James Harden has added the Blazers to his list

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by Labinot41, Dec 24, 2020.

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  1. James lamphear

    James lamphear Well-Known Member

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    Not going happen to many 1st and I believe Zach is still off limits but I been wrong before.
     
    James lamphear, Dec 26, 2020
    #301
  2. Harry's Raincoat

    Harry's Raincoat Member

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    I've been watching this game for a long, long time. Top players win championships in this league much more than balanced teams do (shout out to '77 Blazers). I know in the last 45 years that the BLAZERS don't get a chance at a top level player very often (Bird, Moses, Barkley, Pippen, Harden?). As long as you don't GUT your team in the process and require rebuilding, you MUST do the deal and get that player!

    I want to win championships in Portland!! Dame with Harden get us closer to that reality.
     
    Harry's Raincoat, Dec 26, 2020
    #302
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  3. LayneStaley

    LayneStaley Well-Known Member

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    Go for it all trade...
    02670603-C2C3-4BA1-8185-C4E3B4DEFE07.jpeg
    Plus 2 picks to Hou, 1 pick to Orl

    Leaves us pretty thin but probably the best starting lineup in the league.

    Dame/Harden
    Harden/Simons
    DJJ/Hood
    Gordon/Melo
    Nurk/Giles
     
    LayneStaley, Dec 26, 2020
    #303
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  4. Orion Bailey

    Orion Bailey Forum Troll

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    holy shit that would be a blockbuster trade this league hasnt seen in many many tears!
     
    Orion Bailey, Dec 26, 2020
    #304
  5. BigGameDamian

    BigGameDamian Well-Known Member

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    If Neil held Zach or a bunch of first round picks off limits in a trade in Dames prime that would make us better, that would be just pure stupidity!
     
    BigGameDamian, Dec 26, 2020
    #305
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  6. GoBlazersGo

    GoBlazersGo Well-Known Member

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    "Pull the trigger, Nash!"
     
    GoBlazersGo, Dec 26, 2020
    #306
  7. PtldPlatypus

    PtldPlatypus Let's go Baby Blazers! Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    tHaT dEaL wOuLd PuT uS oVeR tHe LuXuRy TaX...
     
    PtldPlatypus, Dec 26, 2020
    #307
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  8. julius

    julius I wonder if there's beer on the sun Staff Member Global Moderator

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    It makes someone more inclined to trade for him.
     
    julius, Dec 26, 2020
    #308
  9. beast blazer

    beast blazer Well-Known Member

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    That makes no sense to me either, but hey...
     
    beast blazer, Dec 26, 2020
    #309
  10. e_blazer

    e_blazer Rip City Fan

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    Yup. Most of the trades people have proposed here would do that. The question is, are the Blazers willing to go all in, including going into the LT in order to up their chances at winning a chip? I don’t think that there are many trades we can formulate right now that can avoid the LT without including Nurk.
     
    e_blazer, Dec 26, 2020
    #310
  11. Minstrel

    Minstrel Top Of The Pops Global Moderator

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    The reason some people do that is because it's much easier to replace the coach, or the end of bench players, than to get better or more superstars. If they talk themselves into those changes being 50% or 80% or any significant piece of the championship puzzle, it's a less depressing reality for them than to know that, absent a once-in-a-generation trade or draft pick, serious title contention is almost certainly not happening.
     
    Minstrel, Dec 26, 2020
    #311
  12. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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    Sorry to say that that was unintentional. But it's fair to say that he's providing them with plenty of bricks to do so.
     
    Rastapopoulos, Dec 26, 2020
    #312
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  13. julius

    julius I wonder if there's beer on the sun Staff Member Global Moderator

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    If Houston calls Portland says "hey, we will trade you Harden (plus a few others) for CJ, Ant, Trent and Simons, they might go "tch...what about us keeping Anfernee and trading CJ Elleby + extra picks"

    And let's say Harden wants to come to Portland, but he see's that Portland has cold feet. So he goes "ok, I'll include Boston and OKC" into trade partners.

    Portland see's that OKC is an now a willing partner, and they really don't want to see Harden on the Thunder so they relent and give up on Anfernee so OKC won't get him.

    That is what I'm saying is going on. Let's say Harden wants to go to Philadelphia, but Philadelphia isn't super keen on giving up certain players (that Harden knows they'd have to give up to get him anyways). So he (Harden) says he's willing to go to Boston too, and Philadelphia see's Boston as a serious threat to their chances. ESPECIALLY if they add Harden to the team.

    Harden knows that his bringing up Boston might make Philadelphia more likely to pull the trigger.
     
    julius, Dec 26, 2020
    #313
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  14. UKRAINEFAN

    UKRAINEFAN Well-Known Member

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    I don't think Olshey would have a problem trading Zach. And afterwards he would be saying "That's why I collected all these great assets, so I could get a superstar like James!"
     
    UKRAINEFAN, Dec 26, 2020
    #314
  15. UKRAINEFAN

    UKRAINEFAN Well-Known Member

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    You want us to give Zach, Roco and a pick for Gordon?? I don't think I would even give them Roco. And if we could get Harden without giving up Zach, why not just keep Zach?
     
    UKRAINEFAN, Dec 26, 2020
    #315
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  16. LayneStaley

    LayneStaley Well-Known Member

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    Maybe not the pick but Gordon is better than Zach and RoCo individually imo. I don’t even think it’s close. Wasn’t RoCo the consolation when Neil couldn’t get Gordon?
     
    LayneStaley, Dec 26, 2020
    #316
  17. Orion Bailey

    Orion Bailey Forum Troll

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    ding ding ding!

    we have a winner!
     
    Orion Bailey, Dec 26, 2020
    #317
  18. tester551

    tester551 Well-Known Member

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    I agree that top end talent is the biggest problem. However, I would set the percentage closer to 70% instead of 95%.

    Also, it's not like several of us 'haters' don't realize that there is a talent gap. That is why CJ gets so much flack as well... NO sees him as a 'foundational' talent for the organization - where several if us see him severely lacking the requisite talent.

    The last point I'll make is, just because the talent deficit is the largest (& hardest) issue to address to become a contender, doesn't mean that you dont focus on other areas where you can improve (coaching, bench players, etc). Given how hard it is to get top end talent - its better to make sure everything else is in place for when it happens.
     
    tester551, Dec 26, 2020
    #318
  19. SharpesTriumph

    SharpesTriumph Well-Known Member

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    I doubt Harden thinks this way, NBA players have such an ego they don't think Philly or a team would need any motivation to get them. Your saying Harden has to resort to throwing out fake teams he would go to so where he really wants to go will give up the assets to trade him? Why would they not give that up anyways, Harden would be pissed if they wouldn't.

    There is a real risk if you start including other acceptable teams one of them pulls the trigger. Paul George to OKC, Kawhi to Toronto, etc. If Harden says he would go to a team he will, it doesn't mean its his favorite choice.

    For all we know Philly is blacklisted by Houston ownership because of Morey.
     
    SharpesTriumph, Dec 26, 2020
    #319
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  20. Cugel

    Cugel The epitome of mediocrity

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    I agree that Portland is not anywhere near Harden's preferred destination. While NO should offer something, I put the odds of seeing Harden in a Blazers uniform at 1:100. Only a 10% chance NO will offer, and a 10% chance Houston would bite. They want a young bona fide all star like Simmons, Tatum, Bam etc.
     
    Cugel, Dec 26, 2020
    #320
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