
Perfect Fit = No moves. There isn't any such thing as a "perfect" fit. Even LeBron James wouldn't be a perfect fit, since some guys minutes would be jerked around. Why KP can't just come out and say "We aren't making any moves, so stop waiting for one." is beyond me.
Dude look at what you just said. Briant Grant wasn't a high end free agent. Solid, but not a high end. Kenny Anderson was no where near high end. He was a pretty good player, but he was sliding fast, and a lot of teams knew it. Then you go on to talk about Detlef Schrempf, who signed when Portland was a contender. Which is what I said did I not? The good free agents will only come here when Portland is a contender. Detlef Schrempf came here when we had a contender level team. It didn't work out, but they were considered contenders that year. Then you go on to talk about Derek Anderson. Derek Anderson was never an elite player, and was never near being an elite player. In fact, IMO Derek Anderson sucked balls. And No you are wrong he was not the 3rd best player behind Duncan and Robinson, Sean Elliot was, who was a much better player. DA was a role player.
There are only a small handful of teams in the league that can attract high level FA when their team is not a) a contender, or b) offering lots of money. Portland is not unique that it needs to offer good contracts or be a winner to bet good talent to come, that is the way NBA is constructed. Think of it from a players perspective, if you were going to sign a contract, wouldn't you demand to either get the most money or get the best chance to win?
