https://www.blazersland.com/still-not-a-destination/ "....with all of their cap space, a very good head coach, a GM who seems well liked by players around the league, the richest owner in the NBA, a tremendous fan base and tons of salary cap money to spend, Portland still is unable to even get a meeting with some of the higher ranked, more impactful free agents each summer." Portland has a lot of good things going for it as a city but for some reason, that does not seem to make a difference when attracting free-agents to Portland or even in being able to get a meeting with them. This was not written to be 'negative' but to look at the legitimate reasons as to why Portland struggles to be a destination when they have a lot of things in their favor.
Positive Thinking. We used not to get any meetings with high coveted FA. Now they "look hard at the Blazers". It's an improvement.
That certainly does seem to be trending in the right direction although this summer, it's tough to see which "highly coveted" free-agents we actually got a meeting with. Parsons only met with one other team to there weren't a lot of teams that seemed that interested and no one was really beating down a path to Turner's door. I completely get where you are coming from. They seem to at least be getting some meetings now but something is getting the Blazers from being able to close the deal.
The biggest factor is a combination of success achieved, not projected, and salary availability. Portland had a better than expected season but still don't project as a title contender, but they had the money. The last few years when we've been sniffing that title contender status we haven't had the money to sign a guy nor the assets to trade for one. The best strategy is to keep trying to get a bit better each year until we have assets to make a blockbuster trade.
Seems to me like plan A was parsons given the fact stotts, dame, olshey, and Allen visited at 12:01. don't think we were even looking for meetings with a durant or horford. I feel the whiteside meeting was a rumor. A lot of people who weren't even blazer fans were surprised parsons signed with Memphis because they knew that Portland is the better team with the brighter future. Says a lot about how far we have come in the free agent process
It's all good though. We needed this to humble ourself. In a way I don't regret our season one bit. I'm glad we had this humble pie and realized that free agency will never do shit for us unless it's middle tier guys. Which we can get regardless if we even win 20 or 57 games. Evan Turner? We missed on a lottery pick for Evan Turner? Evan Turner? Again it's all good let this forever be a case study where we can say "remember the 2016 season what did that do for us.."
1. We didn't "miss on a lottery pick" for Evan Turner. In case you didn't notice, the Blazers weren't a lottery team. 2. Evan Turner is a lottery pick. 3.
There's no reason why we didn't do what we did in 2013 during Dames rookie season and pull the plug that last month or so. We got Cj because of that. Guess what? Cj would never ever come here in free agency because of the caliber of the player he is. I would rather take the measley slim chance of tanking and getting a top 3 pick than being a middling, treadmill playoff team who prays to get somebody worth a shit in free agency.
Personally, I'd rather see battle scarred, playoff exits where our young team gains valuable experience, while I get to watch, hope and dream of some miracle ending such as being down 0-2 to the Clippers only to win 4 in a row. That's just me though.
I know this is going to be a very popular sentiment but it has to be said. If after 40 years of being in the league and developing it's own unique traditions and fan culture.... NBA players still don't want to play in Portland....... then that's their choice and too bad! Nothing personal but you make as good a presentation as you can but stop short of brutal self analysis. I love this town and I've lived here most of my adult life. And I HATE to see it besmirched, negatively portrayed or discussed in a shitty manner. Wanting to land a big star and change your franchise's fate is what every team wants. But every year constantly setting yourself up like a prospective prom date and pulling your hair out because you didn't get the hunk.... is pointless. Jalen Rose said something on his show that resonated with me recently. He said NBA players as much driven by lifestyle choices as much as by winning. "If I play here then what the hell is there for me to DO. Are their pretty girls? Are there any things to do? What is the nightlife like?" These guys spend a LOT around town and they want something to do. Rose also added that the one city that he thinks would interest him as a player is MEMPHIS..... So there you go! And I'm sorry but Stumptown are never going to match up to Beale Street and Elvis's Fried Banana Sandwiches. But what we can do is what Oregon did when Chip Kelly was there. Sell the team! When Kelly was recruiting he wouldn't smooth talk them, or BS them, he'd simply make his pitch and if they had doubts, say "We can win with you or without you. It's that simple." And that's what the Blazers need to do. Build up the team and build up the facilities. Lets have the best assistants, the best trainers...... make the Blazers the best organization. Stotts is a good coach so promote him a somebody that players want to play for. You can't survive without good PR in this league. So sell them on us. Build a rep but if they still doubt you say, "That's okay but you're missing out. Too bad." Just let it go at that. That WILL impress them. A team that knows what it's talking about and not just blowing smoke up a player's ass..... And we walk away with our self respect. Other than that, these types of discussions need to be dropped. If Allen has to out cry Steve Balmer then we really are getting nowhere. As fans we can't keep having this pity part and self hatred every year when July 1st comes around. It's redundant and not good our collective mood. Let's just treat it like Groundhogs Day. "Ahh well. He didn't come out. So what." Be happy with what does go change but know that deep down, our city is a great place even if other don't see it that way.
Again, the next time one of you guys says we have a chance at horford or durant level players through free agency, we all get to kick you in the nuts.
All we need to do is import thousands of young black people to Portland, and the culture necessary to make NBA players happy will follow. So let's use our heads here. Portland has shipyards! MarAzul designs boats. And if any of us lack guns, MarAzul has plenty to loan. We build the ships, we sail to Africa... barfo
That's not true. It's a bunch of young educated people looking for a better life. I work with a lot of these types of people. They're from all over the country. They're just all white.
