listening right now, gonna try and snag the best parts... Neil says this is the best basketball we have played in three years, talks about more guys contributing and the complimentary pieces playing at an elevated level and contributing. Says we are lucky to have an owner that loves young players, not going out and getting veterans that are on the downside of their career to stay relevant but instead trying to build the infrastructure of the organization through the draft as well as acquiring guys who are undervalued by their current teams referencing moe harkless,davis, and aminu. Talks about trusting Terry and his staff on player development. Says we have tried to go get the big deals, very active at the draft putting our picks in play as well as being active in the summer. Says he has obligation to dame and cj, to the team to try and add that next guy but it has to be the right guy and has to be an upgrade. Really believes in the guys they have got and developed referencing youth again and how not one of the guys on the roster is over 29 and how we are protective of the culture within the organization, wants to make sure guys fit not only on the court but in the locker room. Says the culture is run by Damian and that he runs things by Dame as far as guys who they could trade for and if they really wanna commit to a player by giving up certain assets and if that player will buy into the culture here in Portland long term. The rest of the podcast are his thoughts on the rest of the league, different questions from woj, his time with the clippers, etc.
Nice summary, Cippy. I'd add that the comment that stuck with me is that he considers Chauncy Billups the best leader of any basketball player he's been around, and that he should be a first ballot HOF. Just has a natural gravitas that draws people in. He then goes on to say Damien is very similar, and that the two guys communicate often.
No they did, as well as Paul George. Those were considered “the big deals”. They just struck out and honestly I’m glad on striking out on melo. PG however would of made us contenders. I feel like he would fit so well on this team.
With how much he propped up Billups, we should pay him to come in and be an assistant GM. He'd be a great guy to "recruit" free agents.
Allen has the pocketbook to make this happen. We need every advantage we can get. Shit we can even give him the title of GM, since Olshey is president of ops.
Perfect. Let Neil continue to run the draft, since that seems to be his biggest strength, but let Billups handle the free agents. BNM