An example would be Ibaka. Not under contract long term, but an ideal third guy the team needs, on both ends of the court. Would cost a first round pick. Would be a risky move, not safe. Safe has been Olshey for about two years now. The only real risky move he's made was the Afflalo trade, and even if it didn't work out, it was one of my favorite moves he's made. I remember thinking in the games after the trade "ok this team looks like a contender." Then Wes went down.
If this team wants to secure a spot in the playoffs, a move that improves the team on the margins w/o giving up one of our first rounders would be ideal and probably enough to get it done unless Denver decides to make a splash. So I guess small move or nothing would be my prediction. And honestly, I'm fine with that. Teams have bad years and bounce back w/o making any radical changes (see Wizards, unless you think Brooks is making that big of a difference). This is not a time to be reactionary and it's not like this team has a clear path to any sort of serious contention over the next couple years. Continue to slowly improve the team, hope that Dame and CJ have a little room left in their ceilings and maybe you hit on one or both of your draft picks this year.
I just think we kind of look too far back at pieces for a rebuild...I'd bet the front office is looking at youth to be the game changers more than vets...finding that undrafted Wes Mathews or Kawai Leonard from the minor league...seems to me the direction Olshey and Allen have taken..just don't see them wanting to get older until Golden State's run is over. I do think Olshey has an eye for finding talent outside the box and less talent at attracting a proven vet to Portland
era to era I never really give up on the Blazers but from time to time just get less invested in the team...these guys are easy to like and cheer for but far from my favorite rosters over 40 years
Ibaka for Biebs and Harkless clears $21 mil off the books for next year, which we will use to pay Ibaka.
Trading Harkless back to Orlando after having him for a Top 55 protected 2nd rounder would be élite trolling from NeO.
No, you're going to end up paying Plumlee even more...if you bring in Ibaka...you have to trade Plumlee's expiring contract or risk him walking for nothing...is it worth swapping them? Not sure. Either way losing Harkless for Ibaka gives us a log jam of bigs and leaves us weak at SF rotations...Meyers...sure . If you moved Meyers and Ezeli's expiring contract plus a pick or project...you'd keep Plumlee and Ibaka and that would be a good pairing...I'd rather lose Ed than Mason at this point
No...none at all. He's brought entirely new meaning to "let it bake". The injury to Evan Turner doesn't give him a pass to just sit. Make the team better, Neil!
Exactly. Wait til the summer! Then in the summer it'll be wait til the trade deadline! That's how a GM runs out the clock on his contract if his owner is stupid enough. It's time to make moves. We went into the season with an unbalanced roster. Enough sitting around. The holes that were there in the summer are still there now.
