I just don't see what the action is right now from this group? All they can do is speculate, and try to ask people or businesses for money. Once there is a new owner that has an agreement to buy the team - thats when the questions can start. We have no idea when the sale agreement will be projected to close. Maybe its in a few months, and then gets approved quickly by the NBA. Or maybe its 5 years like the Timberwolves and Jody has an option to cancel the deal. Maybe the new buyer wants to go direction A, B, or C with the Blazers arena. The Sonics were totally different as it was sold to a guy who lobbied previously for a team to go to OKC. If the Blazers are sold to a group that wants the NBA in Seattle or Vegas yes that would be a cause for concern. But even with the Sonics Clay Bennett gave Seattle a chance to pay for an arena like they did for the Seahawks/Mariners. Even if the new Blazers owner wanted to move the team that would need to get approved by the NBA and that would be the time for Blazer community to do something. Until we hear who the buyer is and what they want for the Blazers arena there's no action for any Blazers fans, media, business, government, or the community to do.
Chauncey has developed into a good coach but to me in fairness he was as bad as Scoot his first 3 seasons and last year it clicked for him. He said so himself which I like about him. Last year he tightened his rotations. Called good timeouts and made smarter challenges. This season I want to see him develop a deeper playbook. Im slow to the party but have come around on him as a coach. I’ve never questioned his knowledge of the game or leadership skills but he wasn’t qualified to be a lead assistant when Olshey hired him.
I agree Silver isn't throwing this out speculatively. He had a purpose. I'm guessing a new owner wants an arena and needs something from Portland to make that happen. Now what the new owner wants could be one of a near endless things - it could be public funding, a jock tax, something with an affiliated company, or maybe just zoning/rules/regulations/approvals. There's so many different direction these requests could go that until we hear who the new owner is and when the sale will happen I just don't see how anybody can narrow down these ideas. All of the recent noise on NBA franchise ownership has been about real estate. See Mark Cuban's comments. So I'm guessing that may be a heavily component to what a new owner wants.
From what little I’ve heard or read about the topic it’s less the arena than the neighborhood around the arena they’d like to see upgraded. Mods can be upgraded but they want hotels dining and shopping outside the Moda One of the things Phil Knight mentioned was expanding the attractions around area
Yes. I agree. I see things in this team that I have never seen as a Blazer fan. I know that is an extension of him. I think what I appreciate most is his growing ability to walk the tightrope between relatable players couch....and necessary red ass. We might not see in in the camera, but it's there.
Yeah the area really sucks. Nothing around there. There's so many freeways and bridges there's really not room to develop either. I think they should build a new arena elsewhere.
