Blazers 2008/2009

by danevan on Oct 29, 2007 12:10 AM PDT

While the 2007/2008 is just starting to gear up, I can't help but be excited for the up-coming off-season and how its going to effect the team for years to come.
First, no matter how upsetting it was to lose Oden for the year, it may turn out to be a blessing in disguise. With the loss of Oden due to injury and Randolph via trade, LMA is almost alone as a scoring option in the low post. Combining that with the fact that he has recently been named team captain results in a lot of pressure on him this season to perform on the court as well as mature into a leader on the team. If he can embrace his opportunity this season we could be seeing a whole new LMA a year from now.
In a similar situation is Martell. Following his strong pre-season he has earned a starting spot on the roster and should be in line to make some serious progress this season with the new minutes he will be receiving. As long as he can work hard, listen to his coaches and improve on the consistency he could also be destined for big things in the following years.
Roy had an amazing rookie season and has already established himself as a premier player and a leader, any improvement from him this season would be gravy.
While all this sounds very promising it is still quite unlikely for a successful season this year. I don't want to sound like a downer, but it we don't finish in the bottom 10 in the league I will be fairly surprised.
The positive side of this is that we still do have our first round draft pick. It's a long shot, but can you imagine the blazers landing Derrick Rose or OJ Mayo in June? Any point guard issues for the future would be sorted out.
Combining a solid draft pick with the return of a even stronger Greg Oden, assuming he will have spent the last 8 months working out (rememeber how shredded amare was after his year away with the micro-fracture?), the addition of what could be an instant impact player off the bench in Rudy Fernandez, and possibly new face aquired through free-agency if KP decides to splash in the market (isn't chris paul on that list this year?), could all lead to a very big jump for the blazers next year. Im even thiking leagues most imroved team of 2008/2009.
A starting unit of Oden, LMA, Martell, Roy, and Blake.
Second line of JP, Frye, Outlaw, Rudy and JJ.
And thats not even considering what we pick up in the draft/free agency.
Im excited already. watch out mavs...

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Just say no to OJ

I'll take Derrick though. If we don't get a top 3 pick, i'd use it on a big man. maybe one of the stanford twins?

by BlazerBandit on Oct 29, 2007 1:07 AM PDT reply actions

draft

I think I would take derrick over OJ as well, havent seen either of them play, but from what I read about them he seems like he would be a better fit on the team, a few other promising PGs in the first round as well. As for bigs, its looks like a deep draft for them, could find a quality player in the mid-first round forsure.

by danevan on Oct 29, 2007 1:29 AM PDT reply actions

Not enough space for OJ's ego....

The kid has got more game than words in the dictionary but the word ego fills up half the pages. OJ's a 2 guard and I'm doubting he would get the PT to make him happy playing behind Roy. Given the Blazers' outlook this year, I don't foresee another top 5 pick unless Portland is blessed with another lottery miracle. If we do get a high enough pick to land OJ, my guess would be that KP uses the spot as trade leverage.

by PtownJake on Oct 29, 2007 6:49 AM PDT reply actions

I don't see a lottery pick in the future either

assuming Roy and LMA stay healthy.

by leeroyjenkins on Oct 29, 2007 7:52 AM PDT reply actions

Don't forget...

We're getting at least one lottery pick next year in former European Player of the Year Rudy Fernandez...

My honest guess is that next year's pick is dealt. Maybe not, depending on how high it is, but with Joel Freeland and Rudy Fernandez still waiting in Europe, it's tough to find roster space.

I suppose, we'll know more about Darius Miles next off-season and hopefully, we'll know whether or not our young guys (Green and McRoberts) will be around for the long haul.

This is the first time ever I've legitimately felt bad contemplating which person in our 15 man roster is next to go.

by Champs2009 on Oct 29, 2007 8:49 AM PDT reply actions

I feel bad but...

Miles - out
Blake - out
Green - out
McRoberts - we'll see
Outlaw or JJ1- out

Those are my picks. I figure outlaw or JJ1 is the guy we'll need to include in order to get rid of others. I haven't seen the brains I want from him yet Outlaw yet. When he starts making the Zombies drool, I'll change my mind but right now I think they ache in hunger for some good basketball smarts.

Next year with Rudy, it might not be entirely crazy to go with Roy at the point. Leaves our bench a little Shallow though. Still, we have one more draft to take care of that. If Roy is out, we'll have a REAL nice look at the draft, I'd prefer we win though.

We applied the cortical electrodes but we're unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

by ratbastird on Oct 29, 2007 9:52 AM PDT up reply actions

Mayo's me-first attitude won't fit ...

on this team.

But if we do get a high pick, how could we not take Kevin love? Local boy, plays the right way, etc. If the Blazers are trying to go more uptempo in the years to come, he's a perfect fit. He'll crash the boards and sent those outlet passes flying to Sergio and Outlaw. It'd be a coup if we could get him. Out pick won't be that high, but I could see us trading up to get him ...

by bfan on Oct 29, 2007 8:52 AM PDT reply actions

I don't know anything about him... but...

Whenever anyone says local boy, my response is "Why in the freaking world does that matter? Is he good or not!!??"

We applied the cortical electrodes but we're unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

by ratbastird on Oct 29, 2007 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions

He's good

He was one of the top high school prospects this year, he's good.

by robrun2 on Oct 29, 2007 10:08 AM PDT up reply actions

Certainly ...

being a local product is not enough in and of itself, but if you have a bunch of guys of equal talent, then grabbing the local one will bolster your fan base a little, no?

I wouldn't advocate taking a local guy if he weren't good, but K-Love is good. A lot of people say he plays like Bill Walton: the first pure outlet passer the league has seen in a long time. He gobbles the rebound and gets it out like nobody's business ... (Walton obviously did a lot more than that). With our team's noted weakness on the boards, it seems that skill would fit. Oden will certainly help next year, but you can never have too much rebounding ...

by bfan on Oct 29, 2007 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions

My opinion...

...might change, but as of today, I'd just like to go on record as saying that IF The Blazers get a good pick in next years draft, I think it would be a mistake to not use it.

I understand the thinking that we have enough young developing talent, but I also believe you can't have too much talent.

I remember a La*ers team, that had a Magic Johnson and a Kareem Abdul Jabbar, that lucked into the draft pick that became James Worthy. They could of traded the pick, thinking they could get a veteran, that they did not need to add another young talented player. But adding Worthy was a piece that gave them over a decade of contention.

So I'm not so onboard with the idea that The Blazers should look to trade whatever pick we get this upcoming off season. Bottom line for me, is I think we can still use great talent. We aren't Phoenix, SA, or Dallas. Let's keep stockpiling the talent. Trades can always be made.

"Mother Nature started this fight, I think it's about time we ended it!"

by Krang on Oct 29, 2007 9:40 AM PDT reply actions

The problem with keeping the pick

The roster is full.

The roster is overflowing, actually. We have 15 now, and the guys we would like to get rid of will still be under contract.

Add in Rudy, and our #1 pick, and you've got 17.

If you use the pick to acquire more talent, you have to give up on some of the talent you've got. Maybe we'll be ready to do that by the end of the year, but they're all so young, you don't really want to give up on them until you see what you have. Martell may be a classic case in point.

Possible solutions:

Draft another Euro and leave him over there for a year.
A 2 for 1 or 3 for 1 trade (possibly involving trading the pick and a player or two for a higher pick).
Trade our #1 for a #1 pick in 2009 or 2010.
Don't resign Green.
Cut someone else who is still under contract (still has to be paid, still impacts salary cap, and can be picked up by someone else).
Possible (but very unlikely) medical retirement of Darius.

Some combination of those things will happen, enough to clear at least two roster spots. If Koponen convinces them he's good enough to take a spot, then three have to be cleared.

Unless we get a top three pick in the lottery again, I will be very surprised if we use our pick. We will either trade up (pick plus player or players), trade it for a future pick, or trade it along with a player/players for an established star. I personally hope we trade up for the rights to someone like Rose, or if Frye doesn't pan out for us, for Kevin Love.

by jscot on Oct 29, 2007 10:24 AM PDT up reply actions

players to go

miles
green
blake

then travis or JJ as the bait.

I'm cool with tossing the first three(apart from the fact that blake came here because he wanted to, but if he didn't have a non-trade clause, that's not our fault) and I'd hope we'd get something in return for the talent we'd be giving up.

We applied the cortical electrodes but we're unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

by ratbastird on Oct 29, 2007 10:41 AM PDT up reply actions

I think at this point ...

Green and Blake are both expendable if it means bringing in another top #10 pick. Cut 'em if we have to.

Frye, Outlaw, and Jones may find themselves expendable depending on how the season goes.

If KP gets a chance to bring in a player like Derick Rose or Kevin Love, I don't think anything stops him, short of trading Oden, Roy, or Aldridge.

by bfan on Oct 29, 2007 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions

Don't forget the Finn

I think the Blazers are keen on seeing whether Mr. Koponen is capable of taking the helm of an NBA team. So I would count on him coming over next year in addition to the Rood-dawg. And let's not count out our dear friend Mr. Freeland.

If we include Mr. Freeland that makes 18 already. If we keep the pick we'll have 19. Not possible.

Let's say Freeland stays in Europe drinking lattes and smoking strong filterless cigarettes. We'll still need to jettison 3 players if we keep the pick.

Who are the three or four we should jettison? My choices are Sergio, Blake, LaFrentz, and Miles.

When church and state marry, the devil pays for the reception.

by fisheyes on Oct 29, 2007 3:13 PM PDT up reply actions

If LaFrentz has to stay

Or if Miles has to stay because we just can't unload him (them), then bye bye Green or McRob (or both).

Frye goes if we acquire (through draft or trade) a better backup PF

Jones is valuable as a veteran outside shooter.

When church and state marry, the devil pays for the reception.

by fisheyes on Oct 29, 2007 3:32 PM PDT up reply actions

LaFrentz

I'm pretty sure he'll be gone. Either we trade his expiring contract, or we simply bite the bullet, say we have to pay him for 2008-2009 either way, and we cut him to clear a roster spot for someone else.

Miles probably stays. No one wants his contract, and we might want to trade him as an expiring contract later -- an option you lose if you cut him. You just have to keep on paying and paying, with no way to do anything but pay....

by jscot on Oct 30, 2007 1:35 AM PDT up reply actions

I agree about Koponen

I'm just not sure whether it happens next year. I think they would like it to, but it depends on A) what kind of deals they make B) how our current crop of PGs do and C) what kind of draft pick we get.

If they can get Rose, Koponen might well be traded.

I don't see us trading for anyone older than about 27 or 28 in the next year. If we get a veteran, it will be a younger one, we have a time line.

by jscot on Oct 30, 2007 1:38 AM PDT up reply actions

Make no mistake....

..the key is how good a pick, and Draft pick or no Draft pick some decisions about our roster will have to be made. I just don't automatically default or go with the idea that we don't want to use our pick in the next draft.

Roster decisions will have to be made. I expect trades in the future. Adding a quality veteran means making room for that same said veteran, just like you would for the incoming rookie.

"Mother Nature started this fight, I think it's about time we ended it!"

by Krang on Oct 29, 2007 10:21 PM PDT up reply actions

Tade the Pick

I've been thinking out the up coming draft for a while. And while I don't think we will be great, the Blazers won't be that bad. I'm assuming a pick around 10th. Which is a good pick, but I'm not sure if it would be best for the Blazers to use it on a college player. I'm thinking its either a far off Euro, or a trade (to the Knicks?) for a future first. I'm thinking of the option to pick what year to get the pick (is that possible?) so the Blazers can use it when they need it (like when the Knicks implode).

To me what it boils down to is do we need another cheap prospect now, or later? When the Blazers are need of cheap players off the bench because they are over the salary cap? The Blazers maybe loaded enough to make a run to the finals in a couple years with our current players and there is no rush for more talent. But, if KP pulls his magic again, what are the Blazers going to do salary wise? When the rookie contract is up, there will be no money left for a fourth big contract, and the player walks. If KP gets a good trade for a future first is would help the luxury now and later, just like the candy.

by hightide on Oct 29, 2007 11:37 AM PDT reply actions

[clearing throat]

The last title should read Trade (with an R) the Pick. So much for my proof-reading skills.

by hightide on Oct 29, 2007 11:38 AM PDT up reply actions

I don't think Paul Allen ...

cares too much about the Luxury tax as long as the team is winning, as he has demonstrated in the past. If the team is selling out games and going to the playoffs, a little extra tax won't hurt.

The cap will not prevent us from resigning our young players once their contracts are up, since we have their Bird rights and can exceed the cap if we want to. There is really no reason to not pick the most talented player we can.

by bfan on Oct 29, 2007 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions

My only problem

Is that even though we have to wait a year for Oden, people are already writing this season off and they haven't even played a regular season game. It almost feels like tanking to me, just on a different level.

If Webster keeps it up, the Blazers are going to have three talented starters this year, with a serviceable center and enough point guards to get the job done. Barring yada, yada, yada, they could end up with a draft pick in the late teens.

I would rather talk about who the Blazers will draft when we are close to the end of the season. I am not saying people should not talk about the draft, it is just very premature since there are 82 or more games to be played before then.

Fatty, Big Daddy on the BE, Man o' international renown, Postin' from his own thrown, Tellin' us what we couldn't see

by tominhawaii on Oct 29, 2007 12:08 PM PDT reply actions

Not premature

You're the guy who wanted to make a deal with some guy with horns and a tail for five championships.

The most that could come this year is one championship, no matter how much "help" from suspicious sources comes our way, so the draft is relevant to the next four championships, at least, right?

Fans always dream about the future, even while enjoying the present. I guarantee that Celtic fans, knowing that it is all going to collapse in 2-3 years at the latest, are still dreaming about how they'll be even better in 4-5 years. That's just human nature.

You are right, though, that this team could make the playoffs. All it needs is luck (no bad injuries), hard work on D, disciplined offense, and 2-3 players to elevate their game above what is expected. Martell may be one of those 2-3 players. We probably won't get all those things, but it could happen.

by jscot on Oct 29, 2007 1:54 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm not hatin'

I would just like to give the team some time before we start talking about another top 10 draft pick. I'm fine with discussing it and saying who has to go to make room for Rudy and the pick. I might have worded it wrong.

I was trying to say that I still have hopes to make the playoffs, and will continue to hope for the playoffs, until the Blazers are mathematically eliminated. At the same time, I do not want to discourage anyone from writing a diary about anything.

Basically, I do not want another lottery pick this year. I want the team to overachieve and build some momentum for next year. If this team is challenging for the last seed in the West, imagine how they will be next year, with the addition of Oden and the European Marlboro Man.

Fatty, Big Daddy on the BE, Man o' international renown, Postin' from his own thrown, Tellin' us what we couldn't see

by tominhawaii on Oct 29, 2007 4:21 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree

I hope so many guys perform above expectations that we make the playoffs. I hope we have four PGs who make other teams drool. I hope Martell shoots the lights out, Outlaw shreds opponents' benches, Frye buffets opponents down low, Pryz is a monster, JJ2 hits 50% from deep, and Raef earns 20 minutes a game because you just can't keep him out.

I do hope we get a lottery pick. I hope we have so many players that make other teams want them so badly that we can package two of them and our #22 pick for the #2-3 in the draft, and take Rose or Love.

I didn't think you were hating, and I still think this team could make the playoffs, too. But I still like talking about next year.

by jscot on Oct 30, 2007 1:47 AM PDT up reply actions

Never give up, never surrender

There's no way the blazers should tank. they should HATE losing and not accept it. I very much agree with Dave on this one. Karma bites you. The blazers not giving up at the end of the year worked out rather well for us.

Besides IF roy can stay healthy enough, we're going to murder a lot of teams. it should be a fun year.

We applied the cortical electrodes but we're unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

by ratbastird on Oct 29, 2007 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions

a thought...

anyone remember how david robinsons injury back in the day lead to the spurs having a bad enough season to end up drafting tim duncan?
Im with the rest of you in saying that I would love to see the wins this season, but the thought of getting an incredible player out of the draft (for the 3rd year in a row!) gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside...

by danevan on Oct 29, 2007 4:24 PM PDT reply actions

Warm fuzzy feeling for me

Is blazermania sweeping the land and squashing all opposing teams. One man down? Two man down? It shouldn't matter because our blazers will fight hard till the last second because they can't stand for a SECOND the taste of losing.

That's the culture I want. Maybe we will get a lottery, but I honestly home not. It's all about learning to play and building up the wins and learning to disdain losses like they were imitation transformers... those gobot things.

The lottery is only good for so much, then you need to turn it into win.

I'll focus on that portion later. Right now I want the blazers to crush teams and send them home crying to their mommies.

We applied the cortical electrodes but we're unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

by ratbastird on Oct 29, 2007 7:07 PM PDT up reply actions