Exclusive 47 games in and 22-25, what should the Blazers do?

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by SharpesTriumph, Jan 24, 2023.

?

Action for this season?

Poll closed Feb 7, 2023.
  1. Trade future assets to win now

    23.7%
  2. Stay the course

    23.7%
  3. Trade vets for youth/picks

    28.9%
  4. Hard Tank ASAP

    23.7%
  1. KingSpeed

    KingSpeed Veteran

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    I’m feeling less and less that “anyone” can win the West. I think Denver is the clear favorite to win it all. They’ve separated themselves from the pack, they’re healthy, and they have the best player in the world.
     
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  2. riverman

    riverman Writing Team

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    You could be right but even they can lose momentum after the break...we'll see if they sustain it. They always have good regular season records but they haven't been to the dance either in the modern era
     
  3. blazerkor

    blazerkor Well-Known Member

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    It would take major moves for us to beat a team like Denver in a seven game but we might be able to.
     
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  4. swish3

    swish3 Well-Known Member

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    Trade Simons for Lauri Markkanen. The Blazers would be a contender for the NBA Championship!
     
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  5. Pinwheel1

    Pinwheel1 Well-Known Member

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    Yes, I think I understand how it works. There are about 10 teams bunched up fighting for 4-10 because of injuries. The ones who stay healthy will separate themselves. But there is no reason to tank at this time. I think it is pretty safe to assume they won't even think about it until there are about 10-12 games left. (Unless Dame goes down again) If Siakam becomes available then you offer anyone but Dame, SS, and Grant.....but my guess is Toronto will want their local kid back.
     
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  6. julius

    julius Global Moderator Staff Member Global Moderator

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    And the Jazz would laugh and hang up the phone.
     
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  7. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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  8. andalusian

    andalusian Season - Restarted

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    It might be if they anticipated trading Hart with GP2 being the defensive role player to replace him and who they trade him for or Shae being the designated SF replacement.
     
  9. Fairly-Hard

    Fairly-Hard Former Member Gone New!

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    I guess your idea of "Massive Win Streak" is much different than mine.
    They win 4 and they are in 8th. they win 5 and they are in 6th. This assumes other teams lose a game or two? They don't even have to lose a lot. Just a game or two?
    with 8 of the next 11 at home i would think they will move up the standings a bit albeit they do need to win some big games.
    Kind of sucks they lost a couple they should have won.
     
  10. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

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    but that is once again Portland getting even smaller while the rest of the league gets longer. Like I said, it's just not smart; worse is that the Blazers have had plenty of experience over the last 5 season of seeing the drawbacks to lacking length and size.

    Hart means a lot more to Portland then just 'defensive role player'.
     
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  11. andalusian

    andalusian Season - Restarted

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    I answered your assertion that "matched any intelligent course they plotted". My answer shows why that it is potentially an intelligent plot.

    I assume that if the trade for Hart brings a longer player that plays defense and rebound, that's size issue is somewhat answered. Basically, Portland has 2 starting guards, a backup guard that plays defense (GP2) and a defensive guard that plays undersized starting SF by necessity (Hart). So, if they could not get a bigger body for playing SF that they were interested in last summer, but had an opportunity to get GP2 as a backup defensive guard with the hope that they will be able to flip Hart for a bigger SF - that's certainly a reasonable plan.

    Sometimes, if something you want is not available, but you can get something else that allows you later to achieve your goal by making one of GP2 / Hart tradeable - it's a reasonable thing to do.
     
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  12. Ed O

    Ed O Administrator Staff Member Administrator

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    I said trade veterans for picks and youth. I don't think blowing the team up makes sense because I don't think our best players are worth very much at the moment (Dame's extension is crushing his trade value at the moment, IMO, and Nurk and Ant just signed bigger deals than other teams would have paid), and I think trading guys like Hart and Grant will get us some future assets without really hurting us in the standings one way or the other.

    Will this happen? Almost certainly not. But it's my preference now.

    I really fear the team will be a "buyer" at the trade deadline and just dig us into a deeper hole of mediocrity over the next three or four years.
     
  13. Whyachi

    Whyachi Well-Known Member

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    the trade deadline is now being heavily advertised as: move Josh Hart while he still has trade value

    What will the Blazers get in return? Maybe a buyout? Maybe a pick? Future stuff, the important thing is to start shredding cap space for Jerami Grant's upcoming contract. Nurkic is on deck afterwards. Maybe during the trade deadline too?

    Nurk can remain on the team until necessary adjustments can be made to keep this franchise from spilling over into the forbidden luxury tax zone.
     
  14. Hoopguru

    Hoopguru Well-Known Member

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    26 of the 30 teams every year are mediocre or worse. And usually the 4 condensers are there for a few years. Its all about making the playoffs/tourney fora chance to shock the world.
     
  15. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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    Given that Chauncey has stated (and I agree) that Josh Hart is the heart and soul of the team, I shall lose 90% of interest in the team if that happens.
     
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  16. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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    How is option 4 to be achieved if not via option 3? Bogus injuries to key players?
     
  17. Tince

    Tince Well-Known Member

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    It should be noted he's the heart and soul of a team who is 13-22 in their last 35 games.
     
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  18. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    When is the last time an 8th seed won the championship?
     
  19. Hoopguru

    Hoopguru Well-Known Member

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    hear ya...Never
    The NBA is a marketing machine.
     
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  20. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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    He can't play 48 minutes every game
     

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