I agree that there were other ways to avoid the luxury tax, but I think that Olshey sees it the way I said in my previous post. As good as he is, Plumlee's inability to be a true rim protector, coupled with his limitations as a scorer, preclude him from being the center on a contending team. Given that, it doesn't make sense to give up players that you otherwise want to keep simply to avoid Plumlee's luxury tax implications.
I don't know. They get the chance to take him for a test drive the rest of this season and then decide if they want to pay him the big bucks. Given that they included a 1st rounder in the deal, I think that they must see him as a likely part of their future.
I think they play Plumlee a lot at PF. His athleticism translates better to play PF than Nurkic. Plumlee and Jokic would be a great passing frontcourt.
I don't think it is so much him not getting it as victim of dysfunctional roster...that just got a bit more balanced. We have plenty of players who can shoot from outside. Part of the reason that they don't maker more of their shots is because they are hounded due to no low post presence. Plumlee playing point Center, as talented as he is at it, is not what we need from the center. We need a guy down low who can take the dish and dunk. A guy who can block shots and push opposing bigs out of the paint. Now that we have that guy, he will help Vonleh on both ends of the court. Vonleh can now work the perimeter more without fear of getting beat with Nurkic in the paint. Noah is a unique beast who can move side to side very well for his size. Id like to see him worked similar to D Green on the defensive end. A guy who can guard bigs, but can also hedge the perimeter. On offense, now Noah can play a bit more out and crash the boards on shots. He can be used in picknroll nad picknpop situations and with Nurkic available down low for a dish, I see many ways Nah can have more freedom to improve his post up and mid-long range game.
There are legit reasons the Blazers made this trade, but this is a ridiculous take. God forbid the players like each other and have chemistry. Just because they lost games doesn't mean they got lazy and comfortable. You really think that before the day began they weren't already aware that losing games would make it more likely there'd be a trade? Maybe the team just wasn't constructed properly, or maybe they're just not good defensively no matter how hard they try. You're acting like it will motivate players when you trade away a great teammate and friend. It often has the opposite effect. I just hope the legit reasons the Blazers made this trade end up working out.
It's funny, if we'd've got Nurkic instead of Plumlee for Hollis-Jefferson, I would've been a lot happier at the time. That's a sign of how surprisingly good Plumlee turned out to be but also how Nurkic has since failed to live up to a very promising rookie year.
If he fits in with their personnel, then I'll bet there's a decent chance he does stay. That Nuggets have tons of money to throw around this summer. If he's not a good fit, then maybe not, but I think he'll do well there next to Jokic.
guys, a true center is what half this roster has needed. Meyers can play outside without fear of getting beat. He wont have to bang anymore. lol
Come on Stren, Patience man. It takes two parties to make trades, and you don't just make moves to make moves. Yes this was an obvious must do move, but at the beginning of the season the talk was giving up Plums and a pick for Nurkic. NO did good in this getting another pick. Look at where this team was two years ago compared to now? Everyone openly says you know we cant draw FA's, so with that said, NO has been absolutely doing the right thing overall. He missed the salary mark on a couple players who aren't playing to potential. Cant win them all and sometimes you sound as if you think he ca just wave the magic wand and poop a ring out of his ass for you or something. lol. Patience bro. These things aren't easy. Or every team would be a contender.
Cippy bro, Sorry man. It ain't no big thing, but it is accuracy and that kinda stuff is how incorrect info spreads and changes the facts through history. There is actually a huge difference between almost and did. no matter what the situation is. He almost committed murder. He DID commit murder. The truth is all we really have to live by in this world of so many falsities being spread by media movements and individual ignorance.
