That's an interesting observation ... now that I think about it, there's a certain "whole is greater than the sum of its parts" feel to that group; maybe all of that college experience is part of the reason why they play pretty well as an actual team?
Granger is in the category of Joe Johnson and Rudy Gay. Way overpaid dudes that can't create/make their own shots very well.
I am not trying to spin anyone's post, what I am trying to point out is this foolish notion that trading away the draft picks for mid tier vets is a STUPID IDEA. Be it Iguodala\Collison\Lowry\Noah\etc..... I mean if your goal is basically to wave the fucking white flag and give up on actually competing for an NBA title for the foreseeable future, then by all means settle for mediocre bullshit moves LIKE that.... and YES I think you (anyone) is crazy if they actually believe that a team of LA\Batum\Iguodala(insert names being mentioned) could somehow morph this pathetic roster into a title contending team...that is just ridiculous homerism run amok... and FYI, POR had the right plan, a trio of Roy, LA and Oden had they remained healthy with guys like Batum\Matthews\Etc supporting them WOULD have been able to compete with OKC\LA\SA\LAC of the world...I firmly believe that.... So the concept of...BUILDING THRU THE DRAFT....was a CORRECT one...POR had the right idea, they just had bad luck\fucked up on the execution of it...take your pick... Use both picks in this draft...this team needs a talent infusion BADLY...and you have a chance with one\both of those picks...if your scouts are actually worth thier money...to get 2 good\really good players via the draft....cost controlled to boot...then you can use your cap space to fill in the gaps, either through straight signings or lopsided trades utilizing your cap space or some combination of both.... That is what POR needs to do right now.... You have ONE legit player in LA on the roster next year and after that a whole shitload of question marks.... Batum (if you resign him)...is he worth $10+mil? Is he just a decent starter or potentially more? Do you wnat to pay big $$ to find out\hope that he is more? Williams...Who knows? Can he stay healthy?...is he a spark off the bench type player or could he be a legit starter? I wouldn't count on him in for either at this point...hope he can become one or the other but don't base your teams plans on it Matthews...Looks more like a nice bench player to me...I wouldn't place him among the top starting SG in the league would you? would anyone? Can he consistently hit shots WHEN IT MATTERS? Didn't show it last year... Babbitt...Well great, so he isn't a total waste of a draft pick...Appears he can shoot, except when in pressure situations...What does that make him? A specialist? So he spends most of his time riding the bench until you need a decoy? Nolan Smith...3rd best SG on a team with one of wort group of SG in the league...Sounds like he has a bright future...Or do you still cling to hope that he can be a sub par b\u PG? Kurt Thomas...on his last legs...LITERALLY? Przybilla...Like the guy but he is in decline...nice as a backup, but you want to count on him as your starter Freeland...Looked pretty good in europe...but are you going to pencil him in as a significant rotation player right off the bat? How can ANYONE look at that group of players and think..."Oh yeah, with a Iguodala added here or a Lowry there...Hey we are title contenders!!" That is just crazy talk IMO This team needs a LOT...let me repeat that....A LOT of work (talent added to it)...one veteran player and a few mid level free agents are not going to suddenly turn this team into a title contender...So yeah your going to have to basically do a partial rebuild...and that starts with the draft... Now if BOS (Rondo), WAS (Wall) or some other team is stupid enough to offer such players for your pick\picks, yeah then you consider dealing them....but for the names being mentioned by the homers on courtside or in the papers or on this board....No fucking way you do it...
You are spinning people's posts when you take what he said, and then question if we have ALL lost our fucking minds for calling a team with just iggy a contender when, again, he didn't say it, and nobody else really did. But you spin what he said, and what others said about the addition to the conclusion that 2 lotto picks for Iggy makes us a title contender. And then call people idiots for thinking something nobody is thinking. An excuse to bitch about something not there.
Most of Indiana's core players were acquired in\thru the draft.... IND - Collison, Hill, Barbosa, George, Granger, Hansbrough, Hibbert, West POR - LA, Matthews, Batum, Babbitt, E-Will, N.Smith, Przybilla, Freeland LA is the best player out of that group IMO, but after that IND level of overall talent is much better.... and I doubt they would be competing with MIA if Bosh wasn't hurt...but they are competing...so you trade away draft picks to add a player, sign a free agent and hope some of the guys you have develop into what they have not shown themselves to be yet....and you have a comparable roster? Maybe a 2nd round team...if you played in the eastern conference? Which you don't.... A lot of if's\question marks that you are relying on to NOT be that....and that is your best case outcome...Good organizations just don't operate that way....
add your own name then... Igoudala Lowry Collison Noah Who am I missing? Each one of those names has been mentioned by posters here, by media or on courtside as potentially trading away BOTH!! picks for or one pick for. I am not spinning anything....I am just pointing out the ridiculous notion of it all...It is like I said...Homerism run amok... I have to ask\question those of you who advocate for such moves, Just what IS your end goal? To be a playoff team? To compete for a title? What is your goal as a fan? Do you just want to wave the white flag, be happy with a slightly better than .500 team that would be lucky to advance past the 1st round? OR do want\expect more? I listened to courtside last night (and previously) and either these guys are complete morons\homers or just trying to put some kind of positive spin on this team to keep fans engaged... Is no one watching the playoffs? Seriously? My first observation from watching all these games and how it relates to POR is how much talent these other teams have and how little talent POR has....They can't compete with these teams...I mean come on, that is wishful thinking at best....That is how badly this team has atrophied under the current mgmt....it is a really sad affair...Heck Memphis and Denver both got bounced in the 1st round and both teams have FAR better team talent than POR does, I mean I don't even think it is close...I would trade either roster for ours in a heartbeat... This is just highly frustrating, as a long time fan\season ticket holder, this team is as much as mess now as it was in the Jail Blazers era...maybe worse...b\c I have ZERO faith in mgmt to make the right decisions.
clearly we need to add talent. You advocate signings through free agency, Dragic, whoever, and then 2 draft picks. Some have advocated trading one draft pick, if possible, for a proven player like Iggy, and using the other. Others have said trade both picks for 2 players, 1, etc. What is the success rate for draft picks at 6 and 11? Versus a player you already know is a successful player. If it is strictly adding talent, which we all know, ALL KNOW, before you go saying some don't think that way, that we need to add, then adding a good player via a trade of 1 draft pick upgrades the talent. Drafting someone at, say, 11 doesn't GUARANTEE an increase in talent. It just gives you a possibility that said player will ever be a good rotational player. And for some, the promise and unknown of a young draft pick is better than a proven player because they can formulate in their head what they want that player to become. Henson into another Camby, instead of Cole Aldrich. Barnes into Granger instead of Webster. Beal into a defending healthy Eric Gordon, and not...whatever low end could be. Whatever. Everyone knows we need to add talent to the team. Some want the GUARANTEE of talent. Some want the possibility that it isn't talent at all, and not a rotation player for us. You choose to ignore that that possibility even exists. I WANT a championship. While recognizing how difficult that truly is. I think the easiest way to get that through the draft is landing an elite level player. One who is ALREADY considered an elite level player when you draft him. Lebron. Durant(not that these guys have titles yet, but makes you have a good shot). etc. Absent of that, it's some hoping that pieces added can be a sum greater than the parts sort of team, and others hoping that players become something the haven't really shown the ability to be.
Win now plan: Draft Day--2 picks + Williams to OKC for Harden July 10--S&T Batum + Matthews to Boston for Pierce Sign any starting PG you can get. ????? Celebrate Blazers 2nd Championship
Maybe I'm cray cray, but I think we'd be better off with Batum + Mathews than a 35-year old Paul Pierce. I like Harden, but can't see OKC letting him go. But I love the idea.
Not sure OKC would trade Harden for our picks, and I'm not sure I like the idea of one of the recent best drafting teams in our conference having two lottery picks to work with. If you are lucky enough to somehow get Harden, I don't see why you would trade Batum and Matthews for an aging SF who would probably break down before your core gelled.
I would do it. Even if the Pierce part did not bring a championship, we would still have Harden and LMA to build on. Harden equals future all-star IMO. Combined you give up a lot to get him, but none of the players individually will ever be as good. Not an ideal trade, but not bad at all. Except if we can get Harden without trading Batum and Wes than there is no reason to. It just does not seem possible.
The GM and coach should be easy. This is a great job for qualified individuals. We should get the cream of the crop. We just need to be patient because it takes a tad bit of time to find the right guy. It's a process, you know
