Don’t need to apologize dude, there are multiple threads on here discussing the fork in the road the blazers are at right now. Im assuming like me you haven’t read all 80+ pages on each of them in which it’s likely someone else has made a similar statement. Doesn’t mean your observation isn’t valid, some folks assume we’re all reading the hundreds of posts posted daily and are current on all things S2. Some of us either aren’t as dedicated, or don’t have the time to tho.
It's cool, you don't have to be sorry... everyone is right that there are multiple threads addressing just about anything you can think of. My reaction was more aimed at the thread title because so many people have been talking about what you were addressing I found it ironic but it's not a big deal... it's just another thread.
is it really "mortgaging the future" when it's one draft pick? It's a big risk for sure, but one pick doesn't make the future, and there is the crap shoot nature of the draft 2 Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 4 Dion Waiters 5 Thomas Robinson 1 Anthony Bennett 2 Victor Oladipo 3 Otto Porter Jr. 4 Cody Zeller 2 Jabari Parker 2 D'Angelo Russell 3 Jahlil Okafor 1 Ben Simmons 4 Dragan Bender 5 Kris Dunn 1 Markelle Fultz 2 Lonzo Ball 4 Josh Jackson 1 Deandre Ayton 2 Marvin Bagley III 1 Zion Williamson 3 RJ Barrett 4 De'Andre Hunter 2 James Wiseman 4 Patrick Williams 5 Isaac Okoro 5 Jalen Suggs
Zion playing 30 games a year for 3 years before being out of the league and we have nothing to show for it is the mortgaging of the future. We dont do well with oft-injured players.
That list (while cherry picked) seems to indicate that turning down a real good player and instead using the #3 pick might actually be mortgaging the future
You're not alone in tying together issues from the 1984 and 2007 with today's team, but I'm curious what commonalities those things have to do with the Blazers of today? Different owner Different coach Different GM Different trainers Different strength and conditioning staff What does Sam Bowie and Greg Oden's injury history in Portland have to do with Zion's potential injury potential in Portland? Do people think it's the tap water or the abnormaly cloudy days would cause there to be an increase is bad injury luck?
If Dame and Chauncey can help Zion at all then Zion is an MVP level player playing 75% of games and especially making an impact in the playoffs. Zion is the perfect 1a to Dame’s 1b. With the leadership we have along with Shae, Jeremi and a new center would be an amazing starting five. Then you have Matisse, the guy we sign with the TPMLE and hopefully another draft pick or two and you have a contender.
Zion is exactly the kind of riks that would pay off. Seen so many post "We can't get enough with the 3 to build around Dame". Welp, i beg to differ. Zion is that dude. Sure it has to work out. But Maybe Portland is the spot for him. We'll see if it even happens
yeah, I get that I'm just saying there are no guarantees. Portland might use that 3rd pick on a player that will bust. And yeah, Scoot or Miller could bust...that's what I was showing with that list to be sure a 3rd pick has high value. And Zion may very well bust because he can't stay healthy and is an undisciplined slob. But there is a chance that he could get his shit together and be a steady player who plays 65 games a season. Like you, I think that's very doubtful. But the talent he has when he's healthy is the other side of that equation yes, his contract can be a boat anchor if he doesn't get better. But it would only be a single pick mortgaged if the rumors are true. That's not the sum total of the 'future' I don't think the Blazers would do it in any event. And I doubt they trade the pick for Ingram. So the worry is probably misplaced. Besides that, if New Orleans is doing this to get Scoot they'll be talking to Charlotte before Portland
These lists are like the anchorman quote "30% of the time it works every single time" Stupid list - could make one that has every name of top 5 picks as a hall of famer. The top3 prospects in this draft are thought of much higher than the average draft. Projections aren't foolproof, but they are an indicator. Can you list all the short PG's that led their teams to titles in their 30's? Here I'll help - in the last 55 years its happened once. I'd say your draft list seems like a way better path than trying to build a contender around an aging Dame; How about how many times a player Dame's age (33) or older has lead his team to a title? 48 of 55 years (87%) of the time its been a younger player. After this year when Dame is 34 it becomes only 4 times - so 93% of the time its a younger player. Nikola Jokić Stephen Curry Giannis Antetokounmpo LeBron James Kawhi Leonard Kevin Durant Kevin Durant LeBron James Andre Iguodala Kawhi Leonard LeBron James LeBron James Dirk Nowitzki Kobe Bryant Kobe Bryant Paul Pierce Tony Parker Dwyane Wade Tim Duncan Chauncey Billups Tim Duncan Shaquille O'Neal Shaquille O'Neal Shaquille O'Neal Tim Duncan Michael Jordan Michael Jordan Michael Jordan Hakeem Olajuwon Hakeem Olajuwon Michael Jordan Michael Jordan Michael Jordan Isiah Thomas Joe Dumars James Worthy Magic Johnson Larry Bird Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Larry Bird Moses Malone Magic Johnson Cedric Maxwell Magic Johnson Dennis Johnson Wes Unseld Bill Walton Jo Jo White Rick Barry John Havlicek Willis Reed Wilt Chamberlain Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Willis Reed Jerry West
LBJ 2020 Jordan 1998 Kareem 1985 Wilt 1972 Those are the only players to lead a team to a title at the age of 34 or older. So that would give us a window of likely ONE year this very season for Dame to lead the Blazers to a title before it becomes very statistically unlikely. Yeah the idea that Dame is too old and it may be time to pivot to the next generation of Blazers certainly has history as an argument on its side.
you veered off on a tangent that list I made was in the context of gauging the risk of a Zion for #3 trade vs mortgaging the future. I was trying to show the uncertainty of all the options, including the potential of busting on a pick. Sure, Portland could hit a homer on the 3rd pick; but they could hit a homer on a Zion trade too and it's a lot easier to visualize the arc of the homer with Zion because we've actually seen him on an NBA floor
