The way too early 2018 playoff picture

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by Mediocre Man, Mar 22, 2017.

  1. Mediocre Man

    Mediocre Man Mr. SportsTwo

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    I'm not trying to sweep away the great season this has been, but I was thinking. With half a brain that is a dangerous thing sometimes.

    With the improvement we made with Nurk, we are much better. But will it be enough to be something more than a low playoff seed?

    Taking health and future acquisitions out of the equations, where are we as a team?

    GS
    SA
    UTAH
    HOU

    Should all be locks for the playoffs as of now

    LAC
    OKC
    DEN
    MEM
    POR
    NOP
    MIN
    DAL

    I don't see a ton of separation between those teams. Min will be a year older. NOP is playing very good right now, and should only get better. Dal playing better with Noel....although I don't think they have enough.

    Should be a brutal year in the west.
     
  2. PtldPlatypus

    PtldPlatypus Let's go Baby Blazers! Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    You say brutal, I say fun. I agree with your assessment of the conference next year, but I'm looking forward to it.
     
  3. stampedehero

    stampedehero Make Your Day, a Doobies Day Staff Member Moderator

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    Brutal then....fun
     
  4. Orion Bailey

    Orion Bailey Forum Troll

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    Brutally fun!
     
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  5. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    There's a few teams that should really blow it up.

    LAC
    DAL
    MEM

    They're teams that are built to win now, but they're not good enough to beat the top teams in the league. GSW, CLE, and SA are all much better than the Clippers, Dallas, or Memphis. The Mavs should just cut bait and build around Barnes/Noel. The Grizzlies need to trade Conley and Gasol. The Clippers should trade Paul and possibly Griffin.
     
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  6. Orion Bailey

    Orion Bailey Forum Troll

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    Do we still have an interest in Griffin? Would he work well next to Nurk?
     
  7. Elton

    Elton Well-Known Member

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    Call me crazy but I think we should try to get Nic Batum back. I think he might be attainable. Trade back for him with one of our draft picks as sweetener and I think with Vonleh possibly being ready to start at PF we might be an actual threat in the west.
     
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  8. Boob-No-More

    Boob-No-More Why you no hire big man coach?

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    They may not have that option. They players have ETOs this summer. Balmer needs to decide if it's worth it to severely overpay those two for more first and second round exits. If they get bumped in the 1st round, I'd be surprised to see CP3 opt in. He's not getting any younger and right now his legacy is best PG to never make it past the second round. I don't think it's about the money for him (although we shall see). I think he wants to win.

    Tony Parker is about to turn 35 and has been fading fast for the last five years. If Paul really wants to win, SAS would be his best move. GSW and CLE don't need him and he would fit in well in Pop's system.

    BNM
     
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  9. 3RA1N1AC

    3RA1N1AC 00110110 00111001

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    SA would be amazing with cp3, thats a pretty great idea. looks like they will have around 10-12 MM in cap room.
     
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  10. 3RA1N1AC

    3RA1N1AC 00110110 00111001

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    the mavs are basically already in rebuild mode. we will see what they do this summer though.
     
  11. Boob-No-More

    Boob-No-More Why you no hire big man coach?

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    We'd need to send out a shit ton of salary to make that work. He's in the 1st year of a 5 year $120 million contract. Kind of makes Turner's $70 million look like chump change, doesn't it.

    We are so far over the cap (and at least $12 million over the expected luxury tax threshold) we need to dump salary. Which pretty much rules out a trade with CHO for Batum. If they trade him, it will be to get out from under that contract, which means they wouldn't want to take back even more salary in return. It would require at least one other team, that is WAY under the salary cap and willing to take our crappy overpaid players (Crabbe, Leonard) off our hands - which means bribing them with draft picks.

    Batum is simply not worth giving up multiple 1st round picks (one to CHO at at least one to dump Crabbe/Leonard) to get back. Nor is he worth his contract.

    BNM
     
  12. Boob-No-More

    Boob-No-More Why you no hire big man coach?

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    He'd be walking away from $24 million in LA, but if they have another early exit, I don't expect him to stick around. SA manged to move a few minor pieces last summer to sign Pau. I'm sure they could do something similar to get CP3.

    BNM
     
  13. 3RA1N1AC

    3RA1N1AC 00110110 00111001

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    although...whats the largest contract LA can offer? because if the difference is more than 100MM, he would be a fool to pass that up.
     
  14. Elton

    Elton Well-Known Member

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    Whoops, hadn't thought about his insane new contract. Well...alrighty then!
     
  15. Boob-No-More

    Boob-No-More Why you no hire big man coach?

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    If they lose in the first round again, LAC might not be interested in offering him the super max. They may decide it's time to blow it up and rebuild.

    BNM
     
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  16. 3RA1N1AC

    3RA1N1AC 00110110 00111001

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    does he qualify for the supermax? i think he would have had to be in LA when on his rookie contract.
     
  17. Boob-No-More

    Boob-No-More Why you no hire big man coach?

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    It looks like five years/$210 million is the max they can offer him.

    BNM
     
  18. 3RA1N1AC

    3RA1N1AC 00110110 00111001

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    they would be fools not to approach that. someone needs to take their money, might as well be a first ballot HOF who is still producing at peak levels. you can do a lot worse with the supermax than Chris Paul.

    and he would be a fool to pass that up honestly.
     
  19. Wizard Mentor

    Wizard Mentor Wizard Mentor

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    I think he'll go to the Pels - they'd make a quantum leap with CP3.
     
  20. Chris Craig

    Chris Craig (Blazersland) I'm Your Huckleberry Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    Nowitski needs to retire and let the Mavs move on
     

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