And the players he targeted last year, Plums, Aminu and Davis helped get us to the 2nd round of the playoffs.
Exactly. And let's not forget Spencer Hawes. And even Hibbert. I have no problem with Olshey failing at bringing in certain players - those players are free to make their own decisions. But Olshey's targets leave a lot to be desired. And at this point, it seems like attempting a trade for a past FA target (Monroe or Kanter) would have better addressed our needs than the directions Neil went in (Turner / Pau). But if Turner somehow turns into a trade that brings back someone like DMC by the trade deadline, then perhaps Olshey's moves will have worked out for the best. But maybe trading for future unprotected picks would be a wiser direction to go at this point.
It is possible that he knows more about NBA player strength/weakness, potential, personality and ability to mesh with the current team than we do. WHAT!!?
I think the mistake that we as a fanbase made, is that we went to those websites that show available free agents, and we started at the top of the list and worked our way down, trying to find players that could help the team that we felt we had a realistic chance to sign. But what we should have actually done is start at the bottom of those lists and work our way up. While we were thinking about Horfords, Howards and Whitesides, we should have been looking at guys like Nazr Mohammad and Steve Blake.
The only guy I really wanted was Horford, but we didn't even seem to be interested. So that's maybe the only way that I feel disappointed by our actions. My guess is Horford was flat out not interested in us, and Olshey knew that, so he didn't waste any time on it.
I've made a couple comments in the past that perhaps he has limited beliefs on this very market and those beliefs is holding the team hostage during free agency. The players mentioned by Rasta could be guys he feels like he has a chance in signing. And guys like Durant, Horford, Noah he doesn't make a play for because he doesn't feel we have a shot. When watching him speak you get the feeling he is a matter of fact certain about many things. And that the position he is coming from is one of reality from his own perspective. Doesn't mean it is but from his own sense, it could be. If that is the case. It's killed and cost this team in the last five years. Like I said, I don't feel it's the market the city, team or anything to do with Portland. I think it's the man in the position. Guys in the past have been able to recruit players to this town.
The truth is that the Blazers have been pointing to this free agency for over a year and had almost 23m in cap space (and possibly much more) and have so far turned than into Evan Turner. You can talk about who was available, who was interested, who we tried to get, etc, as much as you want, but so far that's what's happened. I've been a big Olshey fan, and I suppose I still am, but this offseason has been exceedingly unimpressive.
I think Mr. Dog may be onto something. I think that agents and teams have always dropped Portland's name in rumors as they know that Portland doesn't comment on rumors and they also know that Portland is perceived around the league as very active. I think almost for sure that Portland was never interested in Pachulia. And i think there is a good chance they never pursued Whiteside, probably because Olshey got word there was no interest from Whiteside. I personally think that he wanted to get Parsons and Howard, even if Woj never mentioned it; this just makes sense to me. I have no idea if he wanted Mahimni as rumored. I personally think he would have been a valuable addition but valuable enough to renounce a RFA that Olshey had drafted or acquired? I suspect that Olshey allowed the Gasol rumor to be put out there, to help an agent and hurt SA. I can't imagine that he really would have renounced RFA's (would have had to be two) in order to sign an aging Gasol. So I think even the great Woj can be sucked in.
It's pretty simple. Not a single big free agent has signed with Portland, despite our massive salary cap space and all our hopes and dreams. Don't tell me about who Olshey targeted because I'll guarantee you he would loved to have gotten Horford, Whiteside, Durant, Howard, Gasol, et al. But he didn't. End of story.
The blazers have never signed a single "big free agent" - end of story. The Lakers are pretty awesome, maybe you should follow them....
"We weren't interested", or Olshey knew from talking to their agents that THEY weren't interested? It would be dumb for him to waste time going after players he has no shot at getting.
