While the Lakers’ first-round flameout grabbed most of the media attention on Friday, another Western Conference franchise is facing similar questions after coming up short in the opening round.
The Trail Blazers were built for a deep postseason run and seemingly got a good draw against a Nuggets team playing without its starting backcourt. Despite the efforts of All-Star Damian Lillard, Portland lost to Denver in six games, creating a wave of uncertainty regarding the front office, coaching staff and roster.
The Trail Blazers have qualified for the playoffs in eight consecutive seasons, yet they’ve reached the conference finals just once – in 2018/19, when the Warriors swept them.
That was the only time in the past five seasons Portland has gotten out of the first round.
Lillard averaged 34.3 PPG and 10.2 APG against Denver and made 35 3-pointers but it still wasn’t enough. He was worn out and frustrated in the second half of Game 6 on Thursday as his shots stopped falling.
In an era when superstars seek greener pastures, Lillard has been unfailingly loyal to the Blazers organization. It may come to a point, perhaps this offseason, where the annual postseason disappointment finally gets to him.
It’s fair to wonder whether a shakeup is necessary in the front office and the coaching staff. President of basketball operations Neil Oshey acquired starting forwards Robert Covington in the offseason and Norman Powell at the trade deadline. But the second unit remained thin, in large part because recent draft picks Nassir Little, Anfernee Simons and CJ Elleby have made little to no impact.
Highly respected Terry Stotts has been the head coach as long as Lillard has been on the team. Does the team need a new voice and some fresh ideas to get over the hump?
Powell is expected to decline his player option in order to test the free agent market. Jusuf Nurkic’s contract is only partially guaranteed ($4MM of $12MM), though there’s no obvious replacement for him. Covington’s contract ($13MM in 2021/22) expires after next season.
The Blazers could look to trade him or CJ McCollum, but his three-year extension kicks in next season, making it difficult to break up the high-scoring backcourt.
That leads us to our question of the day: What changes should the Trail Blazers make in order to become a true title contender?
Please take to the comments section to weigh in on this topic. We look forward to your input.
Ben Simmons/McCollum headliner…
What’s the incentive for the 76ers? They then wouldn’t have a point guard and their defense would take a huge hit. Plus they had the 3rd best record in the league, why break that up?
Ben Simmons to the Warriors. I would absolutely love the Sixers to lose in this next round because I think Ben Simmons is amazing !! There has to be interest in a third team for James Wiseman, two high first-round picks and Andrew Wiggins money slot. Something has to work out if the Sixers flame out this series.
Nah, Wiseman doesn’t have great stock after a disappointing season. Wiggins was okay this year, but still no value. If they luck out and get the high end Timberwolves pick that could do something. But Simmions is young and probably the best defender in the NBA, outside of shooting his is basically top 5 at everything; it would take a kings ransom to get a player that good thay young and Warriors don’t have it that they want to give.
What’s the difference, the Sixers don’t have a PG now.
Simmons is a PF just like LeBron James and Draymond Green.
Technically he’s playing SF with Harris playing PF. Secondly he’s the PG on offense, as is Doncic on the Mavs. This version of the NBA doesn’t dictate skill to position.
Ben Simmons averaged 9.2 assist per games this season, 7th in the league.
@padam is right. PG on offense, and SF or whatever position that needs guarded on defense.
How many of us on this thread couldn’t average 9apg for the Sixers if we were the primary ballhandler, played 30+ mpg, passed first, second, third and refused to shoot? You couldn’t help but average that playing with Joel, Tobias, Curry, etc… And, I like Simmons!
As mentioned above, he’d be great with Golden State (shooters). I think he’d be great with Dame, too, and would certainly upgrade Portland’s defense.
Great job trying to diminish his value as one of the better ball distributors in the league, but even in college Ben is a big PG that can play and guard most positions while running an offense.
That’s all he does is distribute the ball… that’s why he averages 9 assists! Normally, a player may pass up an open 22 footer to pass to a guy (or girl) open at 15 feet. Simmons passes up wide-open 15 foot opportunities to pass to the open 22 footer. You’ll never see him with the ball with 3 seconds left on the shot clock because he doesn’t want to shoot! If he has it at 7 seconds, he’ll look to pass to someone – anyone – just so he doesn’t have to shoot it. Somebody has to catch/shoot a grenade.
Other than that, I like him! Love his defense, rebounding, and his play in transition. Even (early) Rondo would take an open shot, even if reluctantly. Lonzo Ball couldnt shoot worth a sh!t, but he’d still shoot it… that’s why, while still a work in progress, he’s a better shooter today. Simmons needs to do the same thing. Shoot! Doesn’t mean shoot several jumpers per game, but shoot a few – make or miss. His improvement (or lack there of) as a player depends on it. And, I won’t even mention free throws.
Ooops… I just did.
Wilt avg 7.8 and 8.4 ast for Sixers. With 24 pts and 11 rebs. PG is the general and gets offense going. It’s knowing when to step on the gas and when to pull back. It’s gm management. Just look what a real PG can do for a team. CP3 and Suns.
Sixers biggest mistake is thinking Ben is next Magic. He should be playing a wing. He’s not a real PG. And I like Ben. Tobias, Ben, Embiid should be their Front line. Get a real PG
Jokic averaged 8.3 APG, he must be a PG as well.
Why don’t you think Simmons is a PG? Great handles, great defender, great athlete, he can’t shoot but that doesn’t disqualify him from being a guard.
Nope! Lots of PGs aren’t great shooters, look at Ja Morant, look at MVP Rose, look at Westbrook.
CJ is a playmaker, he could be a very good PG
He is also apparently great at being a no show in the playoffs.
Blazers need huge upgrade
Most of you don’t plan to improve Blazers
Blazers FO is Neil Olshey – Connelly and Booth are Denver FO.
I think Stotts gets canned they need a new voice, my guess is Billups. Not sure what roster upgrades are really available that make sense. Maybe a better rim protector & backup point guard. If clips lose early maybe CJ, Roco for PG13.
George with Dame would make so much better sense from a winning perspective and he would bring something the Blazers really need, but I don’t see the Clips going for that trade, CJ is a nice 3rd option on a contender (nothing more nothing less).
Not many first options on a team with Lilliard. CJM said by his second year that he was stuck behind Lilliard in AS-type recognition. They have always been first & second options.
I would say, to say third option, is a negative opinion and possibly related to his $100 million due… What if no extension was made in 2019 and he was FA now?… He would be worth less than a 3/$100… but not much less. Like with Lilliard, CJM’s lack of defense would matter less if he was paired with a good defender.
The problem lies with Olshey, unless Lilliard was pressuring him as a star… which would just be an excuse. Olshey is responsible.
My bad, it is spelled Lillard.
It should be clear by now, BLAZERS need a different coach, a different system.
Everyone loves CJ, but he’s probably the best trade offer to improve the roster ……. they need rebounding and stretch, 3&D forwards real bad.
RJJ lacks that shot, but plays defense and rebounds with the best of them. It’s still a mystery why he fell off Stott’s rotation completely. Melo is a good story, but the BLAZERS defense just suffers when he’s on the floor.
This team needs an overhaul this offseason.
“The Trail Blazers were built for a deep postseason run”
That’s news to me???
Not re-signing Melo would be a good start.
Addition by subtraction, it’s like someone else said Melo is a great story, but that’s all he is. He is a super streaky shooter (dime a dozen) slow and doesn’t play D and doesn’t even open the floor anymore.
Stotts is done and I can see Chauncey being the hire at HC. It’s time to look at trading CJ, possibly to the pelicans for Ingram. This would open up the sg spot to sign Powell to a long-term deal. They should also look at trading Nurkic for the right deal is available for a more defensive rim protector or better bench depth. They need a solid backup pg and center. Resigning Melo will come down to the coaching hire. If it’s Chauncey, then it makes sense. Melo was his best when Chauncey was his teammate.
You are under estimating Jusuf Nurkic & you are over estimating Carmelo Anthony
Nurkic was once considered better than Jokic, he obviously isn’t even close, but he is a very solid starting center. Something has to give with all the injuries though, and he has become a foul machine, they need a different system desperately.
I like Nurkic as a 3rd or 4th option offensively, but it seems like we wants a bigger role that what he’s going to get. For team chemistry, it probably makes more sense to see what you can get for him. I just wouldn’t give him away though. They need a starter or 2 rotation players in return.
For Melo, he fills a role off the bench a scorer on the 2nd unit and he has been cheap. I’m not sure why you wouldn’t want to bring him back.
First priority sign Danny Ainge as new Blazers Gm!!
Could be true. Good take !! I’m also thinking Stotts as the Celtics new coach. Thoughts?
Stotts is a good coach that would be solid for a lot of teams, but he’s not the next Celtics coach, respectfully.
Stotts has the same problem is Brad, high floor low ceiling coaching. Celtics need something fresh if they want to become contenders so they won’t look at a coach with similar issues.
Danny Ainge is most likely finished & he’ll remain a consultant with the Celtics
There have been reports that he is looking for another full time gig so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him “lace up” for a new team very soon.
Dame to Boston
If Portland blows it up, I’m sure the Knicks will throw some of those #1s they have stocked up for him.
Seems possible
Boston is pretty low on assets outside of their two best players.
Fresh ideas? Here’s one – play some defense.
No personnel for that. Little had the rep but has not performed.
How? They don’t have the talent, and their best players don’t have the energy to play both ends, Dame has to literally carry that team on O so playing even decent D would be impossible.
True to a degree. But if the HC, with the backing of his star player, prioritized defense (meaning playing time for non-stars is based on it), it wouldn’t be the joke it is. RoCo and Powell (Jones too) are physically gifted defenders. But they are not given matchups where they can make an impact.
Dare the Blazers hire a HC who will press DL&CJM defensively? Since one is likely overpaid and the other acting like he soon will be too, I think the new HC will be a D guy. Give that a try while the window is still open.
Surely Lillard has noted how much StanVG stuck with Bledsoe.
The problem with a young HC is they may try to hard to please the stars, who have been fine with hero-ball. Lillard has been subtlely denying he likes hero-ball, even though I have not seen where a reporter has challenged him with the mention of it. Too much respect
CJ & Nurk for Christian Wood & Eric Gordon?
Houston could throw in Avery Bradley to help make the salaries match.
Dame not going to NY unfortunately the first round picks they have are worthless now that they are not in the lottery.
I agree that CJ’s value isn’t the highest, but it’s alot higher than that.
Just throwing this out there:
CJ for K.Love …….. Salaries near match.
This is assuming that K.Love is in good condition. He looked fat and disengaged this season. Coming home to the Northwest might be what he needs.
K.Love brings some of their needs, rebounding, passing and that long-ball. Some interior defense as well.
He also brings the Injury bug with him & the Blazers won’t trade for him
Great trade as of 4 years ago
*I think some low key targets should be Drummond or Harrell. Lakers might not retain both after going out in the 1st.
*Love could be another decent target
*I wouldn’t hate Dwight Howard either even though he is older
All would play GREAT along side Collins
Portland was hurt by not having Zach Collins, but their rotation decisions were questionable throughout the season, and specifically in this series. I did pick Denver over them in 7, so not a surprising loss, but I obviously thought it was close…I also thought this was arguably the most talented/deepest team Lillard has played on so far, which makes it kind of tough. They needed more balance on the floor in their rotation. I still think it was a good trade for Powell, but the way they played almost made it worse for them. 1 of CJ or Powell should have been off the bench. Too many guys that need the ball on this team as well, so 1 or 2 of them shouldnt play together
Not sure about the future of Simons b/c he hasnt really improved enough to mitigate their issues defensively at the guard spots. That is an area that must be addressed, regardless of anything. They need someone that can guard that guard spot, preferably someone that can play with Lillard or CJ
They did add a couple of defenders last offseason, but then didnt use a couple of their better defenders, or used them mostly out of position, and they lost Collins, who is the only big they had that could defend pick and roll or space the floor, outside of Giles who they never used. They also never addressed defense at the guard spot, which has been a need for a long time, and was ultimately probably their biggest issue in that series
They also still need to get better at looking for easier baskets in half court situations. I do think they should keep Melo, and he does help them in this area, but I think they still need more there. They still kind of rely too much on Lillard or CJ to create something in those situations. Melo’s fit next to a couple of their bigs, besides Collins, is questionable. Kanter was surprisingly good for them earlier this year. Admittedly, I didnt pay enough attention to him as the season went on, but he might have helped them in those half court situations, although they would have needed to play a couple of those defenders they sat around him
Is this a repost? I think I already questioned the “talentest/deepest” part, given the needs!— or, I got modded or gave up on it. HR asked for what Olshey should do, but Olshey should be the change!
Billups seems to be a popular choice among this thread… why is that? I don’t mean that in a negative way. I’m just asking for opinions on why you feel he’s the right replacement. Or, is it more of “Why not?”.
Billups is inexperienced and like Stotts, probably too mellow. Of course mellow could also be called poised, which was his advantage as a player, given his Piston teammates. I guess I would like to see it. Maybe to get Olshey replaced sooner?
Damian will be 31 or is. Only move they have is trade CJ. Get players that complement Dillard. Blazers would have to take chances on young guys that can evolve. Like Markkanen or Bagley. They don’t have too many options. As much as I like Dame. Cost too Much for Knicks. So let’s stop that.