This makes sense to me assuming that they think that there is no realistic shot of getting a top-3 pick at this point. They probably have scouted some guys they like at later picks who can be had at lower cost.
My guess is they think they have three possible franchise players, and don’t want another top guy who will command a bigger max extension to keep beyond their fourth year (? my contract knowledge is a bit rusty). It’s kind of a moneyball lite thing, or a “we get all our starters from the third round” NFL equivalent. Portland is trying to maximize possibility while managing potential future costs. The last thing they want is too much talent that might not all work together when the payday comes. Do you pay a load of money to see if they gel? Or do you go after a lower ceiling guy who might play better with a chip on his shoulder to earn the payday? On the plus side, this is long term thinking and if the FO is doing this thinking, we’re not leaving Portland anytime soon.
Yeah the problem is that the NBA is very different from MLB or NFL. I don't think moneyball works as well here. Very very very few teams ever win a title without a top 10 player.
We just moved up to 8th in the tankathon which gives a 26% of landing in the top 4 versus only a 13% in the tenth position, where we have been for awhile. 8th is the highest we can hope for I think.
Yeah it would be really tough given the collective bargaining agreement. I could see a team winning it all with let's say the 16th through 24th best players in the league as their nine man rotation but most likely the guys just outside of all nba are still all going to have max contracts... just not supermax. That might be hard for a team to assemble and then maybe harder to pay.
Moneyball was never all about winning a title though; it was about Most Butts In Seats for the Least Personnel Spend. It happened to win and that's why it got famous, but it's only about the money ultimately. In baseball, the playoffs are why the stadiums are so big. With basketball, 82 sellouts are the goal. a Great team get that but good teams do also. The goal for this team isn't the chamionship. It should be about making an entertaining team, which needs to be at least good while young. But for the next probably 5 years, they know a championship isn't even on the table.
This team could being realistic can prolly only move up to 7 at best and Toronto is 5 games or so ahead of them for that spot and Blazers play them 2 times so the mission is simple. LOSE LOSE and LOSE specially to the Raptors if they cannot do this then Billups , Cronin and the rest of the front office are CLOWNS . I am trying to be nice but if they somehow cannot do what they have mastered the past 2 or so seasons I swear to god I am going to go off on the front office and such. I am sick and tired of the ineptitude of this front office and at this point I do not even care who is at fault ( Cronin , Jody Billups Etc ) but I swear if the Blazers miss out on the 7 spot both Sleepy Joe Jackass and Billups should be fired. -- PERIOD
If young guys are winning then that’s the way it goes. Last game against the Knicks was a prime example. No Grant or Ayton, and Ant was a non factor. But they almost won. You can’t ask guys to miss shots.
They are already clowns. You can't force the young guys to lose. Played vets way too much. The respect that referees give to veterans alone probably gave us an extra three or four wins. Not to mention veterans are typically more consistent than young guys. That was probably another three or four wins.
So, the Spurs shut De'Aaron Fox down for pinkie surgery. Given their history with draft dark magic, I fully expect that they will welcome Cooper Flagg to their ranks next fall. After that, does it really matter what the Blazers do?
We've said this a million times. Dame to the Bucks makes the Bucks the favorites to win a championship. Durant to the Suns makes the Suns the favorites to win a championship. Zion to the Pelicans will turn the Pelicans around. Nothing is guaranteed.
you cannot force the young guys to lose -- WTF are you talking about cause yes you can. Let them play with no restrictions for a half ( pray they do not blow the other team out ) then start sitting players or just bring in Grant , Thybulle -- I would say Ant but he can still have moments of red hot shooting. and this would prolly be a sure handed loss -- period -- geez stop it and just ride the tank train.
