How many games can we win without Dame

It seems like most people on this forum believe we can't win without Dame and will be tanking for several seasons, however I really feel they are selling the talent on this team short. When we drafted Dame we had a team with middling talent and obvious holes on the roster and of course the team fell short. However, just by adding Robin Lopez we were instantly able to become a 50 win team that made it to the second round. Scoot is projected to be one the best guards of this decade and even if he has an amazing season he would likely be the 4th best player on the team. Assuming we get some amount of assets in the Dame trade to fix the holes in our roster I could see us having Playoff success as soon as next season.

 

I'd need to know who is on the roster first.

 

very low 30s: 30 or 31.

 

Wait until we get a roster set.

 

getting to the play in means 10th place. That is do-able. 35 wins can do that.

 

Yep, what they said. If we add 3 or 4 viable players from this Dame trade and/or some reasonable FAs, then I think we could sniff playoff contention.

If we get mostly draft picks or young prospects and not much in FA, we could legit be the worst team in the league...

 

I mean we'd also be trying to be on purpose too

 

Probably, yeah, but if we added, say Scottie Barnes and maybe Ayton, I could see that team going for it. Versus if we got, say, Taylor Hendricks and an S-ton of picks from Utah and expirings who never even get a number from us... those are pretty vastly different rosters for next season.

 

...since this doesn't specify when, there is only one right answer for true Blazer fans here. Dame in all his greatness is giving up just short of this feat. Without him, the Blazers are definitely going to the finals again (one day...eventually)!!!

 

I love the optimism in this thread

I'd much rather say "I was wrong" than, "I told you so", but ill say again...

I think a lot of you are in for a rude awakening if you think this team even sniffs the playoffs

 

id be pleasantly surprised if we are closer to 40 wins than 15 wins

 

How am I supposed to know until we make the trade and see what the heck we have?

 

Where is that under 20 option? I love Scoot and Shaedon, but neither one can even buy alcohol yet. I love our future and hope they become a star duo, but this first year together probably won't produce many wins.

 

Luckily we can lol

 

I can, but choose not to. I quit drinking altogether 2 years ago. So yes, my terrible posts don't even have the excuse of drunkenness.

 

Congratulations! Well done.

 

Thanks! Really the best thing I could have done for my anxiety disorder. Should have done it earlier, but no regrets. Wouldn't go back though. For sure.

 

Congrats! Going on 8 years for me! Sobriety rocks!

 

25-28. It will be tough, but we are just looking for growth and beginning of continuity.