Maybe, but he didn't, so I just can't hate him for giving it one more shot. I agree it was stupid of him to think he could play again, but I don't hate him for it. If I was Paul Allen I would be pissed as he couldn't collect on the insurance, but I doubt it hurt the Blazers much in terms of cap space. Yes we could have used the amnesty on someone else, but no one else had that big of contract. And as you have pointed out many times, it's not like it kept us from landing a big time free agent.
Qyntel Woods -- marginal player that flashed at times, but dogfighting just is something I can never personally forgive. If you were to ask me who I could instantly erase from Blazer history books, it would be Qyntel Woods.
Thought of him, but there were those who "deserved" more. Now, if you want to say personal least favorite, it's Bonzi.
Great off season topic. I really don't have a choice but it is interesting to view the forum choices.
For me, assuming the definitions above....... Least Talent: LaRue Martin (other than directly playing versus Bill Walton) Did Least with Talents: Sheed (he had the talent to be so much more than he ever was IMO) Greatest disappointment: Greg Oden/Sam Bowie Worst attitude/behavior: Sheed/Stoudamire/Woods/Felton/Walter Berry Left team with most bad feelings: Bill Walton (2 years after MVP season, MVP Finals, Championship Ring)(Aldridge not even close!!) Most over-the-hill /fat contract /nothing left: Shawn Kemp
To me, WBE would have to involve badmouthing the team/fans/state. Not many have, but there have some. No, I don't count Rider's (or whoever's) delusional quote about "people hanging from the trees."
We gave up Barton, Robinsom, and a pick and having nothing to show for it. The starting backcourt of Damon/Rider got us to the WCF so I don't think they belong on this list. Furthermore, Kemp played pretty well when Sheed was out.
Great list. I agree totally except for classifying Bowie as a "biggest disappointment". He started out fairly well in Portland and gave us way more than Oden. Plus, injuries aside, he had a reasonably "long" career in the league. But most importantly, we turned him into Buck Williams, still one of the best trades in Blazer history. To call Bowie a big disappointment is rather harsh.....I mean, it's not like we coulda had Michael Jordan or anything....
Kemp was on cocaine when he played for us. Rider (regardless of his acheivements) was a complete ass and never represented us well. Damon.... Should I really have to say anything about him? I don't think there's a person in here who likes him...
Eric, that might be better as the worst trade ever, but just because you trade a bunch of people away for someone that didn't get a shot and then opted out, doesn't make him the worst Blazer... at least not in my opinion.
The trade for Afflalo was absolutely the right move to make. Just like the trade for Felton was absolutely the right move to make. Wes blowing his Achilles made the former not work out, and Brandon waiting until the last possible moment to retire turned the latter into a fiasco. I don't blame Afflalo even a little bit for not being Wesley Matthews, he may not have played particularly well but it wasn't for lack of effort. I do blame Felton for showing up fatter than me and then sandbagging once things got rough.
The bolded is exactly my response, too, Eric. You can't look at hindsight to tell you trades are bad. Unfortunate, perhaps. But the bad (worst ever?) it will, and should never be, considered that. Afflalo came in here to be the 6th man, and nothing more. But he had to be something more, and with no time during the season for practice and cohesion... I mean, it's really a no brainer.
