Ducks Attack Message Board Forum

pezsez1 wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 1:14 pm

“Jrue Holiday is a big part of what we’ve got going … I want to let him know I’m going to continue putting him in positions to be successful.”

That's coach speak for, "You're coming off the bench, but you'll still have a big role."

Maybe I'm wrong and Ja's coming off the bench. But Coach Nori already said Dame will be starting and finishing games.

The part you left out of the quote was the most interesting part:

"Jrue Holiday is a big part of what we’ve got going, And I just want to let him know that I’m going to continue putting him in positions to be successful, and that he’s earned the right to talk to me about what he is comfortable doing.”

Kind of an interesting note of deference. I would say this is actually coach-speak for "I know who the actual leader on this team is, and I am going out of my way to seek his opinion before I start implementing my coaching strategy".

https://www.nba.com/blazers/videos/jrue ... ed-respect

Phalanx wrote: Thu Jul 02, 2026 1:13 pm I am glad they passed on Brown; his contract was way too big and it would have screwed up the salary cap management for several years. I remember thinking when he got that deal that the Celtics would eventually implode under the weight of it. Being Brad Steven's continual outlet for salary cap relief gets old. I never got the Brown thing anyway - doesn't he play Deni's position? Giannis actually filled a need, but Brown would have had a smaller impact.

One conclusion I think we can draw from seeing the final cost for Brown is that Dundon isn't taking his draft capital lightly. That is good to see. He rebuilt the Hurricanes largely through the draft and reclamation projects, and he is employing the same strategy with the Blazers by holding onto his picks and converting bad contracts into Ja Morant. I am a huge fan of this approach. The Blazers have criminally under-prioritized the draft in past years.

Ie drafting a tall unathletic C from China, because they hoped and prayed he would be YMing,

buckmarkduck wrote: Thu Jul 02, 2026 6:55 pm

Phalanx wrote: Thu Jul 02, 2026 1:13 pm I am glad they passed on Brown; his contract was way too big and it would have screwed up the salary cap management for several years. I remember thinking when he got that deal that the Celtics would eventually implode under the weight of it. Being Brad Steven's continual outlet for salary cap relief gets old. I never got the Brown thing anyway - doesn't he play Deni's position? Giannis actually filled a need, but Brown would have had a smaller impact.

One conclusion I think we can draw from seeing the final cost for Brown is that Dundon isn't taking his draft capital lightly. That is good to see. He rebuilt the Hurricanes largely through the draft and reclamation projects, and he is employing the same strategy with the Blazers by holding onto his picks and converting bad contracts into Ja Morant. I am a huge fan of this approach. The Blazers have criminally under-prioritized the draft in past years.

Ie drafting a tall unathletic C from China, because they hoped and prayed he would be YMing,

Thankfully Mike Schmitz is no longer with the team. I'm still hoping Dundon eventually moves on from Cronin and company.

Phalanx wrote: Thu Jul 02, 2026 1:13 pm I am glad they passed on Brown; his contract was way too big and it would have screwed up the salary cap management for several years. I remember thinking when he got that deal that the Celtics would eventually implode under the weight of it. Being Brad Steven's continual outlet for salary cap relief gets old. I never got the Brown thing anyway - doesn't he play Deni's position? Giannis actually filled a need, but Brown would have had a smaller impact.

You need multiple guys to compete against Thunder/Spurs. If you were serious about taking a step forward you add Brown. Blazers had the cap space to manage his contract with no issues. I think this signals a slow rebuild.

Boom wrote: Fri Jul 03, 2026 1:11 am
You need multiple guys to compete against Thunder/Spurs. If you were serious about taking a step forward you add Brown. Blazers had the cap space to manage his contract with no issues. I think this signals a slow rebuild.

This is nonsense. Brown couldn't even get his team out of the first round this year. He just isn't as good as you are making him out to be. You do need multiple guys to compete, which is why you don't sell out all of your draft capital and salary cap for one guy. The Lillard years should have taught fans that giving everything for one sub-par star is not the way to field a contending team. You mention the Thunder/ Spurs - both teams got to where they are by drafting well, not handing over all their picks to somebody else.

The Blazers put in an offer for Brown, and the Celtics tried to squeeze them for more picks. When the Blazers pulled out, the market for Brown dropped and the Celtics had to drop the price. The Blazers didn't have Grant's contract to trade anymore and the Celtics didn't want Jrue back, so there wasn't a deal to make at that point. End of story. You are mad about a slow rebuild. The Blazers haven't been good since the Rasheed Wallace years. I will take ANY rebuild at this point.