Tanking, what it is and what it isn't

I always think that teams tank by faking injuries to the best player....he has a nagging sore toe...will rest a few games...then they develop the bench mob and see who sticks or who needs to go. We're not doing that as far as I can tell

 

Usually older vets and not this early. Or players who actually are hurt and they just shut them down.

But on the other hand we only have 30 games left so in another 10-15 games, no doubt some teams will.

 

The problem as I see it is that the we overpaid for LOUSY/mediocre players and our GM took our payroll right to the Lux tax limit, this IMO significantly restricts our ability to get better via trades and perhaps even to re-sign a guy like Plumlee because I doubt PA is willing to pay the tax for such a shitty team. I

 

I don't agree with the premise of any of your comments.

Crabbe cost Portland 2nd round picks. I wouldn't call that throwaway. I'd also argue that Crabbe on his current contract is anything but "good value". He is generally considered as having one of the worst 10 contracts in the league.

The CJ extension would have no impact on Portland's record. The question then becomes does Crabbe, Turner, & Meyer's contribute more than any other replacement players (on cheaper contracts) would have? I would argue no. None of the 3 are difference makers. You can use pretty much any metric that you want, and it will show that all three are below average (or significantly below) players. And before you start spewing crap about that there's no-one else left in FA to sign - here are some legitimate options that I would rather have had:

Meyers :-> Tarik Black ($6M), Jordan Hill ($4M), Dewayne Deadmon ($3M), Justin Hamilton ($3M)
Turner :-> Trevor Booker ($9M), James Ennis ($3M), Jared Dudley ($10M)
Crabbe :-> James Ennis ($3M), Gerald Henderson ($9M), Courtney Lee ($10M), Garrett Temple ($8M),

Granted, none of those players are world-beaters... but at least they are being paid appropriately for their production levels (and are equal or better than the three Blazers).

 

I am not a Meyers fan, but for the Blazers i think one could argue Terry likes bigs who can shoot. And None of those can shoot better than Meyers. Turner has by far more value than the examples you gave as does Crabbe. But if saving money is the goal then yes you are correct.

 

We're not too far from being Bottom 4 with them. Had we not beat CLE, BOS, MEM we'd be a hell of a lot closer. And if those LAL games had gotten away from us, so much the better!

 

Well, maybe I shouldn't (cos I'm only doing my best from Poland), but I have two points.

It could be and it looks like Mayers will be young prospect till he's 45yo. Extending him was like extend a girlfriend because of big tits, knowing she's stupid, ugly and can't cook. Worth risk? I disagree.

And for another one: I think "players are fighting" is the main problem here. I would be more less ok with what we paid players in the offseason IF there were any signs of them actually FIGHTING. I think the "money problem" developed so high because of players lazy attitude.

For me, lack of heart in this team is the biggest problem. Not the money - those, as you wrote, are not mine. Therefore, I'm trying to find any other reason for it, because they all look like they are tanking and you said it's impossible

 

No, but, a coach can make it much more difficult for his team to win.

 

Right now we are #11. TJ Leaf is projected at 22 while Fultz is at #1. I like Leaf better. My point is this draft is wide open. I think we are fine at #11. We drop a few more spots....fine. And that can be done without intentionally tanking.

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2017/

 

You like Leaf better than Fultz? Or am I misunderstanding you?

 

Well, who knows; maybe if we didn't have Crabbe, we would be the team signing Yogi Ferrell to ten day contracts?

 

and maybe if we had gotten rid of Leonard a long time ago, we would have been a team looking to sign a Hassan Whiteside?

 

Yep. When I see Fultz I am reminded of D'Angelo Russell. Decent but not someone I want running my team. No interest in D what so ever. If I am going PG I would take Ball way before Fultz. (Ball reminds me of Kidd)

But if I want a PF I would take Leaf. He is not ready right now, but he has all sorts of skills for a 6'10" PF. And I could be wrong but he looks pretty athletic as well.

 

Well said, Schilly.

Up to the GM to tank.

 

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