Over the past 12 months, Neil has turned Trevor Ariza, Rodney Hood, Gary Trent, and Derrick Jones (plus picks) into Norm Powell, Robert Covington, and Larry Nance. Is that all deck-chair shuffling, or are these moves that significantly increase the Blazers' chances of contention?
I've been doing this thing the past few years where I'm judging non-star talent only by their ability to be on the floor and contribute in the fourth quarter of playoff games. I think all three of our additions qualify. We just got rid of our 10th guy for a guy who will possibly be our 6th/7th man. Losing picks sucks in a vacuum but we aren't in one with Dame in his prime. I'm OK with this move moreso than I was with giving up two picks for Roco.
