Yeah but the bench gets better if we sign a good free agent. Because that player either comes off the bench, or starts moving s a starter to the bench. Unless the fee agent is a center replacing JJ. Then you have to hope that our 4 other rookies get better next year. I think that is probable for Leonard and Barton. I would be happy with just a really good back up PG. We can go small for 15 minutes a game with Lillard as a SG.
Not sure, Nik? Look at the clues 1. Olshey has no problem offering up max money for a star 2. Olshey does not believe in over paying for non needle movers 3. Olshey promised LA that he would add vets to the team to make them competitors 4. Portland will have a draft pick around 5-6 5. Portland can have up to 13 million or so in cap space 6. To get there Portland is going to have to waive Hickson 7. Portland has a decent starting unit, but no bench, so any position would help (Wing and a big probably most) Portland should easily be able to add a very nice player either via the draft pick or by trading that pick for a player Portland should be able to land someone like Al Jefferson or Pek if it wanted to at center, or a guy like Josh Smith or Iggy on the wing Portland could decide to split up their money and sign guys like Evans and Landry Add in a top 6 lottery pick with one of those options and Portland has a much better bench Either way, our bench will be so much better than this year, if for no other reason than another year of experience for the guys we already have
I think the Ammo is adequate. Let's say Olshey swings for the fences again and gets Jefferson then drafts Poythress Both of those players are better than anything we have now, so you would be upgrading your center spot as well as adding a dynamic wing player
The one thing I don't feel confident in his getting the 5-6 pick. I think it will be closer to the 10-11 pick. Injuries league wide will help determine that as the season go on, but I would not expect to get much out of the draft unfortunately. My impatient nature wants us to pick up a Delonte West or a Chris Douglas Roberts...now
Cody Zeller Kostas Papaoaeifosfaos;ihfeads;ifheaife Jarrett Jack - FA Tyreke Evans - FA: Big risk, high reward. Let him prove himself as a core player. And we're vastly improved. PG: Damian Lillard | Jarrett Jack SG: Wesley Matthews | Tyreke Evans SF: Nicolas Batum | Kostas Papanikolaou PF: LaMarcus Aldridge | JJ Hickson C: Cody Zeller | Meyers Leonard Future core players: PG: Lillard SG: SF: Batum PF: Zeller C: Leonard
LOL. actually the top 7 pick is the thing I'm most sure of with this team. Health is starting to be an issue with the starters, plus Lillard is playing a ton of minutes which means the rookie wall could be a very real thing for him in the near future. At some point you have to think Stotts realizes where the team is headed and focuses more on development minutes for guys like Freeland, Claver, Barton and Leonard - development and seeing if they can contribute or not down the line or not.
I've always been a 'build through the draft' guy, and I agree with your sentiment of letting the young guys learn while the team is crap until they're not (thanks to future lottery additions), but I think the simple answer to "Why would you want to sign a talented veteran?" is that - at least as I understand things - this is the final offseason that we'll have cap room. After that, Nic's big contract #s hit and we're back to getting creative with Exceptions. While "talented veterans" certainly DO make teams better (again, I certainly see the thought of "they'll make us enough better to become mediocre but never great") I think the better way to look at this strategy is simply as a 'use-it-or-lose-it' asset. If you don't use it, it literally evaporates, if you do, you can always trade said player if things aren't working out. The other comment that I'd make is that I'm not entirely sold on the fact that we'll need that many more years to rebuild. Aldridge is still young enough to play a significant role in a few years, Lillard and Batum are looking like they'll be good/great for us for a long time. From there Leonard and Barton look likely to play a sizable role moving forward and Freeland and Claver hold promise, and Matthews may be involved as well... By my count, that leaves us needing a backup PG, possibly another SG, possibly another SF, and another big or two. Factor in another lotto pick this year, assume that one or two of the above continue to develop and add a solid piece to the core via FA and that's a good young roster moving forward and one where, even WITHOUT using that cap room, could likely contend for the playoffs (and screw our lotto chances) in the not too distant future. NOT using our cap room would only set us back, it would seem...
I wouldn't be so sure. If we continue to have injuries then you are dead on. But I am not so sure Stotts feels that he has the luxury of tanking the season with his past head coaching resume. This is his last chance to prove he deserves a HC position. Plus after last year I doubt Wes, Batum, and LMA will quit so easily. Lillard will hit a wall, but he will be OK. But the biggest factor is the 10 other shitty teams in this league. Are you sure they won't go into development mode too?
I seriously doubt Olshey plans to fire Stotts because they don't make the playoffs or don't hit 30 wins. He hired the guy knowing that the roster was mostly a shambles outside of the top 5 guys. If coach and GM are on the same page (and they should be considering that Stotts is Olshey's guy) then at some point it's not outside the realm of possibility that Olshey will direct him to play the youngins. As for the other ten "shitty" teams, there aren't many I would call definitively worse and most of them appear to have at least a little more NBA caliber depth on their bench. The Blazers' margin for success are razor thin, one or two key injuries to the starters or if Lillard misses any time and this team is sunk not matter if they actively tank or not.
I don't think Stotts get fired for the results of this season unless he loses his players, which is unlikely in his first year. The question is if/when the Blazers become a really good team, is Stotts the coach for that team. So far he hasn't seem to do anything special or terribly bad. This could be a weed out time peroid for both players and the coach. If Nate was coach right now, imagine the posts there would be when it comes to Barton, Freeland and Leonard's development and minutes.
Well he is unlike many in his caliber. His first 3 seasons; his playing time wasn't much of any significance. Then for the first part of his career it was get Roy the ball and move out of his way and be ready for a open 20 footer. Aldridge played very soft up until the last three years. So I believe he is more durable than many in here think; especially since most the time he missed games was from his irregular heart; which was already fixed.
I don't think Olshey would either, but if I am Stotts, I don't take the chance. I coach to win every game. I agree the margin for success is razor thin, but it also is for Orlando Charlotte Sacramento Phoenix Detroit New Orleans Cleveland Toronto Washington Houston, Minnesota...if any of these teams lose two starters....they could fold. We see it every year from a team we do not expect it from. Don't get me wrong I would not mind seeing a top draft pick for this team, but I am just not counting on it.
