Minny has no need for CJ. I mean, absolutely zero, so it would have to be a third team. I could see the value adding up possibly but it's a hard one to make work. I if the Pacers like CJ, we might be able to do CJ and Nurk for Turner and LeVert. I think we'd then use our MLE on a backup PG, re-sign Norm and roll with Dame, Norm, LeVert, RoCo, Turner, DJ, MLE PG, Ant, Nas and Zach. I think that's better than what we were just working with.
LeVert is a chucky chucker just like CJ. And Nurk's upside is higher than Turner's imo. That team is exactly the same.
If we trade Dame I'm never watching another Blazer game again. I have no interest in basketball besides the Blazers, and only because of that guy. Him and a healthy Nurk were the only two guys that kept me watching every game until the 2020 season. Didn't watch one single game this season because the league has become a poorly-run massive joke with clowns like LeBron becoming the moral authority of the league, and I saw early the same old crap from Terry, and I knew we were in for a 1st Round exit, and I'm beyond exhausted with the disappointment. And surely enough....same old 6th seed spot, same old first round exit. Fire Stotts, trade CJ, and hell, fire that clown Olshey too. Get someone in here who has a playbook that isn't stuck in 2004. Is Jodi going to sell the team or not? If it doesn't stay in Portland (and I hope it doesn't), then I would like to see it moved to Vegas. There is a huge market to build with there. Anywhere but Seattle....that city is just as big of a joke as Portland is. Either way, something has to change, even if that means trading everyone but Dame. But if they trade Dame I'm done. I love that guy, and he's already given me a lifetime's worth of memories. The next time I'll see him is when he goes into the HOF and gets his jersey retired, but other than that I'm selling off my Blazer gear and moving on. I hope that doesn't happen, but we'll see. Either way, Stotts and CJ at a minimum need to go.
Ay man fuck this current regime running the blazers and Def fuck Stotts but leave Portland out of it. Blazers is Portlands team with a great arena and massive support.
You’ll see it fam. He just quoted the great Nipsey Hussle same guy as my avatar with a cryptic line Nip says.. Unfortunately I seen all this coming all year. We just weren’t good enough and now Dame is thinking
That song is about loyalty and until you hear it out of his mouth, Dame still wants his career to look like Dirk Nowitzki's. Reading comprehension man.
No, I pretty much expect this will be our last good shot at making a deep run with Dame if we hire a new coach... I hope not, but...
I hope your right. Trust me. But it’s sad times around blazer nation. I was afraid of this. But we can atleast look forward to needed changes
If you're going proper rebuild around Dame's prime, and take into consideration which players' names have floated around as being available/free agency, plus other teams' needs: CJ for Turner and TJ Warren. Turner brings the post defense, but don't expect him to bring as much on offense as you'd hoped for when he got drafted. At least you kno what you get with him. Warren could perfectly fill the CJ McCollum role, but brings more size, rebounding and, for my feeling, a more reliable offensive game. However, he has dealt with some injuries. Ant, DJJ, 2021 1st + 2024 1st swap for Christian Wood. Big who can stretch the floor. Has some mental lapses and defense isn't great, but I think working with Dame and the culture we have, could bring out the best. Nurkic for Smart - even though I love Time Lord, the Celtics can use some size. Smart can play with both Powell and Dame. Free Agency: Bring Powell back. Target TJ McConnell in free agency, also try to sign Austin Rivers and Shaquille Harrison. Shaq brings size and defense to the backcourt and could run with either TJ/Smart, Powell and Dame, if you aren't able to get someone like TJ/Smart. Rivers gives the team options to rotate as well. Consider Alec Burks. Try to get Wayne Ellington for shooting. I would not mind Garrett Temple as well, he's a high IQ player and usuallu steps up when asked to. At PF, get help. Consider James Johnson, Markieff Morris or preferably Nemanja Bjelica, as he brings playmaking and smarts to the second unit. All three can stretch the floor and Morris and JJ bring some grit. At C, try to sign Gorgui Dieng, even though I'd love for us to target Richaun Holmes. Robin Lopez could work as well, he knows Dame well enough. Just get some size up front, and I really like Dieng since he's a capable shooter and brings post defense, some thing you'd want when playing Dame and TJ Warren together, for example. Keep Little, I like his upside, we just need to prepare him during regular season - we did a really bad job of that this year. You get a crew of hungry players. It's key that we'd bring in a coach who understands rotations and movement. The pairings you'd be able to put on the floor here are interesting: Dame + Smart + Covington + Dieng + Turner for defense around Dame, while not giving up shooting (compare the range this line up offers compared to what we have now). Dame + Powell + Ellington + Warrn + Wood + Dieng for scoring. Dame + Smart + Temple + Bjelica + Turner for playmaking in a more conservative role line up. Dame / TJ McConnell / Smart Powell / Rivers/Ellington / Temple Covington / Warren / Little Wood / Bjelica Turner / Dieng or Dame / TJ McConnell / Harrison Powell / Rivers / Temple Covington / Warren / Little Wood / Morris Turner / Dieng Should be versions of what would be reasonably possible. The big question is around front office, bringing in a capable coach and how realistic it would be to expect these players to gel quickly enough. I believe most of these guys are smart, high IQ, hard working and all-round capable guys, who have built up experience around the league and come at a decent price tag. I'm also really trying to stay away from the one-dimensional guys.
I’m waiting for this off-season when we sign some 3rd rate scrub that everybody says is the “difference maker” Honestly, I really don’t think we’re too far off contention. Fire Stotts obviously. Trading CJ is a must (hopefully for a decent wing who can defend). Re-sign Powell. Trade/sign for a legit backup PG like Elfrid Payton. Pray that Collins can be healthy. Get Melo out of here. Do teams like Utah, Phoenix or Dallas really have that far inferior of rosters? I don’t think so. They just all have way better coaching
Do you think changes will be made? Yes sir Will you upset if one goes and not both? If only Stotts goes then I'll be upset. This roster wasn't going anywhere with any coach. Which to you is the “must go”? Olshey Can this team be playoff successful with CJ as Dame’s back court mate? No. You can't construct a team with no length & defense and expect to go far. Neither makes the other better.
Man... you just said something that I have never really thought about. Dame and CJ don't make each other better. It's not like Klay and Steph, who seem to work in a symbiotic relationship. Dame and CJ seem to take turns trying to take over the game. When one is working, the other is standing around. To me, that's the ultimate knock on having them together. They hardly play off each other at all. While Steph and Klay are constantly moving and putting the defense under pressure because they're worried about losing track of one or both of them. When Dame has the ball, CJ is standing somewhere on the perimeter. When CJ has the ball, the entire team is standing around.
Nate! Have you been living under a rock for the last 4+ years? This has been a common complaint on this board for years now. There have been countless discussions where fans have seen that CJ does a lot better when Dame is injured & sitting out. When CJ is out, the team has a better flow and rythem to it. The Dame/CJ pairing is/was never going to work. Too much duplication of skill set & weaknesses.
I would celebrate like we just won a championship if we brought in KAT. He's got a legit shot at being the best offensive big man in the history of the game. A dream pairing for Dame.
