Before this game, we had multiple guys who could play, who have been out weeks with injuries. Why would you not expect that trend to continue?
Seemed that they were trying to keep at the minimum 2 of the rotational vets playing? BM, Hart, Winslow.
I see your logic. In my eyes, they have been slowly reducing the number of rotation vets since January, so that was the trend I was expecting to continue. It's not pretty!
I just don't understand this thread. The Spurs did this and got Duncan... I'm quite sure they didn't expect Duncan because they got lucky but they held Elliot out of games that he was healthy enough to play in and Robinson didn't come back when he could have. This is S.O.P. in this league and people in here are acting like it's some kind of travesty. I hope we lose every game for the rest of the season and I hope we do what it takes to make that happen. If we do we will drop below the Kings and possibly even the Pacers to end up with the 5th or 6th best lottery odds. If we were playing for a playoff spot Dame would be in the lineup but we're playing for a pick so he's not. If you don't like it, get over it.
Stop talking about the 14th pick. The fact is that you started this ridiculous thread with the notion that because Steph is hurt it was a bad idea to tank while we get closer and closer to better lottery odds and a better pick. I get it that not trying to win every game disgusts you but this is the NBA and sometimes the long play is better than the short. We weren't going to play the Warriors and we weren't going to win in the first round so trying to lose as many games as possible was not only smart but the right thing to do. I know others have said this to you but try to have an adult perspective about whats going on here.
Well, If we had at least Hart & Winslow we would. But when you give up purposely to lose its ugly. I know they are chasing the pot of gold, but what see already are players losing that, will, and intensity to win and prove themselves because losing isn't motivating.
You won’t see me wasting time to watch this team right now. Not sure why people are expending the energy.
None of these players will be in the rotation next season (MAYBE 1 or 2). They are playing for jobs elsewhere.
The guys that we will have: Keon, Greg, Trendon and possibly Williams are all getting a ton of time not just on the floor but with the staff breaking down areas for them to work on and what to do, in ways they would never get if we were winning. I really don't see the downside to this strategy. I personally only want to use our pick if we hit big in the lotto and can get Jabari or Paolo other than that I think every spot higher that we get the more the pick is worth in the trade market.
Yep, I would use the picks/pick and some? to trade for all star front liner that, immediately address's positions, we've been weak at for years now. No more 6'2-5" players. The window imo to prove to Dame we are serious is 2-3 years. One year tank can make since, but if they go into a 2/3 year tank mode for young players rookie contracts, that may not help achieve the goal of winning it all for Dame? If they want to take the next 3/5 years and go young through tanking, they should move Dame.
there's no downside to it at all. At the same time, it seems pretty clear that none of those players, except for maybe Watford & Eubanks, will be in the top-9 in the rotation. Maybe Dunn if Portland brings him back. If any are it would be, IMO, because the Blazers were unsuccessful at building a decent bench I think that's a little too absolute. Sure, if for example, the Blazers have a 7th pick and Atlanta would trade Collins for #7 + Bledsoe, that's worth the gamble but if there's no player above the level of Grant available at the draft (which is when Portland has to decide), then the Blazers have to invest that pick in BPA/fit. If past drafts are the template, there are just about certain to be 2 or 3 players in this draft outside of the top 4 that could come in and be solid starters from day 1, or at least by mid-season or year 2. The trick is for the Blazers to identify them 2016: 7 Jamal Murray 11 Domantas Sabonis 19 Malik Beasley 20 Caris LeVert 27 Pascal Siakam 29 Dejounte Murray 36 Malcolm Brogdon 2017: 7 Lauri Markkanen 12 Luke Kennard 13 Donovan Mitchell 14 Bam Adebayo 19 John Collins 22 Jarrett Allen 23 OG Anunoby 27 Kyle Kuzma 30 Josh Hart 42 Thomas Bryant 45 Dillon Brooks 2018: 7 Wendell Carter Jr. 8 Collin Sexton 10 Mikal Bridges 11 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 12 Miles Bridges 14 Michael Porter Jr. 19 Kevin Huerter 24 Anfernee Simons 33 Jalen Brunson 34 Devonte' Graham 36 Mitchell Robinson 37 Gary Trent Jr. 2019: 7 Coby White 8 Jaxson Hayes 9 Rui Hachimura 11 Cameron Johnson 12 P.J. Washington 13 Tyler Herro 21 Brandon Clarke 28 Jordan Poole 29 Keldon Johnson 30 Kevin Porter Jr. 46 Talen Horton-Tucker 2020: 12 Tyrese Haliburton 15 Cole Anthony 19 Saddiq Bey 21 Tyrese Maxey 25 Immanuel Quickley 30 Desmond Bane 5 drafts in a row with plenty of gems available at 7 or lower, some of them already all-stars. Yeah, it will take some luck, but that's always a big factor in developing a winner. Memphis generated good luck with Desmond Bane and Dillon Brooks. The Suns got real lucky with Booker, Bridges, Ayton and Cam Johnson. Maybe the worm has turned and the Blazers can get real lucky in this draft besides that, I don't think it's a half season window for that luck to show. Portland appears committed to Dame and he appears committed to Portland so there is a 3-4 year window for some player to develop into a high level one. Simons is well on the way; maybe a 7th pick will have a faster timeline than Ant
Oh, we can potentially get great value with both picks if the Pelicans' pick conveys. To me the question is are we going for immediate impact or are we trying to get the best value for the future further down the road. My preference is immediate impact to give Dame the best chance to win a championship ASAP. To me the ideal situation if our pick won't get us Jabari or Paolo is that we can trade our pick, the Pelicans pick, Bledsoe and Hart to Toronto for Siakam. Then we pay the Bulls some money or give them the Grizz second rounder to take the conditions off the pick we owe them. Then we trade our 2025 and 2027 first rounders top 4 protected for Jerami Grant. I think Dame, Ant, Grant, Siakam, Nurk, Nas and whoever else we put with them would be an immediate contender.
