Neil is building towards something...

I think Plumlee's better than Rolo. 15/10 per 36, and he's more athletic and a better finisher around the rim.

 

http://bkref.com/tiny/5jmQZ Plumlee versus Lopez. He's a slight upgrade (big downgrade in FT% but an upgrade in rebounding and shooting).

 

Plumlee, drtg 103, per 18

 

I was anxious to see how Olshey would attack this offseason because I thought a move or two needed to be made (even if Aldridge stayed) and he didn't seem to have a lot of assets at his disposal.

None of the moves he made look like game-changers to me, but I think the Blazers have a better roster now, and better overall talent, that they did at the beginning of the week. And I think they now will be in a good position with the cap to make a run at a couple of good players should LA leave. Now, whether they can convince them to come to Portland is another matter, but money shouldn't be an issue. Olshey did a nice job of clearing cap space and increasing overall talent, IMO.

 

They're game changers because they cleared up more space (enough to sign another max player) AND they added a few nice bench players in Plumlee, Henderson, and Vonleh.

 

Plus a boat load of cap room.

 

I say he's a huge upgrade because of his contrace and age.

 

Not only did he do both, he made us younger, thus gaining a year or two on a rebuild if we have to go through one
Lillard, CJ, Meyers, Plumlee, Vonleh, Connaugton & Crabbe is a GREAT group to have immediately after blowing it up. If you don't like what Olshey has done then you're failing to see the bigger picture

 

I'm glad you're not our GM if you want to pay "chump change" or 1/6th of our current available salary on a guy who will play MAYBE 15 minutes per game. Cory Joseph would be a much smarter play given his playing style, little bit taller, and still a great defender and you'd be paying half of that for him.

 

We've got too many young bigs right now. I'm assuming that we're planning on either signing LA, or Love.

Who do we play out of Plumlee, Vonleh, and Nards? They're all young. They're all promising players. I think a trade is going to happen.

Either that, or we're keeping all three and we're using the other cap space to go after a wing. Not sure who though. Did LeBron opt out?

 

Yeah worst case we skipped "holy shit we're starting HA" and went straight to "young but still exciting."

 

I think this means Lopez is out. It seems if it is true that Aldridge might stay, he will focus on keeping just Aldridge and Matthews. He has got rid of blake and his contract which is practically a miracle, and reduced salary with the Batum trade. I think he is going after a small forward with big money to spend. And if Matthews doesn't get realistic he will go for a shooting guard also. And of course we have to upgrade at backup PG. I think that if he has has some fairly reasonable assurances from agents that this is possible with the guys he wants; then we are on the right track. I really liked this new draftee but i think this is the best route to immediate success,

 

If indeed this is all a grand plan coming together where we shed enough cap to afford another Max player. And keep LMA, who are we going after? I don't see it being Deandre or Hibbert with the way we just bolstered our young big talent. And we need to fill the SF position. Is it Jimmy Butler? Surely Chicago matches?

Or what if we max Kawhi and steal him away cuz Spurs think LMA is leaving and coming to them!

 

Neil just sold me again. Sounds like the plan is for plumlee to be the backup center. He even mentioned that he could backup someone they sign whether that's lopez or somebody else.

I'm guessing that means Vonleh is a project and will be allowed to develop slowly.

 

Jimmy Butler with Dame and LA would be a lot of fun...Plumlee, Leonard can hold the five down.

 

Hibbert opting in leads me to believe we will be using some of the players acquired to trade for him.

Olshey seems to be a GM that makes friends with other GMs. Stealing players for nothing doesn't seem like a good thing, but asking Bird what type of players he would like, then grabbing them builds a good bridge IMO.

I would say Hibbert is plan A or signing Jordan outright is plan B

 

No to Lopez. Either roll with Plumlee/Kaman on the cheap or Big Name Center/Plumlee

 

From his tone they view Vonleh as a building block.

Nice.

 

I think Vonleh is going to Indy. That's my gut feeling. Vonleh and filler.

 

Olshey literally said plumlee could backup lopez or somebody else they sign. Pretty clear to me he's going to target a center. My money is still on jordan.