https://www.blazersland.com/what-are-the-options-now/ "Portland has, at various times, been linked in discussion to Dwight Howard, Hassan Whiteside, Paul Milsap, Pau Gasol, Bismack Biyombo, Ian Mahinmi, Al Jefferson and Cole Aldrich. Are you sensing a theme?" How many big man options are left via free agency? An old Pau and an unproductive Festus?
Rumors and wishes isn't the same as being linked. People wished and fantasized that we would go after Whiteside and Howard, that doesn't mean we actually did.
The only remaining option is for Paul Allen to move the team to Seattle. Whats that? We aren't doing that joke anymore? Well shit, I guess I shouldn't work as much as I do.
Find someone young, big, and cheap who can play D fo for 12 minutes a game. (More against bigger teams) Essentially a Hassan Whiteside when he was begging for teams to sign him. Groom someone for 2-3 years down the road. I think Plums will get better, and if Davis reaches his goal and gets a little bigger, or if Leonard improves we will be fine. Hell maybe Alexander with his 9'1.5" standing reach can be that guy. (That is taller than Meyers Leonard) The real key is finding the right PF to add to the mix. Hopefully it is a Vonleh/Aminu tandem. But of course that depends on Vonleh improving with age.
A trade is the only way forward I can see to taking the next step. Sure, maybe one of Vonleh, Leonard or whoever has some unforeseen leap left in them and they become great interior scorers or aggressive post players but that's probably not the way to bet. Honestly I would seriously entertain the idea of trading CJ and somebody (or multiple somebodies) for Cousins . . . assuming you could even get Sacramento to go for it. Let me be clear, it would be a Huge, huge risk that it blows up in their faces, but he's got enormous talent (to go with enormous ego and volatility) and he's probably finally ripe for a trade. You just have to hope that the environment is stable enough to endure the inevitable headaches and that you're comfortable rolling the ball out with Turner as your starting 2 guard and you bring back Crabbe to back him up or play Turner at the 3 in smaller lineups with Crabbe starting at the 2.
Linked can be through many different forms and on different levels. Otherwise the only player we would be linked to is Turner and I'm guessing that isn't the only player Neil inquired about, researched or discussed.
I think now we hope Minnesota gets Pau and needs to dump Dieng, who we scoop with whatever we can get for Plumee (maybe a first rounder from good team that wants to bring back limited salary?). Then re-sign Crabbe, Harmless, and Leonard. Lillard/McCollum McCollum/Turner Crabbe/Turner/Aminu Aminu/Harkless Dieng/Leonard
