Duck07 wrote:I think the NBA should reject Cousins contract with GS or the Players Association should be having serious issues with this as that's clearly not open market value for him. Or they should let Portland play a few games in Maine each season and put them in the Eastern Conference.
No other team reached out to him with a higher offer. He wont be back until January at the earliest so why would teams pay him a multi year deal if they dont know who he will perform when he comes back?
GS is great at finding value and that shouldnt be a bad thing.
So, the Warriors, with 5 M just added another All Star, while the Blazers couldn't even keep Ed Davis for 4 M. The West will be even better next season, it's hard to project the Blazers doing better than 7 or 8, and the Lottery is better than that, so nothing is going to happen. UNLESS the Blazers trade Lillard & McCollum.
"That's crazy, you can't do that!!!" Why not? Last season was as good as this team as constructed was going to get...and it was swept in the first round, primarily because NO's backcourt had its way wth Lillard & McCollum. That being said, whatever value the Blazers have in L & M, is their trade value. As the years go by, it only decreases,until the two of them just walk away as Free Agents, and the Blazers get nothing for them. A pair of trades now, gets the Blazers some players to build a team around that might be able to contend when Golden State's reign may at least be starting to decline.
this is what the blazers are going to look like until Oshey and Allen are no longer connected
to them. The decision making is just pathetic and it starts at the top.
So the Blazers are going to miss the playoffs because Golden State and LA got better? And DeMarcus Cousins signing with Golden State for well under market rate is a sign of our GM's ineptitude? Interesting thoughts....
I would argue that trying to make a splash right now is probably the worst thing you can do. With Golden State having literally 5 all-stars in their starting lineup, winning immediately is a pipe dream unless Portland can attract not 1, but 3 more all-stars to the PNW. Not happening.
If everything went the Blazers' way, we'd still be 3rd in the west, at best (that's GS 1, Houston 2, Zers, LA 4). I don't know what all the crying is over. Trying to win in 2018-19 is not a worthwhile endeavor.
Portland got lucky to get the 3rd spot last year as they were the team that had by far the least amount of injuries in the NW Division. Portland could easily have been as far down as the 9th seed since only 3 games separated the Blazers from last-place Denver. With all the moves that have been made by other Western Conference teams, Portland is not a lock to make the playoffs, they've yet to really address the issues they had against NO in the playoffs, and they're pushing real close to the luxury tax with no real way to push up past teams ahead of them.
Duck07 wrote:I think the NBA should reject Cousins contract with GS or the Players Association should be having serious issues with this as that's clearly not open market value for him. Or they should let Portland play a few games in Maine each season and put them in the Eastern Conference.
Rumor is no one else was offering him any better. Hes a cancer and coming off an Achilles injury.
greenyellow wrote:Portland got lucky to get the 3rd spot last year as they were the team that had by far the least amount of injuries in the NW Division. Portland could easily have been as far down as the 9th seed since only 3 games separated the Blazers from last-place Denver. With all the moves that have been made by other Western Conference teams, Portland is not a lock to make the playoffs, they've yet to really address the issues they had against NO in the playoffs, and they're pushing real close to the luxury tax with no real way to push up past teams ahead of them.
Portland was a Lillard career hot streak away from being 10th or worse in the West. That winning streak was awesome to watch as a fan but always thought it would come back to bite them. Instead of drafting a guy like Michael Porter or being in a position to trade up, they had to take a flier on a guy they hope pans out and makes them look good.
duckfan22 wrote:this is what the blazers are going to look like until Oshey and Allen are no longer connected
to them. The decision making is just pathetic and it starts at the top.
Now Allen is the issue? Portland wouldn't have a team without Allen. A big part of the problem is African America s dont want to relocate to a city full of wannabe hipsters and weirdo hippies.
duckfan22 wrote:this is what the blazers are going to look like until Oshey and Allen are no longer connected
to them. The decision making is just pathetic and it starts at the top.
Now Allen is the issue? Portland wouldn't have a team without Allen. A big part of the problem is African America s dont want to relocate to a city full of wannabe hipsters and weirdo hippies.
He's just part of the problem. He's not afraid to spend money. It's hiring people like oshey. Portland sucks as town.
The lack of African-Americans might be a problem, the funky liberal culture is not. After all, look how attractive the Bay Area has proven to be to a whole bunch of superstars. Sneer at those cities all you want, there not nearly as unattractive to most people as you think.
duckfan22 wrote:this is what the blazers are going to look like until Oshey and Allen are no longer connected
to them. The decision making is just pathetic and it starts at the top.
Now Allen is the issue? Portland wouldn't have a team without Allen. A big part of the problem is African America s dont want to relocate to a city full of wannabe hipsters and weirdo hippies.
Not that I don't agree to some extent, but...well...Golden State isn't exactly bereft of those elements. I know the Blazers will likely never get LeBron-type players coming in free agency, but there is something to be said for drafting well and managing the cap. Imagine if the Blazers had $15 - $20 million to spend in the current environment. They could get stocked at every position, hipsters or no hipsters. Instead, they are paying almost $40 million to Leonard, Harkless, and Turner, guys (or their equivalents) that couldeasily have been had for half that amount.
StevensTechU wrote:So the Blazers are going to miss the playoffs because Golden State and LA got better? And DeMarcus Cousins signing with Golden State for well under market rate is a sign of our GM's ineptitude? Interesting thoughts....
I would argue that trying to make a splash right now is probably the worst thing you can do. With Golden State having literally 5 all-stars in their starting lineup, winning immediately is a pipe dream unless Portland can attract not 1, but 3 more all-stars to the PNW. Not happening.
If everything went the Blazers' way, we'd still be 3rd in the west, at best (that's GS 1, Houston 2, Zers, LA 4). I don't know what all the crying is over. Trying to win in 2018-19 is not a worthwhile endeavor.
No crying. Just suggesting that the Blazers do something, while they can. Agree that its a pipe dream that that the Blazers will win/ attract FA's, for 2018, 19, or any other time. The only way that Portland can get stars is by trading, or drafting them. The only trade possibilities are Lillard & McCollum. Together, the best that Portland can get from this team is last season. Lillard was just named NBA First Team, he is at his peak level now, a trade for multiple players, draft picks is possible. McCollum is approaching his plateau for what he could attract in a trade. This is not a plan to make a big splash now; it is a way to actually create a team that could become a contender in the next 3-4 years.
buckmarkduck wrote:Golden State sucked for decades. Then they drafted Curry, Thompson and Green, and then won a title. That's what attracted other players.
Also, Curry hurt his Ankles and signed a cheap deal because no one would give him a big one. Some really perfect circumstances.
All that said, we need someone with Mario's personality to sell Portland to FA. I never thought I'd say this, but at this point I'd welcome Whitsett(sp) back. At least he could sign fa.
