I was all for sticking with these guys and giving them the best fighting chance while there was still hope for the playoffs. But with Matthews going down, our recent run of losses, and a tough schedule ahead I just don't see it. I think you have to dial down Batum's minutes (and probably let him sit some games until his wrist recovers.) Take LMA down to 30mpg. Put Lillard in an Iverson-type of gun-all-the-time role for 35mpg and see if anything on our bench can produce. Trade Hickson for a couple second round picks if that's all you can get for him and clear P/T for the Meyers Leonard Experience. I had high hopes for a 41 win team and it just isn't going to happen. Our bench is just much, much shittier than I anticipated. I feel bad typing this, because Lillard, LMA, Batum and Matthews are fighters and I hate to tell them it's time to give up hope. But it's time to give up hope and try to move up in the lottery.
It will be interesting to see what they do, if anything, at the trade deadline. Then I am really anxious to see what the line ups look like after that point
If they follow my prescription, we're probably going to win 5 games from here on out (mostly when LMA/Batum/Lillard have career nights). 30 wins. That's a couple games better than last year when we picked at 11. Where does a 30 win team usually wind up in draft order?
Getting a pick for Hickson is probably the best thing that could happen. Hickson is gone after this season for the reasons we routinely discuss. If you can get anything for him before he leaves that would be great. He could be a solid player for a playoff team that needs rebounding help off the bench.
We'll see, but if Oshley doesn't trade him then IMO, that means he has more reliable information about JJ's intentions to stay.
Who gives a fuck what his intentions are? JJ is a nice hustle guy, but he is not a center, and we have a PF already. JJ would be a back up here, and his cap hold of 7.8 mm destroys our off season chances of getting real help. I think if he is not traded that means no team wanted to give up an asset for him because they won't have his Bird rights
I don't like the word "tank" because thats not what we should do. You don't' go into a game trying to lose you do your damnedest to win but it is time for us to play the Rookies in the bench more and see if with more time they actually are something. Batum should to be rested until he is 100% same with Wes, I agree that LMA should be kept around 30m a night and that Lililard should be trying to score more if we play the bench more.
Or that Hickson refused to be traded or Olshey didn't want to get only a 2nd round pick for a fan favorite.
All I know is that we fucked up on Faried and every team needs a great hustle guy, would hate to let another one go.
This pretty much says it. JJ is great, but he will be overpriced and not in a position of need. I can't see any way he is with the team next year. Great guy and I like him a lot, but you can't afford to blow your cap space on your second PF. He's gone and if you can get a piece for him before he goes all the better. It's not about him not liking Portland or the Blazers not liking him.
You can complain about the semantics of what "tanking" actually means, but it's six-of-one, a half-dozen of another.
There's no reason to rush into trading Hickson, and unless he's willing to approve a trade before the deadline, it's not going to happen anyway. As I discussed with BrianfromWA in another thread, the Blazers can do a sign and trade with another team this summer as long as they do it while they're still under the cap. It seems to me that they're most likely to get a good value for JJ by waiting until the season's over.
What you describe is probably the route I would persue. Makes sense. And then if the market dries up then maybe you keep him a nice discount (compared to what you thought you would). Just gives you more options. But we will see what Olshey does.
