Hezonja has never played in the playoffs. Beasley and Evans have never been out of the first round. This year was Jabari Parker's first year playing in the playoffs and they lost in the 1st round too. Unless you mean Tony Parker in which case I think he would've signed for the tax-MLE. Ariza is the only guy you listed that qualifies.
First off, my original post listed every single guy mentioned to that point and only a couple could even qualify for the terms of the 5. Second of all, in order to figure out the 5 you'd have to believe that there was actually 5 targets that signed for more than the Tax-MLE that are proven vets with playoff experience. I'm not buying that a guy like Tyreke Evans who has played 4 playoff games in his entire career can be considered a guy who has proven playoff success to get us further. On top of that there was no way we were signing him for the tax-MLE. In other words, I think your post is almost impossible to answer especially without questioning the validity of the man who made the comments.
If we're trying to get to 5 we either have to assume Olshey considered playing in a playoff game qualifies as playoff proven (even though that's completely stupid because then Davis, Napier, and Connaughton were more playoff proven than most on the list) OR we have to assume that by throwing in the term veteran wing that playoff experience wasn't a prerequisite for his targets (in which case he lied about wanting difference makers that have a proven track record come April in a different interview). Otherwise Ariza is the only player mentioned that has made it out of the 1st round and surprisingly signed for more than the tax-MLE (a lot more).
Well, someone has to not play. Not going to play 15 guys on a nightly basis. I fully expect the coaching staff to give Meyers a serious shot to earn minutes this season. How long that lasts if he doesn't step up: probably not long. As to the OP: I have no idea who the five players are. That's what I keep you guys around for.
Agree on Hezonja, Beasley and Evans. God I hope it wasn't Ariza. Even considering it should be a firing offense.
Olshey never said the 5 guys they targeted were playoff tested performers. And besides, Hezonja was already confirmed by Woj early in the off season.
I just think those are the 5 guys which were targeted. Hezonja was targeted and Portland thought they had him until he went to the Knicks. At least that's what the media portrayed it as. This forum was sad when he went there instead of Portland too. There was a thread saying Portland was interested in Beasley before FA started. Or was it early in FA? i don't remember. These two were obvious targets which leaked to the media. The other three, I'm not going to hold a candle to 'proven playoff performers'. If he wants that, then it's going to be old guys who I just don't see why you'd ad someone like Korver to Portland's roster. So I'll stick with the 5 I listed and hope NO wasn't going after guys like Korver.
I understand, but I was never a huge Rudy fan. Never like to see an injury, and it was a dirty play he made. But I don't think Ariza went into the game pre-meditating about hurting someone intentionally. Young player making a mistake, he should know better. But I'm not going to hate him for it. Unless there is something I forgot about. I can get past this.
He said at the beginning of the off season that he wanted to add guys that were proven in the playoffs and could get them further in April. I'm not saying that strategy was right or wrong but if your list were his 5 targets then nothing he says can be trusted and he's simply throwing darts at a wall. I really hope this isn't the case but I'm starting to wonder.
I think NO goes into FA targeting one or two 'underrated players' as his main plan. Or Players who deserve a bigger role, but for whatever reason won't get it on their current team. I don't think NO, or the Blazers in general are very good at evaluating free agents... Since Matthews? Maybe go back further than that, as when Matthews joined Portland he was a 2nd year player irrc. Portland has always been good at evaluating young talent and getting the most out of them. At the end of the day, if you're going to have an offensive minded coach like Stotts. It would behoove you to target free agents who've shown to be at least serviceable offensively before they get in Stotts' system. Turner, Aminu, Harkless, Plumlee, Davis, Henderson, Vonleh. For everything they are. These players are not in the league because of their ability to get buckets. Hell I'm not even sure if Portland ran a system last year. It was more, Lillard come down run P&R. CJ dribble. Get Nurk to rebound and finish strong. Davis clean everything up. Is this really a system? Did it make players better? Or did Lillard just shine so bright in 17-18 that Portland was able to get the 3rd seed and the division. Going to be my last reply of the day. Head is starting to hurt a bit.
Sure. How can he not persuade people to come and play for less money or not like the rain? Seriously, I understand the frustration, but this is not a reasonable post.
so every guy we thought would be an option for the TPMLE wasn't. every one of them. what does that suggest about the realism of our exec team? lol i mean, it would have been a 'steal' if it came off but there are tons of other teams looking too, and likely they are the ones that paid their value. we, on the other hand, assumed we'd get good people to naturally want to be here for peanuts. last guy to actually do that? Ed Davis. and we all know how that ended.
Here's how many fucks I have to give about your thoughts on the reasonability (yes I just made that up) of my post.
If we still have this exception, why are we not signing anyone? Lucas Nogueira is available, would give us excellent rim protection. Could have him with Zach on the floor and completely seal the paint
