NBA/Blazers Off-Season

[squintsdd]

lopez likely far exceeds withey's most optimistic ceiling. that was a great trade from a personel standpoint. you can't say no when someone offers a starting-caliber center and only demands a second round pick. let's not be crazy.

I couldn't disagree more. Withey was a defensive standout that could rebound. Lopez could do neither of those things, and certainly isn't starting caliber.

I do agree that you can't say no when someone offers you a starting caliber center for a second round pick though

if any of this was true, withey would still be a trail blazer.

Flashback to jermaine o'neil and tell me that the blazers don't have a history of giving up too soon. Or for some more recent Kenneth farried

[oregontrack]

well, different regimes and different circumstances.

like i said, withey's ceiling in the nba is journeyman reserve big. lopez is a starting-caliber center. there's really not much to say. withey's biggest specialization looks to be blocking shots. i tell you what, if withey ever averages more blocks/game than lopez did last year i owe you a coke.

[squintsdd]

well, different regimes and different circumstances.

like i said, withey's ceiling in the nba is journeyman reserve big. lopez is a starting-caliber center. there's really not much to say. withey's biggest specialization looks to be blocking shots. i tell you what, if withey ever averages more blocks/game than lopez did last year i owe you a coke.

Different regimes? You do know Farried was a rookie last year

[greenyellow]

well, different regimes and different circumstances.

like i said, withey's ceiling in the nba is journeyman reserve big. lopez is a starting-caliber center. there's really not much to say. withey's biggest specialization looks to be blocking shots. i tell you what, if withey ever averages more blocks/game than lopez did last year i owe you a coke.

Different regimes? You do know Farried was a rookie last year

It was Faried's 2nd season last year. He was rookie in the same class as Nolan Smith.

[Duck24]

well, different regimes and different circumstances.

like i said, withey's ceiling in the nba is journeyman reserve big. lopez is a starting-caliber center. there's really not much to say. withey's biggest specialization looks to be blocking shots. i tell you what, if withey ever averages more blocks/game than lopez did last year i owe you a coke.

Different regimes? You do know Farried was a rookie last year

No he wasn't. He was a part of the Ray Felton trade, drafted in 2011.

[Boom]

well, different regimes and different circumstances.

like i said, withey's ceiling in the nba is journeyman reserve big. lopez is a starting-caliber center. there's really not much to say. withey's biggest specialization looks to be blocking shots. i tell you what, if withey ever averages more blocks/game than lopez did last year i owe you a coke.

I think you're way overselling Lopez.

I have no problem with the trade though... but I think Lopez is more of a back up than a starter.

The only real way this could be a bad trade is if there was a better move they could have made with Lopez's salary.

[UOducksTK1]

well, different regimes and different circumstances.

like i said, withey's ceiling in the nba is journeyman reserve big. lopez is a starting-caliber center. there's really not much to say. withey's biggest specialization looks to be blocking shots. i tell you what, if withey ever averages more blocks/game than lopez did last year i owe you a coke.

I think you're way overselling Lopez.

I have no problem with the trade though... but I think Lopez is more of a back up than a starter.

The only real way this could be a bad trade is if there was a better move they could have made with Lopez's salary.

Agreed.

[squintsdd]

well, different regimes and different circumstances.

like i said, withey's ceiling in the nba is journeyman reserve big. lopez is a starting-caliber center. there's really not much to say. withey's biggest specialization looks to be blocking shots. i tell you what, if withey ever averages more blocks/game than lopez did last year i owe you a coke.

Different regimes? You do know Farried was a rookie last year

It was Faried's 2nd season last year. He was rookie in the same class as Nolan Smith.

I stand corrected. Either way, I think Withey would have more to offer in time than Lopez. Lopez is not a game changer that will get Portland anywhere in the playoffs. Hell, he's not even a game changer that will get Portland into the playoffs

[Duck07]

Lopez isn't going to "move the needle" as some have alluded to, nor does he have to for this move to work either short or long-term. For starters, he's 2 years older than Withey. If you think that in 2 years time that Withey is going to be better than Lopez than you must also believe that Leonard will surpass Lopez by seasons end (Leonard would have been a lottery pick this year, is more talented and if you project that kind of improvement for Withey than you better do it on the others). Lopez has also never been paired next to a PF as talented as LMA and I think if he stays, it could be an example of the sum being greater than the whole of its parts.

A lot of people are upset because of the cap-space that is now gone. Well, what offer that has been accepted do you think Portland should have made? Maynor? Not with CJ McCollum on the team to play that combo guard role now. Iggy? Not for the length/cost. Take a flier on Bynum? Other than finding a cheap 3 and D wing, I don't think any moves will be made until mid-season on this team because I think the ultimate goal of these small moves is to put together a bigger trade at some point and this has clearly been lost on most every analysis I've seen.

[oregontrack]

well, different regimes and different circumstances.

like i said, withey's ceiling in the nba is journeyman reserve big. lopez is a starting-caliber center. there's really not much to say. withey's biggest specialization looks to be blocking shots. i tell you what, if withey ever averages more blocks/game than lopez did last year i owe you a coke.

Different regimes? You do know Farried was a rookie last year

i was pretty clearly referring to whitsett trading o'neal for dale davis, since passing on faried for nolan smith isn't really the same thing. besides, if you believe the rumors, denver wanted us to pass on faried in order to complete the andre miller/ray felton deal.

[oregontrack]

well, different regimes and different circumstances.

like i said, withey's ceiling in the nba is journeyman reserve big. lopez is a starting-caliber center. there's really not much to say. withey's biggest specialization looks to be blocking shots. i tell you what, if withey ever averages more blocks/game than lopez did last year i owe you a coke.

I think you're way overselling Lopez.

I have no problem with the trade though... but I think Lopez is more of a back up than a starter.

The only real way this could be a bad trade is if there was a better move they could have made with Lopez's salary.

// shrug. i'm not sure how i'm overselling anything. the only thing i've said about lopez is that he's going to start for us, and he had his best season ever last year. both of these things are true. get back to me on this when you catch me predicting all star nods.

[oregontrack]

well, different regimes and different circumstances.

like i said, withey's ceiling in the nba is journeyman reserve big. lopez is a starting-caliber center. there's really not much to say. withey's biggest specialization looks to be blocking shots. i tell you what, if withey ever averages more blocks/game than lopez did last year i owe you a coke.

Different regimes? You do know Farried was a rookie last year

It was Faried's 2nd season last year. He was rookie in the same class as Nolan Smith.

I stand corrected. Either way, I think Withey would have more to offer in time than Lopez. Lopez is not a game changer that will get Portland anywhere in the playoffs. Hell, he's not even a game changer that will get Portland into the playoffs

but withey WILL be a game changer who will get portland into the playoffs?

he's a giant project and he's only, like, two years younger than lopez. with very rare exceptions, older centers who come out of college with absolutely zero offensive game or skill do not make a dent in this league. as i said, his celing doesn't even reach where robin lopez is already at, and despite boom protesting the opposite, i'm not saying lopez is any kind of goofy, 7-foot savant.

[greenyellow]

Portland has signed Dorrell Wright to a 2-year, $6 million contract. Good back-up SF. Portland now has roughly $400K, the mid-level exception, and a veteran's minimum to sign possibly 2 more players, likely a 3rd string PG and C.

[squintsdd]

well, different regimes and different circumstances.

like i said, withey's ceiling in the nba is journeyman reserve big. lopez is a starting-caliber center. there's really not much to say. withey's biggest specialization looks to be blocking shots. i tell you what, if withey ever averages more blocks/game than lopez did last year i owe you a coke.

Different regimes? You do know Farried was a rookie last year

It was Faried's 2nd season last year. He was rookie in the same class as Nolan Smith.

I stand corrected. Either way, I think Withey would have more to offer in time than Lopez. Lopez is not a game changer that will get Portland anywhere in the playoffs. Hell, he's not even a game changer that will get Portland into the playoffs

but withey WILL be a game changer who will get portland into the playoffs?

he's a giant project and he's only, like, two years younger than lopez. with very rare exceptions, older centers who come out of college with absolutely zero offensive game or skill do not make a dent in this league. as i said, his celing doesn't even reach where robin lopez is already at, and despite boom protesting the opposite, i'm not saying lopez is any kind of goofy, 7-foot savant.

Never said Withey would be a game changer, I only implied that he would serve a better purpose than Lopez. I see no point in trading for Lopez, who is NOT starting caliber and has zero defensive skills besides blocking a few shots, when you have a rookie that is known for his defensive abilities already. If blocking shots is what you consider the only thing needed to be a good defender you are seriously mistaken. There is no offense that is needed from our Center position, Portland already has plenty of offensive tools and acquired another one with CJ.

Is Withey a project? Yes, but he's a project that could be more suited for Portland's needs than Lopez is.

While many are saying Lopez had his best year last year I argue back, does 5.6 rebounds from a 25 year old 7 footer really sell you on this guy? Portland desperatley needs guys that can defend and rebound, and he provides neither

[Boom]

Lopez isn't going to "move the needle" as some have alluded to, nor does he have to for this move to work either short or long-term. For starters, he's 2 years older than Withey. If you think that in 2 years time that Withey is going to be better than Lopez than you must also believe that Leonard will surpass Lopez by seasons end (Leonard would have been a lottery pick this year, is more talented and if you project that kind of improvement for Withey than you better do it on the others). Lopez has also never been paired next to a PF as talented as LMA and I think if he stays, it could be an example of the sum being greater than the whole of its parts.

A lot of people are upset because of the cap-space that is now gone. Well, what offer that has been accepted do you think Portland should have made? Maynor? Not with CJ McCollum on the team to play that combo guard role now. Iggy? Not for the length/cost. Take a flier on Bynum? Other than finding a cheap 3 and D wing, I don't think any moves will be made until mid-season on this team because I think the ultimate goal of these small moves is to put together a bigger trade at some point and this has clearly been lost on most every analysis I've seen.

I think that pretty much sums up the Blazers off-season

The Blazers built themselves a 2nd unit. So hopefully the starters wont have to lead the league in minutes played for a 2nd season in a row.

I think this off-season will ultimately be judged by the development of Thomas Robinson. Once they took on his salary.. I think Robin Lopez was the best we could have hoped for at center.