Should Portland blow it up?

[JSD]

- Oden is looking more and more like a bust (Yes, even at 22 years old).

- Doctor's are having trouble diagnosing Brandon Roy's knees and believe it's career lingering.

- Camby is another year older.

- Matthews is a nice player but not a full MLE guy.

- Aldridge is now in his mid 20's.

It just seems like bad karma surrounds what was once a young promising roster. It's time to put Aldridge aside, cash in on the remaining assets and build for the future.

[Who]

I think it's premature for Portland to make this decision.

Give it another 12 months and see what happens with Roy's health + whether or not Greg Oden can recover. Then decide.

[2short]

They are a good team.  Yes they need roy but either way a good team.  One of the better coaches in nba, they aren't blowing it up.  Camby looks better than shaq and jermaine put together.  Oden can't do anything about that, if they had him the last 3 years they would have seriously challenged lakers.

[papa shuttlesworth]

Although I was a little puzzled by it at the time, I now admire Danny Ainge's ability to see that the Celtics had pretty much reached their ceiling of potential when he started and blew everything up.

Fans might not like it, but the goal is to win championships and as currently set up, Portland can't.  (Or has only a very very very small chance).


 

[nba is the worst]

I can't really see a path forward with this group.  It will be another decent regular season, and another "wait until next year" playoff end.

I'm guessing they go with the (unlikely but possible) scenario that Oden is young enough to have a slim chance of returning next year and giving them some play worthy of a #1 pick- I'll be surprised if they admit defeat and move their assets just yet.

But another knee injury before ever stepping onto the court is a bad sign, apparently Roy's knee isn't much better - you are probably correct that they would be better off heading for the lottery...

[moiso]

Good posts, papa shuttlesworth and nba is the worst. 

This team is going nowhere with this core.  The team doesn't have a single allstar, never mind franchise player.  Apparently Roy is never going to be the same, and unless the Blazers are crazy enough to build around Aldridge, it's time to blow it up.  Aldridge would have been a fine 3rd piece behind Oden and Roy, but he's way over his head as a main man.

Now is the time to go young and bad for a couple years and build assets.  Why stay mediocre indefinitely?  There is no point in that.

[papa shuttlesworth]

The Celtics could give them a head start.  How about Von Wafer and a 2nd rounder for Roy?

[GreenFaith1819]

I say No - don't blow it up. Here's my Opinion why:

Greg Oden's situation, while certainly sad, is not the final option. First off - I'm no medical expert. What I mean by this is that worst case scenario - he misses this year and is ready for 2011-12 season.

He will be only 23, just scratching the surface of his prime. For me, I must admit I am looking at his situation from a Faith perspective.

How sweet it would be for Portland to NOT give up on this man - who is a nice guy off the court from what I've read - and then have him finally start to achieve this potential that everyone is expecting of him?

I know that my mindset towards Oden is NOT from a business perspective, and for that I apologize in advance. But I just have a hard time giving up on folks and teams, especially Portland.

Brandon Roy? Well, until a good doctor gives him a final decision on his health, I'd keep him too. Here is a man, who when mostly healthy, got props from one of the best defenders in the League in Ron Artest. Ron stated last yr that Brandon Roy gives him much trouble.

Portland still has Batum (Really Good Wing and Defender who can score, and is young), and Aldridge, who is in my top 6-7 of PF's. He is just starting to reach his prime.

Isn't Joel Przybilla due back soon, too? He is a tough interior defender and rebounder at 7 feet, and he's a vet. Pair him with Camby and Aldridge and they are solid.

Andre Miller is one of the better PG's in the league, and while older he can still contribute nicely for a few more years.

Portland has one of the best coaches in the league in Nate McMillan. I've always loved Nate, even in his playing days.

Portland has always been one of my favorite Non-Celtics Teams, right behind or next to San Antonio. They have an awesome fan base, and I'd hope that they continue to stand behind Oden, Roy and the remainder of the team as they go through this difficult stretch.

There are much, much worse things going on in the world - trust me on that. It is during the tough times that teams should stand together, circle the wagons - no matter what the circumstance.

No, Portland - don't blow it up. Why would you?

[moiso]

The Celtics could give them a head start.  How about Von Wafer and a 2nd rounder for Roy?

Haha.  Funny proposal, but I think the sooner they trade Roy the better.  You can't have a team structured around a guy that's going to be in and out of the lineup and always somewhat injured.  It never works.

[nba is the worst]

It looks like Portland won't blow it up, GreenFaith - I just saw this on ESPN:

"Brandon Roy's recent diagnosis is potentially more damaging to the franchise's long-term hopes than the loss of Oden for another season.

It is Roy, after-all, who's in the first year of a max deal. Yet just weeks into the season, he's sitting out, resting painful knees. Thursday's game against the Nuggets marked Roy's second on the inactive list.

After two surgeries on each of Roy's knees, doctors say there is little else they can do -- there's no meniscus left to operate on. Pain from bone rubbing against bone figures to dog Roy for the remainder of his career. Whether he'll ever produce at the same rate as in seasons past is suddenly an open question.

Yet with knowledge of his injury situation firmly in hand, Blazers brass signed Roy to a max deal. "He has earned this max contract regardless of what problems might come along," team president Larry Miller told the Oregonian.

Miller and company appear to be taking a similar approach with Oden -- basically crossing their fingers and doubling down.

Instead of letting Oden go or attempting to re-sign him for less, Miller said he plans to extend Oden a $9 million qualifying offer this summer. "I don't feel like I'm ready to give up on Greg Oden," Miller explained. "I don't think anybody in our organization is ready."

[moiso]

I say No - don't blow it up. Here's my Opinion why:

Greg Oden's situation, while certainly sad, is not the final option. First off - I'm no medical expert. What I mean by this is that worst case scenario - he misses this year and is ready for 2011-12 season.

He will be only 23, just scratching the surface of his prime. For me, I must admit I am looking at his situation from a Faith perspective.

How sweet it would be for Portland to NOT give up on this man - who is a nice guy off the court from what I've read - and then have him finally start to achieve this potential that everyone is expecting of him?

I know that my mindset towards Oden is NOT from a business perspective, and for that I apologize in advance. But I just have a hard time giving up on folks and teams, especially Portland.

Brandon Roy? Well, until a good doctor gives him a final decision on his health, I'd keep him too. Here is a man, who when mostly healthy, got props from one of the best defenders in the League in Ron Artest. Ron stated last yr that Brandon Roy gives him much trouble.

Portland still has Batum (Really Good Wing and Defender who can score, and is young), and Aldridge, who is in my top 6-7 of PF's. He is just starting to reach his prime.

Isn't Joel Przybilla due back soon, too? He is a tough interior defender and rebounder at 7 feet, and he's a vet. Pair him with Camby and Aldridge and they are solid.

Andre Miller is one of the better PG's in the league, and while older he can still contribute nicely for a few more years.

Portland has one of the best coaches in the league in Nate McMillan. I've always loved Nate, even in his playing days.

Portland has always been one of my favorite Non-Celtics Teams, right behind or next to San Antonio. They have an awesome fan base, and I'd hope that they continue to stand behind Oden, Roy and the remainder of the team as they go through this difficult stretch.

There are much, much worse things going on in the world - trust me on that. It is during the tough times that teams should stand together, circle the wagons - no matter what the circumstance.

No, Portland - don't blow it up. Why would you?

As always, you are VERY optomistic!  By the time Oden comes back, Camby and Miller will be done.  And if Roy is no longer an allstar, the talent is simply not there to be competitive in the playoffs.  You pretty much need a superstar to win playoff games.  If not, 2 or 3 allstars.  The Blazers just don't have any of that.

[GreenFaith1819]

It looks like Portland won't blow it up, GreenFaith - I just saw this on ESPN:

"Brandon Roy's recent diagnosis is potentially more damaging to the franchise's long-term hopes than the loss of Oden for another season.

It is Roy, after-all, who's in the first year of a max deal. Yet just weeks into the season, he's sitting out, resting painful knees. Thursday's game against the Nuggets marked Roy's second on the inactive list.

After two surgeries on each of Roy's knees, doctors say there is little else they can do -- there's no meniscus left to operate on. Pain from bone rubbing against bone figures to dog Roy for the remainder of his career. Whether he'll ever produce at the same rate as in seasons past is suddenly an open question.

Yet with knowledge of his injury situation firmly in hand, Blazers brass signed Roy to a max deal. "He has earned this max contract regardless of what problems might come along," team president Larry Miller told the Oregonian.

Miller and company appear to be taking a similar approach with Oden -- basically crossing their fingers and doubling down.

Instead of letting Oden go or attempting to re-sign him for less, Miller said he plans to extend Oden a $9 million qualifying offer this summer. "I don't feel like I'm ready to give up on Greg Oden," Miller explained. "I don't think anybody in our organization is ready."

TP - Thanks.

If Portland needs an example of Hard Times, just take a look at the 1986 and 1993 Celtics. Lord knows at least they still have Brandon Roy and Greg Oden with them.

[GreenFaith1819]

Moiso - you make a good point.

But how many superstars did Boston have in 07-08? We steamrolled a favored Lakers squad by Defense, no 7 foot flyswatters named Dwight, and no one-on-one players named Kobe wore Green back then.

Maybe only KG, and even then he was only what? 4th or 5th in MVP voting?

We won in 07-08 by commiting to Defense, something that Portland can continue to do. LA is not invincible. If Portland lets these setbacks affect them mentally, then of course they should blow it up.

But - look what Portland did to Denver last night - without Greg or Roy. I did not see the game, but I wonder who was responsible for forcing Carmelo into a 5-15 shooting night. Was it Batum?

All I'm saying is, is that Portland should just buckle down on this. They are right there in the thick of things. I guess I could be considered more of a team Chaplain than a coach.

For a perspective here: Our Boston Celtics came with 6 min and 5 points of beating LA in LA for Banner 18 - with a banged up KG.....getting out-boarded almost every game.....with a PG that's still maturing and getting better....and a bench that was not as good as this current bunch. I don't think ANY of our starters from last year ranked in the top ten, did they?

And yet we almost brought home Banner 18. So, so close.

Portland can still compete. You never know what can happen, especially in regards to other team's health.

I love Bynum as a player, but LA is not 100% sure that he'll make it back, either I bet.

[Who]

I have been impressed with Wesley Matthews since joining the Blazers. He is a much better ball-handler and passer than I thought he was. That added versatility is of great value to the Blazers if Roy and Oden work out.

A lineup of Wesley + Roy + Batum + Aldridge + Oden will be one of the fiercest lineups in the league. Their size both on the interior and the perimeter would be extremely difficult to play against. A lot of defensive quality, a lot of rebounding, a lot of shooting ability. Two go-to scorers in Roy and Aldridge plus three quality complementary offensive players. An extremely effective lineup.

I hope they make Wes Matthews the starting PG instead of Andre Miller next season (when Oden returns).

[moiso]

Moiso - you make a good point.

But how many superstars did Boston have in 07-08? We steamrolled a favored Lakers squad by Defense, no 7 foot flyswatters named Dwight, and no one-on-one players named Kobe wore Green back then.

Maybe only KG, and even then he was only what? 4th or 5th in MVP voting?

We won in 07-08 by commiting to Defense, something that Portland can continue to do. LA is not invincible. If Portland lets these setbacks affect them mentally, then of course they should blow it up.

But - look what Portland did to Denver last night - without Greg or Roy. I did not see the game, but I wonder who was responsible for forcing Carmelo into a 5-15 shooting night. Was it Batum?

All I'm saying is, is that Portland should just buckle down on this. They are right there in the thick of things. I guess I could be considered more of a team Chaplain than a coach.

For a perspective here: Our Boston Celtics came with 6 min and 5 points of beating LA in LA for Banner 18 - with a banged up KG.....getting out-boarded almost every game.....with a PG that's still maturing and getting better....and a bench that was not as good as this current bunch. I don't think ANY of our starters from last year ranked in the top ten, did they?

And yet we almost brought home Banner 18. So, so close.

Portland can still compete. You never know what can happen, especially in regards to other team's health.

I love Bynum as a player, but LA is not 100% sure that he'll make it back, either I bet.

KG was a superstar, Pierce was a borderline superstar at that point, Ray was an allstar.  I'm saying Portland may not even have one allstar in the next few years.  I don't see that as the same thing.


Sure, with a good coach, good chemistry and teamwork, Portland can be a decent team but when it comes down to it, they are simply going to lack the firepower to advance very far.