[ official ] 2016 summer moves

Just read this whole thread and had a few random reactions ... if I can remember all of them.

1) CJ isn't a passer ... yet. This really was his first really healthy year as a pro. I saw a lot of similarities to Damian in his first year. I think he will become better at creating for his teammates, and I suspect he will be much better at it next season. He's obviously a worker. Also, he's one of the craftiest offensive players in the entire NBA right now. His game isn't a carbon copy of Damian's, though there is overlap. But he is uncanny in his ability to create space within 15 feet of the basket. He's not someone you throw into a trade anymore. He can be traded for star-level players.

2) My one co-worker is a Warriors fan. He said he'll be glad to see Harrison Barnes go and he thinks someone is going to overpay for him and regret it. I agree. I don't see him as someone I want in Portland anymore. I think Aminu has surpassed him and is a better fit for the Blazers.

3) I said after the first game of the Clippers series that I wasn't going to write off Aminu or Harkless until I had a whole series to evaluate. Based on what I saw in the next 10 games, both are keepers. Anyone doubting Aminu should consider he was called upon to fill a completely different role this year than any other in his career, and you couldn't help to see how much better he got with confidence. I think he'll make more improvement next year, either adding to his offensive repertoire or stepping up his defense again now that he is more comfortable with what he can do offensively. Harkless is so young, and you have to think he's going to become a lot better and more consistent player, too. I also work with a guy who is a Magic fan, and he couldn't believe his team just gave up on Harkless from what he saw in this series. His versatility is going to be huge going forward and gives the Blazers flexibility in making other moves.

4) The comments above said, you still never fall in love with your own players. You have to be open to trading even CJ in the right deal. But I think the Blazers have more to trade now than other fans do. We just need to be open-minded to the fact that there's probably going to be someone popular either trade or allowed to walk this season so the team can acquire pieces to continue improving the team.

5) I've mentioned it in another thread recently, and I think someone touched on it here: The Blazers don't need to be better than the Warriors at every position. If they can be close at three and then exceptionally better at one of the other two and/or the bench, they are going to be in good shape. Guard-wise, the Blazers are where they need to be. So long as GS doesn't get Durant, I think Aminu is on track to be a plus over what the Warriors have there, if he isn't already. Where the Blazers get beaten is because of Green at the 4 and just the size at the 5 ... the Warriors have a legitimate 5 and a couple of decent big bodies coming off the bench. If the Blazers can close the gap with Green and get a player who can significantly outscore Bogut and keep him off the boards, the Blazers match up very well. But Portland will need 4s and 5s who can step out on the high pick-and-roll, because that's the other area we lose something to GS -- everyone on their team pretty much can make open shots.

6) The Blazers need to become a better defensive team. Short of getting Durant, we can't just try to outscore everyone. I think that's Stotts' biggest challenge ... can he coach defense. It's a challenge for Olshey, too. This team will need to develop that attitude and toughness. I think Henderson brings a bit of that, but I have a suspicion he won't be back.

 

Well, his ball handling, driving, and passing have been sub-par...actually terrible at times. But he did go from a bad 3pt shooter to a fair 3pt shooter this season. But he doesn't have much of an inside game. He may be slightly above average defensively, but he's got an odd skillet.

I think we should either get a PF that can play inside, or get a real shooter like Anderson.

 

I'd love to develop him as a SF, being Aminu off the bench as instant energy, then add a 3rd ball handling guard that could defend.

 

Shot blocking is nice to have but it isn't always the greatest thing (we seem to give up the offensive board off of blocks more than the average team). I think having another big body or two on the team would help so much. I want to believe we could land Whiteside or Dwight but truly, I'll believe it when I see it.

 

Whiteside would challenge those mid range shots that our defensive system gives players, and he would also pretty much eliminate any easy layups.

I trust that Dame would know how get through to him and keep him in check. Same with Dwight but he's gonna cost more and he's older.

 

According to Draft Express, Crabbe has a 7" standing reach advantage over Matt Barnes. (2 1/2" wingspan advantage)
I know you were just throwing Matt Barnes out there as an example, but my point is Crabbe is longer than a lot of SF's we have all mentioned this season that we should go after.

 

Dwight would do wonders here for the team and his career. He wouldn't be forced to play more than 25-28 minutes a night (Plumlee would be a major key off the bench for us) until the playoffs either, really could preserve him.

 

Starting Crabbe is cool, but then well need to find shooters to replace his production off the bench. Could Connaughton be an option? He seems like a decent three and D guy in theory.

I think Henderson is gone.

 

I just think Matt Barnes would be a good guy to bring in to be our "enforcer"

 

The one negative about starting Crabbe at the 3 is that he's a pretty terrible rebounder. You are losing quite a bit with Dame/CJ/Crabbe.

 

I don't. We need legit shooters not fake tough guys.

 

Yeah Henderson did not have a good playoffs and had limited minutes. He probably will choose to move on.

I would start Crabbe at SF and bring Harkless in off the bench for his energy. (Aminu would mostly play PF)

Hard to say if either Montero or Connaughton could be ready to help off the bench. We never really know until the next season. For all we know Montero could end up being another Gerald Green in terms of improving his outside shot. His stroke looked good in the D league games.

 

I have been saying this all damn year.

 

Yeah i was thinking about that as well. It would depend on who we start at C/PF

 

So here's how I think we should realistically fill out our 1 through 3 spots going into free agency. You could flip Aminu and Crabbe if ya want.

Lillard / Cheap Defensive PG (Langston Golloway? MLE?)
McCollum / Crabbe
Crabbe / Aminu

That unit would be counting as $36M towards the cap approximately (Leaving us with $55M)
Add on Davis, Vonleh, Plumlee, Montero, and Pat and that leaves us with approximately $42M
If you keep Harkless and Leanards cap holds that leaves us with approximately $26M.

That's about enough to keep Harkless, Leonard, and add Horford Durant, Whiteside etc.

 

Is there any package at all that we could put together to get Myles Turner without giving up on CJ? Would Indiana even contemplate something like Plumlee + Vonleh + pick?

He's the player perfection in terms of fitting current Blazers.

 

after last nights game I had the thought of letting hendo and Meyers walk, keep crabbe and harkless, max whiteside, olshey type under radar friendly contract on biyombo. depending on just how friendly that contract is, find a 3rd stringer PG for those just in case moments.

 

I loved this dude's energy and fearlessness in the playoffs as rookie. No way we have the pieces to get him unless they really lost their minds and didn't demand CJ.

 

I've warmed up to the idea of Dwight Howard. I'm convinced he would have a Zach Randolph like career turn around here. He'll give us 15/13 while being a rim protector...sign me up.

 

Just not for 30 MIL a year (his max) and not for the 4 years (that other teams, besides HOU, can give him).

I would do 20 MIL a year for him and 3 years (with 3rd a team option, preferably - although I would cave on player option). Problem is I am sure he gets a better option than that. So lets hope he just wants to win.