The only really crazy thing is that we didn't add size to the roster between this time last season and this season. It just doesn't make a lot of sense. I still feel like we could see a trade of Hart and picks for an upgrade at SF.
Being hard-capped due to yet another 6'3" guard is a bit of a head scratcher. If either of our starting guards taking up half the salary cap could play defense, we wouldn't be so limited going forward.
also, and maybe I'm underrating this: With Payton, Hart, and Winslow, Portland probably has their best set of perimeter defenders in the Dame era. If some opposing player is gouging Portland with his offense, the Blazers have options to adjust and shut that player down This, is something that Chauncey is planning on.
The Grant and Payton acquisitions were right out of the Olshey play-book. Didn't work for him, so why would it work for Cronin? Now that we are "hard-capped" there won't be any more moves, so what are we waiting on before judgement?
I don't think the word "epic" belongs anywhere near anything we do. The stakes just aren't that high when you're the Blazers.
Is there just no way around this? Isn't Cronin a salary cap guy? This seems very odd to me and nonsensical. Even Olshey didn't do that. I really, REALLY don't understand the cap so I don't see why this is bad as long as we have enough guys to be legal or are you saying we simply cannot trade anyone now?
you need to get Olshey out of your head when it comes to this team...Olshey would have never pulled off either deal...especially the Grant deal which all basketball folks considered a great, great move. As to what "works"...you're incorrect in my view...defense works...we are way, way better defensively than we have been in years. Payton led the league in steals last season...OG didn't...Payton did. He's turned into one of the best if not the best point of attack defenders in the league....Dame hasn't played next to a guy like that in his career.
no way around the hard cap?...no, that's why it's called the hard cap. Can't cross the line for any reason at any time for a year. meaning, the Blazers NEED to have some margin between their payroll and the apron. If they get smashed by a boatload of injuries they need the room to bring on players to fill holes. The hard cap also counts against 10-day contracts I don't know what the current margin is but it probably needs to be in the 3-5M range
Nope. That's why some people are so incredulous about why we used it... and why we used it on a guard.
Dear God. Jump off the ledge arleady. We are finally getting some defenders and now they are too small. We got Grant for a future and kept our 7 this year. Let the off season play out. We ain't done. Jump on the Train or jump off the ledge.
Not a disaster - just underwhelming. The FA signings and extensions pretty much went as expected IMO. The draft was great. However, upgrading SF was something that should’ve been addressed. The apparent plan is to continue to play players out of position at SF with Hart and possibly even Grant.
Every move we made was a need. Yea we need another wing…just because those options weren’t available doesn’t mean these other moves were wrong
So, in your opinion we needed another guard more than help up front? As for Payton's defense - who does he replace in the rotation? Hart (also a good defender) or Simons (who was just given a $100 Mil extension)? While we are on the subject, what does it say about Sharpe that the team was willing to hard cap itself to bring in a guy to take his playing time for the next 3 years?