"One of the best leaders in sports." This is precisely why I believe we can take on a 'troubled' player who could use a change of scenery.
Also interesting to read that Neil vouched for Terry along with Dame to Paul to give them one more season to run it back. Always figured that Neil-Terry relationship would be the first to fracture. Zach didn't really get into this, but the biggest elephant in the room is how our ownership situation now will dictate the moves Neil can make.
Otto Porter would be absolutely ideal if he made 15 mil. At 25, he would hamstrung this payroll even more than it already is. But if you go into the lab and think of THE perfect mix of skills and size for this roster as constructed, it would be Porter at either of the forward spots. A low usage, highly efficient shooter and decent defender. Would ATL be willing to give away Prince?
I agree. The ownership issue is what is the biggest question mark. This team needs to make moves now and in the next year. Somebody has to step up and make some decisions and bold moves.
I don’t see why they would. He’s young, cheap, and not in anyone’s way. Only way that would happen is if they decided they didn’t want to pay him after next season. Don’t see why they wouldn’t though? I honestly think we should see what we have in Layman. And by that I mean expand his role. What if the guy were looking for is already on the roster? Switch roles with Aminu. Have Aminu be the guy that stands in the corner, and give his 7-8 shots a game to Layman.
How would you expand his role? I don't think they run any plays for him. Layman has looked terrific in limited minutes so far this year. Maybe just play him more?
Well, either one would work. Don’t know where the minutes would come from, but they can figure that out.
Allen’s death doesn’t change anything in the short term. That’s still his money. He didn’t go without something in writing about how they were to use it, or what freedoms Olshey does, or does not, have.
3 or 4 years from now, we'll be like other teams. Some of our best players will be 2nd-round picks of Layman quality. You won't see a dozen 1st-round picks on the roster anymore.
How would an additional $5M in payroll stop us from acquiring a talent better than OPJ in the next three years?
It's not necessarily opportunity cost that I'm referring to as much as the risk. If Porter doesn't actually work, that is a bigger albatross contract than any we currently have on our roster.
Depends on who buys the team. If we make a playoff run pretty soon, why would a potential buyer want to upset a good thing. The team has more value with good assets and a winning culture.
Despite the generally positive tone of the article; they get down to the nitty-gritty: "For all the tweaks along the margins, this is still broadly the same team, with the same flaws waiting to be exposed in the wrong playoff matchup. Big guards will bully Lillard and McCollum in slower, grimier playoff games. Nurkic struggles guarding stretchy centers, leaving Al-Farouq Aminu to jostle with Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Davis. Aminu is tireless and versatile, but inverting matchups that way mutes the impact of both him and Nurkic. Portland gets more switchy with Collins at center -- Aminu even can play as the long big if they need to go super-small -- but there are intractable limits to the switchability of any team so reliant on two small guards. Cutesy three-guard lineups, with either Stauskas or Curry alongside the two stars, will melt defending elite offenses. Teams ignore Portland's rangier wings -- Turner, Harkless, and Aminu -- to clog the paint and smother Lillard and McCollum. Sometimes the game is simple: Portland will survive only for as long as those guys make enough open 3s."
Since he mentioned Porter, here is a guy suggesting also that trade: "Putting Porter next to Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum is patently unfair. He's cut his teeth orbiting other ball-handlers, and Portland's offense has a touch more room for him to attack off the dribble. Closing games with him, Al-Farouq Aminu and Zach Collins up front should help what has been the worst crunch-time defense to date." But, "Testing the Porter waters is something the Blazers only do if they're buying into their scorching-hot start. They're already close to $8 million over the luxury tax, and this deal tacks on another $4.2 million." His idea for the trade is similar to what I have been thinking: Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Thomas Bryant, Otto Porter Washington Wizards Receive: Moe Harkless, Meyers Leonard, Anfernee Simons, 2019 first-round pick (lottery protected) https://bleacherreport.com/articles...bradley-beal-otto-porter-and-john-wall#slide4
