At the end of last season we lacked a bench and quantity of NBA talent. But with no players to really trade and big name free agents not wanting to come here we were in a pickle. By trading second round picks, cash, stashed eureos and going after mediocre (but NBA talented players nonetheless) we now have an abundance of depth to build on. Granted, it's not great talent but we now have players to trade and depth... The GM and staff have done, IMHO, an outstanding considering their limitations. Well done!
So what is our roster and rotation? We done got deeper. I know there's a long way to go, but I don't think we'll be the lowest scoring bench in the league this season!
I would like to hold off with the room exception to see if we can luck out with some quality talent after the gulf of free agents have been signed and money s tight.
Also no long term deals. If LMA does bolt or gets traded we are not tied down to a bunch of dead weight. Agree wholeheartedly with BP.
How cool would it be to pick up Dalembert with that 2.6 mil?? I think our rotation will look like this come October: Lillard (32) / McCollum (10) / Watson (6) Matthews (30) / McCollum (10) / Crabbe (4) / Lillard (4) Batum (32) / Wright (12) / Claver (4) Aldridge (34) / Robinson (12) / Claver (2) Lopez (26) / Leonard (22)
Not sure I'd agree. Earl Watson is a B- backup point guard. He's a little old, but he's plenty good enough for that spot. Dorrell Wright replaces Luke Babbitt as the long distance chucker that every team needs - and brings playoff experience and defense. That's a B+ signing at least. Robin Lopez is an average center - but it's a position that is extremely hard to fill. That would make him a better than mediocre acquisition. I'd give it another B, maybe better, if he can play for the Blazers the way he played last season for the Pe'cans. Thomas Robinson was the 5th pick in the draft a year ago. On proven college talent alone, he's a B as a backup PF. If the Blazers expected him to start, I'd have a different opinion, but as a backup 4? Very good pickup. With the signing of Earl Watson, the pressure is off CJ McCollum to immediately turn into a dependable backup off the bench. In that sense, not only was choosing McCollum a good move, but the subsequent signing of Watson actually shored up that pick. Add it all up, and I'm with ABM. This is a B+ maybe better offseason for the Blazers. Unlike in past years, no one needs to get squeamish about the dollars being spent, or the players/picks that were sacrificed - because none of it puts the future in much jeopardy. Sure, one of the Euros might turn into something special, but Portland has seen enough of those guys coming through town to be comfortable with those odds.
Idk we have so many 2's right now. But when CJ is on the floor with Dame I think Dame plays some off guard even if he is the "PG" still. Kind of unofficial 2 guard minutes.
Just imagine how much better we could be if Olshey listened to me. All our players would have baskets of naked mole rats with lazer guided diamond detectors so they could lavish their honeys with sparkles. Once word got out, all the free agents would be begging to be Blazers. Cold Blazin It, Yo!
