Just curious as to what our time line is on the current group of players...... In light of the Durant defection to GS, where we are we and what are our (severely limited) options for the future? When do we blow it up?
We WILL win the championship next season,its our 40th god damned reunion... it worked for the Whorriors, why not us?
We keep grinding as a team, hoping that the development of Vonleh, Harkless, Leonard, Crabbe, etc. is enough for us to trade for a star in the next few years. We won't have cap space, but we should still be going after max free agents every off-season. Given that we resign our RFAs, we'll have the pieces to match salaries in sign and trades. We have a lot of depth, but the key is to find a way to trade that depth for a star. Meanwhile, I think we can get the 3rd seed next year. The Thunder and Clippers got worse, we got better (Turner + more development). If we got the 3rd seed, a think we'd have a chance to badge a WCF. If we do, we'll have a chance at a landing a good free agent next year, as the market is a lot better.
We are never going to win a championship because we're not in an attractive enough location for stars. The league will always veiw us as mediocre.
If the plan remains to try and build through free agency then you are right. I have a hunch though that Neil realizes now that it isn't a good model for Portland after 2 years of no big hitters. That said though Aminu, Davis and Turner aren't the worst FA signings.
Sounds like you need to look for a new team to support then. I hear the Warriors are open to more bandwagon riders.
Bring everyone back and try to make a consolidation trade at some point for someone like Cousins. The hard part is doing that without trading CJ or Lillard.
Durant to GS changes nothing. Our best chance of a championship is to be one of the best 2-3 teams in the west and hope for a little luck. If anything our chances slightly got better with OKC taking a hit. The less competition at the top the better. GS won 73 games last year.....you think they are better? OK maybe a little, but there is still only one ball, and all these guys are high volume rhythm shooters. Less shots now to get in that rhythm. I think they are still damn good and can now withstand an injury to one of their top 3, but they are not as deep in the middle. You guys handed the Lakers the championship in the summer that one year too....and a key injury stopped it. Injuries happen all the time. It is part of the game.
Go big. Trade for long athletic guys who can contest shots, switch on pick and rolls, jump out and recover and crash the offensive boards. Don't have any clue how we get there, but fuck completely giving up.
