We got the #3 pick. Discuss the possibilities.

I was thinking of when the Hawks traded the rights for Gasol to the Grizzlies for Shareef Abdur-Rahim, but I was wondering if there has been something more recent.

 

I couldn't find anything except for 1980. I'm really hesitant to trade that pick, actually i hope we keep it. If that pick turns out to become a future hall of famer, we would have 3 of the worst mistakes in history after Jordan and Durant.

 

Jordan yeah

but how many championships did Durant bring to OKC?

 

Abdur-Rahim was 24 years old and a 20/9 guy when the Grizz traded him to Atlanta for the rights of Pau Gasol.

That's the only one I can think of off the top of my head.

 

What about the pick though, What should the Blazers do with the pick? Do are your thoughts on Towns? You like him over Nurkic?

 

I'm not sure it being rare indicates anything other than the reality that teams who have a top-3 picks tend to suck and be rebuilding. Meaning they have much more interest in rolling the dice on a rookie than on a vet

keep in mind that for a long time the worst teams had much greater lottery odds than they do today

 

We got Melo after literally everyone else told him to pound sand

Melo turned us down for the Thunder!!!!!

 

I didn't say that it indicates anything. I was just curious if anyone could think of it happening recently.

 

Indeed. Dame's recruiting prowess has been.... not great.

 

I'd lean heavily towards keeping Wagner. He's already a pretty good scorer, is versatile on defense, and will only be 22 next season. Guys like him who we already know can play combined with a cheap salary for the next two years are guys that we need if we want to win anything with Dame.

We'd probably have to also add #23, but I'd still certainly be on board with that.

 

I'd use the pick with Toronto or Brooklyn or Boston and get a two way wing for it.

 

He started this lobbying with team USA and got Jerami Grant to make us his preferred trade destination...that was last summer....this is his second summer since team USA and instead of going to Cabo he's going to playoff games and lobbying....he's never done that at this level before....he's part of the front office since Chauncey came on board and Joe was hired. Olshey era wasn't conducive to that by any stretch. Dame got the bag and he's more of a team guy than a me guy.

 

So anyone suggesting a trade, or was there an actual petition? If so, I'm still not sure they are Dame haters and probably more Blazers lovers and just have a different vision for the direction of the team. IF.....Dame had brought a title here, or been even close, that would be different. But again, I refer back to the record for the passed 4 years. Regardless of Dame's individual production on the offensive end, it hasn't translated to wins. I want wins for the franchise more than occasional great moments that end up not meaning a lot.

I really wish Dame had gone more public with publicly wanted to really improve the team after getting swept by the #6 Pelicans. That was the time to do it. I would have been all in on it, the timing of it, and where it fit in Dame's career. Now because it has been some nice moments with a lot of stats, but no real team success, in the last couple years, he sees the window closing and wants something done.

I don't blame him, but don't think it is the best direction for the franchise. That does not in any way make me and my Dame jersey a hater. It does make me a Blazer lover. For years before Dame came, and for years after he is gone....no matter when that is.

 

I'm curious about this recruiting thing.

Which players actually have had enough prowess to lure great players to their team? Lebron...ok, maybe

Jokic hasn't lured anybody but maybe Bruce Brown. Tim Duncan didn't: Parker, Manu, and Kawhi were all drafted. KG spent years in Minny without luring any notable players. And when KG went to Boston, Pierce was already there, Ray Allen was traded there, and Rondo was drafted. Embiid has lured any notable free agents to Philly, and he's MVP-level. Durant signed with the Warriors, but they already had a championship and Durant's a putz.

Portland's a small market. How many top free-agents actually sign new deals with small market teams or try to force their way to a small market. It's almost always one way streets to large markets.

the Blazer signed Rod Strickland 32 years ago and Brian Grant 26 years ago. But those were back in the days about a half dozen CBA's ago without salary cap restrictions