The Blazers, the model franchise of the NBA, laden with talented young prospects, too many to even give minutes to... All of the sudden they have trouble in the front office and an ousted GM. They have a franchise player with half a decade left on a max deal with ties to the region who is too feeble to jump, juke or guard anyone. They have a prized draft pick who now looks like he'll never contribute. They have several long term deals that now look misplaced on a team that's no longer a contender.

After trying to burn GM's all over the league and thus not dealing any of their talent to make a real run while Roy was healthy, the NBA's preeminent organization is now dealing with all of the problems that other franchises have been dealing with in this era.

You're the Blazers, the next five years looks hopeless... what do you do? Bring in Isiah?

I watched a couple of their games this week and Roy really looks done. He's trying to be the point guard, yet he makes Jason Kidd look like DRose the way that he moves these days. He's so slow and all he can do is lean into you and shoot a fade-away 15-footer. That ain't good from your franchise guy.

Andre Miller is old but tough. Camby is the same.

Aldridge is a young stud.

The issue is that between Roy and Oden gone, that's the heart of their team. Nate McMillan will probably need the balance of the year to figure out the new teams reality properly...

They are still a good team... but they won't be able to advance past the first round probably.

Trade Miller for a yoot to a contender.

Do they have a waiver on his knee if he goes DL for his contract?

Proposal to NBA for CBA. Let teams buy these guys out and take it off their cap. This way they are not held hostage for years. I realize this helps knicks most when we go into starphuch mode but small market teams need to be able to commit to their players and stay competitive. I applaud POrtland for trying but this franchise if no relief dies.

NFL type salaries need to apply. I want the players to get paid and the ones that perform and stay healthy should and be paid a big premium. But when it goes wrong teams need to be able to move forward.

back to orignal question?

Trade Rudy to knicks for TD and cash. Trade Miller to Charlotte for DJ and Gerald Henderson. THey need Camby to stay respectable.

Hire a spiritual advisor for Oden and his knees.

Extend Nate McMillon and give him a huge raise to stay.

Study Timberwolves roster and steal what you can.

Play 10 games in Seattle. Isn't Oregon and Washington state really the same anyway? Liberal and it rains all the time.

Change the uniforms next season for that youthier rebuilding aura that seems to work.

Stop drafing Centers for ever. Never ever!!!! And if your drafted by Portland go play in china. RUN! Larue Martin, Bill Walton, Same Bowie, Greg Oden and poor Kevin Duckworth never lived to see his 50th birthday! You can get traded there but don't get drafted there.

martin wrote:what i can't understand is this: With the Oden debacle, why did they sign Roy to an extension when the KNEW his knee had zero cartilage left in it?

Same reason we resigned H20 to monster contract. Hand shake promise amung men. POrtland has a loyalty thing. Its noble with some teams. With Dolan its idiocy. Something things don't make sense.

Is this the same conditio that CP3 has? Dejuan Blair?

Nalod wrote:

martin wrote:what i can't understand is this: With the Oden debacle, why did they sign Roy to an extension when the KNEW his knee had zero cartilage left in it?

Same reason we resigned H20 to monster contract. Hand shake promise amung men. POrtland has a loyalty thing. Its noble with some teams. With Dolan its idiocy. Something things don't make sense.

Is this the same condition that CP3 has? Dejuan Blair?

Not really and no. CP3 had part of his meniscus removed, which is a fair cry from not having any. And Dejuan Brail is a no-ACL thing, which is entirely different (and playable on if you have big enough quad muscles, lots of examples of NFL players doing the same).

I guess I can dig the hand shake promise among men, but not at max $ extended rates, and that's what Roy got. Did Houston get his extension when it was already diagnosed that he had bad knees? I dont remember.

martin wrote:what i can't understand is this: With the Oden debacle, why did they sign Roy to an extension when the KNEW his knee had zero cartilage left in it?

I assume they thought he'd decline slowly not fall off a cliff. I'd take the guy off their hands because he doesn't rely on his athleticism to score anyway. Roy's issue seems to be his attitude though. Guy still thinks he is the man and might not accept a third fiddle role here behind Amare and Melo.

AnubisADL wrote:

martin wrote:what i can't understand is this: With the Oden debacle, why did they sign Roy to an extension when the KNEW his knee had zero cartilage left in it?

I assume they thought he'd decline slowly not fall off a cliff. I'd take the guy off their hands because he doesn't rely on his athleticism to score anyway. Roy's issue seems to be his attitude though. Guy still thinks he is the man and might not accept a third fiddle role here behind Amare and Melo.

Watch a couple of their games, you wouldn't take the guy even without the franchise killing contract he's got. He's trying to play like JKidd in his late years, but he's not that guy. He has zero elevation on his shot... zero. Plus, he's dominating the ball like he's Joe Johnson... its sad to watch. You know Miller and co must be going crazy watching him play like that.

JohnWallace44 wrote:

AnubisADL wrote:

martin wrote:what i can't understand is this: With the Oden debacle, why did they sign Roy to an extension when the KNEW his knee had zero cartilage left in it?

I assume they thought he'd decline slowly not fall off a cliff. I'd take the guy off their hands because he doesn't rely on his athleticism to score anyway. Roy's issue seems to be his attitude though. Guy still thinks he is the man and might not accept a third fiddle role here behind Amare and Melo.

Watch a couple of their games, you wouldn't take the guy even without the franchise killing contract he's got. He's trying to play like JKidd in his late years, but he's not that guy. He has zero elevation on his shot... zero. Plus, he's dominating the ball like he's Joe Johnson... its sad to watch. You know Miller and co must be going crazy watching him play like that.

there is no way I want him on the Knicks. I didn't particularly enjoy watching TMac

SupremeCommander wrote:
there is no way I want him on the Knicks. I didn't particularly enjoy watching TMac

Exactly, imagine TMac without the size advantage and less mobile and he has FIVE max years left.

The Blazers gave away Bayless too soon and didn't make the right trades and now they have Odden, Aldridge and Roy all with serious injury problems/concerns.

JohnWallace44 wrote:

SupremeCommander wrote:
there is no way I want him on the Knicks. I didn't particularly enjoy watching TMac

Exactly, imagine TMac without the size advantage and less mobile and he has FIVE max years left.

I refuse to imagine this!!!