Forum Game How much longer do you think Olshey deserves?

I get all that. I'm just scoffing at the notion that Nurk was some throw in and that Olshey doesn't deserve credit. Those suggesting this are using conjecture.

 

Did you really just quote a Ben Golliver piece....?

LAWL....

 

Several players have left Denver and mentioned that the locker room there is horrible...guys who are pay check players and don't really like each other much..Nurk is just now 22....at 21 he probably had an even shorter fuse....he basically has confidence that he will dominate and some coaches don't play the young guys minutes....Nurk was unhappy with his minutes and use. Now he's happy and so am I. I think people saying the Blazers are returning the same team don't see how much will change with healthy role players getting a training camp together...a healthy Ed Davis and Turner and Aminu with time to actually be on the court together will be an improvement....Meyers has been replaced by Collins unless he miraculously makes a leap and Swanigan will have Big Ed as a mentor...Big Ed is a very unselfish player who actually is a leader on this team for young bigs. We've replaced Meyers with Collins and Layman with Swanigan.....this is a deeper bench...Turner was just starting to get his feet wet with the new team when he went down with injury...Aminu played hurt and sat out...we didn't have a full compliment of players all season....and most of all....Nurk over Plumlee.......half a season last year Plumlee was our go to guy at the end of games....let's say it wasn't pretty

 

That was just a story that showed his Net rating and Offensive Rating . . . I don't need BG to tell me that they were both horrible.

 

excellent post

 

Excellenter post.

 

I think Olshey wanted Nurkic, not just the draft pick. I don't think Olshey traded for Nurkic under the belief that Nurkic was a star/superstar. I think there's truth both to the idea that Olshey got lucky and that you make your own luck. Olshey smartly targeted a potentially undervalued player who might break out elsewhere. That Nurkic probably broke out even beyond Olshey's wildest dreams is even better.

 

And as we've seen with Rolo, Hark, ect he's pretty damned good at doing this.

 

We have the worst Vegas odds to win the Northwest next year. The oddsmakers project us to finish last in the division.

 

I agree. I think he'd probably be most efficient "buying" those type of potential hidden gems, rather than high-dollar free agents, and breaking out the big bucks for players who actually star on the court for the Blazers. Plus, drafting. Portland should be buying picks whenever they can.

 

Right now, the odds are probably being skewed by bettors excited by the moves other teams have made (which are substantial in some cases). I think the odds will be more interesting once all the rosters are settled (and Hayward has made his decision).

 

Behind Denver? Both teams were crap last year but I'll take what Nurkic adds to the Blazers over what Millsap brings to the Nugz. Now they might be factoring in the 'health' portion for Nurkic.

UTA - depends on if they keep Hayward
OKC - better than Portland last year and added George. I get it....but
MIN - Now that Thibs has some defensive oriented players, see how they all fit together. A complete dearth of outside shooting on that squad.
DEN - Millsap definitely fills a need and even though he's older, will mesh well there. Enough to pass Portland? Not sure of that.
POR - For having Dame/CJ, this team was 'turrble' before Nurk came. Does one player turn a season around that much...and can he stay healthy?

I can see how Portland isn't the 'sexy' pick since they did a whole lot of nothing this off-season. However, if there was a bet that Portland would NOT finish last in the Division, I'd be all over that.

Collins/Swanigan give this team something that was sorely lacking before Nurkic arrived.....attitude and toughness. Vonleh jumped on board a little as well as the Lieutenant enforcer and I'm anxious to see how that translates tot he rest of the team. They need to get off to a better start than they have the last two years. It's like they slept the first 2 months of the season 2 years in a row.

 

I'm going to put some money on the Blazers making it to the WCF next season if I can find someone to take that bet.

 

Dude that's not a good bet to make lol

 

Why would people question Olshey value here instead of Stotts?

 

I think we have a good shot. If we're healthy we will be a force to reckon with. It all depends on health though.

 

Ok, What do you have in mind?

 

I think I need to hit that blunt you're smoking

 

I'm talking about Vegas when I go Friday.