Hard not to root for Golden State

[The Seer]

Like that team. Shoulda won tonight. That call on Davis that fouled him out was abominable. Warriors should clinch at home.

[indyfrisco]

Bullshit. Thread closed.

[Dinsdale]

Yeah, hard to not root for a team that has provided the ultimate model of how to have team management keep them out of contention, despite having their way on draft day for about a decade straight.

[WolverineSteve]

Yeah, hard to not root for a team that has provided the ultimate model of how to have team management keep them out of contention, despite having their way on draft day for about a decade straight.

Why drag the Bazers into this?

[Dinsdale]

Why drag the Bazers into this?

Huh?

Know what you're talking about, much?

Uhm....new Blazers management(I think the "revolving door era" is over...I think) has done an outstanding job in recent drafts. Remember, you're talking about a franchise that didn't know what a lottery ball even was until about 4 years ago. Under the old management(that one dude who went by the nickname Trader Bob, whose full name we don't speak in these parts), the Blazers made a couple of very unlikely Conference Finals appearances(and if not for Rasheed being his typical clutch-time self, would have won one of them). But the downside was, there was a price to be paid down the road for that horrrrrible GM's actions....and that time came and went. No one bats 1.000 in the NBA draft, and the picks that have been made have turned out quite well. Travis Outlaw may or may not be resigned, or might be S&T bait. Sebastian Telfair was dealt in a move to unload a malcontent(Theo Ratliff), and get the pick that turned into Brandon Roy, easily the most promising "young player" in the league today. Victor Khryapa was traded for what became LaMarcus Aldridge....and I understand that since there wasn't so much as one Blazer game on national television(how the mighty have fallen)...not one...so you guys only had a chance to see the Zers when they played your team, or on League Pass. Since you didn't see much of them, you don't understand why you should fear the Roy Aldridge combo...but that's OK...you will.


Dude...the Blazers had 4 forst round picks last draft. 4. 3 of them saw significant minutes this season...when was the last time that happened for any team? One of the later ones, Sergio Rodriguez, is the guy that "every team in the NBA" offered a trade for before the deadline. And he may be a major factor in the draft-day trades this time around, since the Blazers know they have the means to do something very nasty on draft day -- too many bodies with way too much potential to develop(tough problem to have when you're rebuilding, eh?).


So, when you try to compare what Portland has done with their "downtime" to what Golden State did...get the fuck out of town. How many "franchise" players has Golden State kept? Somewhere around "zero"? It's one thing to wheel and deal talent to get the pieces you want(sup Pistons), but it's another to throw your hands up and give up...which is exactly what GS has done for years. I almost started listing the guys who got away with little or nothing in return, but I decided to not insult your intelligence by typing a partial, but lengthy list.


The only really decent move they've made in the last 10-15 years was taking a flyer on Baron. What is it about UCLA guys that makes them do shit until the playoffs roll around? Baron Davis, Reggie Miller, Bill Walton...there's others. Dudes play at half-speed until that spotlight starts shining, then they remind everyone else that the lowly non-Bruins have no business so much as being on the floor with them, and flat get-it-on in the Second Season.



Since it's time for us also-rans to start talking draft and off-season...the Blazers are set at everything but the 5 and the 2-or-3. The salaries have been trimmed wayyyy back (way under the cap...Blazerfan never thought that day would come in the post-Won't-Speak-His-Name era). Heck, after this season, our third-highest paid player, Derek Anderson, is finally off the books...was worth every penny to get rid of that shitstain. By the way, the Blazers' front office has authorized me to negotiate a trade for Arius Miles...if any of you have any old baseball cards, or a handful of beans or something...we should talk.


Very, very persitant rumors that the Blazers are looking to trade Zach for a S&Ted Rashard Lewis. Rashard is a free agent, and has made it clear that he wants to play for Nate, and all other offers take a back seat. He'll probably get the max wherever he goes, and Zach is a max-deal guy, so the trade would work well for both sides. Lewis is leaving the Seattle Sinking Ships, and they'd love to get something in return. The Blazers want to clean up one of their few remaining bad deals, and get one of the two questionable-character guys off the team, because frankly, as fans, we've had enough. We don't care if you smoke weed by the pound, and in fact, that's been a huge selling point in getting free agents in the past...the turning-of-the-cheek to the open weed smoking(sup taking a page from Oregon Ducks recruiting)...but the sexual assaults and shit have to stop.

The current Blazer rother is quite well-suited to playing up-and-down, run-and-gun West Coast ball, which is what this franchise has almost always done, traditionally. Zach is the weak link in playing up and down style. But with his fat stats, they're not going to trade him for chump change.


So, after draft day, we might be looking at a front line of LaMarcus Alrdridge, Rashard Lewis, and possibly a 5 from the draft...and don't tell me Evil Allen isn't looking to open up the floodgates and start blowing money hand-over-fist again, and isn't scheming to get Oden as we speak....sure, that's some pie-in-the-sky dreaming, but there isn't any other team with the possibility to make it happen, due to excessive amounts of means to do so. They got the financial problems roped in (not completely solved, but under control), and Allen's willingness to cut checks to get guys he wants is pretty well-proven. Again, that's some dreaming, but the team is now ready to go blow a bunch of the money they've been saving. A BUNCH. They are definitely in "we'll make you an offer you can't refuse, name your price" mode, and they have Sergio, who would be a lottery pick in this year's draft, easily, given what is now known. If the over-the-top draft day expectations don't come to fruition, rumor has it that management is really high on Corey Brewer...not a bad pick, considering the new "defensive-mindset" of the team. As far as "defensive specialists" go, I don't see Brewer usurping Ime Udoka's spot any time soon...since I'm quite confident that Udoka will be resigned...kind of leads with his on-court play, and never his mouth.

At this point, everyone is starting to doubt that Joel Pryzbilla, the Vanilla Gorilla, is going to be the defensive center for years to come that he was looking to be...fucker stubs his toe and is out for 3 months. Stretch Aldridge will take his spot at the 5 if we don't get one in the offseason, quite likely. All depends how the chips fall.

There's been talk of offering up Zach, Sergio, and our draft pick for Gasol and Memphis' pick...doubtful, but if Memphis really wants to move Gasol that badly, it's not out of the realm of possibility -- they'd get a proven big-numbers guy(who would PWN the East), and a potential superstar point gaurd. They'd be kind of nuts to give up their lottery balls, but stranger moves have been made.


But new GM Kevin Pritchard has come right out and said "we're going to SHOCK THE WORLD on draft day." And with the way management has fallen out of favor with the fans over the years, he wasn't going to run his mouth like that unless he knew for fact that it was going to be true. That tells me that he's got a massive checking-account to work with. Fans around here have one name in their minds, and it ain't Kevin Durant...Blazerfan wants Oden, and aren't wanting to settle for anything less....sure, that's some pretty unrealistic tough-talk(although after being so badly screwed by the law of averages for the last few years, the Pinwheels are about due for some luck in the lottery), but don't completely discount it...the suits KNOW that they're on thin ice with fans, and a huge cash/talent investment now would be well-worth it down the road.


So, I guess what I'm saying, is don't be suprised when the spend-happy Blazers make their triumphant return, and some crazy stuff could happen as a result. They scored the two best rookies in the draft last year...one more, and the balance of power just made a major shift in the West.


The future's so freaking bright, I'm going to have to start wearing shades to games.

[WolverineSteve]

Why drag the Bazers into this?

Huh?

Know what you're talking about, much?

Uhm....new Blazers management(I think the "revolving door era" is over...I think) has done an outstanding job in recent drafts. Remember, you're talking about a franchise that didn't know what a lottery ball even was until about 4 years ago. Under the old management(that one dude who went by the nickname Trader Bob, whose full name we don't speak in these parts), the Blazers made a couple of very unlikely Conference Finals appearances(and if not for Rasheed being his typical clutch-time self, would have won one of them). But the downside was, there was a price to be paid down the road for that horrrrrible GM's actions....and that time came and went. No one bats 1.000 in the NBA draft, and the picks that have been made have turned out quite well. Travis Outlaw may or may not be resigned, or might be S&T bait. Sebastian Telfair was dealt in a move to unload a malcontent(Theo Ratliff), and get the pick that turned into Brandon Roy, easily the most promising "young player" in the league today. Victor Khryapa was traded for what became LaMarcus Aldridge....and I understand that since there wasn't so much as one Blazer game on national television(how the mighty have fallen)...not one...so you guys only had a chance to see the Zers when they played your team, or on League Pass. Since you didn't see much of them, you don't understand why you should fear the Roy Aldridge combo...but that's OK...you will.


Dude...the Blazers had 4 forst round picks last draft. 4. 3 of them saw significant minutes this season...when was the last time that happened for any team? One of the later ones, Sergio Rodriguez, is the guy that "every team in the NBA" offered a trade for before the deadline. And he may be a major factor in the draft-day trades this time around, since the Blazers know they have the means to do something very nasty on draft day -- too many bodies with way too much potential to develop(tough problem to have when you're rebuilding, eh?).


So, when you try to compare what Portland has done with their "downtime" to what Golden State did...get the fuck out of town. How many "franchise" players has Golden State kept? Somewhere around "zero"? It's one thing to wheel and deal talent to get the pieces you want(sup Pistons), but it's another to throw your hands up and give up...which is exactly what GS has done for years. I almost started listing the guys who got away with little or nothing in return, but I decided to not insult your intelligence by typing a partial, but lengthy list.


The only really decent move they've made in the last 10-15 years was taking a flyer on Baron. What is it about UCLA guys that makes them do shit until the playoffs roll around? Baron Davis, Reggie Miller, Bill Walton...there's others. Dudes play at half-speed until that spotlight starts shining, then they remind everyone else that the lowly non-Bruins have no business so much as being on the floor with them, and flat get-it-on in the Second Season.



Since it's time for us also-rans to start talking draft and off-season...the Blazers are set at everything but the 5 and the 2-or-3. The salaries have been trimmed wayyyy back (way under the cap...Blazerfan never thought that day would come in the post-Won't-Speak-His-Name era). Heck, after this season, our third-highest paid player, Derek Anderson, is finally off the books...was worth every penny to get rid of that shitstain. By the way, the Blazers' front office has authorized me to negotiate a trade for Arius Miles...if any of you have any old baseball cards, or a handful of beans or something...we should talk.


Very, very persitant rumors that the Blazers are looking to trade Zach for a S&Ted Rashard Lewis. Rashard is a free agent, and has made it clear that he wants to play for Nate, and all other offers take a back seat. He'll probably get the max wherever he goes, and Zach is a max-deal guy, so the trade would work well for both sides. Lewis is leaving the Seattle Sinking Ships, and they'd love to get something in return. The Blazers want to clean up one of their few remaining bad deals, and get one of the two questionable-character guys off the team, because frankly, as fans, we've had enough. We don't care if you smoke weed by the pound, and in fact, that's been a huge selling point in getting free agents in the past...the turning-of-the-cheek to the open weed smoking(sup taking a page from Oregon Ducks recruiting)...but the sexual assaults and shit have to stop.

The current Blazer rother is quite well-suited to playing up-and-down, run-and-gun West Coast ball, which is what this franchise has almost always done, traditionally. Zach is the weak link in playing up and down style. But with his fat stats, they're not going to trade him for chump change.


So, after draft day, we might be looking at a front line of LaMarcus Alrdridge, Rashard Lewis, and possibly a 5 from the draft...and don't tell me Evil Allen isn't looking to open up the floodgates and start blowing money hand-over-fist again, and isn't scheming to get Oden as we speak....sure, that's some pie-in-the-sky dreaming, but there isn't any other team with the possibility to make it happen, due to excessive amounts of means to do so. They got the financial problems roped in (not completely solved, but under control), and Allen's willingness to cut checks to get guys he wants is pretty well-proven. Again, that's some dreaming, but the team is now ready to go blow a bunch of the money they've been saving. A BUNCH. They are definitely in "we'll make you an offer you can't refuse, name your price" mode, and they have Sergio, who would be a lottery pick in this year's draft, easily, given what is now known. If the over-the-top draft day expectations don't come to fruition, rumor has it that management is really high on Corey Brewer...not a bad pick, considering the new "defensive-mindset" of the team. As far as "defensive specialists" go, I don't see Brewer usurping Ime Udoka's spot any time soon...since I'm quite confident that Udoka will be resigned...kind of leads with his on-court play, and never his mouth.

At this point, everyone is starting to doubt that Joel Pryzbilla, the Vanilla Gorilla, is going to be the defensive center for years to come that he was looking to be...fucker stubs his toe and is out for 3 months. Stretch Aldridge will take his spot at the 5 if we don't get one in the offseason, quite likely. All depends how the chips fall.

There's been talk of offering up Zach, Sergio, and our draft pick for Gasol and Memphis' pick...doubtful, but if Memphis really wants to move Gasol that badly, it's not out of the realm of possibility -- they'd get a proven big-numbers guy(who would PWN the East), and a potential superstar point gaurd. They'd be kind of nuts to give up their lottery balls, but stranger moves have been made.


But new GM Kevin Pritchard has come right out and said "we're going to SHOCK THE WORLD on draft day." And with the way management has fallen out of favor with the fans over the years, he wasn't going to run his mouth like that unless he knew for fact that it was going to be true. That tells me that he's got a massive checking-account to work with. Fans around here have one name in their minds, and it ain't Kevin Durant...Blazerfan wants Oden, and aren't wanting to settle for anything less....sure, that's some pretty unrealistic tough-talk(although after being so badly screwed by the law of averages for the last few years, the Pinwheels are about due for some luck in the lottery), but don't completely discount it...the suits KNOW that they're on thin ice with fans, and a huge cash/talent investment now would be well-worth it down the road.


So, I guess what I'm saying, is don't be suprised when the spend-happy Blazers make their triumphant return, and some crazy stuff could happen as a result. They scored the two best rookies in the draft last year...one more, and the balance of power just made a major shift in the West.


The future's so freaking bright, I'm going to have to start wearing shades to games.

didn't read all the

It was sarcasm jackass.

[Mook]

new GM Kevin Pritchard

The new GM is a Jayhawk......and a rare Jayhawk with a championship ring!

[Degenerate]

new GM Kevin Pritchard

The new GM is a Jayhawk......and a rare Jayhawk with a championship ring!

Milt Newton* was an assistant GM with the Wizards for a while. Not sure if he's still there and I'm too lazy to look it up.




*Mookie Blaylock's Daddy

[Dinsdale]

Got Raef LaFrentz sitting at the pinepicker position, too. Might not last through the offeason, though. Then again, at 12 mil per and about 300,000 hard miles on those legs, he might not be going anywhere. Oh well, the money is spent, muight as well have a likable guy burning up the cash, rather than a bitchanfuss.