SBNation.com User Blog: ThroughThick&Thin

Grade THIS off-season plan for the Blazers

ThroughThick&Thin — Thu, 16 May 2013 01:54:11 -0000

As many of us do on a daily basis, I've spent the last few hours scouring the internet for assest acquisition possibilites for our beloved Portland Trailblazers and what journalists are writing about the 2013 NBA draft prospects. I found two articles and a Draft Express video on Bleacher Report (I know I know, blah blah blah... not a trusted source) that intrigued me, and I wanted to see what the Blazer faithful thought.

So here I go...

Jonathan Wasserman wrote, "2013 NBA Mock Draft: Full 1st-Round Predictions with Potential Trades".

With the 10th pick, Portland selects C.J. McCollum. I thought that would be a great move, and one a lot of B-edgers have mentioned (and bickered over).

But it was with what happens with the 23rd pick that got my wheels a turnin'...

With the 23rd pick, Indiana trades Danny Granger and their 23rd pick to Portland, for Wesley Matthews, Myers Leonard, Joel Freeland, and Portland's 39th and 40th picks. So with the 23rd selction, Portland selects Dario Saric of Croatia (who is said to be one of the top international prospects).

I don't know how I feel about selecting Dario Saric, as I don't know much about the guy, nor do I remember anyone mentioning him here on Blazersedge as a 2013 draft possibility. But I'm not sure I'd select another SF, being that we already have Batum, Claver, Pavlovic, and the rights to Kostas Papanikolaou.

Then I found this article...

Alex Kay wrote, "NBA Draft 2013: Latest Big Board and Top 30 Projections for Week of May 15". Well what do you know, he has Kelly Olynyk listed at #10, and Gorgui Dieng listed at #11 (along with Gorgui's Draft Express video), two possibilities B-edgers have been bickering over.

Since I don't watch much college basketball and a lot of B-edgers seem to really like this Gorgui Dieng kid, I decided to watch the video. I was pleasantly surprised to finally see why so many of you are high on the guy! He seems like he's got a good motor, would be a great shot blocker and rebounder, along with being the rim protector that Portland so dearly needs (a young J.J. Hickson?).

This is where things get tricky for me. I really like that C.J. McCollum is a four year guy and he'd be a great scoring punch off the bench for us. But what if Portland took Gorgui Dieng with the 10th pick (because we knew we were going to trade Myers Leonard for Granger), and we signed Jermaine O'Neal as a backup PF/C and mentor to Dieng, who (I think) has a lot of similiar traits that O'Neal had entering the league.

And if my memory is correct, Portland would still have their own 2nd round pick to select Mike Muscala or Trevor Mbakwe, who a lot of B-edgers have also mentioned as possibilities.

I don't want to get too far into what Portland's gonna do with Hickson, Maynor, E Will, Pavlovic, N. Smith, Babbitt, or Papanikolaou, because I don't know what the financials would look like after draft night if this were to happen. But if we could do a sign-in-trade with Hickson, to gain a role player or two (or future pick), and/or resign Maynor, I'd be a happy Portland Trailblazer camper going into free agency!

The roster before free agency (besides the O'Neal acquisition)...

PG - Lillard

SG - Granger/Barton

SF - Batum/Claver/(Saric)

PF - Aldridge/O'Neal

C - O'Neal/Dieng

Any idea's as to who you'd select with the 23rd pick instead of Dario Saric, or who you'd want to go after in free agency?

So here I go...

Jonathan Wasserman wrote, "2013 NBA Mock Draft: Full 1st-Round Predictions with Potential Trades".

With the 10th pick, Portland selects C.J. McCollum. I thought that would be a great move, and one a lot of B-edgers have mentioned (and bickered over).

But it was with what happens with the 23rd pick that got my wheels a turnin'...

Then I found this article...

And if my memory is correct, Portland would still have their own 2nd round pick to select Mike Muscala or Trevor Mbakwe, who a lot of B-edgers have also mentioned as possibilities.

The roster before free agency (besides the O'Neal acquisition)...

PG - Lillard

SG - Granger/Barton

SF - Batum/Claver/(Saric)

PF - Aldridge/O'Neal

C - O'Neal/Dieng

Any idea's as to who you'd select with the 23rd pick instead of Dario Saric, or who you'd want to go after in free agency?

Poll

How would you grade draft night if Portland netted Danny Granger, the 23rd pick, and Gorgui Dieng, while giving up Wesley Matthews, Myers Leonard, Joel Freeland, and our 39th and 40th picks?

Could Kendrick Perkins be the Blazer's COTF?

ThroughThick&Thin — Wed, 08 May 2013 21:06:36 -0000

I've read a few articles dating back from last season for and against the Thunder amnestying Kendrick Perkins. However, I can't remember anyone on Blazersedge mentioning him as a center they'd like to see Portland go after. If the Thunder did amnesty him this summer, would you be for or against the Blazers trying to pick him up on waivers? If so, at what cost and why? I'm not a Kendrick Perkins historian, so I'll leave it up to all of you to pick apart how he would or wouldn't fit in with the Blazers team chemistry, playing style, and/or the cost analysis of such an acquisition.

I'd create a Poll, but I'm not feeling very clever at the moment.

Non-Blazer Trade Drawer

ThroughThick&Thin — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 13:57:40 -0000

After hearing about Boston making cap room and possibly interested in DeMarcus Cousins, I came up with this...

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=cb7wp66

BOSTON gets DeMarcus Cousins, Tyreke Evans

SAC-TOWN gets Courtney Lee, Avery Bradley, Fab Melo, and Jared Sullinger (possibly draft picks included)

Boston gets two big additions to their team. Cousins would have to have respect what Boston Celtic basketball means. Garnett can try his hand at showing Cousins the ropes of when to be emotional and when to let it roll off your back (good luck, right?!). Can you imagine a better starting lineup than Rondo, Evans, Pierce, Garnett, Cousins? They'd be the Bad Boys of the new era, ha ha! This would also be Boston's, "Let's give this one last hooray", along with getting some major young assets that could start a new core with Rondo, after Garnett and Pierce's contracts are up.

Sac-Town gets some young pieces, which would especially great, if they sell and move the team to Seattle (crossing my fingers), fire Keith Smart, start over with a young roster and coach (a la what Portland's doing this year), and play a year to see what pieces are keepers or not. It's kind of a one-sided trade (depending on the thought process of the new owners... again, crossing my fingers), but gets rid of the players that seem to be causing sac-Town the most headaches.

Also, Memphis has been in the loop of possibly wanting Tyreke Evans...

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=a6okvny

So Blazer's edge, what do you think?

After hearing about Boston making cap room and possibly interested in DeMarcus Cousins, I came up with this...

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=cb7wp66

BOSTON gets DeMarcus Cousins, Tyreke Evans

SAC-TOWN gets Courtney Lee, Avery Bradley, Fab Melo, and Jared Sullinger (possibly draft picks included)

Also, Memphis has been in the loop of possibly wanting Tyreke Evans...

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=a6okvny

So Blazer's edge, what do you think?

Add DAMIEN LILLARD to your NBA All-Star Ballots!!!

ThroughThick&Thin — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 03:01:23 -0000

I noticed you can vote for anyone you want in the WRITE IN VOTE field at the bottom of the page, above the captcha field. Go to NBA.com and find the 2013 NBA All-Star Ballot, you can vote every 25 hours apparently.

Let's get our boy to the All-Star game!!!

Who'd everyone vote for?

I selected (the first time around):

WESTERN CONFERENCE - Aldridge, Batum, Matthews, Kawhi Leonard, and added Damien Lillard. I almost voted for Andre Miller, before I noticed you could enter anyone you wanted in the WRITE IN VOTE field.

EASTERN CONFERENCE - Greg Monroe, Ersan Ilyasova, Gerald Wallace, Jeff Teague, Jrue Holiday. I selected the least likely guys to get voted in, just to do it.

Let's get our boy to the All-Star game!!!

Who'd everyone vote for?

I selected (the first time around):

EASTERN CONFERENCE - Greg Monroe, Ersan Ilyasova, Gerald Wallace, Jeff Teague, Jrue Holiday. I selected the least likely guys to get voted in, just to do it.

ISO cycling Trailblazer fans

ThroughThick&Thin — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:11:49 -0000

IF YOU HATE BICYCLISTS, MOVE ON PLEASE. THANK YOU.

Hey Blazermaniacs,

I'm wondering how many of you are daily commuters, racers, collectors, builders, mechanics, summer-only, or "Wow, I forgot I had that ol' thing" cyclists.

I've been commuting by bicycle for over a year now and love it! I recently moved to SW Portland, live two blocks from work, and maybe ten blocks from school. Yes, it's convenient, but I'm looking for a challenge now that my commute is so short. I like to ride because it's a cheap mode of transportation, it reminds me of the freedom I had as a child, and it's really the only form of exercise I have at the moment, being that I have two children at home. None of my friends want to ride bicycles like I do, or have the time. So here I am, on Blazersedge, trying to find other like-minded individuals who have similar interests... basketball, bicycles (music, luthiery, machining, drafting and design, photography, metal or wood working).

I want to find fans who want to ride to games, ride for fun, or want to have another thing to talk about besides the Blazers. If anyone's interested in long distance rides, that's a plus! I just heard about the Portland Century ride and would love to participate next year. If you know of any other events, casual races, or hotspots for avid riders, let me know!

My main ride is an SE Lager single speed. I love it. It's heavy, simplistic, functional, and a workout to ride long distances. I also have a 70's Raleigh Grand Prix. It's currently in a state of repair. The derailleur needs to be taken apart, regreased/oiled/cleaned, and realigned (hello hobby mechanics). I have big plans for this bicycle. But as with any big project, it costs money, which is something I don't have a whole lot of!

Anyways, thanks for reading, replying, and moving on if you're just a hater! GO BLAZERS!!!

IF YOU HATE BICYCLISTS, MOVE ON PLEASE. THANK YOU.

Hey Blazermaniacs,

I'm wondering how many of you are daily commuters, racers, collectors, builders, mechanics, summer-only, or "Wow, I forgot I had that ol' thing" cyclists.

Anyways, thanks for reading, replying, and moving on if you're just a hater! GO BLAZERS!!!

Check out SB Nation's idea of Portland jersey sponsors! Too bad it's not local breweries, even...

ThroughThick&Thin — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 19:11:01 -0000

Check out SB Nation's idea of Portland jersey sponsors! Too bad it's not local breweries, even though PBR has been crowned the cheap beer of the people of Oregon, and a particular OSU fraternity.

Available coaching candidates?

ThroughThick&Thin — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 18:50:43 -0000

Does anyone know what NBA coaching candidates are available this summer? I'm having a hard time locating any lists out there. I can think of some in my head, but I'm curious where everyone else is with possible C(oaches)OTF for Portland.

The question I've been asking myself is, "Do we go for a big sexy name (Sloan, D'Antoni, L. Brown, Carlisle), a not-so-sexy name (Scott Skiles, Lawrence Frank, Flip Saunders, Mike Woodson, Sam Mitchell), a career assistant (Mike Budenholzer, Elston Turner), or current commentator (Jeff Van Gundy, Hubie Brown, Mike Fratello)?"

Which then leads me to ask, "What's their coaching style?", or "Does their coaching style blend well with our current core players of Aldridge, Batum, and Matthews?"

Then there's, "Does this or that coach need a superstar PG like D-Will running the team, who's big, capable of scoring, and being your number one option?", "Do they prefer a more traditional sized, pass first, defensive oriented PG like Rondo, who could be your second, third, or fourth scoring option?", or "Can he create a competive and/or championship caliber team with a rookie, or not-so-sexy PG like Augustin, Gragic, or A. Brooks running the team?"

What kind of coach do you want to see in Portland? A half-court coach? A run-and-gun coach? A triangle coach? A push the tempo, but half-court capatible coach? Or a coach that isn't stubborn and can coach on the fly? Yes, that last question was a jab towards what I considered was McMillan's biggest flaw!

I wanted to create a poll, but thought there were way too many options out there and I'm certain I don't know them all. I may in the future if there's enough analytical suggestions.

Which then leads me to ask, "What's their coaching style?", or "Does their coaching style blend well with our current core players of Aldridge, Batum, and Matthews?"

I wanted to create a poll, but thought there were way too many options out there and I'm certain I don't know them all. I may in the future if there's enough analytical suggestions.

Results of playing the draft lottery...

ThroughThick&Thin — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 17:04:38 -0000

Played a dozen times, here are my results:

33% chance of Portland taking the C. Zeller at 6 and T. Zeller at 11.

25% chance of New Jersey keeping their pick and Portland drafting T. Zeller at 11.

25% chance of Portland taking A. Drummond at 5 and T. Zeller at 11.

17% chance of Portland taking B. Beal at 5 and T. Zeller at 11.

The results got me thinking about team chemistry moving forward.

Do you think team chemistry would work in our favor by drafting brothers? It's an intriguing thought, even though I'll be the first to admit, it most likely not happening. These guys should already have chemistry with playing together and/or against each other growing up. So naturally, you'd think it'd make it so much easier for all of their teammates to integrate them into any system.

With McMillian's tendency to run an eight man rotation, along with the lockout creating a shortened training camp and compressed season schedule, the team chemistry was fragile to say the least with integrating two new starters. Which can be true for any team that was active during free agency and/or the draft.

Now, I know we need a PGOTF, a center, possibly a shooting guard, some believe a backup for Aldridge, and a lot of people don't like either Zeller. But the question being presented here isn't, "What other players would you rather have the Blazers drafting" (because I'll be the first to say these two aren't my first choices), or a, "let's talk about how much we hate the Zeller brothers" thread (which it's helpful to anyone, except for your low self-esteem). I just want to have a fun conversation about future team chemistry, whether or not two brothers could make a positive experience moving forward, and if anyone knows the history of whether or not any brothers (or cousins for that matter) have ever played on the same team before (that would be much appreciated).

Played a dozen times, here are my results:

33% chance of Portland taking the C. Zeller at 6 and T. Zeller at 11.

25% chance of New Jersey keeping their pick and Portland drafting T. Zeller at 11.

25% chance of Portland taking A. Drummond at 5 and T. Zeller at 11.

17% chance of Portland taking B. Beal at 5 and T. Zeller at 11.

The results got me thinking about team chemistry moving forward.

Poll

"Would drafting brothers be beneficial to a rebuilding team's chemistry"?

Yes

11 votes

No

41 votes

Maybe

10 votes

Undecided

2 votes

Would rather talk about what players I want the Blazers to draft, than this hypothetical, slim to none chance of a situation

51 votes

I'd rather be hating on the Zellers

24 votes

139 votes | Poll has closed

Replace Luke Babbitt with Eddie House?

ThroughThick&Thin — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 19:58:40 -0000

The thought crossed my mind after reading this Dwight Jaynes article and immediately thinking about the Miami Heat recently waiving Eddie House.

I know I know, I realize he was waived due to having arthroscopic left knee surgery on Nov. 1st and is expected to be sidelined for about a month. He opted into the second and final season of his two-year, $2.8 million contract last summer. My thought process is, we treat him as we would Luke Babbitt and not rely on him (while he's healing), and hope that he can shuffle him into the lineup and get him into game shape by playoff time. I'm assuming we can all agree that Eddie House is a proven three-point championship level vetern shooter versus our beloved, experienced and D-League proven star, Luke Babbitt (ha ha ha ha, sorry, I had to).

Can we waive Luke Babbitt, who most of us I believe is a waste of a roster spot (or someone else), to make room for a healing Eddie House? Where would that put us cap-wise? Would it be worth it?

I'm intrigued by the team we've assembled, but I just don't see Luke Babbitt or Armon Johnson contributing whether we have a shortened and hellish back to back and back to back to back season. If any riding-the-pine guard is going to get minutes and (hopefully) will be productive, I believe it'll be Elliot Williams.

Interested in hearing what you have to say Blazer Nation...

Also, did I post this in the right section (FanPost)?The thought crossed my mind after reading this Dwight Jaynes article and immediately thinking about the Miami Heat recently waiving Eddie House.

Can we waive Luke Babbitt, who most of us I believe is a waste of a roster spot (or someone else), to make room for a healing Eddie House? Where would that put us cap-wise? Would it be worth it?

Interested in hearing what you have to say Blazer Nation...

Also, did I post this in the right section (FanPost)?

Flogging Brandon's career

ThroughThick&Thin — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 09:22:27 -0000

Since emotions are still riding high over thee impressive look at what "The Natural" is still capable of. I want to purpose a question to the Blazer faithful (and haters).

If the Blazers win this series, go on to win a second round series, or go all the way this year (a la the unexpected run by the '76-'77 team)...

Will Brandon Roy's Game 4 performance justify his contracts value (68 million or so) to you as a fan over the next 4 years (whether he plays at an All-Star level or not), OR would you side with the organization to buy him out (due to his knee issues) if there is a one-time amnesty clause built into the new collective bargaining agreement allowing you to do so?

I'd love to do a poll, but don't have the time. If anyone wants to set this up, please do!

Since emotions are still riding high over thee impressive look at what "The Natural" is still capable of. I want to purpose a question to the Blazer faithful (and haters).

If the Blazers win this series, go on to win a second round series, or go all the way this year (a la the unexpected run by the '76-'77 team)...

I'd love to do a poll, but don't have the time. If anyone wants to set this up, please do!