[stepback3Participant]

Thoughts on what they should do.

Will they make the playoffs?

[omphalosParticipant]

At this rate? No.

Portland need to look to the future, because they are still young enough to inject a bit of youth and be strong for the next five years. However, Roy and Andre Miller need to go, because neither is going to bring the team a championship with Roy not at 100%, and Miller simply too old to be part of their long-term plan. Camby should be let go too so they can really embrace youth.

Give Rudy the minutes and make him feel at home, because he’s the closest thing they’ll have to a starting quality SG. Wes Matthews should be a sixth man at the 2/3.  Feature Batum more at the offensive end because his stroke is looking sweet, he’s a great defender and underrated scorer; he could be their go-to guy in the future because he’s still very young.

As far as Oden is concerned, keep him around if he can be had for a reasonable price, because Aldridge and a healthy Oden would be a big-man combo to match the size and length of the Lakers in the West and could be somewhat reminiscent of the Duncan-Robinson Spurs.

Also, McMillan needs to be dumped in favour of a coach who will embrace the fast break, because without Roy 100% to bail out bad possessions, this team isn’t strong enough in the half-court.

[omphalosParticipant]

At this rate? No.

Portland need to look to the future, because they are still young enough to inject a bit of youth and be strong for the next five years. However, Roy and Andre Miller need to go, because neither is going to bring the team a championship with Roy not at 100%, and Miller simply too old to be part of their long-term plan. Camby should be let go too so they can really embrace youth.

Give Rudy the minutes and make him feel at home, because he’s the closest thing they’ll have to a starting quality SG. Wes Matthews should be a sixth man at the 2/3.  Feature Batum more at the offensive end because his stroke is looking sweet, he’s a great defender and underrated scorer; he could be their go-to guy in the future because he’s still very young.

As far as Oden is concerned, keep him around if he can be had for a reasonable price, because Aldridge and a healthy Oden would be a big-man combo to match the size and length of the Lakers in the West and could be somewhat reminiscent of the Duncan-Robinson Spurs.

Also, McMillan needs to be dumped in favour of a coach who will embrace the fast break, because without Roy 100% to bail out bad possessions, this team isn’t strong enough in the half-court.

[omphalosParticipant]

At this rate? No.

Portland need to look to the future, because they are still young enough to inject a bit of youth and be strong for the next five years. However, Roy and Andre Miller need to go, because neither is going to bring the team a championship with Roy not at 100%, and Miller simply too old to be part of their long-term plan. Camby should be let go too so they can really embrace youth.

Give Rudy the minutes and make him feel at home, because he’s the closest thing they’ll have to a starting quality SG. Wes Matthews should be a sixth man at the 2/3.  Feature Batum more at the offensive end because his stroke is looking sweet, he’s a great defender and underrated scorer; he could be their go-to guy in the future because he’s still very young.

As far as Oden is concerned, keep him around if he can be had for a reasonable price, because Aldridge and a healthy Oden would be a big-man combo to match the size and length of the Lakers in the West and could be somewhat reminiscent of the Duncan-Robinson Spurs.

Also, McMillan needs to be dumped in favour of a coach who will embrace the fast break, because without Roy 100% to bail out bad possessions, this team isn’t strong enough in the half-court.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

It’s a little too soon to trade the franchise player and fire the coach…

They’ve invested too much into Roy and this core. And with Roy’s knee issues and brand new contract, he’s not going to be traded. Get used to him and his knees, because the Blazers have no choice but to ride it out with him and that contract they gave him.  

They’d be better off making a few moves that’ll keep them in contention for a playoff spot and hopefully advancing past the first round. They just need to make a few tweaks here and there, and continue to put players around Roy and Aldridge…

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

It’s a little too soon to trade the franchise player and fire the coach…

They’ve invested too much into Roy and this core. And with Roy’s knee issues and brand new contract, he’s not going to be traded. Get used to him and his knees, because the Blazers have no choice but to ride it out with him and that contract they gave him.  

They’d be better off making a few moves that’ll keep them in contention for a playoff spot and hopefully advancing past the first round. They just need to make a few tweaks here and there, and continue to put players around Roy and Aldridge…

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

It’s a little too soon to trade the franchise player and fire the coach…

They’ve invested too much into Roy and this core. And with Roy’s knee issues and brand new contract, he’s not going to be traded. Get used to him and his knees, because the Blazers have no choice but to ride it out with him and that contract they gave him.  

They’d be better off making a few moves that’ll keep them in contention for a playoff spot and hopefully advancing past the first round. They just need to make a few tweaks here and there, and continue to put players around Roy and Aldridge…

[HitsterParticipant]

Portland have a near $8 million team option on Andre Miller next year so have an obvious trading chip there if required, I’d assume that Roy and Aldridge stay as the core with Camby on board until they replace Oden or he gets fit. Big Priz needs to return before his future can be decided but he is likely to get MLE interest from somewhere next summer. Portland have some decent complimentary players like Matthews, Batum and potentially Babbitt already on board.

My obvious thought would be for them to look to get some of the first round stashers which Kevin Pritchard drafted over or use them as trade bait which with Miller’s expiring deal next year would be a good basis to take potential trades forward.

[HitsterParticipant]

Portland have a near $8 million team option on Andre Miller next year so have an obvious trading chip there if required, I’d assume that Roy and Aldridge stay as the core with Camby on board until they replace Oden or he gets fit. Big Priz needs to return before his future can be decided but he is likely to get MLE interest from somewhere next summer. Portland have some decent complimentary players like Matthews, Batum and potentially Babbitt already on board.

My obvious thought would be for them to look to get some of the first round stashers which Kevin Pritchard drafted over or use them as trade bait which with Miller’s expiring deal next year would be a good basis to take potential trades forward.

[HitsterParticipant]

Portland have a near $8 million team option on Andre Miller next year so have an obvious trading chip there if required, I’d assume that Roy and Aldridge stay as the core with Camby on board until they replace Oden or he gets fit. Big Priz needs to return before his future can be decided but he is likely to get MLE interest from somewhere next summer. Portland have some decent complimentary players like Matthews, Batum and potentially Babbitt already on board.

My obvious thought would be for them to look to get some of the first round stashers which Kevin Pritchard drafted over or use them as trade bait which with Miller’s expiring deal next year would be a good basis to take potential trades forward.

[mj23mj23besteverParticipant]

not sure what direction they should go they do have good young pieces in batum mathews and rudy

[mj23mj23besteverParticipant]

not sure what direction they should go they do have good young pieces in batum mathews and rudy

[mj23mj23besteverParticipant]

not sure what direction they should go they do have good young pieces in batum mathews and rudy

[dragons12Participant]

do not compare oden and aldridge to duncan and robinson that was a terrible comparison those two were great. a Phenomonal tandem these two dont even have the potentional too

[dragons12Participant]

do not compare oden and aldridge to duncan and robinson that was a terrible comparison those two were great. a Phenomonal tandem these two dont even have the potentional too

[dragons12Participant]

do not compare oden and aldridge to duncan and robinson that was a terrible comparison those two were great. a Phenomonal tandem these two dont even have the potentional too

[omphalosParticipant]

Of course they wouldn’t match the brilliance of Duncan and Robinson; I was just citing them as an example of a team that built around a PF/C combination. Also, try forming legible sentences before criticising others.

When will people realise that Portland overpaid for Matthews and that he isn’t a "good young piece", he’s too much of a chucker to be anything more than a minor role player on a championship team.

You’re right though IndianaBasketball; realistically, Roy isn’t going anywhere, but I doubt he’ll play out the remainder of his contract, it seems more likely that he’ll retire given the nature of his injury, he could be used as a trading chip in that scenario for a team that wants cap relief.

[omphalosParticipant]

Of course they wouldn’t match the brilliance of Duncan and Robinson; I was just citing them as an example of a team that built around a PF/C combination. Also, try forming legible sentences before criticising others.

When will people realise that Portland overpaid for Matthews and that he isn’t a "good young piece", he’s too much of a chucker to be anything more than a minor role player on a championship team.

You’re right though IndianaBasketball; realistically, Roy isn’t going anywhere, but I doubt he’ll play out the remainder of his contract, it seems more likely that he’ll retire given the nature of his injury, he could be used as a trading chip in that scenario for a team that wants cap relief.

[omphalosParticipant]

Of course they wouldn’t match the brilliance of Duncan and Robinson; I was just citing them as an example of a team that built around a PF/C combination. Also, try forming legible sentences before criticising others.

When will people realise that Portland overpaid for Matthews and that he isn’t a "good young piece", he’s too much of a chucker to be anything more than a minor role player on a championship team.

You’re right though IndianaBasketball; realistically, Roy isn’t going anywhere, but I doubt he’ll play out the remainder of his contract, it seems more likely that he’ll retire given the nature of his injury, he could be used as a trading chip in that scenario for a team that wants cap relief.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Na, they shouldn’t, that would just lead to bad things. But, I would seriously think about making some roster re-adjustments. It is so hard to do, because the problems the Blazers have right now all have more to do with health than actually ability. Unfortunately, they also have to do with health possibly hindering players ability (Roy/Oden). With Roy, it is looking more and more like he will never be the same athlete he was before, his knee is bone on bone and they can not fix that. So, it might even come down to possibly trading him, though at this point, knowing what we know, who would take him? So, now you have a player who is an injury waiting to happen playing at a fraction of his previous ability. The situation makes me feel sick to my stomach as a Blazer fan, and I can not think of any way to fix it other than either trading him, which I do not think is possible, or settling on a buy out, which I again do not think is possible. Nonetheless, this Roy situation is horrible, I feel extremely bad for B-Roy and kind of wonder why the Blazers did what they did knowing what Roy would be going through.

With Oden, it again appears that he may never be the player many thought he could be. Still, with the Blazers current situation with the salary cap and all things considered, I would take the risk and give him the ability to sign the player option. I know, it is 8.8 million, a ridiculous sum of money that people here would rant and rave about. But, under the Blazers current cap situation, they are not going to spend that money on anyone else, it is really Oden or nothing. For those who take nothing, you are relying on Joel Przybilla and Marcus Camby as the Center duo, something they will have to do this year regardless. However, if Greg Oden were indeed in the picture, and had the chance to play, I think the question of whether this team makes the play-offs would more than likely not exist. Having Greg Oden playing Center on your team will help your team win games, it takes a team on the fringe into the play-offs. When your teams expectations are low, and someone can make them higher, you take the risk. That is why I would risk 8.8 million dollars on Greg Oden if I am Paul Allen. Paul has already invested a great deal into Greg, and to me cutting his losses could lead to him missing out on something big. Also, if Greg does indeed play well, yet the Blazers struggle, he would be a trade chip and they would at least get something in return for him. While that something may not be much (It wouldn’t be, as Greg would be a UFA and teams probably would not risk signing him to a long term deal), it would be better than just letting him walk. After all, as much as people think he is done, he is only 22, and next year would be the same age as Sam Bowie when he entered the league.

The Blazers kind of confused me with the Jerryd Bayless deal, though they did get a first round pick out of it. Also, people may feel the Blazers do not possess as much young talent as they used to, but do not forget that they still have two young talented players who have yet to come to the NBA in Petteri Kopponen and Victor Claver. Rudy is someone I would more than likely trade, that is unless Brandon Roy flat out retires. I always thought their might be conflict in the Roy and Rudy situation, even to the point where they might have had to trade one or the other. Up until this year, I never thought I would be taking Rudy over Brandon, and I am still reluctant to with the way Rudy has acted. I always expected big things from Rudy, and while he has shown flashes, I truly believe that he will leave the NBA and head home. It is really too bad, but I do not think his heart is in the game here as much as it would be playing in Spain/Euroleague. If the Blazers truly wanted to go in to full out rebuilding mode, Aldridge would have to go as well. He would be traded for some young prospects and picks, but I would not go that far at this point.

Here are the players I think the Blazers should keep at this point, all things considered. I will rank them on who I most would want to keep:

1. Nicolas Batum: He is young, he is an advanced defender and he could blossom into a great SF. May never be an All-Star, but he is a glue guy and someone who you would want on your team and with all things considered, he might be the biggest asset the Blazers have at this point.

2. Wesley Matthews: People (Well, Mr. Knick) harped on the Blazers for signing him for the mid-level, but he has been worth every penny. After all, while 6.6 mill per season looks like a lot of money, it is pretty much an average NBA salary, and Matthews has played up to that most definitely. He is healthy, young and he plays well on both ends of the floor. Right now, for a team with the Blazers troubles, that is all you could ask for.

3. LaMarcus Aldridge: I did say earlier I might trade him, but that would only be if the Blazers completely wanted to start from scratch. Since I doubt they want to do that, LA is another guy you have to keep. He is super skilled as far as offense is concerned, and has seemed more willing to do some of the dirty work. He is not a first option and has yet to reach All-Star status, but with his length and size, he is usually right in there when matched up with the better PF’s in the league. He will more than likely never be a superstar, but I still think he could be a couple time All-Star.

Those are honestly the only 3 I would definitely keep at this point. Here are some young guys I would more than likely keep and take some time to see what they have to offer:

1. Armon Johnson: He seems to be a great back-up PG who can possibly defend either guard, to me he is a definite keeper at this point.

2. Luke Babbitt: Has more potential than the above listed Johnson, just have no idea who he defends. He is extremely skilled on the offensive side of the ball, but he might be a classic tweener in regards to defense, which usually is the reason tweener gets handed out as a lable.

3. Victor Claver: I knew it would be a while for him to come over, and I was hoping it would be in 2011-12, which it very well could be. I know he has a lot of potential, but I kind of have a feeling he is a tweener as well. Still, I am excited for him to come over and think he will more than likely contribute immediately at either forward spot, though the Blazers have been dying for a solid back-up 4. I do not think Claver is that back-up 4, but he should contribute.

4. Elliot Williams: He was after all the Blazers first pick in the draft (though Babbitt technically went higher, though he was acquired through the Webster trade) and his season was derailed due to injury. I still would want to see him play for the Blazers and know what people were so high on. I know he is a great athlete and played very well for Memphis, my hope is he could be a good combo guard and provide a spark for the Blazers second unit.

5. Patty Mills: Yes, he is still a Blazer. No, I do not know where he fits into the Blazers future. But, I always had high hopes for Patty, he is a fiery player and has played excellent ball in international competition. Coach K was extremely high on the way he played in the ’08 Olympics, and for good reason as he took it too J-Kidd and Chris Paul. Of course he is a smaller guard, so defense could be a concern, and right now Andre Miller has PG on lock. Still, would like to see Mills get a chance as a rotation guy, should be fun to watch.

After those 5, there are some younger players who I might want to trade. Again, will rank them in order of who I feel has the most value. They unfortunately do not have much:

1. Rudy Fernandez: I remember someone once saying that Darko and Rudy were somewhat in parrallel situations. That if Rudy were traded to a team that gave him more minutes, that all would be solved. I still disagree that this is the case. Darko came to the NBA at the age of 17-18. He had played relatively little major league basketball and was a raw prospect. Over his first few years, he was ostracized and beaten down to the point that he must have questioned his ability. By last year, Darko decided that after Mike D’Antoni, a coach who’s system seemed to be perfect for a player of Darko’s skill set, removed him from the rotation, that Darko had no place in the league. He said he would go home to play, where he would at least have the chance to do so. Than, Darko was traded to the Timberwolves, and they took an interest in him, played him and he changed his mind. Rudy, on the other hand is not Darko.

Rudy Fernandez came to the NBA when he was 23, he was a star for his teams in both Euroleague and even MVP of Eurocup. He was also a star on a talented Spanish national team, dude dunked on Dwight Howard before he even played an NBA game. In Rudy Fernandez’s mind, he is a superstar. He definitely cares about winning, about team play, but I also think he wants to be a huge part of that and believes he should be. Unfortunately, first he had Brandon Roy to contend with, and now he has himself. He has yet to ever step up to the occasion, he has played nearly 24 minutes per game, if he were to sign somewhere else and play 28-30, would he really be that much more happy? His minutes are down this year, and he has played along pretty well, so maybe someone will take a shot at making him happy. But, I truly think Rudy will bolt to Spain after the 2011-12 season is done. It is his perogative and it means the NBA loses out on a pretty exciting player, and the Blazers probably lose the most in this likely scenario.

2. Petteri Kopponen: Could be a good trade chip if the Blazers do not want to bring him in. Showed flashes of solid play two years ago in Vegas Summer League, looked even more NBA ready than Nicolas Batum. But, he has spent the past three years playing in Italy and have not heard much. Could be he never wears a Blazers uniform.

3. Dante Cunningham: I really like him as a player and he has been a good rotation guy, but I really wonder if he has a future on the Blazers. He is definitely a tweener in my opinion, and probably has little trade value, so I think the Blazers keep him. Still, feel he might be on another team this time next year lockout pending.

4. Joel Freeland: Anyway…..

Here are the top players the Blazers need to make a decision on. These guys could be traded, or just straight up not resigned. I will rank this in terms of risk:

1. Greg Oden: Easily the biggest risk. I know his track record. We all do, signing him even for a season is a huge gamble. If Paul Allen were Don Sterling, there is no doubt Greg would be gone. But, he is Paul Allen, the guy has never had trouble paying players or taking gambles. Unfortunately, many of those have been losses, but mainly due to attitude. I do not think Greg Oden’s attitude has had anything to do with his injuries and that he really wants to get back and for all intensive purposes, should have a chance to do so. Nonetheless, this would be the biggest question for the Blazers, do they cut Oden loose to rebuild or do they keep him and see if he could become a rebuilding aid? Huge gamble, biggest decision the Blazers have going into the future.

2. Brandon Roy: I rated him as the 3rd best SG in the league for the past couple seasons, and I had every indication that he would remain so. That is, until you hear he has no meniscus and his knee’s will never be fixed. He is playing bone on bone, which will lead to constant pain and an undoubted loss of considerable athleticism. Even for a player as smart as Roy, who many think relies more on his brain than on his athleticism, this is a gigantic blow. He will not run as fast, or jump as high, he will not be able to withstand as many minues and he will be at constant risk to miss a huge slot of games. Now, I know people have more faith in Brandon than Greg Oden, but Greg Oden does not even have a medical synopsis of this gratitude. With Greg, he could indeed rebuild back to his old levels and may be able to play like his old self, even with these past injuries (though again, it is doubtful, but doctors have yet to find something that makes this keep happening to him). With Brandon, we have been told he will never be the same. That means, he will not be a perrenial All-Star and go-to guy for the Blazers, at least not close to the level he was the past couple years. What the hell do the Blazers do? He is in the first year of a contract that will pay him at least 64 million over the next 4 years (and that 4th year is a player option for 17 mill, he is not turning that down).

Brandon will still be a role player, still be a good player, but you are not hingeing your franchise to that. He is making franchise player money and it turns out that he will not be that barring a miracle. This is another huge decision for the Blazers ultimately. I feel terrible for Brandon, the guy worked his butt off to get to where he is and this problem with his body is just crushing. This will be a huge decision for Brandon Roy and the Blazers, I say there is no way the Blazers trade Roy and I do not think Roy will retire as long as he can play, which might be for a long time coming still. Granted he will not be at his past level, but that did not stop Grant Hill from staying in the league. Roy, like Hill, could keep his former team (talking about the Magic in Grant’s case) in pergatory for a long time due to injuries and lack of salary cap space due to his major contract. It is truly a Blazer fans worst nightmare, and I think it is even worse to think about than the Oden situation. Brandon has yet to face these injuries however, which is why he is at 2.

3. Andre Miller: The most likely on this list to be traded, that is for sure. His option next year is a Team Option, which means he could still be an FA at the end of this year. I love him as a floor leader, and feel he has been great for the team, but the question is, can we use him? This question ultimately goes along with the Blazers goals, and since those goals have gone away from being a team that could ultimately compete with the best in the western conference if healthy, Andre might be a player the Blazers could stand to lose. To me, Miller’s value was based on the Blazers having everyone healthy and competing at a high level, and with the recent loss of Greg Oden and the horrible news about Brandon Roy, that is not at all happening. This could mean that the Blazers indeed ship Miller for some future gains, and he now becomes the Blazer player most likely to be traded. Lord knows where Andre ends up, but where ever he goes, that team is getting a winner. The Blazers on the other hand might want to focus less on winning games and more on the future, which is of course rebuilding a team. The loss of Andre would all but doom the Blazers play-off hopes more than likely for the next two seasons, but it might be a neccessary step in acquiring some pieces to rebuild the Blazers into contention in the future.

4. Marcus Camby: I do not think Marcus is going anywhere, but he again is an older player with a huge contract coming off the books in a relatively short period of time. He will be 38 by the time his deal is wrapped up, and he was never the most durable of players. I think his days as one of the better Centers in the league are over, but he is still a valuable role player on most any team out there. The fact that he makes about 9 mill per season and his age might mean he has very little trade value, but he is someone the Blazers might want to make a decision about come next year (2011-12). Still, do not see him being traded this year unless they just want to completely implode the team.

5. Joel Przybilla: Fan favorite, maybe should be ranked ahead of Camby seeing that he is in the last year of his deal, but I do not see him being traded. He is 31 and he has been a trusted work man for the Blazers. I have never loved Joel as a player, but he is defense and rebounding which the Blazers could sorely use. He truly is one of the few true Centers left in the league and uses his size very well. If he had any semblance of an offensive game, he might indeed be an All-Star, but, he definitely is not even close. Still, 7 mill coming off the books for a servicable big man, maybe some team will bite? Not to mention, do the Blazers want to sign the 31 year old Joel to a contract re-up in the 7-8 million per year range? Scary thought, definitely something the Blazers need to think about.

 

Well, there is my long, drawn out synopsis of the Blazers. Thoughts and comments are appreciated, but this provides a landscape on what the Blazers should be thinking about. I think the 8 spot in the West is totally up for grabs and if the Blazers stay in tact, they could indeed lose to the Lakers in the first round (Unless the Spurs do actually keep up there incredibly high level of play, which I say does not happen and the Lakers still finish with the best record in the West, with San Antonio being pretty close behind at 2 or 3). Still love the Blazers, hope all of the best for them, but right now, it is not a pretty picture. It is not often that a team with this much young talent loses its window of opportunity this quickly, but what team with this much potential has gone through what the Blazers have had to deal with in horrible injuries? I am sure there are some, but it truly is a dark time for Blazers fans. The one upside is that we have an owner willing to spend money and still have some talented young players who could turn out to be solid. Other than that, I would not want to be in Rich Cho’s shoes right now.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Na, they shouldn’t, that would just lead to bad things. But, I would seriously think about making some roster re-adjustments. It is so hard to do, because the problems the Blazers have right now all have more to do with health than actually ability. Unfortunately, they also have to do with health possibly hindering players ability (Roy/Oden). With Roy, it is looking more and more like he will never be the same athlete he was before, his knee is bone on bone and they can not fix that. So, it might even come down to possibly trading him, though at this point, knowing what we know, who would take him? So, now you have a player who is an injury waiting to happen playing at a fraction of his previous ability. The situation makes me feel sick to my stomach as a Blazer fan, and I can not think of any way to fix it other than either trading him, which I do not think is possible, or settling on a buy out, which I again do not think is possible. Nonetheless, this Roy situation is horrible, I feel extremely bad for B-Roy and kind of wonder why the Blazers did what they did knowing what Roy would be going through.

With Oden, it again appears that he may never be the player many thought he could be. Still, with the Blazers current situation with the salary cap and all things considered, I would take the risk and give him the ability to sign the player option. I know, it is 8.8 million, a ridiculous sum of money that people here would rant and rave about. But, under the Blazers current cap situation, they are not going to spend that money on anyone else, it is really Oden or nothing. For those who take nothing, you are relying on Joel Przybilla and Marcus Camby as the Center duo, something they will have to do this year regardless. However, if Greg Oden were indeed in the picture, and had the chance to play, I think the question of whether this team makes the play-offs would more than likely not exist. Having Greg Oden playing Center on your team will help your team win games, it takes a team on the fringe into the play-offs. When your teams expectations are low, and someone can make them higher, you take the risk. That is why I would risk 8.8 million dollars on Greg Oden if I am Paul Allen. Paul has already invested a great deal into Greg, and to me cutting his losses could lead to him missing out on something big. Also, if Greg does indeed play well, yet the Blazers struggle, he would be a trade chip and they would at least get something in return for him. While that something may not be much (It wouldn’t be, as Greg would be a UFA and teams probably would not risk signing him to a long term deal), it would be better than just letting him walk. After all, as much as people think he is done, he is only 22, and next year would be the same age as Sam Bowie when he entered the league.

The Blazers kind of confused me with the Jerryd Bayless deal, though they did get a first round pick out of it. Also, people may feel the Blazers do not possess as much young talent as they used to, but do not forget that they still have two young talented players who have yet to come to the NBA in Petteri Kopponen and Victor Claver. Rudy is someone I would more than likely trade, that is unless Brandon Roy flat out retires. I always thought their might be conflict in the Roy and Rudy situation, even to the point where they might have had to trade one or the other. Up until this year, I never thought I would be taking Rudy over Brandon, and I am still reluctant to with the way Rudy has acted. I always expected big things from Rudy, and while he has shown flashes, I truly believe that he will leave the NBA and head home. It is really too bad, but I do not think his heart is in the game here as much as it would be playing in Spain/Euroleague. If the Blazers truly wanted to go in to full out rebuilding mode, Aldridge would have to go as well. He would be traded for some young prospects and picks, but I would not go that far at this point.

Here are the players I think the Blazers should keep at this point, all things considered. I will rank them on who I most would want to keep:

1. Nicolas Batum: He is young, he is an advanced defender and he could blossom into a great SF. May never be an All-Star, but he is a glue guy and someone who you would want on your team and with all things considered, he might be the biggest asset the Blazers have at this point.

2. Wesley Matthews: People (Well, Mr. Knick) harped on the Blazers for signing him for the mid-level, but he has been worth every penny. After all, while 6.6 mill per season looks like a lot of money, it is pretty much an average NBA salary, and Matthews has played up to that most definitely. He is healthy, young and he plays well on both ends of the floor. Right now, for a team with the Blazers troubles, that is all you could ask for.

3. LaMarcus Aldridge: I did say earlier I might trade him, but that would only be if the Blazers completely wanted to start from scratch. Since I doubt they want to do that, LA is another guy you have to keep. He is super skilled as far as offense is concerned, and has seemed more willing to do some of the dirty work. He is not a first option and has yet to reach All-Star status, but with his length and size, he is usually right in there when matched up with the better PF’s in the league. He will more than likely never be a superstar, but I still think he could be a couple time All-Star.

Those are honestly the only 3 I would definitely keep at this point. Here are some young guys I would more than likely keep and take some time to see what they have to offer:

1. Armon Johnson: He seems to be a great back-up PG who can possibly defend either guard, to me he is a definite keeper at this point.

2. Luke Babbitt: Has more potential than the above listed Johnson, just have no idea who he defends. He is extremely skilled on the offensive side of the ball, but he might be a classic tweener in regards to defense, which usually is the reason tweener gets handed out as a lable.

3. Victor Claver: I knew it would be a while for him to come over, and I was hoping it would be in 2011-12, which it very well could be. I know he has a lot of potential, but I kind of have a feeling he is a tweener as well. Still, I am excited for him to come over and think he will more than likely contribute immediately at either forward spot, though the Blazers have been dying for a solid back-up 4. I do not think Claver is that back-up 4, but he should contribute.

4. Elliot Williams: He was after all the Blazers first pick in the draft (though Babbitt technically went higher, though he was acquired through the Webster trade) and his season was derailed due to injury. I still would want to see him play for the Blazers and know what people were so high on. I know he is a great athlete and played very well for Memphis, my hope is he could be a good combo guard and provide a spark for the Blazers second unit.

5. Patty Mills: Yes, he is still a Blazer. No, I do not know where he fits into the Blazers future. But, I always had high hopes for Patty, he is a fiery player and has played excellent ball in international competition. Coach K was extremely high on the way he played in the ’08 Olympics, and for good reason as he took it too J-Kidd and Chris Paul. Of course he is a smaller guard, so defense could be a concern, and right now Andre Miller has PG on lock. Still, would like to see Mills get a chance as a rotation guy, should be fun to watch.

After those 5, there are some younger players who I might want to trade. Again, will rank them in order of who I feel has the most value. They unfortunately do not have much:

1. Rudy Fernandez: I remember someone once saying that Darko and Rudy were somewhat in parrallel situations. That if Rudy were traded to a team that gave him more minutes, that all would be solved. I still disagree that this is the case. Darko came to the NBA at the age of 17-18. He had played relatively little major league basketball and was a raw prospect. Over his first few years, he was ostracized and beaten down to the point that he must have questioned his ability. By last year, Darko decided that after Mike D’Antoni, a coach who’s system seemed to be perfect for a player of Darko’s skill set, removed him from the rotation, that Darko had no place in the league. He said he would go home to play, where he would at least have the chance to do so. Than, Darko was traded to the Timberwolves, and they took an interest in him, played him and he changed his mind. Rudy, on the other hand is not Darko.

Rudy Fernandez came to the NBA when he was 23, he was a star for his teams in both Euroleague and even MVP of Eurocup. He was also a star on a talented Spanish national team, dude dunked on Dwight Howard before he even played an NBA game. In Rudy Fernandez’s mind, he is a superstar. He definitely cares about winning, about team play, but I also think he wants to be a huge part of that and believes he should be. Unfortunately, first he had Brandon Roy to contend with, and now he has himself. He has yet to ever step up to the occasion, he has played nearly 24 minutes per game, if he were to sign somewhere else and play 28-30, would he really be that much more happy? His minutes are down this year, and he has played along pretty well, so maybe someone will take a shot at making him happy. But, I truly think Rudy will bolt to Spain after the 2011-12 season is done. It is his perogative and it means the NBA loses out on a pretty exciting player, and the Blazers probably lose the most in this likely scenario.

2. Petteri Kopponen: Could be a good trade chip if the Blazers do not want to bring him in. Showed flashes of solid play two years ago in Vegas Summer League, looked even more NBA ready than Nicolas Batum. But, he has spent the past three years playing in Italy and have not heard much. Could be he never wears a Blazers uniform.

3. Dante Cunningham: I really like him as a player and he has been a good rotation guy, but I really wonder if he has a future on the Blazers. He is definitely a tweener in my opinion, and probably has little trade value, so I think the Blazers keep him. Still, feel he might be on another team this time next year lockout pending.

4. Joel Freeland: Anyway…..

Here are the top players the Blazers need to make a decision on. These guys could be traded, or just straight up not resigned. I will rank this in terms of risk:

1. Greg Oden: Easily the biggest risk. I know his track record. We all do, signing him even for a season is a huge gamble. If Paul Allen were Don Sterling, there is no doubt Greg would be gone. But, he is Paul Allen, the guy has never had trouble paying players or taking gambles. Unfortunately, many of those have been losses, but mainly due to attitude. I do not think Greg Oden’s attitude has had anything to do with his injuries and that he really wants to get back and for all intensive purposes, should have a chance to do so. Nonetheless, this would be the biggest question for the Blazers, do they cut Oden loose to rebuild or do they keep him and see if he could become a rebuilding aid? Huge gamble, biggest decision the Blazers have going into the future.

2. Brandon Roy: I rated him as the 3rd best SG in the league for the past couple seasons, and I had every indication that he would remain so. That is, until you hear he has no meniscus and his knee’s will never be fixed. He is playing bone on bone, which will lead to constant pain and an undoubted loss of considerable athleticism. Even for a player as smart as Roy, who many think relies more on his brain than on his athleticism, this is a gigantic blow. He will not run as fast, or jump as high, he will not be able to withstand as many minues and he will be at constant risk to miss a huge slot of games. Now, I know people have more faith in Brandon than Greg Oden, but Greg Oden does not even have a medical synopsis of this gratitude. With Greg, he could indeed rebuild back to his old levels and may be able to play like his old self, even with these past injuries (though again, it is doubtful, but doctors have yet to find something that makes this keep happening to him). With Brandon, we have been told he will never be the same. That means, he will not be a perrenial All-Star and go-to guy for the Blazers, at least not close to the level he was the past couple years. What the hell do the Blazers do? He is in the first year of a contract that will pay him at least 64 million over the next 4 years (and that 4th year is a player option for 17 mill, he is not turning that down).

Brandon will still be a role player, still be a good player, but you are not hingeing your franchise to that. He is making franchise player money and it turns out that he will not be that barring a miracle. This is another huge decision for the Blazers ultimately. I feel terrible for Brandon, the guy worked his butt off to get to where he is and this problem with his body is just crushing. This will be a huge decision for Brandon Roy and the Blazers, I say there is no way the Blazers trade Roy and I do not think Roy will retire as long as he can play, which might be for a long time coming still. Granted he will not be at his past level, but that did not stop Grant Hill from staying in the league. Roy, like Hill, could keep his former team (talking about the Magic in Grant’s case) in pergatory for a long time due to injuries and lack of salary cap space due to his major contract. It is truly a Blazer fans worst nightmare, and I think it is even worse to think about than the Oden situation. Brandon has yet to face these injuries however, which is why he is at 2.

3. Andre Miller: The most likely on this list to be traded, that is for sure. His option next year is a Team Option, which means he could still be an FA at the end of this year. I love him as a floor leader, and feel he has been great for the team, but the question is, can we use him? This question ultimately goes along with the Blazers goals, and since those goals have gone away from being a team that could ultimately compete with the best in the western conference if healthy, Andre might be a player the Blazers could stand to lose. To me, Miller’s value was based on the Blazers having everyone healthy and competing at a high level, and with the recent loss of Greg Oden and the horrible news about Brandon Roy, that is not at all happening. This could mean that the Blazers indeed ship Miller for some future gains, and he now becomes the Blazer player most likely to be traded. Lord knows where Andre ends up, but where ever he goes, that team is getting a winner. The Blazers on the other hand might want to focus less on winning games and more on the future, which is of course rebuilding a team. The loss of Andre would all but doom the Blazers play-off hopes more than likely for the next two seasons, but it might be a neccessary step in acquiring some pieces to rebuild the Blazers into contention in the future.

4. Marcus Camby: I do not think Marcus is going anywhere, but he again is an older player with a huge contract coming off the books in a relatively short period of time. He will be 38 by the time his deal is wrapped up, and he was never the most durable of players. I think his days as one of the better Centers in the league are over, but he is still a valuable role player on most any team out there. The fact that he makes about 9 mill per season and his age might mean he has very little trade value, but he is someone the Blazers might want to make a decision about come next year (2011-12). Still, do not see him being traded this year unless they just want to completely implode the team.

5. Joel Przybilla: Fan favorite, maybe should be ranked ahead of Camby seeing that he is in the last year of his deal, but I do not see him being traded. He is 31 and he has been a trusted work man for the Blazers. I have never loved Joel as a player, but he is defense and rebounding which the Blazers could sorely use. He truly is one of the few true Centers left in the league and uses his size very well. If he had any semblance of an offensive game, he might indeed be an All-Star, but, he definitely is not even close. Still, 7 mill coming off the books for a servicable big man, maybe some team will bite? Not to mention, do the Blazers want to sign the 31 year old Joel to a contract re-up in the 7-8 million per year range? Scary thought, definitely something the Blazers need to think about.

 

Well, there is my long, drawn out synopsis of the Blazers. Thoughts and comments are appreciated, but this provides a landscape on what the Blazers should be thinking about. I think the 8 spot in the West is totally up for grabs and if the Blazers stay in tact, they could indeed lose to the Lakers in the first round (Unless the Spurs do actually keep up there incredibly high level of play, which I say does not happen and the Lakers still finish with the best record in the West, with San Antonio being pretty close behind at 2 or 3). Still love the Blazers, hope all of the best for them, but right now, it is not a pretty picture. It is not often that a team with this much young talent loses its window of opportunity this quickly, but what team with this much potential has gone through what the Blazers have had to deal with in horrible injuries? I am sure there are some, but it truly is a dark time for Blazers fans. The one upside is that we have an owner willing to spend money and still have some talented young players who could turn out to be solid. Other than that, I would not want to be in Rich Cho’s shoes right now.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Na, they shouldn’t, that would just lead to bad things. But, I would seriously think about making some roster re-adjustments. It is so hard to do, because the problems the Blazers have right now all have more to do with health than actually ability. Unfortunately, they also have to do with health possibly hindering players ability (Roy/Oden). With Roy, it is looking more and more like he will never be the same athlete he was before, his knee is bone on bone and they can not fix that. So, it might even come down to possibly trading him, though at this point, knowing what we know, who would take him? So, now you have a player who is an injury waiting to happen playing at a fraction of his previous ability. The situation makes me feel sick to my stomach as a Blazer fan, and I can not think of any way to fix it other than either trading him, which I do not think is possible, or settling on a buy out, which I again do not think is possible. Nonetheless, this Roy situation is horrible, I feel extremely bad for B-Roy and kind of wonder why the Blazers did what they did knowing what Roy would be going through.

With Oden, it again appears that he may never be the player many thought he could be. Still, with the Blazers current situation with the salary cap and all things considered, I would take the risk and give him the ability to sign the player option. I know, it is 8.8 million, a ridiculous sum of money that people here would rant and rave about. But, under the Blazers current cap situation, they are not going to spend that money on anyone else, it is really Oden or nothing. For those who take nothing, you are relying on Joel Przybilla and Marcus Camby as the Center duo, something they will have to do this year regardless. However, if Greg Oden were indeed in the picture, and had the chance to play, I think the question of whether this team makes the play-offs would more than likely not exist. Having Greg Oden playing Center on your team will help your team win games, it takes a team on the fringe into the play-offs. When your teams expectations are low, and someone can make them higher, you take the risk. That is why I would risk 8.8 million dollars on Greg Oden if I am Paul Allen. Paul has already invested a great deal into Greg, and to me cutting his losses could lead to him missing out on something big. Also, if Greg does indeed play well, yet the Blazers struggle, he would be a trade chip and they would at least get something in return for him. While that something may not be much (It wouldn’t be, as Greg would be a UFA and teams probably would not risk signing him to a long term deal), it would be better than just letting him walk. After all, as much as people think he is done, he is only 22, and next year would be the same age as Sam Bowie when he entered the league.

The Blazers kind of confused me with the Jerryd Bayless deal, though they did get a first round pick out of it. Also, people may feel the Blazers do not possess as much young talent as they used to, but do not forget that they still have two young talented players who have yet to come to the NBA in Petteri Kopponen and Victor Claver. Rudy is someone I would more than likely trade, that is unless Brandon Roy flat out retires. I always thought their might be conflict in the Roy and Rudy situation, even to the point where they might have had to trade one or the other. Up until this year, I never thought I would be taking Rudy over Brandon, and I am still reluctant to with the way Rudy has acted. I always expected big things from Rudy, and while he has shown flashes, I truly believe that he will leave the NBA and head home. It is really too bad, but I do not think his heart is in the game here as much as it would be playing in Spain/Euroleague. If the Blazers truly wanted to go in to full out rebuilding mode, Aldridge would have to go as well. He would be traded for some young prospects and picks, but I would not go that far at this point.

Here are the players I think the Blazers should keep at this point, all things considered. I will rank them on who I most would want to keep:

1. Nicolas Batum: He is young, he is an advanced defender and he could blossom into a great SF. May never be an All-Star, but he is a glue guy and someone who you would want on your team and with all things considered, he might be the biggest asset the Blazers have at this point.

2. Wesley Matthews: People (Well, Mr. Knick) harped on the Blazers for signing him for the mid-level, but he has been worth every penny. After all, while 6.6 mill per season looks like a lot of money, it is pretty much an average NBA salary, and Matthews has played up to that most definitely. He is healthy, young and he plays well on both ends of the floor. Right now, for a team with the Blazers troubles, that is all you could ask for.

3. LaMarcus Aldridge: I did say earlier I might trade him, but that would only be if the Blazers completely wanted to start from scratch. Since I doubt they want to do that, LA is another guy you have to keep. He is super skilled as far as offense is concerned, and has seemed more willing to do some of the dirty work. He is not a first option and has yet to reach All-Star status, but with his length and size, he is usually right in there when matched up with the better PF’s in the league. He will more than likely never be a superstar, but I still think he could be a couple time All-Star.

Those are honestly the only 3 I would definitely keep at this point. Here are some young guys I would more than likely keep and take some time to see what they have to offer:

1. Armon Johnson: He seems to be a great back-up PG who can possibly defend either guard, to me he is a definite keeper at this point.

2. Luke Babbitt: Has more potential than the above listed Johnson, just have no idea who he defends. He is extremely skilled on the offensive side of the ball, but he might be a classic tweener in regards to defense, which usually is the reason tweener gets handed out as a lable.

3. Victor Claver: I knew it would be a while for him to come over, and I was hoping it would be in 2011-12, which it very well could be. I know he has a lot of potential, but I kind of have a feeling he is a tweener as well. Still, I am excited for him to come over and think he will more than likely contribute immediately at either forward spot, though the Blazers have been dying for a solid back-up 4. I do not think Claver is that back-up 4, but he should contribute.

4. Elliot Williams: He was after all the Blazers first pick in the draft (though Babbitt technically went higher, though he was acquired through the Webster trade) and his season was derailed due to injury. I still would want to see him play for the Blazers and know what people were so high on. I know he is a great athlete and played very well for Memphis, my hope is he could be a good combo guard and provide a spark for the Blazers second unit.

5. Patty Mills: Yes, he is still a Blazer. No, I do not know where he fits into the Blazers future. But, I always had high hopes for Patty, he is a fiery player and has played excellent ball in international competition. Coach K was extremely high on the way he played in the ’08 Olympics, and for good reason as he took it too J-Kidd and Chris Paul. Of course he is a smaller guard, so defense could be a concern, and right now Andre Miller has PG on lock. Still, would like to see Mills get a chance as a rotation guy, should be fun to watch.

After those 5, there are some younger players who I might want to trade. Again, will rank them in order of who I feel has the most value. They unfortunately do not have much:

1. Rudy Fernandez: I remember someone once saying that Darko and Rudy were somewhat in parrallel situations. That if Rudy were traded to a team that gave him more minutes, that all would be solved. I still disagree that this is the case. Darko came to the NBA at the age of 17-18. He had played relatively little major league basketball and was a raw prospect. Over his first few years, he was ostracized and beaten down to the point that he must have questioned his ability. By last year, Darko decided that after Mike D’Antoni, a coach who’s system seemed to be perfect for a player of Darko’s skill set, removed him from the rotation, that Darko had no place in the league. He said he would go home to play, where he would at least have the chance to do so. Than, Darko was traded to the Timberwolves, and they took an interest in him, played him and he changed his mind. Rudy, on the other hand is not Darko.

Rudy Fernandez came to the NBA when he was 23, he was a star for his teams in both Euroleague and even MVP of Eurocup. He was also a star on a talented Spanish national team, dude dunked on Dwight Howard before he even played an NBA game. In Rudy Fernandez’s mind, he is a superstar. He definitely cares about winning, about team play, but I also think he wants to be a huge part of that and believes he should be. Unfortunately, first he had Brandon Roy to contend with, and now he has himself. He has yet to ever step up to the occasion, he has played nearly 24 minutes per game, if he were to sign somewhere else and play 28-30, would he really be that much more happy? His minutes are down this year, and he has played along pretty well, so maybe someone will take a shot at making him happy. But, I truly think Rudy will bolt to Spain after the 2011-12 season is done. It is his perogative and it means the NBA loses out on a pretty exciting player, and the Blazers probably lose the most in this likely scenario.

2. Petteri Kopponen: Could be a good trade chip if the Blazers do not want to bring him in. Showed flashes of solid play two years ago in Vegas Summer League, looked even more NBA ready than Nicolas Batum. But, he has spent the past three years playing in Italy and have not heard much. Could be he never wears a Blazers uniform.

3. Dante Cunningham: I really like him as a player and he has been a good rotation guy, but I really wonder if he has a future on the Blazers. He is definitely a tweener in my opinion, and probably has little trade value, so I think the Blazers keep him. Still, feel he might be on another team this time next year lockout pending.

4. Joel Freeland: Anyway…..

Here are the top players the Blazers need to make a decision on. These guys could be traded, or just straight up not resigned. I will rank this in terms of risk:

1. Greg Oden: Easily the biggest risk. I know his track record. We all do, signing him even for a season is a huge gamble. If Paul Allen were Don Sterling, there is no doubt Greg would be gone. But, he is Paul Allen, the guy has never had trouble paying players or taking gambles. Unfortunately, many of those have been losses, but mainly due to attitude. I do not think Greg Oden’s attitude has had anything to do with his injuries and that he really wants to get back and for all intensive purposes, should have a chance to do so. Nonetheless, this would be the biggest question for the Blazers, do they cut Oden loose to rebuild or do they keep him and see if he could become a rebuilding aid? Huge gamble, biggest decision the Blazers have going into the future.

2. Brandon Roy: I rated him as the 3rd best SG in the league for the past couple seasons, and I had every indication that he would remain so. That is, until you hear he has no meniscus and his knee’s will never be fixed. He is playing bone on bone, which will lead to constant pain and an undoubted loss of considerable athleticism. Even for a player as smart as Roy, who many think relies more on his brain than on his athleticism, this is a gigantic blow. He will not run as fast, or jump as high, he will not be able to withstand as many minues and he will be at constant risk to miss a huge slot of games. Now, I know people have more faith in Brandon than Greg Oden, but Greg Oden does not even have a medical synopsis of this gratitude. With Greg, he could indeed rebuild back to his old levels and may be able to play like his old self, even with these past injuries (though again, it is doubtful, but doctors have yet to find something that makes this keep happening to him). With Brandon, we have been told he will never be the same. That means, he will not be a perrenial All-Star and go-to guy for the Blazers, at least not close to the level he was the past couple years. What the hell do the Blazers do? He is in the first year of a contract that will pay him at least 64 million over the next 4 years (and that 4th year is a player option for 17 mill, he is not turning that down).

Brandon will still be a role player, still be a good player, but you are not hingeing your franchise to that. He is making franchise player money and it turns out that he will not be that barring a miracle. This is another huge decision for the Blazers ultimately. I feel terrible for Brandon, the guy worked his butt off to get to where he is and this problem with his body is just crushing. This will be a huge decision for Brandon Roy and the Blazers, I say there is no way the Blazers trade Roy and I do not think Roy will retire as long as he can play, which might be for a long time coming still. Granted he will not be at his past level, but that did not stop Grant Hill from staying in the league. Roy, like Hill, could keep his former team (talking about the Magic in Grant’s case) in pergatory for a long time due to injuries and lack of salary cap space due to his major contract. It is truly a Blazer fans worst nightmare, and I think it is even worse to think about than the Oden situation. Brandon has yet to face these injuries however, which is why he is at 2.

3. Andre Miller: The most likely on this list to be traded, that is for sure. His option next year is a Team Option, which means he could still be an FA at the end of this year. I love him as a floor leader, and feel he has been great for the team, but the question is, can we use him? This question ultimately goes along with the Blazers goals, and since those goals have gone away from being a team that could ultimately compete with the best in the western conference if healthy, Andre might be a player the Blazers could stand to lose. To me, Miller’s value was based on the Blazers having everyone healthy and competing at a high level, and with the recent loss of Greg Oden and the horrible news about Brandon Roy, that is not at all happening. This could mean that the Blazers indeed ship Miller for some future gains, and he now becomes the Blazer player most likely to be traded. Lord knows where Andre ends up, but where ever he goes, that team is getting a winner. The Blazers on the other hand might want to focus less on winning games and more on the future, which is of course rebuilding a team. The loss of Andre would all but doom the Blazers play-off hopes more than likely for the next two seasons, but it might be a neccessary step in acquiring some pieces to rebuild the Blazers into contention in the future.

4. Marcus Camby: I do not think Marcus is going anywhere, but he again is an older player with a huge contract coming off the books in a relatively short period of time. He will be 38 by the time his deal is wrapped up, and he was never the most durable of players. I think his days as one of the better Centers in the league are over, but he is still a valuable role player on most any team out there. The fact that he makes about 9 mill per season and his age might mean he has very little trade value, but he is someone the Blazers might want to make a decision about come next year (2011-12). Still, do not see him being traded this year unless they just want to completely implode the team.

5. Joel Przybilla: Fan favorite, maybe should be ranked ahead of Camby seeing that he is in the last year of his deal, but I do not see him being traded. He is 31 and he has been a trusted work man for the Blazers. I have never loved Joel as a player, but he is defense and rebounding which the Blazers could sorely use. He truly is one of the few true Centers left in the league and uses his size very well. If he had any semblance of an offensive game, he might indeed be an All-Star, but, he definitely is not even close. Still, 7 mill coming off the books for a servicable big man, maybe some team will bite? Not to mention, do the Blazers want to sign the 31 year old Joel to a contract re-up in the 7-8 million per year range? Scary thought, definitely something the Blazers need to think about.

 

Well, there is my long, drawn out synopsis of the Blazers. Thoughts and comments are appreciated, but this provides a landscape on what the Blazers should be thinking about. I think the 8 spot in the West is totally up for grabs and if the Blazers stay in tact, they could indeed lose to the Lakers in the first round (Unless the Spurs do actually keep up there incredibly high level of play, which I say does not happen and the Lakers still finish with the best record in the West, with San Antonio being pretty close behind at 2 or 3). Still love the Blazers, hope all of the best for them, but right now, it is not a pretty picture. It is not often that a team with this much young talent loses its window of opportunity this quickly, but what team with this much potential has gone through what the Blazers have had to deal with in horrible injuries? I am sure there are some, but it truly is a dark time for Blazers fans. The one upside is that we have an owner willing to spend money and still have some talented young players who could turn out to be solid. Other than that, I would not want to be in Rich Cho’s shoes right now.

[Ghost01Participant]

The Blazers are introuble thanks to the Roy injury.

It shows why this guy fell in the draft.

At this point, rebuild, and try to reload. There biggest mistake, in my opinion was in 08-09 when they had a 12 man deep team that was young and everyone was screaming for them to package 3-4 guys to put them over the top.

But they made the mistake the Bulls made earlier this decade and the Thunder might make in the coming years.

They wanted them to "mature". They were good then. They didnt need to mature, they just needed to trade Fernandez and some others to acquire a star to put next to Roy, Aldridge and the ghost of Greg Oden. They failed to do this, got killed in the playoffs, lost out on Hedo and Odom in free agency, and are now doomed for the lottery. Rebuild.

[Ghost01Participant]

The Blazers are introuble thanks to the Roy injury.

It shows why this guy fell in the draft.

At this point, rebuild, and try to reload. There biggest mistake, in my opinion was in 08-09 when they had a 12 man deep team that was young and everyone was screaming for them to package 3-4 guys to put them over the top.

But they made the mistake the Bulls made earlier this decade and the Thunder might make in the coming years.

They wanted them to "mature". They were good then. They didnt need to mature, they just needed to trade Fernandez and some others to acquire a star to put next to Roy, Aldridge and the ghost of Greg Oden. They failed to do this, got killed in the playoffs, lost out on Hedo and Odom in free agency, and are now doomed for the lottery. Rebuild.

[Ghost01Participant]

The Blazers are introuble thanks to the Roy injury.

It shows why this guy fell in the draft.

At this point, rebuild, and try to reload. There biggest mistake, in my opinion was in 08-09 when they had a 12 man deep team that was young and everyone was screaming for them to package 3-4 guys to put them over the top.

But they made the mistake the Bulls made earlier this decade and the Thunder might make in the coming years.

They wanted them to "mature". They were good then. They didnt need to mature, they just needed to trade Fernandez and some others to acquire a star to put next to Roy, Aldridge and the ghost of Greg Oden. They failed to do this, got killed in the playoffs, lost out on Hedo and Odom in free agency, and are now doomed for the lottery. Rebuild.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Except for Odom and Hedo. The Blazers had little to no chance at Odom, and they dodged a bullet big time with Hedo. Other than that, they do need to rebuild, just so glad they do not have to do so with Hedo still on the books. 

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Except for Odom and Hedo. The Blazers had little to no chance at Odom, and they dodged a bullet big time with Hedo. Other than that, they do need to rebuild, just so glad they do not have to do so with Hedo still on the books. 

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Except for Odom and Hedo. The Blazers had little to no chance at Odom, and they dodged a bullet big time with Hedo. Other than that, they do need to rebuild, just so glad they do not have to do so with Hedo still on the books. 

[Ghost01Participant]

Im not saying Hedo would have helped, Im just saying it was a complete failure of an offseason.

There most notable move was forcing Utah to match the Millsap deal.

[Ghost01Participant]

Im not saying Hedo would have helped, Im just saying it was a complete failure of an offseason.

There most notable move was forcing Utah to match the Millsap deal.

[Ghost01Participant]

Im not saying Hedo would have helped, Im just saying it was a complete failure of an offseason.

There most notable move was forcing Utah to match the Millsap deal.

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