With no moves made today, the Blazers go into this summer projected to be WELL over the Luxury Tax. They have until the following Trade Deadline to address that but now the best thing this team can do for itself is to make that Draft pick as valuable as possible. Whether you use it for yourself or use it in a trade to add talent more ready to contribute, this is no time to go on a winning streak so that they can get torched by the Warriors or make their Lottery pick somewhere in the teens.
Hopefully they don't have to give up picks just to lose salary. You want to use those to improve your talent, not just to have to bail you out of where you are in the Lux Tax.
I was asked on Twitter, "Would you rather the team go 6-20 the rest of the way or 20-6?" I can't help myself; I still go with 20-6. If the Nurkic deal turns us into a 63-win team over the final 1/3 of the season, I'd be really excited for next season. I'll always opt for hope.
Ugh. I can't believe the amount Allen is paying for this level of talent. It's almost like a friend buying some vintage guitar set and you tell him it's crap. Except the 62 Les Paul Gold Top is actually Meyers Leonard....
Here is my plan for the rest of the season: Shut Dame down. Tell him to rest. Start: CJ Crabbe Harkless Vonleh Nurk Play: Layman Napier Davis Don't Play: Leonard (he can only hurt his value further) Hope that our young guys show enough to boost their value for a trade this summer. See if CJ is capable of being a point guard long term.
@Natebishop3 ...I agree with resting Dame until that ankle is 100%. You don't want it to not heal completely correctly and be something that is nagging into next season.
Sorry, like 95%, but Leonard needs to play some. Even if they want to trade him he needs to get his shot back and show some potential. But, I would take what you have above, just add Leonar_ to the bench for 15 or so minutes. And I would still like to see a couple of games with this lineup, just to see how it looks: CJ Crabbe Harkless Leonard Nurk If Leonard could find his shot that would be a very hard team to guard.
Do you think Dame will allow it? What happens if that proposed lineup without Dame starts winning and playing good defense?
I feel like if we play any of them it will lesson there value. I'm hoping Crabbe can improve his shooting some and maybe Davis gets some agility back after losing weight... but that's about it. If we are hoping that Nurkic's will somehow make this team go on a winning stretch of games? That's absolute delusion. The thing I'm looking forward to most is Layman's development. I think he might have some real talent.
He can buy a pick for 3 MIL. I think he does that before spending 12 MIL on tax for Leonard. Hopefully we can trade Leonard without a pick though.
Does anyone know how long NO contract with the Blazers runs for? I'm wondering how soon PA might decide to make a change there.
