Who are we cutting and why the fuck would we do this? We just need to let it ride with the guys that we have. Hopefully the ones that are most likely to be here next season Ant, Keon, Justise, GB3, Nurk who I hope rests a lot, Dido and (keeping my fingers crossed) Trendon will get the most playing time and therefore experience in Chauncey's system as we tank our way down past the Kings, Spurs and Pacers to the fifth spot in lotto odds and hopefully an even higher pick.
Big fat no from me on this one ... I don't even mind his politics and commend him for speaking up for what he believes in even if it doesn't align with what I think but from a pure basketball stand point, he can only hurt this tank job, not help.
Maybe not Kanter, but someone like Moses Brown. We are so small in the front court, players are not allowed to play their natural positions. I want to see them in spots where they have the most opportunity to hone their skills and to see what they have. Trendon Watford and Greg Brown playing center just puts them out of their comfort zone. Having them go up against Adams, Jokic, Ayton and Towns in the next few games does nothing but put them in a position to get dominated. Not that Brown would be any better, but at least it allows out players to grow in their correct spots. Ant/DSJ Johnson/Hughes/Louzada Winslow/Johnson/Hughes Watford/Greg Brown Nurk/Moses Brown Don't even want to see that much of Nurkic. Play the hell out of those young kids and find out what you've got. Maybe GB3 or T-Wat can play center against some small ball lineups, but there are plenty of minutes for the youngsters. Johnson is back in a couple of weeks. Anyone hear when Louzada can play? Hughes?
Sounds like a good way to alienate a guy in a contract year. Though, if you're not interested in bringing Nurk back anyway, that probably wouldn't matter.
When I posted, "don't want to even see that much of Nurk", I was referring to nights where he was playing 38 minutes. Historically, he just can not do that for long periods of time and it leads to injury. For his career he averages 24 minutes per game. 26-28 should be plenty for now.
players aren't dumb. If Nurkic is leaning toward re-signing in Portland, he'd understand the value of maximizing that 1st round pick besides, in Nurkic's case, and with his history, fewer minutes mean less chance of an injury
Nurkic is going to want his stats the rest of the year, if anything he will want to play more, coast on defense, and jack up shots. He's not going to sit minutes he could be playing and hurt his market value for a draft pick that won't play until 2025. Players don't care at all about tanking for draft picks, thats a fan thing.
Can't you just feel the tolerance? The guy was labeled a criminal in his own country for simply speaking out against a dictator. Of course he is grateful to be in a country where that isn't the case.
if that's his mindset, than Portland isn't risking much by limiting his minutes. He's not increasing his value to Portland by balling-out the rest of the year, and if all he's concerned with is maybe minimally jacking up his value to other teams by hollow stats the rest of the way, he does represent an additional 18M in cap-space this summer
When he gets hurt right? There is a bunch of games yet to be played. My bet Nurk doesn't make it the rest of the way.
This is too political but freedom isn't a right wing thing in fact both sides want to limit certain freedoms to balance out other rights. The thing that is right wing about Enes is just who's media platforms are using him as a pawn. The idea that Enes having been subjugated to a totalitarian regime and then attacked by it once he made it out is the most stable source to go to on what freedom means is kind of laughable. As far as why he's associated with the right wing, it's because right wing media has been the one giving him a platform and using him as a pawn by twisting his great intentions and misunderstandings to suit their needs. As far as him being a Blazer again goes I couldn't give a fuck about his political alignments or ideations, I just don't think we need any veterans added to this roster right now who will contribute to wins. @TBpup picked someone perfect in Moses Brown to take minutes at C but we can continue on with Trendon taking those minutes too because we don't care to win. So I sincerely doubt we see anymore moves made this season we are out of contention and Chauncey's goals are to develop players, himself and his system.
Bring Moses or any young big you find. Let Kanter go to a contender. We probably even talk about this cos he "is nice". I hope this era is over. We tanking, he does not fit now, end of story.