Here is an article with the actual transcript (and a not bad analysis by Dave Decker). First thing you see is Olshey avoids the question about what is the plan for Blazers; either because he doesn't have a good one or he doesn't want to talk about it. Jaynes is quite chummy, doesn't press him on this. Decker does point out, despite what Olshey says, that deals were possible: "At this trade deadline the Orlando Magic traded Elfrid Payton for a second-round pick. The Cleveland Cavaliers got Rodney Hood and George Hill for Iman Shumpert, Derrick Rose(who will be released immediately by the Utah Jazz), Jae Crowder, and a second-round pick. The Detroit Pistons got Jameer Nelson for Willie Reed. Deals weren’t just available, they were made." Also pointed out that Olshey tries to claim as assets those trade exceptions that will never be used. One thing absent is Olshey never talking about how horrid contracts make trades difficult. One big take on the entire interview is what a bunch of softballs the supposedly tough guy Jaynes tossed up there. Was there not a press conference where maybe one guy would have the guts to ask a hard question? https://www.blazersedge.com/2018/2/...ey-interview-noah-vonleh-salary-cap-contracts
Most teams are in the same position. We have players we can trade. There were rumors we were going to trade Harmless to the Knicks in the offseason. In fact, the SF position is so weak in the league, a guy like Mo might have a lot more value than his performance demands. We are better off with the players we have than the alternative of letting them walk. Thus paying up to the tax makes sense. NO did gamble on internal improvement of any one of the guys, but that didn't happen. I don't think it's anyone's fault but the players' and the coach's.
I don’t know how you can label anything that happened after losing 4/5 of your starting lineup as anything other than a rebuild. Subsequently making the playoffs was a credit to Stotts and players/leaders like Dame. And the rebuild is still progressing nicely. Nurkic and Collins aren’t done developing and compliment the backcourt. The only foundational piece that’s REALLY missing is a SF. Bench players can be added whenever. The only difference is teams in Portland’s position don’t usually win as much as they do, and that’s gotten some fans confused as to where they actually are in the cycle. That’s why I’m ok with what happened (or didn’t) at the deadline. The team has overachieved relative to their talent. Now they’re getting to that stage where the talent is catching up, and I expect them to make a jump next season to being a squad that can actually contend in the playoffs, rather than just participate.
This is where I'm at too. It isn't ideal as a fan but realistic. If they don't make that jump next season though I'm going to join the other side.
There were several players allegedly available (some of which you mentioned) but like many teams, would have needed cap space to re-sign them and the Blazers won't have any cap space.
Doubt that was a reason since Olshey literally said they looked at rental guys that “wouldn’t affect long term flexibility”
We would need a GM with the talent to make a trade. Olshey just let one walk 3 days ago. Planning ahead with a consolidation trade (e.g. Harkless, as you suggested) would have gotten something for Vonleh. But Olshey never trades unless forced by economics.
We can't attract free agent GMs...we must develop them from within! Olshey hit a rookie wall like they all do...the game will slow down for him soon.
Question for you: Do you think Olshey would make a trade "forced by economics" if he wasn't ordered to do so?
He's made trades, and good ones. How'd we get Nurk? Harkless was our starting SF. There aren't a whole lot of SFs in the league available who are better. A sad fact. All indications we got from the news are that the Blazers were in the discussion to get Melo from the Knicks. The deal never looked that good for us, considering we'd have to take back an Evan Turner sized salary for a player who probably doesn't belong in the league anymore (at least not at anything above vet minimum). Sometimes the deals you don't make are the best.
Irrelevant. The question should be, would Olshey and Allen have gotten into financial hell if Olshey had had the brains to advise Allen that it was coming. That's why Allen employs Olshey. I would guess that both owner and GM falsely thought that GM had the talent to sell the expensive assets he bought. I know a guy just like Olshey whose hobby is auctions. His house is filled to the rafters with a couple thousand things he thinks are valuable. He loves to buy, but has no skill or motivation at selling.
He has made practically no trades. Nurkic? Forced by economics again. Traded a starting center for a substitute center. Easy.
The problem is when you do sell you can end up with Gerald Henderson and Noah Vonleh. You don't know that selling is the right move.
So any trade that benefits the team financially is dismissed as only for economic reasons no matter how it matters on the court? That is ridiculous.
Not forced by economics. He had the choice of making the trade or not. Or trading for other players who moved or were available (like Okafor). Fitting pieces under the CBA requirements and being able to take advantage of opportunities is what he's done, consistently well.
