Leonard is not the reason SA won. Number 1 overall pick Tim Duncan was. Does Kobe win a title without number 1 overall Shaq or later with number 3 overall Pau?
"Stability" if you have the greatest PF in history to build around. You also draft overlooked, international, All-Star caliber players late in the draft. What the Blazers are doing feels much different. This is stock piling assets for trades down the road.
Just throwing a name out of a rim protector that can probably be had for cheap to make a playoff push. Nikola Vucevic is a much better offensive player and seems like an ideal fit if they can make something work.
Like I said, SA got Duncan by tanking ONE year. I have no problem with that. They tanked because Robinson was out for the season. So they still had him on the team. Shaq, Kobe and Pau were all acquired by trades, not by blowing it up. Your examples are just making my point. (Shaq was a FA but then it ended up being a trade)
The Spurs have always taken care of their core players while tweaking their roster around them with smart signings and picks. They also stock pile assets and if trades are in the future, that's fine...I don't see it as an oversight to see our direction as one of coaching, system and core stability. When Duncan was a rookie, they were still just a small market team trying to make noise. That's what I see in Portland....keeping a coach that's successful at developing a team and extending the contracts of players you've developed. The Jazz didn't win a ring with HOF pt guard and at the time the greatest PF in the game. Jordan won many titles with Luc Longley in the post or Will Perdue....role players. The greatest PF in the game at that time didn't beat Pippen and Jordan even when they didn't have a great point guard or center on the roster. They did keep the same system and coach though
The only bitter pill this offseason was Crabbe. We got Harkless, Leonard, and Ezeli for very good contracts. It could have been much more painful. Turner seemed spendy at first, but considering what he brings to the table, I think his contract is on point.
I personally would love to add Chandler, great vet to have. Championship pedigree, DPOY, etc. However, the Suns would have to make it a sexy deal by adding picks or a young player.
He's washed up, doesn't fit with the age group, and would probably expect to start. But most of all.... he's washed up. Would be a pointless addition even if he came for just capspace, but you also want to give up pieces to get Chandler? WTF. Stupid idea.
Yes. Portland isnt getting that caliber player via FA. A trade maybe. We need rge draft like OKC. We seem to be good because of high draft picks.
Isnt that contridicting your point though? OKC never won. They have now lost their team (Westbrook will be gone soon) and the drafts didn't get them a ring. However trading for Shaq and Kobe got the Lakers rings. Hmmm. Tank for the draft so you can be a good team but not win, or build assets and trade for a player that can win rings. Yes there are variables to this, but you brought up the Lakers and OKC and that doesnt make sense based on your opinion you have stated in the past. Pretty confused. Sorry. Fuck tanking. Loser mentality will just breed losers.
In a related note: http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/17149951/former-no-1-pick-andrea-bargnani-signs-spanish-club-team
Lakers signed shaq as a free agent. Portland will never be able to sign a free agent of that caliber. Lakers "traded" for kobe, but it was on draft night so they could get kobe. Kobe also let it be known he really only wanted to play for the lakers. The draft is the best tool for small markets to obtain star level talent. Brandon roy Lamarcus aldridge Damian lillard Cj mccollum Bill walton Clyde drexler What do all these stars have in common?
Otherwise known as the guy who got 1 vote for rookie of the year spoiling Brandon Roy's anonymous selection. I've heard Fran Blinebury still gets the occasional death threat for it. :MARIS61:
The issue isn't that you don't have to rely on the draft for talent; you do. It's that you don't have to keep dumpster diving until you get a top-3 pick.
