To be fair, that's Canzano's job. He's paid to be controversial. He's paid to get clicks/views etc. Olshey isn't paid to be a tool. He just seems to do it free of charge.
Pick one: 1. DJJ was a solid FA signing and Stotts is a shitty coach because he didn't use him right 2. DJJ was a shitty signing and Stotts pissed Olshey off because he decided he couldn't afford to play him any more just to please Olshey I know which one I believe.
Why does it have to be one or the other? Can't DJJ have been a gamble that didn't work out as hoped in part due to his skill level and in part due to how he was used? Why does it have to be one or other?
If CJ and non starting assets can be moved for a player that combined with keeping Norm and getting him back to his natural position, improves our roster... and we get a coach that emphasizes defense and accountability; that should be enough to make this team a lot better than what we just saw. Not to go to crazy about this because it's not that big of a deal but if Zach is healthy enough that we can use our MLE on a backup PG instead of having to worry about a big, that would be an improvement as well. A new coach who actually coaches coaching: Dame, Norm, RoCo, Siakam, Nurk, DJ, Ant, Zach, MLE PG (in this scenario Toronto required Nas in the Siakam deal) and a bunch of GLeaguers and undrafted free agents would be able to make a run.
I just watch the interview the none of starting players that is sign will not be traded. Hopefully can get Powell sign. None of the rotation players for next year include Zach Simons Little I think there safe for next year. Watch for trade with DJJ if he opt-in and don't be surprised if Melo wants to come back they sign to min again. Coaches search I don't see Billups be in final contention just by his back ground ground.
Yes, of course nothing is absolute. But DJJ reminds me of Outlaw - phenomenal jump athlete, not exactly fast laterally, and not a great BBIQ. We'll always have this, though:
My take from this was NO took zero responsibility and is delusional. If we were such an elite scoring team, why could we still not outscore a team with two of its best four players injured? I am not sure any coach is going to be thrilled with having their hands tied with a CJ/Dame backcourt. NO still thinks running the best players out on the court regardless of position is going to work best and is something the coach is supposed to figure out. Looking like we are in for three more years of excuses.
I don't think that DJ was a good signing because Olshey should have known that Stotts wouldn't use him correctly but I think DJ is a great value at just under 10M per season. The guy finishes around the hole and plays intense disrupting defense whenever he's given the chance. When he's given regular playing time he gets his shot good enough to punish teams that just let him shoot wide open threes. For the MLE, I don't know what more you could want, especially if your team ran a lot of off the ball movement on offense. There is also the fact that he was first on the team for winning percentage as a starter. It still blows my mind that the roster fit together so poorly and Stotts coached them so bad that we had a worse record this year with CJ playing than when he didn't, with Nurk playing than when he didn't and with Norm playing than when he didn't (the Norm thing isn't as mind blowing because you trade his production for Gary's). I don't give a shit about strength of schedule that does not explain this phenomenon. Someone should have asked Olshey about this shit.
Actually Neil did say about drafting he'd had some big hits and misses...first time I've heard him say he made draft mistakes...(Caleb Swanigan being the last really big bust) Every GM trying to sign players and attract them to their team is going to have excuses for losing....they are there to sell the Blazer swagger, not be tentative or overly critical.
I think I just have a higher standard for the word "elite". To me that would be in the top-10 or top 15 in the league
NO isn't delusional he is just blowing smoke to make himself look good. By his comments today I would say that next year is the same outcome as this year. He will just sign an Otto Porter level forward and say that is all it will take for a ring. This roster needs more changes than not. He is an awful GM. Dame could well demand a trade. He should be pissed after this latest display from the front office. The owner would need to commit to going into the luxury tax to keep Dame and give him a REAL shot at a deep playoff run.
Dont be fooled by the Canzano article. This is a guy who doesn’t even like Dame. There’s a reason he’s never been on his show. I think ever since Dame rookie year when he had that one situation happen outside of a nightclub here. Canzano predicted he’d be a off court distraction he can’t help be pissed that never came true
Olshey obviously knew that many were putting lots of blame onto him for Portland's issues so after years of praising Stotts as a coach and friend and quality guy, Olshey's instinct when the heat is on is to not only throw Stotts under the bus, but to drive back and forth repeatedly over Stotts afterwards. asshole
What you're saying is very possible but I've never heard Olshey say that Dame needs another superstar like he did in this press conference... he didn't say he'd get him one he just said that it was something he needed. He changed his tune about CJ being that superstar and grouped him in with the rest of the team who in Neil's words are all on the table as far as being tradeable. So maybe I'm being naive but I really think there's a great chance that we see a lot of movement on draft night and CJ could very well be involved. Neil even said that he was waiting until all of the GMs are together at the draft combine to start fielding offers or figuring that stuff out. I think we'll have a coach by draft night and I think there will be a mission to build a better roster and especially get a player who is a better fit as a second option next to Dame.
