One trade people will hate but we need to make.

Maybe that's it. I always thought HCP and others posted on here through thick and thin and I don't remember this much hate last year at the end of the season. But I miss gaps of time on here and am not the best authority on who posts and doesn't post. I just read HCP's comment and thought I was on to something. Maybe not.

 

Last year nobody thought the team was going to do well. At one point we had the best record in the league and I think a lot of people bought into it. The team has come falling back to earth and is playing at about the level that many people thought they'd be at before the season. It's been hard for some people to adjust their expectations.

 

My kitty's breath smells like cat food...

 

It's interesting to see the win/loss difference. I figured we'd get killed on that one. However, we actually improve.

 

Yes Lillard has a higher ceiling but how long will it take to reach or is this his ceiling with slight improvements in efficiency and defense? I love Lillard know trading a young piece with his upside is a major risk and personally I would be okay keeping him but I do not believe this team as situated is a title contender. Additionally, I do not foresee the team changing much in the future.

Say LA, Lopez and Matthews all resign after next season The team remains virtually identical and it is up to Leonard, McCollum, Robinson to make significant improvements. I just do not see this team as situated becoming a title contender. Does this move do enough, I have no idea but I certainly think changing up the team if we fail again in the playoffs is worth discussing even if it means trading someone like Lillard or Aldridge as foolish or unpopular as it may seem.

 

HCP, does your job with the Blazers really take that much time during the season, or are there other projects? I'd be interested to know how the truck crew spends its time. No offense, I always assumed it was a few hours of set-up, the game, the post-game, then cleanup and shutdown. What else is there?

 

Well, Mrs. HCP does honor two-for-one coupons for all Blazers Broadcasting employees...

 

I think Irving is more talented, but I think Lillard may be the better leader. Hence, my vote is "no".

 

The problem is this, Dame is arguably better than Conley right now, and he hasn't hit his ceiling. That's why it's a bad trade. He's only 23 and he will only get better. I can see mortgaging the future by trading guys like CJ, Robinson, etc, but not Dame. Not for someone like Conley. You only trade Lillard if it's for a clear upgrade, and Conley is NOT a clear upgrade. Neither Conley, nor Allen, is as young or as talented as Lillard. The only way I trade Lillard right now is for an equally young and talented player, like Irving, who wants out of his current situation. Irving could be a top five player in the league. I'm not sure Lillard is ever going to be that good. You gamble that Irving will continue to improve because he has the kind of ceiling that Durant and LeBron have. Dame most likely does not.

 

Nate, are you really trying to have a serious discussion about trading Lillard for Conley?

 

He wanted to debate it. I'm debating

 

Not really the case entirely. I pretty much have stopped offering opinions because it instantly turns into an argument.

To me, that is what has changed in the forum over the last several months.

 

The other item that isn't touched upon is how well each PG fits the team system. Lillard is a magnificent fit for Stotts' system. Conley wouldn't fit nearly as well.

It was a brave attempt to start discussion. It may have been trolling, it may have been honest. Bottom line, however, is it would be a pretty dumb move.

 

SlyPokerDog, you're a moron.

 

I would personally attack SlyPokerDog.

 

Mid season trade to get that 3rd star. http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=kuz228s

 

I personally think the team's early success and recent struggles are what caused the problems. When was the last time the team looked as good as it did? A lot of people bought into it and truly believed that we were ready to contend. A few of us saw the problems with the bench and the unsustainable shooting percentages. There has been a lot of fighting because the team polarized the two sides of the fence. I think if the team had started out playing around .600 ball, and was around 5th, we wouldn't have seen most of this fighting. Instead, they played way over their heads and people argued over whether it would last.

 

You don't want to see her post history!