Think Neil finally will address our backup PG issue. With our tax situation and the glaring holes, it makes no sense NOT to add a guy. I have no interest in reviving Isaiah Thomas like we did Melo. I want an average defender who can play 15-20 mpg and run an offense. Running Dame into the ground for these next two months will do no good. Who's available?
Vets? Napier makes the most sense as he knows the system and could probably step in right away. I don’t think Neil will sign another guard until Simons gets a good run of games though. I think it’s more likely he adds another big first, even though he should be adding both, especially after a third two way opens up.
could easily be the case I think the notion that Olshey and Stotts are always on the same page is bogus. That's why we have seen, ever since the Afflalo trade, Olshey essentially force Stotts into playing the guys that Olshey wants to see played by leaving Stotts no options behind those guys. We've seen that with Meyers (to some extent), CJ, Zach, and Simons. And that tactic has almost always backfired
I think that there’s no way Olshey goes into LT territory to bring in another guard. That leaves trade or signing a guy or two to 2-way contracts.
Since Nurk will not be able to hit his incentives, we have some leeway to sign a full time player and a two way and still be below the tax
Trent starting and playing no less than 30 minutes per game. Expensive trade targets: —Buddy Hield —Terrence Ross
We have enough guys looking out for their own shots. I want someone like Rubio (too expensive unfortunately), or Monte Morris (just signed a contract). Dallas has two guys I really like in Jalen Brunson and Trey Burke
that's what I'm disputing....the way I'm reading is that Nurk's bonuses WERE NOT counting against the cap this season because they were reset in the off-season to "unlikely". And that's because Nurkic didn't hit the thresholds last season. If so, they aren't there to subtract * "All performance incentives are re-evaluated at the start of each season to determine whether they should be classified as likely or not likely to be achieved3" http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm#Q74 I could be wrong, but right now I'm saying that Bobby Marks was the one wrong about Portland having that margin
I don't see anyone we sign helping us in any meaningful way, any salvaging the season sort of way. Barring a big trade, I think it makes more sense to force the young guys action and see what we have in them. We can't keep trotting out Simons for 8 minutes a night with an ill defined role and hope to properly evaluate him. Dame/Simons Hood/Trent DJJ/Little Roco/Melo Kanter/Giles I think you role with a 10 man rotation and see what we have in a few of those guys.
maybe it's not all doom and gloom while it's likely that Hood's game yesterday was way above where he'll settle in the rest of the way, that game could be as predictive as his first 13 games. In other words, he might have several other good games ahead, with some stinkers thrown in. Normal role player. So, between him and Trent, Portland may get decent production and efficiency out of SG and while I'm down on Simons as a PG, or as a player, it's possible he can elevate his game above what it's been the main thing is to not grind Dame into the floor chasing a 7th or 8th seed in the playoffs. Roll the dice on Dame averaging 35 minutes a game and if the losses pile up, so be it. At this point, the worst outcome for this season would be Portland being an 8th seed, losing the 15th pick in the draft, and getting curb-stomped, again, in the first round
Sure. But move Jones to the backup 4, and start Melo. Let Dame have all the half-court plodding types, and let the young bucks all run together. Dame/Simons Hood/Trent Roco/Little Melo/DJJ Kanter/Giles
I think the team is going to suck regardless of what we do, so I don't really care one way or the other.
