The Offseason Hint Hidden in Olshey's Presser...

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glazeduck

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Haven't seen this mentioned anywhere yet (if it has, feel free to merge, mods), but did anyone else catch Olshey's comment when talking about acquiring a second round pick???

When asked (by Quick, I think) about whether or not we were trying to get back into the second, Neil first talks about the price being too high, but then makes a quick mention of being unsure whether or not we would have a roster spot. Last I checked, we're set to have about FIVE open roster spots...

Maybe I'm reading too much into that comment, but it sure sounds like they've got a few things already locked into place when the new year starts... Could be a trade, but probably (more likely) resigning at least a few of our impending free agents... should be interesting!
 
glazeduck said:
Haven't seen this mentioned anywhere yet (if it has, feel free to merge, mods), but did anyone else catch Olshey's comment when talking about acquiring a second round pick???

When asked (by Quick, I think) about whether or not we were trying to get back into the second, Neil first talks about the price being too high, but then makes a quick mention of being unsure whether or not we would have a roster spot. Last I checked, we're set to have about FIVE open roster spots...

https://media.giphy.com/media/3o7btPCcdNniyf0ArS/giphy.gif

Maybe I'm reading too much into that comment, but it sure sounds like they've got a few things already locked into place when the new year starts... Could be a trade, but probably (more likely) resigning at least a few of our impending free agents... should be interesting!
Click to expand...

I think it was the combination of the cost and needing to keep flexibility to sign our own free agents..

I will mention he said a couple times the July 1st date, so clearly we'll be doing *something*
 
glazeduck said:
Haven't seen this mentioned anywhere yet (if it has, feel free to merge, mods), but did anyone else catch Olshey's comment when talking about acquiring a second round pick???

When asked (by Quick, I think) about whether or not we were trying to get back into the second, Neil first talks about the price being too high, but then makes a quick mention of being unsure whether or not we would have a roster spot. Last I checked, we're set to have about FIVE open roster spots...

Maybe I'm reading too much into that comment, but it sure sounds like they've got a few things already locked into place when the new year starts... Could be a trade, but probably (more likely) resigning at least a few of our impending free agents... should be interesting!
Click to expand...

Hard to say, but he might be speaking in terms that he expects players to be back until they sign elsewhere and thus pretty much a full roster at this time. We also really don;t need anymore young unproven players at this stage as I imagine Olshey will look for some vets to fill out any holes in the roster.
 
Also, he had a kinda throw away comment about big deals coming up in FA. I'm gonna re-watch today
 
It ALL could be nothing, but the context of what he said was (paraphrasing) "we weren't sure if we'd have a roster spot".

It seems to reason that if the decision is between acquiring a pick for a rookie OR saving a spot for a veteran -- both of those being in the future, that you'd just choose whichever you preferred -- it wouldn't be noteworthy. Neil admitting they were calling around trying to get into the 2nd, but that they ALSO might not have a spot for the kid -- to me -- suggests that the wheels are already moving on multiple other moves.
 
Well if they’re bringing Aminu and Jake back it would only leave two roster spots. Assuming Simons replaces Curry, we’d still have two rotation spots to fill. That’s why I liked the Hoard signing. We get a developmental prospect without touching the actual roster.
 
Scalma said:
Well if they’re bringing Aminu and Jake back it would only leave two roster spots. Assuming Simons replaces Curry, we’d still have two rotation spots to fill. That’s why I liked the Hoard signing. We get a developmental prospect without touching the actual roster.
Click to expand...

Hood and Kanter. I still think they are going to find a way.
 
glazeduck said:
Haven't seen this mentioned anywhere yet (if it has, feel free to merge, mods), but did anyone else catch Olshey's comment when talking about acquiring a second round pick???

When asked (by Quick, I think) about whether or not we were trying to get back into the second, Neil first talks about the price being too high, but then makes a quick mention of being unsure whether or not we would have a roster spot. Last I checked, we're set to have about FIVE open roster spots...

Maybe I'm reading too much into that comment, but it sure sounds like they've got a few things already locked into place when the new year starts... Could be a trade, but probably (more likely) resigning at least a few of our impending free agents... should be interesting!
Click to expand...

Nice catch. He's probably got plan A in the back of his mind.

Knowing the Blazers though, they're probably going to end up with plan R.
 
B-Roy said:
Nice catch. He's probably got plan A in the back of his mind.

Knowing the Blazers though, they're probably going to end up with plan R.
Click to expand...

Jokes aside, there just aren't that many different avenues to go down this offseason...

Either:
  • our impending FAs agree to sign on mandatorily team-friendly deals (sidenote: after 4 years of bitching about the Crabbe, Turner, Mo and Meyers deals, how wonderfully ironic would it be to then sign Nurk, Kanter and Hood to very nice, longterm deals???)
  • we bide our time with typical Neil "off-the-scrapheap" FAs
  • or we roll with our younger core and fill in with more young pieces (based on his comments last night of being in the win-now mode, this option seems exceedingly unlikely)...
For the first time in, I think, EVER, I think most -- if not just about all -- of the fanbase and Neil AND the organization are all on the same page...
 
With Little the Blazers need to prolly let one of the SF walk or Trade -- now we ALL want them to trade Turner but my gut feeling is Layman will prolly get a deal with another team like Pat C did only maybe for a tad more not much more but a little since i think he has proven more in the league then Pat C had done when he was a FA last summer. My guess is Layman will get a 2 yr 6 to 8 millions deal from some team wanting depth -- I could see the Spurs picking him up and Pops molding him into a good role player who is consistant.
 
illmatic99 said:


"This is a very small acquisition for a much bigger picture, that we have got to keep our eye on the ball when it comes to July 1st and building our roster. "

What does he have in store?
Click to expand...


This is probably his best press conference ever. He actually seemed like he was giving us honest info and didn't sound like a fucking Kirby salesman.
 
illmatic99 said:


"This is a very small acquisition for a much bigger picture, that we have got to keep our eye on the ball when it comes to July 1st and building our roster. "

What does he have in store?
Click to expand...


Basically,

Neil doesn't necessarily see Nassir Little as a plug in and play player. He is someone who can prove he can help get wins and then get those minutes accordingly.

As it is, Neil is not looking at the roster as if he isn't bringing guys back. Come July 1st he has moves to make to build the roster...i.e. Move players for a better player and space to resign FA's.

He has work to do and he is understanding of it. He is going to be active. No sitting around with thumbs twiddling in certain holes.
 
illmatic99 said:


"This is a very small acquisition for a much bigger picture, that we have got to keep our eye on the ball when it comes to July 1st and building our roster. "

What does he have in store?
Click to expand...


That quote was in reference to trading for a second rounder, no? I think he just means they have four rotation players about to hit free agency (five if you want to count Layman) with only four open roster spots (three if Layman returns)

I wouldn’t read too much more into it.
 
No one has mentioned that he also stated that the demands for some of those picks were too much for him. He then went on to say that it's important not to get caught up in the draft day frenzy, such as throwing away picks. I believe he was interested in particular players, but the asking price was too high. It's hard to say how that aspect translates to plans for the roster because he hints that it was a variable until it stopped being one.
 
dviss1 said:
This is probably his best press conference ever. He actually seemed like he was giving us honest info and didn't sound like a fucking Kirby salesman.
Click to expand...

TorturedBlazerFan said:
The last few minutes were the most I've liked Neil Olshey since he's been here.
Click to expand...

I agree. GREAT interview. I'm glad I watched the whole thing. Almost blew it off....
 
dviss1 said:
This is probably his best press conference ever. He actually seemed like he was giving us honest info and didn't sound like a fucking Kirby salesman.
Click to expand...

I've said this before on this board, but Neil gets an unfairly bad rap. Over the years I've had few enough interactions with him that there's no reason he would need to remember me, my name or said previous interactions, but every time, he did (including a particularly funny and uncomfortable scenario that is not appropriate to share publicly).

I've also had enough interactions to have gotten to know the "real" him (to an extent) and to have been able to tell that he's been genuinely gracious and generous with his time, attention and sincerity over those interactions -- again, in circumstances where there was absolutely no reason for him to be (especially if he were the naturally prickish guy everyone makes him out to be).

He's a human being with a lot of passion, pride, and yes -- a bit of a flair for the dramatic -- who's made mistakes. And for several years he got nothing but critical questions, and I think he felt as though he'd proven himself in this industry to the point of deserving a little more benefit of the doubt. Certain posters on here (who think they'd be better at the job than Neil) freak out when anyone disagrees with literally anything they say, I can't imagine how they'd respond to those types of criticisms from the media on a constant basis (spoiler alert: we'd all hate them). Agree with everyone that it was nice to see his more personal side come out last night, but Neil was and is a genuinely good and decent human being -- regardless of what Issac Ropp suggests.
 
Another thing that stood out to me is that he said something like (when referring to drafting for need), Nassir Little wasn’t just the highest rated person on our board, but he Is also a “small forward” I.e. recognizing SF is a position of need.

Not rocket science but some acknowledgment is nice.
 
glazeduck said:
I've said this before on this board, but Neil gets an unfairly bad rap. Over the years I've had few enough interactions with him that there's no reason he would need to remember me, my name or said previous interactions, but every time, he did (including a particularly funny and uncomfortable scenario that is not appropriate to share publicly).

I've also had enough interactions to have gotten to know the "real" him (to an extent) and to have been able to tell that he's been genuinely gracious and generous with his time, attention and sincerity over those interactions -- again, in circumstances where there was absolutely no reason for him to be (especially if he were the naturally prickish guy everyone makes him out to be).

He's a human being with a lot of passion, pride, and yes -- a bit of a flair for the dramatic -- who's made mistakes. And for several years he got nothing but critical questions, and I think he felt as though he'd proven himself in this industry to the point of deserving a little more benefit of the doubt. Certain posters on here (who think they'd be better at the job than Neil) freak out when anyone disagrees with literally anything they say, I can't imagine how they'd respond to those types of criticisms from the media on a constant basis (spoiler alert: we'd all hate them). Agree with everyone that it was nice to see his more personal side come out last night, but Neil was and is a genuinely good and decent human being -- regardless of what Issac Ropp suggests.
Click to expand...
Great post! Good to have some balance around here and I appreciate the inside take..
 
glazeduck said:
I've said this before on this board, but Neil gets an unfairly bad rap. Over the years I've had few enough interactions with him that there's no reason he would need to remember me, my name or said previous interactions, but every time, he did (including a particularly funny and uncomfortable scenario that is not appropriate to share publicly).

I've also had enough interactions to have gotten to know the "real" him (to an extent) and to have been able to tell that he's been genuinely gracious and generous with his time, attention and sincerity over those interactions -- again, in circumstances where there was absolutely no reason for him to be (especially if he were the naturally prickish guy everyone makes him out to be).

He's a human being with a lot of passion, pride, and yes -- a bit of a flair for the dramatic -- who's made mistakes. And for several years he got nothing but critical questions, and I think he felt as though he'd proven himself in this industry to the point of deserving a little more benefit of the doubt. Certain posters on here (who think they'd be better at the job than Neil) freak out when anyone disagrees with literally anything they say, I can't imagine how they'd respond to those types of criticisms from the media on a constant basis (spoiler alert: we'd all hate them). Agree with everyone that it was nice to see his more personal side come out last night, but Neil was and is a genuinely good and decent human being -- regardless of what Issac Ropp suggests.
Click to expand...

Having met Neil and Paul both, I tend to agree with you.

There is a certain poster here who likes to report how much “Olshey hates it here” and “doesn’t work hard” and “rubs people the wrong way.”

I have a feeling that plays into it. And said poster has “connections”.

That info has never aligned with what upper management has thought of Neil, in my experience, nor has it aligned with my dealings with them.

I think people are pissed because he doesn’t tell them all the rumors they’d like to hear — as if he didn’t shit can Kim Hughes for making that mistake.
 
JoshuaHall said:
Having met Neil and Paul both, I tend to agree with you.

There is a certain poster here who likes to report how much “Olshey hates it here” and “doesn’t work hard” and “rubs people the wrong way.”

I have a feeling that plays into it. And said poster has “connections”.

That info has never aligned with what upper management has thought of Neil, in my experience, nor has it aligned with my dealings with them.

I think people are pissed because he doesn’t tell them all the rumors they’d like to hear — as if he didn’t shit can Kim Hughes for making that mistake.
Click to expand...

It also doesn't reflect reality, i.e. essentially automatic contract extensions, a positive working relationship with Stotts, arguably the best team chemistry in the league, a true culture of leadership, continued upward trajectory, etc.....
 
His biggest mistake is re-signing stotts.

And thats saying something.
 
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