What would it take to get us to WCF's on a semi-annual basis?

I not even talking about winning it all. That is tough.

What would it take to get to the Western Conference Finals say 2 out of 3 years?

Basically what could we do to be the Spurs (not necessarily in style but in performance)?

Who or whom that we can realistically get is going to get us there in two years?

 

Basically what kind of risks should we take? This was sort of brought on by the Bynum question.

Can we honestly get to the WCF by doing nothing but getting a competent (not star) Center and a 6th man?

 

To start, a new coach. There aren't many coaches that can consistently get you those sorts of results though. And of course, other than Pops, they need a solid roster in order to deliver.

 

IMO, absolutely not. Getting a a competent C may get us into the Playoffs, but I doubt it even gets us to the 2nd round.

 

I don't think Stotts is the guy to get you out of the WCF's but I think he can get you to them.

If that is the start then we are another season away before starting. Stotts won't be fired until the earliest next off-season. I would rather improve the team before waiting around for that to happen.

 

Better players

 

So what type of risky free agent moves or trades are you willing to make to get deeper?

 

Agree on all points.
Stotts potentially can get a team to the WCF, but with the sort of roster it would require I would imagine at least half the coaches in the league could get that team to the WCFs.

 

I started a thread last week, with an offseason plan of essentially trading 10 and Freeland for Robin Lopez, and then using the leftover money to add 2 pretty good bench pieces. IMO, depending on the age of the bench pieces(I prefer younger vets, 25-28), I think that definitely has the makings of team that can make the WCFs on a consistent basis.

 

Really? I like Robin Lopez but he is hardly a needle-mover in my eyes. Maybe if just maturing by our other players takes place that team could get close but WCFs is not easy and we haven't even made it out of the first round.

 

In combination with two good bench players, I'd say it moves the needle. Biggest push of the needle is going to come from Lillard, and good health from rest of the players. But I think Robin offers us a solid inside presence on defense, not someone you run plays for, and can give him 28 minutes a night, and still develop Leonard. On a reasonable contract, which allows us to bring in 2 6th men types in free agency. The best 2/3 we can land, and the best 4, 4/5 we can land for the money(slightly over MLE).

I recognize getting to the WCF consistently is really tough. More than anything, you need a bit of luck, obviously. But it'd be a team I think would consistently be in the top half of the west, consistently battling for HCA and 2nd/3rd rounds.

 

Ha ha - trying to get me to stick my foot in my mouth, eh?
Well, I've already mentioned that I'd start by trading LMA for multiple players - the primary being a starting C. I think that'd be the first move that would (a) help shore up the rotation in the short term and (b) give us more pieces that could be used in future trades to address whatever needs addressing after we see what the post-trade team looks like.
There aren't any Free Agents I'm all that interested in. Tyreke Evans is the most interesting prospect, at RFA status. And if the amazing happens and we trade LMA I'd be very interested in Millsap.
If we go for a stop-gap C I'd like to see us sign someone like Kaman, Pachulia, or Dalembert...heck, even Collins for the PR. Not really risky and not the direction I'd like to see us go, but it beats giving up assets for old, busted Cs that aren't going to give us all that much more than these guys would.

 

Give us robin Lopez and jack and you maybe on to something.

 

understatement of the year..

we have three starters and three or four bench players..period, and I am trying to be kind..I like all the guys on the roster

 

You're not getting it. He's suggesting getting a Center and MORE cap space. (Freeland+pick = approx 4 mil. more). With the extra cap space, get the best possible players you can get without being burdened by needing a Center. It's a very sensible plan.

 

I don't disagree that it isn't a sensible plan. I think we are further then that away however. I guess I can't say for sure how far I think it gets us unless he threw out some names we could get with the cap space.

Also, Freeland makes 3M a year. 10th pick is going to get about 1.8 MIL. Lopez makes 4.9 MIL. How are we getting 4 MIL more in cap space?

 

I hope you're wrong, though I don't think you are. I'm really looking for the Olshey wizardry this offseason.

um, ooops.

 

Yeah, sorry, not adding MORE space, but basically adding a C and the move being almost cap neutral.

As for names...different ways to play it, had thrown out options in my thread. We'd have 12.6, roughly, million in cap space, and our mini-mle of 2.6 million.
So you can do something like a 4 year, 36-40 million dollar deal on someone like Iggy, and 3 million on the best big you can land. Or, you split up the money on 2 deals for slightly above MLE, to outbid teams with JUST MLE to offer.
6.5 for Tony Allen, or JJ Reddick, and 6 a year for..I dunno,Speights, Landry, something. Maybe you offer 12.5 a year to Josh Smith, see if he bites, and try him at SF, Batum at SG, Wes off the bench or something.

 

A true low post player.

 

LMA said in one of his exit interviews that he was looking for the team to get to the point after this summer where the Blazers could have a so-so season next year and then to be "good" going forward from the next year on. I don't think he invented that out of thin air. I think that's what Olshey has told him to expect. It sounds reasonable to me to think that the Blazers will be able to solidify the starting 5 and the backup PG spot this summer, and fill in with returning bench players and minimum vet signings. The next summer they'll have the room exception to add another good player to the bench. If they make those two summers worth of moves wisely, and if the existing roster shows natural improvement, then being one of the teams that could contend for a WCF spot in 2014-15 is a possibility. As we've seen this year, however, no matter what moves are made, the chances of success are equally dependant on players staying healthy as they are on brilliant GM roster moves.