All I remember is kind of being scared of him when he played Oregon when he was with Memphis. Okoro and Walker mostly negated him and I laughed thinking that he had a whole long way to go to be become any good. Here's the box score: https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore/_/gameId/401169444
Oh no. There is no way Joe knew what he was doing. Absolutely did that to keep Chauncey from having bigger front court players.
I think Lawson went up against him even more than Walker, but it's been a while, so I could be misremembering. I remember thinking he had a skill set, but also surprised at how much time he spent away from the hoop given his size advantage.
Every player on this team was signed by Cronin. If Portland continues to falter while Lillard is playing spectacular MVP type basketball, the Blazers Front Office needs to be held accountable. Olshey can no longer be blamed for terrible defense and severely undersized team, with a pack of kids with "potential" as role players and reserves. The Blazers rolled into this season with 1 Center that wasn't in game shape and gets hurt quite often. The backup Centers are... there are no backup Centers. I would be shocked if ownership allows Cronin to move into the luxury tax and hire amazing players for a run at the title. The Blazers pushed all their chips in on the current starting lineup. Getting amazing rookies in the draft? There's a lot of teams that do that every season, and it takes years and years of terrible basketball to improve the squad. The Blazers have a talented starting core for which they've invested the brunt of their cap space. For a team with this much talent to fall back onto draft day tiddly-winks with cellar dwellars is astonishing. Last season's tank was an anomaly. If it happens again this year.... it becomes a pattern. Watch the Blazers play awesome for half a season until they get worn out, then we're going to lose on purpose for future team assets and financial gain. Why should Blazer fans be thrilled about ownership making money? That has nothing to do with rooting for your team.
I disagree with pretty much everything you wrote in this post. Cronin has never said or even intimated that the current roster is a finished product. In fact, he's said just the opposite. He's well aware that the team doesn't have enough length and that there's a need for another All-Star level talent on the team, plus upgrades to more experienced talent on the bench, in order to compete for a title. It would have taken extremely good fortune for the Blazers to have been able to answer all of those issues in the period leading up to the deadline. Obviously, they weren't extremely fortunate. Contrary to what you stated, the Blazers are far from having "pushed all their chips in". The asking price for an All-Star level player in his prime has been exorbitant of late. The rumor on Anunoby was that the Raptors were looking for a talented young prospect and a couple of first round picks. I don't recall ever seeing Anunoby suit up for an All-Star game yet, but he's a fringe All-Star level player who could get there in the right situation. I'm not advocating for him, just saying he's an example of what the market price is. Going into next summer, assuming the Blazers don't make the playoffs, Cronin will have two first round picks, a bunch of second round picks, and a talented young player in Sharpe, giving him the market price to buy that level of player. If he wants to shoot bigger, he'll probably have to include Simons and/or Nurk. Because he hasn't pissed away other assets like the non-taxpayer MLE by stupidly letting the team go into the tax this year as some folks around here insisted he should do, he's going to be able to sign a solid vet for the bench. He'll also have a TPE to use if the right opportunity arises. In the meantime, he's getting free looks at Reddish, Thybulle and Knox and will be in a position to decide if those guys are long term keepers.
Not trying to butt in your discussion with someone else. But....what does "the Blazers Front Office needs to be held accountable" mean? Do you mean complaining here? The vote you and I have....and mind you, it's the only vote we have, is to not watch or not buy gear if we are displeased. That is the only way I can see to affect the franchise or to paraphrase your words, "Hold them accountable"
I like how you framed that. Though I think Thybulle sticks because they were rumored in for him last summer—and they spent two seconds on him, the Reddish and Knox ‘free looks’ will be something to watch after the break. I hope the team narrows the lens around Reddish’s success to PoA and team defense and playing team basketball. He strikes me as a guy who will put up numbers but not really help you win at all—which is too bad because his offensive package as a slasher, finisher at the rim (and racking up free throw attempts), and potentially a shooter, is intriguing. I notice on a lot of his highlight packages that in the same game the guy he is guarding is also putting up big numbers. Reminds one of the Hassan Whiteside experience.
It means the FO is blowing a once in a lifetime player's opportunity to do something fantastic with his career, not simply have a fantastic career. Lillard puts his heart and soul into this franchise, and in return gets draft picks and unfulfilled promises of playing for a championship. Fans? All we can do is complain, or cheer, be happy or sad. Needs to be accountable can be fan critique. Maybe it's only a voice, but at least grumpy fans should allowed to be heard, and not quelled with stop being so whiny and root for your team
You’re new here. There’s no lack of criticism of Blazers management around here. That’s a voice that’s never going to be silenced, nor should it be.
Look at Phoenix, new owner in 1st year, immediately hires new managers and goes all out to land Kevin freaking Durant. If Blazers need to sell the team to a new owner more willing to make winning adjustments, then get it done.
Interesting. I think the idea that the front office is "blowing a once in a lifetime player's opportunity", is certainly objective. It may be your opinion, but it's not mine. If I was to add something to your second sentence about what Dame is given in return for his fantastic service...it would be that he is paid a huge amount of money. He is compensated quite well. In your last sentence, you said, " Maybe it's only a voice, but at least grumpy fans should allowed to be heard, and not quelled with stop being so whiny and root for your team". Where is it here that you are not being allowed to be heard? I hope you find a place to enjoy the team, regardless of the choices the franchise makes.
I already explained this. Having a $12 million expiring next year opens up avenues of improving the team that no longer exist.
