Defense and team success. Wall led his team to 49 wins an a top 4 seed. Dame led his team to 41 wins and the 8th seed, and won't have come close to that without the addition of Nurkic (on pace to win 34 games prior to the trade). Right, or wrong, team success plays a role in both all star and All NBA voting. BNM
Run those same comparisons for DeAndre Jordan, KAT, Boogie and Whiteside and tell me who REALLY got snubbed. I don't even see Dame not making it this year as a snub. There were others more deserving. BNM
ATL offered four 1st round picks back in Feb for George, but IND turned it down, counting on him making one of the All NBA teams for they could offer him the super max (about $75 million more than anyone else could offer him). Now that they can't offer him a super max extension and are worried about losing him in to free agency in the summer of 2018, the Pacers are again entertaining offers for Paul George. If you're Neil Olshey, do you swing for the fences and offer Allen Crabbe (to make the salaries match) and our three first round picks this year (plaus maybe a top 20 protected future pick) for Paul George, with the hope that he will make one the three all NBA teams next year so you can offer him the super max and he doesn't become a 1-year rental? If I did make that offer, I'd also try to get Thad Young from them (without giving up Vonleh). Trading George for draft picks clearly puts IND in full rebuild mode, s keeping a vet like Young doesn't make any sense for them. George would be a huge upgrade at SF (obviously) and Young is better than any PF we have on our roster. He could either start or be our 6th man coming off the bench. I doubt if they would want Evan Turner (they didn't really like him the last time they traded for him) for Young, so maybe Meyers plus Aminu or Davis or possibly Harkless. This would clearly put the Blazers in win now, or at least win fairly soon mode. I think a full season with Nurk, plus the addition of Paul George puts us in the top 4 teams in the West, possibly even the top 2, but I don't think it's enough to get by GSW or CLE in the next couple of years, but it might set us up for a finals run 3 or 4 years down the road when both Dame and PG13 are 30 to 31 years old, C.J. is 29 - 30 and Nurk is 25 - 26 and Vonleh is 24 - 25. Add a couple ring chasing vets and you'd have a brief window of title contention, but isn't that the ultimate goal, to reach that level before Dame and C.J. get too old? BNM
I'd take a shot at it and hope he makes one of the all NNA teams next year so we can offer him the super max and retain him for another 5 years (see my longer post in the other All NBA thread for the details). BNM
Very very tempting. But highly doubt he'd make any of the all NBA teams considering his #'s might go down playing with Dame, CJ, and Nurk. Another concern is how George would fit in with our chemistry. He wasnt exactly a good teammate during the Cleveland series. Maybe the thought of winning now instead of later with the Lakers could keep him here long term.
CP3 only played in 61 games. Not sure about Gobert, but Whiteside, KAT and Boogie all definitely had better seasons than DeAndre Jordan. With CP3 and Blake Griffin not making it, and the Lakers being a dumpster fire, it seems like the voters felt obligated to have at least one Los Angeles player make all NBA. That became Jordan by default. BNM
He says he want to play for a contender. That doesn't sound like the Lakers to me. And honestly, if I was the Blazers, I'd make George the No. 1 option on offense for at least one year to give him the best shot all making one of the all NBA teams. It's not like we're getting past GSW or CLE next year anyway. So, spend a year force feeding him the ball so he can pad his stats. Dame is a team player and a true leader. I think he'd sacrifice his own stats (he already got his max contract) if it helps the team keep a player like George around for another 5 years. Dame is a big picture kind of guy and realizes that if we do have a championship window, it will be after GSW's and CLE's windows close. Dame + PG13 + C.J. + Nurk is a hell of a Big 4 and none of them currently over 27. Make George the No. 1 option, at least for the first year. Hell, Steph Curry, the 2-time reigning MVP sacrificed his stats to incorporate Durant into the GSW offense. That sets a good precedent for Dame to do the same. Being the No. 1 option on a top 4 team will make him want to stay. Making one of the all NBA teams and getting a super max contract will seal the deal. BNM
Now that it looks like Indiana has to trade PG13 or risk losing him for nothing, I would do this: Crabbe, Leonard, Harkless, Vonleh, and the 3 1st rd picks for PG13, Ellis and Jefferson. Takes a few contracts off the books for Indy and they can start their rebuild with 4 1st rd picks this year and 4 guys all under the age of 25. For Portland, it gives them a star along with some veteran bench help.
There are several reports/rumors that he wants to go back home and play of the Lakers. That's why I brought them up. Sounds like a good plan! Love the idea of also getting T.Young, under rated in my opinion.
Perfect! Crabbe, Leonard this year's 3 first round picks plus a 2019 top 20 protected pick for PG13 and Thad Young. BNM
I obviously can't speak for PG, but being in the same time zone as family is a big deal for me. It might make Portland more palatable for him as well. And I agree with all in giving up whatever it takes of the picks and young talent to get PG. Would like to keep Vonleh, but I would even consider him if that's what it took.
George can't get the super max if he's not on the team that drafted him, so making him first option if we traded for him would have no impact on his next contact value.
Oh shoot, you''re right. I thought as long as the team haled his Bird rights and he met the criteria of the super max deal, they could offer him the super max. Well, that stinks. Oh well, that should drive down his trade value. So, maybe a change of scenery, with better teammates and being a top 4 team would be enough to convince him to stay in PDX, since no one else could offer him more. BNM