As Wang Zelin, Lillard, and Will Barton prepare for the rookie game, in the central conference room of the Rose Garden Arena, the coaching staff of coach Tristos and David Vanderpool; general manager Nel Olsey, running

President Mike Joerger held a mid-season meeting with the team.

First assistant coach David Vanderpool analyzed the Blazers' strength this season on the big screen.

The first picture shows the Trail Blazers' current record: 40 wins and 14 losses, temporarily ranked second in the Western Conference.

"The results achieved by the team this year have exceeded all expectations and are the best performance since the new century..." David Vanderpool began to analyze.

“What’s the biggest factor?”

After speaking, David Vanderpool clicked the mouse, and another picture came out. It was a picture of Wang Zelin. Below it was an analysis of various comprehensive abilities, the impact on the team's various efficiency, jersey sales and other information.

"Wang is undoubtedly Portland's biggest gain this year... He averaged 32 minutes per game, 22.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2 blocks and 0.6 steals. His offensive efficiency is the best on the team, and his win shares are also the same...

"

After analyzing Wang Zelin, the next picture that comes out is Lillard.

Ten minutes later, David Vanderpool finished his speech, and Coach Terry took over: "Gentlemen, I think, Portland has ushered in a great opportunity to win the championship for the second time in team history. God loves us so much...

"

"The regular season is no longer our goal. We should set our goal in the playoffs in April. The team's lineup is both offensive and defensive, but our second lineup lacks enough aggression. Mike Roberts has more than enough defense and not enough offense.

There needs to be a player with enough weight on the bench..."

After speaking, Coach Terry set his sights on general manager Nel Orsi.

A large number of transactions always take place during the All-Star Weekend every year. Not only because the trade deadline is approaching, but also because after half a season of running-in, each team has more or less its own shortcomings, so it is natural to seize the time to make them.

Final reinforcement.

The All-Star Weekend showed great prosperity, but behind the scenes, the management of each team could no longer hold back and started taking some actions.

Recently, ESPN compiled a list of players that are highly sought after in the current NBA trade market. The number one player is Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith, who is currently at the forefront of trade rumors.

Last week, Josh Smith just rejected the three-year, $47 million contract offered by the Hawks, which made the news about his trade even more intense.

According to ESPN reporter Chris Broussard, the probability that the Hawks will send Josh Smith away before the trade deadline is 60%.

The Hawks' Eagle King Josh Smith's efficiency value this season is only slightly higher than the league average, and the overall data has declined compared with last season.

Logically speaking, his trading value should not be large.

But don't forget that Josh Smith, known as the poor man's version of James, is at the peak of his career. For players of this age, a sustained downturn in one season often heralds an explosion in the next season.

All-round data of 17.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1.8 blocks, and 1.2 steals...and he is only 28 years old.

That's enough to make any team salivate, including the Trail Blazers.

The Trail Blazers are a very youthful team, and a large number of rookies have brought ample salary space to the Trail Blazers.

In 2009, he signed a five-year, 82 million-dollar contract with Brandon Roy, the second largest contract in team history. Because Roy retired suddenly, the team management finally used the amnesty clause to cut him.

This means that although the remaining 63 million yuan in Roy's contract must continue to be paid, it does not enter the Blazers' salary cap.

Therefore, the Trail Blazers' apparent salary situation this season totals 73.66 million yuan, but after deducting Roy's 16.36 million yuan, the team's salary cap is only 57.3 million yuan.

You know, the NBA's salary cap in recent years has only been around 58 million yuan, and the Trail Blazers' salary space is among the richest among NBA teams.

In addition, the owner of the Trail Blazers, Paul Allen, is notoriously rich and willing to spend money.

The Suns and Bucks are currently pursuing Josh Smith very enthusiastically, and the former is preparing to send away the Polish hammer Gortat, Jared Dallion and a first-round draft pick as trading chips.

The Bucks are willing to trade Monta Ellis for Josh Smith.

The Trail Blazers were extremely calm on the surface and did not show any signs of competition for Josh Smith, but the management of the Suns and Bucks still remained vigilant.

There is no other reason. It is precisely because the Blazers' salary can bring too much room for maneuver, plus Paul Allen is a super rich man...

"Guys, ask yourselves, do you think we really need Josh Smith as a player?"

Nel Orsi smiled brightly.

This rhetorical question instantly made everyone fall into deep thought.

yes!

Do we really need a Josh Smith?

"Bah bang bang!"

Seeing everyone lost in thought, General Manager Nel Orsi's smile became even brighter.

"We already have two All-Stars. If nothing happens, Damien will definitely have the ability to become the team's third All-Star in 1 to 2 years at most. By then we will have three All-Star-level players.

…”

"So, Wang, LaMarcus, and Damien are the most important framework for the team in the next 3 to 5 years. No matter what, reinforcements must be centered on them..."

"In that case, why should we compete for an Eagle King who has never been an All-Star..."

"In my opinion, minor repairs are fine, but if you rush to trade a player who appears to have unlimited potential, you will actually lose more than you gain, and may even destroy the team's current good chemical reaction!"

After talking for a while, general manager Nel Orsi expressed his thoughts.

This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! It is better to be still than to move!

After some remarks, many people present agreed and nodded.

Mainly because the Blazers are now confident and straightened up.

Second in the Western Conference record!

It is still a team with a young player structure...

Even without reinforcements, the Trail Blazers will only get better year by year with the potential room for improvement of their young players.

"Mr. Orsi, I didn't think carefully!"

Coach Terry scratched his head in embarrassment.

This is actually one of the problems of rookie coaches. They are easily influenced by the young people on the team, which leads to enthusiasm and lack of consideration for the overall situation.

"What you said is serious," general manager Nell Orsi stepped forward and held coach Terry's hand: "Terry, it's not that I don't support reinforcements, but the value of Josh Smith is really not attractive enough to me.

From my point of view, even Damien may not be worse than Josh Smith in the future..."

There was still something he didn't say in his mind: "Unless it's a superstar like Kobe, LeBron, Durant...then there's room for consideration!"

Nel Orsi actually has greater expectations for the Blazers' third young master than anyone else.

Having established the strategic policy of "no movement is worse than silence", everyone focused on several other valuable players.

For example.

Andrea Bargnani, Raptors

DeJuan Blair, Spurs

Courtney Lee, Celtics

Yonus Jerebko, Pistons

Eric Maynor, Thunder

Derrick Williams of Timberwolves

Marvin Williams of Jazz

Counting Josh Smith, the above eight players are the most valuable players before the trade deadline.

General manager Nel Orsi and coach Terry passed on the interior players first.

No matter how strong he is, no matter how potential he has... is it possible that he can still be compared to Wang Zelin and Aldridge's combination?

Ever since!

Connett Lee, Marvin Williams, and DeJuan Blair became the targets that the Trail Blazers decided to pursue.

The first target is undoubtedly Celtic's Connett Lee.

He is good at shooting, with a 40% shooting rate from three-pointers all year round, solid defense, and rarely commits fouls...

In future generations, he will be considered a 3D player.

Now, it is also very suitable for the current Trail Blazers team, and it is a plug-and-play type.

The second target pursued is not Derrick Williams, a superstar in college, but DeJuan Blair, a little-known second-rounder.

The reason is very simple.

He's a Spur!

It is said that former Mosaic players are quite miraculous in the NBA, and can often produce unexpected surprises... The players from the Spurs are not necessarily any worse.

What is commendable is that Dejuan Blair, who was selected with the 37th pick in the second round of 2009, was successfully selected for the rookie game after being trained by Simawicz. He also broke the record of former Clippers captain Elton Brand in the 2000 rookie game.

He set a record of 21 rebounds in the rookie game, helping the first-year team defeat the second-year team 120:128. Together with the Kings' super rookie Tyrese Evans, they shared the MVP of the Rookie Challenge.

I don’t know how many people’s attention was shocked at that time.

What's even more outrageous is that after the All-Star Game, DeJuan Blair played the strongest game of his career. In the game between the Spurs and the Mavericks, he scored 27 points and 23 rebounds...
To be continued...