That's definitely the formula if you have a small market team. Let's get real, the Celtics, Bulls and Lakers have around half of the available titles in the sport. The Blazers are almost never going to be a destination for free agents (at least the ones that matter) and Paul's inherent financial "blunt force" method to roster building isn't going to be as viable moving forward, so the best you can do is build in as many opportunities as you can to draft a couple of top ten players and then hope that you have the personnel people to make the right decisions to surround those core players. This is why I was fully on board with KP's approach the first couple of years he was here, because I thought he was trying to acquire some real top ten talent in the draft and then use other assets to compliment those players. The injuries derailed half of the plan (which wasn't completely his fault ... depending on how much he knew about Oden and Roy's pre-existing medical stuff) and the other half of the plan went off the rails because he got all sentimental and gun-shy when it came to parting with any of "his guys." Denver almost certainly is going to suck for a little bit, but if you want to win it all as a small market team you can't screw around in the late lottery or just outside of it year after year -- neither good enough to make a deep playoff run, nor terrible enough to draft a difference maker. And ultimately you need somebody at the controls who knows what he's doing and has the power to make decisions and live with the results. This is why the Blazers kind of bum me out. I feel like this team is sliding into that muddy middle the past couple of years and instead of solidifying a real plan to reverse it, they've instead resorted to the "hang-on-by-your-fingernails" approach instead of conceding the nearly inevitable trajectory your franchise takes when 2 out of your 3 top 7 picks don't pan out -- it's nearly impossible to maneuver your way out of this without roster and cap flexibility plus getting back into the top of the lottery.
Put Roy's brain in his body, and you have an entire ball-player. Put Vince's brain in Roy's body - and you have Greg Oden!
WojYahooNBA Adrian Wojnarowski Clippers offer 5 years, $40M to keep RFA DeAndre Jordan, sources tell Y! Still, he's destined to sign offer sheet and force them to match.
RicBucher Ric Bucher Clippers are not on DHoward's radar and neither is he on theirs, sources say. Story should be up on the interwebs shortly.
TheRocketGuy Bill Ingram Since Tyson Chandler is heading to NJ, Butler will be a Clipper and JJ Barea is likely gone, too . . .is Dallas even a top 4 team in the W?
RicBucher Ric Bucher By the way: as uneasy as I am about CP3's knee, I can already hear the crazed howl CP3, Monta + Tyson Chandler would raise in Oracle.
incarceratedbob Incarcerated Bob **UPDATED NBA NEWS**Source: NO Hornets are real close 2dealing CP3 (The Buzz is before Sunday night) Clippers & Rockets in lead (GS Lurking)
Bucher's tweet is interesting After dealing with Roy and his knees, and Paul suffering from the same thing, I don't think the Blazers would want to take the risk on him.
incarceratedbob Incarcerated Bob @ @afried11 I am hearing Clippers & GS may want the extension (Not deal breakers yet) but the Rockets could care less they will trade w/o ext
incarceratedbob Incarcerated Bob @ @mtomiuk6 Celtics are kinda in it but Paul has made it clear he is not signing ext with Boston at anytime.. So they continue 2be on outside
hornets247 hornets247.com On the phone now with an NBA guy I would trust with my life and he tells me: Paul WILL NOT be on the roster at the end of this weekend.
