No maybe Ociepka or Canales? I know it isn't pretty, but it's sending out a message around the league we want a coach.
I wonder how Canales would handle it. Im sure he isnt ready but then again apparently Nate isnt either.
If 1/3 of the roster has "checked out" for the season, Canales coaching isn't going to do a damn thing, unless he benches the malcontents/quitters or they're traded ... and even then that probably means a steady diet of Nolan, Elliot and Babbitt which still adds up to whole lot of losses.
Probably a lot like how KP handled it in 2004-05. What was that team? 1-22 to finish the season, or something like that?
But in reality, does it really matter? If we make no moves before deadline, then why not play the youth and figure out who is ready. Obviously Felton isn't coming back. I doubt we resign Camby. I doubt Crawford stays and I think Wallace is going to opt out and go elsewhere. So in reality, we could lose the rest of the way and get a decent pick. Maybe search for a GM that actually gives a shit and can evaluate talent, then grab a good pick in the draft. I was hoping Brass would trade Wallace to a contender and a third team to pry a couple late first rounders. Even a 20th, and 22nf pick wouldn't be bad. Then we could use two of those picks to try and trade up. Maybe 10-13th pick? Then maybe we could use that 13th pick, a player and some cash for a 7th pick? Have Batum, E Will and Aldridge as the foundation. Try and grab a big with the top 7 and try and go after a couple role players and PG.
But in reality, does it really matter? If we make no moves before deadline, then why not play the youth and figure out who is ready. Obviously Felton isn't coming back. I doubt we resign Camby. I doubt Crawford stays and I think Wallace is going to opt out and go elsewhere. So in reality, we could lose the rest of the way and get a decent pick. Maybe search for a GM that actually gives a shit and can evaluate talent, then grab a good pick in the draft. I was hoping Brass would trade Wallace to a contender and a third team to pry a couple late first rounders. Even a 20th, and 22nf pick wouldn't be bad. Then we could use two of those picks to try and trade up. Maybe 10-13th pick? Then maybe we could use that 13th pick, a player and some cash for a 7th pick? Have Batum, E Will and Aldridge as the foundation. Try and grab a big with the top 7 and try and go after a couple role players and PG.
I'm starting to get the feeling Paul Allen has gone Howard Hughes on us. I don't think he wants a GM. Just like most of the Blazers nerds on this site, he probably feels he can do just fine himself. Just like he has managed all his other businesses.
You sound loopy and make me imagine bombthrowers on the roster, Al Qaeda in the locker room, etc. If you want to blow up the team, your usual contract reasons suffice. You don't need to invent conspiracies like Canzano did.
Most of them haven't been here long enough for that to be the problem. Nate has had to suffer through either an extremely weak roster or an extremely depleted roster every year he's coached in Portland. Not once has he had more than 1 actual star player all season. He's never had 5 players of starter quality on the team all at once. The best roster Nate has had was in Seattle. The current roster I'd file under the heading Dysfunctional Engineering. This is the worst mismatch of non-complementary talents I've ever seen on a Blazers team, and the first Blazers team to show so little interest on court. These players do not want to play together. Face it. Since Bob Whitsitt was kicked to the curb, this team has been crap. 9 years of watching 1 or 2 good players surrounded by strong bench players masquerading as NBA starters. 1 and done, 1 and done.... Sometimes in life you need to admit your mistakes, sometimes you have to swallow your pride. Make the call, Paul. Whitsitt Enterprises, LLC tel. 425.453.0773 http://whitsittenterprises.com/
A lot of it has to do with poor scouting. You look at all the players drafted since Whitsitt was canned and it's absolutely brutal outside Roy, LMA, Batum. Chad Buchanan and his crew have to go. They are no better than John Nash's scouts.
I wouldn't be upset at all if we got whittsett back. Always liked his ability to get whatever we wanted.
