The super Melo to Portland thread + The Big Blockbuster

Glamor brings players. The glamor can be the city (LA, New York, Miami) or it can be the team (multiple All-Stars). Something has to be exciting to draw players. Being a good team in a good city with generally good people is fine and all, but not exciting. Money is rarely an inducement because the max evens that playing field. If you can get your money anywhere, you want something that adds some sparkle to the situation.

If Lillard and McCollum can make the All-Star team, or Lillard and Nurkic, or something like that, that would be a start. Most likely, though, Portland would need to be dominant--a dominant year would both add an aura to the team and probably win two or three All Star nods. That would put them in the national picture.

 

Or have them recruited away from us

 

Now, Nate, if they get recruited away from you when they go to summer basketball camp, they were never your friends to begin with.

 

More like:

 

Dame is staying put.

 

I agree with most of this, although we've seen that a glamour destination hasn't done squat lately for the Lakers, Knicks or Heat. I'd put being a legitimate contender light years ahead of glamour when it comes to attracting free agents. Obviously, being a glamour city with a contending team is the best of all possible situations. But as far as being able to make a trade for a player, not a free agent signing, the most important things are that the Blazers' other assets increase in value by playing well and, to a lesser degree, that the team be a seen as having a rising future so that the player acquired in trade isn't looking to immediately jump ship.

 

Contention is necessary but not sufficient. The Knicks and Lakers have been fielding a couple of the worst teams in basketball. Glamorous cities aren't bridging that gap (at least, not all the time--but Irving is interested in New York, Paul George and Russell Westbrook are both considered possible Lakers recruits). Miami did build the first true free-agent fueled superteam and basically always get sit-downs with every major free agent. Even when the Blazers contend, they're not generally a hot free agent destination. I do believe that if Oden and Roy had not gotten hurt and had (along with Aldridge and Batum) formed a glittering dynasty, Portland would have been a glamor team. Because of the multiple All-Stars. You need a hook. Portland, even when they're good, generally doesn't have one. They're nice all around but with no "wow" factor.

 

I couldn't understand a single word he was mumbling....

 

Collins has the "ya, know" syndrome. LOL.

 

GET.

THESE.

HANDS.

 

I've been saying they need to move to Vegas for years now.

 

Dame vs Nurk would be some fight, like Joshua vs Klitschko

 

Carmelo Anthony not to the Blazers
http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/or...f/2017/07/canzano_carmelo_anthony_to_por.html

 

Maybe players will want to join the team if they move to Seattle!

 

This is impressive, but it makes me nervous of injury.