Merged: Who would you give up for Paul George?

I live on the one where LA doesn't consider us a rival because they're not. Our Rival was Seattle.

LA has never been our rival. How long have you been a fan of the Blazers?

 

Ok I'll go to the Seattle Sonics then....oh wait...

I get it, you're a contrarian. Doesn't mean you have to argue literally everything.

 

And I dont care what the lakers consider the blazers as, it's the blazers that let me go, and I know for a fact there isn't a team the blazers fans love beating more than the lakers, historically speaking. So I'm going there. But feel free to argue that as well @dviss1

 

Seattle was never a rival either, proximity notwithstanding.

There was just never a time when the Sonics and Blazers were simultaneously really good. At least the Blazers/Lakers were legit really good and close circa 1990-91 and again circa 2000.

 

You called them one of our most hated rivals. We hate them but they've never been our rival.

 

Yes they were. We had the I-5 rivalry as long as I can remember.

 

I never really considered the Sonics a true "rival". More like a friendly rival. Like a sibling. I never hated them. I even rooted for them when they weren't playing the Blazers.

The Blazers and the Lakers have played each other with championship seeding on the line. They've broken our hearts, and we've upset them in return. They are the only team I hate with the intensity of a rival. I don't give a fuck what Lakers fans think about it. Fucking douchetards.

 

I remember the I-5 "rivalry" too, and aside from a small handful of exciting games, can never remember anybody really caring much about it. In theory I guess it could have been a rivalry, but the reality of it never matched that.

Hell, I even rooted for the Sonics a few times in the playoffs in some years where Portland sucked (2005). I wouldn't have ever been caught dead rooting for the Lakers in any scenario.

 

Say what you want but I disagree. They were our rival:

http://www.nba.com/blazers/photogallery/tbt-i-5-rivalry/
http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i...ail_blazers_i-5_rivalry_oklahoma_thunder.html
http://www.realclearsports.com/lists/dead_defunct_rivalries/supersonics_trail_blazers.html

 

Aldridge was on a contender and left. Durant was on a contender and left. Unless the Blazers somehow win the championship, and beat the Warriors in the process (yeah right), I don't think there's any chance PG re-signs.

Haven't we had enough bad luck with fickle superstars? Why torture this fanbase unnecessarily?

 

Aldridge went to a better contender.

Durant went to a better contender.

George is reportedly interested in going to the hapless Lakers. It's not the same scenario. We have some really good players, much better than Indy. If we had some really good success next year, I could see him staying.... plus the extra incentive of bird rights.

 

George is going home. Versus staying in Portland.

We've been burned so many times how are people still optimistic in these scenarios? You have a guy here LITERALLY WANTING to go to a shit franchise and they still think we have a chance to convince him to stay in freaking Portland.

Good god.

 

Per Woj: “Teams are trying to decide what’s the appropriate cost for a player who they’re being told, pretty adamantly by Paul George’s camp, will be a rental. No matter who you are, no matter who has checked in or who potentially will check in, they’re gonna be told that Paul George is gonna play the season out and then he’s gonna go to the Lakers, that that’s his plan.”

Like COME ON now.....

 

What's the alternative? We can't sign superstars. They won't come here.

We're too good to get into the top 5. So unless we're finding a hidden gem, how else are we adding another star?

In the current NBA there are two teams with a legit shot at the championship. So unless you enjoy making the playoffs only to get waxed by the Warriors, we need to start swinging for the fences.

 

Woj also said during his podcast that in the right situation, he'd be tempted to stay

 

The alternative is being patient and looking for opportunities to acquire other "Nurkic" situation players.

The answer isn't making a shitty ass deal just because you don't see any immediate alternative. That is the type of thinking that got us to make the Afflalo deal which was the worst trade made in the Olshey era.

 

This tidbit is more recent.

I don't know why you would take the risk unless it's a total no brainer of a deal, like a first and dumping a few of our bad contracts.

 

Haven't you ever heard of a bluff? If his desire was REALLY to play out the season in Indy and then leave for LA, and he was willing to leave money on the table, he would pull an LMA. He wouldn't say anything.

He's trying to force the Pacers into trading him to LA for table scraps. That's the move. He wants his bird rights.

 

People will always try to spin things they don't want to believe. I remember people doing the same thing during Aldridge's inevitable exit.