SB Nation User Blog: grigs

Monty Williams might be a top candidate for Wolves

grigs — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 01:16:59 -0000

Monty Williams might be a top candidate for Wolves

The Portland assistant coach believes he is ready to lead a team, and the Timberwolves could be just the right fit.

Blazers make play for Turkoglu

grigs — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:32:32 -0000

Blazers make play for Turkoglu

While negotiations across the league were in the early stages, a person with knowledge of the discussions said the Blazers are trying to lure Turkoglu with a deal in the $50-million range. Contracts cannot be signed until July 7, when the annual moratorium on signing and trading players is lifted.

Why did we trade Diogu? Trade Exception Question

grigs — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:28:36 -0000

I keep reading comments saying that we can't use the trade exceptions that we have because we need to renounce them to use our position under the cap for trading. That mostly makes sense to me.

The part that doesn't make sense is that if this is true, then why did we trade Diogu for Ruffin? We knew we were going to be under the cap come summer anyways. What was the point of that trade?

Or are people incorrect in their descriptions of how the trade exceptions work in relation to the salary cap?

Update: This is primarily a question about the value of the trade exception, not about whether or not Ike should have been traded. To get the trade exception, we had to insert ourselves into a deal between Sacramento and Chicago and give Sacramento $1 million dollars. So whether or not Ike or Ruffin would play is immaterial to the question. The real question is why go to the effort.

Was it simply to have the option of the exception for the short window between end of season and July 1 when we would likely renounce all the exceptions to be under the cap?

Portland Contacted Charles Oakley about Big Man Coaching

grigs — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:13:46 -0000

Portland Contacted Charles Oakley about Big Man Coaching

"Oakley also was contacted by Portland officials who suspect it might be good for the team’s health if a trace of his brutish attitude rubbed off on Greg Oden"

UPDATE: As pointed out by DephlatorMouse below, the article layout has changed a little since I originally posted it and the bit about the Blazers is now on page 1 instead of page 2. I originally linked to page 2.

If you open the link and don't see the paragraph about the Blazers, look through the whole article. It may move around again. :-(

"Man, seriously, if you only knew who I was talking about."

grigs — Fri, 29 May 2009 13:45:56 -0000

"Man, seriously, if you only knew who I was talking about."

Cazano writes about bumping into Pritchard at the grocery store. Pritchard is on the phone. He says to Cazano, "Man, seriously, if you only knew who I was talking about."

This seemed like a perfect fan shot. Let's speculate on who Pritchard was talking about.

Maybe your best serious and funny answers.

Serious: Jason Kidd
Funny: Darius Miles

Off Topic: Awesome Billups Article

grigs — Tue, 12 May 2009 01:45:40 -0000

Off Topic: Awesome Billups Article

Wow. I can't recommend this article highly enough. What a great look at Chauncey Billups and how such a great player has been traded and under-appreciated.

Reading that article really makes you appreciate the importance of a veteran presence.

Duncan sitting out vs. the Kings

grigs — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 02:40:25 -0000

Duncan sitting out vs. the Kings

Apparently they want him in the Golden State game and think they have a better chance of winning against the Kings without him than vs. Golden State without him.

Why this won't be like Chicago circa 2004?

grigs — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 16:23:28 -0000

A young team takes the NBA by storm. Pundits everywhere project them to be title contenders. Preseason magazines feature them prominently on their covers.

The team? The Chicago Bulls.

As recently as three years ago, the Bulls were considered an emerging powerhouse in the East. They had a young nucleus that had overachieved at an early age. They were a hard working team that seemed to have a good mixture of talent. They were only a piece or two away from putting it all together.

I think about that Chicago team a lot as I watch the current Blazers team. I wonder what lessons can be learned from their rapid rise and descent. I fear repeating their trajectory.

More recently, Golden State seemed on a similar path towards stardom only to have their team start over again in a rebuilding phase.

Most commonly, I find myself looking for proof that this team has some characteristic that distinguishes it from other young, flash-in-the-pan teams like Chicago. I find myself hoping that Roy's leadership, Pritchard's smarts, and Oden's size set Portland apart. I wonder if the good characters on the team and the chance to win it all are enough to prevent selfishness from breaking out and destroying the promising future.

Remember, at the height of the Bull's ascension, no one was talking about selfish play, player deficiencies, etc. Everything was about potential. Sound familiar?

What do you think? Why are the Blazer 2009 not like the Bulls 2004? What sets this team apart? What gives you confidence that the team can fulfill its potential?

Koponen to Stay in Europe Next Year?

grigs — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:08:46 -0000

I was a bit surprised by this tidbit in Jason Quick's article this morning about Bayless:

"In Las Vegas, McMillan said the Blazers will begin games with point guard Petteri Koponen -- a first-round pick in 2007 who will remain overseas next season -- and Bayless at shooting guard, but that Bayless will eventually get large chunks of playing time at the point."

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1215483969201330.xml&coll=7

I had expected Koponen to have a decent shot at making the roster based on summer league play and the fact that all reports are that he is looking much better than he was in previous years.

This new strategy of drafting players and stashing them overseas is something I need to become more familiar with. Does anyone know how long San Antonio usually lets their players season overseas before bringing them over?

Not Drafting Chris Paul = Best Blazer Move

grigs — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 05:58:01 -0000

Chris Paul is an amazing player. I don't think Bayless will be that good. Yet, I am very thankful we didn't draft Chris Paul.

Right now, our greatest asset appear to be Kevin Pritchard. His leadership has built a team and a culture that will be with us for years.

If Portland drafts Chris Paul, I don't know that Pritchard gets a shot at the GM job. Given the choice between Chris Paul and Pritchard, I'd take KP.

So that's why I think not drafting Chris Paul has turned out so well for the Blazers.