Random tidbit, I know a number of Blazers fans, and none of them received this e-mail. I kind of wonder how the recipients were chosen. www.blazersedge.com/trail-blazer...

Blazers Urge Fans to Support Team at City Council Public Testimony

The franchise is calling on its fanbase.

blazersedge.com

They're hidden around, and they're mostly (but not always) amazingly unpleasant folks. It's hard not to draw parallels to other non-Blazers-related stuff that gets discussed online.

Jaron Abelsohn@jaron.bsky.social · 2d ago

Have there been internet commentators defending the blazers ownership? I’ve certainly said the city is kinda over a barrel and doesn’t have much leverage, but haven’t seen many defend the teams actions

Ever notice that the vast majority of internet commenters who want to defend the new Blazers ownership can't seem to do it without acting absolutely horribly?

Alright, I'm finally catching up on today's Portland City Council meeting. I can't help but question if the Trail Blazers organization is negotiating in good faith.

This is your reminder that whenever the Blazers organization complains that someone else is wielding something (like a lawsuit) as a weapon, that's called "leverage" and the Blazers probably would like to eliminate that leverage. And they'd probably also be happy to use any such leverage themselves.

It feels like nearly all my favorite things to do, or watch, are being ruined by idiots and/or jerks.

"I don't live in Portland, but I'm going to use this peripherally-related Blazers news story to tell you why I am absolutely sure that Portland sucks as a city."

Note that I don't really bring up the situation of moving the team. Part of the problem (and I really should write about this) is that new ownership is so opaque that we're all just guessing at one of 5-6 different motives going on right now. By default, I assume it's about maximizing return.

Jason@hecubus01.bsky.social · last wk.

I do think at summer league part of Silver’s comments was directed at the Blazers. I don’t really believe Silver wants it to get to the point of moving the team.

I think it's hard to guess from the outside. Silver's job is essentially the PR guy for the owners, and I can't get a feel for how the owners are reacting to any of this.

Jason@hecubus01.bsky.social · last wk.

How much behind the scenes pressure you think Silver and the League are putting on the Blazers to at the very least right the PR battle?

It was a smart move by the City of Portland to publicly say that they're trying, but the team won't talk to them. While I don't think ownership cares about publicity, it's still bad for them. This allows the city to control the narrative that the organization isn't making even basic efforts.

Quality of camera work, on-camera announcers, graphics, overall product. It's generally very well-regarded among non-Blazers fans.

madoccassia ❌ 👑@madoccassia.bsky.social · 2w ago

I've been okay with Blazers' broadcasts, but I seldom watch anybody else. Who exactly rates them highly, and for what?

I find it fascinating how many Blazer fans say "I really don't enjoy our TV broadcasts" while on Reddit, Portland's broadcasts are constantly listed among the best TV coverages in the league.

I want to revisit this. There are a group of fans who, at every Blazers transaction, say "This one is good!" or "Oh I don't like this one". That's completely missing the forest for the trees, which is that the Blazers are pinching every penny in a business where spending can make a real difference.

Timmay@pdxtimmay.bsky.social · 2w ago

Much like current national news coverage and discussion, the ongoing Blazers situation has devolved into a transactional discussion about each new event happening ("I'm ok with this change!"), and less attention to what's happening with trends in the bigger picture. It's a little frustrating.

“Subprime“ offer. Amazing. Sometimes you get a reminder your team isn’t the good guys.

Much like current national news coverage and discussion, the ongoing Blazers situation has devolved into a transactional discussion about each new event happening ("I'm ok with this change!"), and less attention to what's happening with trends in the bigger picture. It's a little frustrating.

After a couple Summer League games, I have to say that I am not a fan of having one free throw instead of two. And I'm even less of a fan of one free throw instead of three. At the minimum, for three-pointers the player should be required to shoot that free throw from the top of the 3-point line.

If you love Private Equity and Venture Capital firms, then Pacific Northwest sports fans, I have great news for you.

Even for Summer League, this Blazers/Suns game seems to be aggressively irrelevant so far.

Move Summer League to Portland and use the Moda Center and Memorial Coliseum IMHO

As we see free agency start to wind down (we're reaching two-way signees and a couple noteworthy holdouts), we're at the point where we can say that Ja Morant was pretty clearly Portland's primary free agency plan. Any further Blazer transactions are because an opportunity opened up.

So Philly just loves all of Portland's back-of-rotation guys, then?

If nothing else, this provides a resolution to the years-old debate among Blazers fans about whether the Orlando Magic wanted to acquire Simons on his previous large contract. They even passed on him now, when he's looking at $6 million per season.

Shams Charania Tweets@shamsbot.bsky.social · last mo.

Just in: Free agent guard Anfernee Simons has agreed to a two-year, $12.3 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, with a player option in second season, sources tell ESPN. Simons chose the 76ers over other suitors believing his fit is perfect with the revamped 76ers roster.

Just in case things go pear-shaped in Boston, this is your reminder that the Blazers own the best and worst of the three 2029 first-round picks from Portland, the Celtics, and Milwaukee.

Two days later, still fully entertained. At least free agency hasn't turned out to be boring.

Timmay@pdxtimmay.bsky.social · last mo.

Look, I have to say, at least I am fully entertained today.

I'm weirdly convinced that Matisse Thybulle will eventually return to the Blazers on a really cheap contract. I guess we'll see if there's a market out there for him.

Kelly Iko says that "Kelly Oubre Jr. plans to meet with the 76ers, Pacers, Blazers and Lakers among others" during free agency, elsewhere on social media.

I'll give credit to the Clippers for recognizing their situation, replenishing some future picks, and tossing out a team that won't be elite but will at least be pesky and annoying. Clearly a side effect of not controlling their own upcoming first-rounders.

I find it funny that the NBA redesigned free agency timing so it could happen in the daytime instead of midnight, then promptly renegotiated the salary system so that free agency itself is completely underwhelming.

As constructed, I think these Blazers will be exhilarating on some nights, and infuriating on other nights. I just don't know the ratio.

Everything about Portland's transactions say they're fine next season, but just kind of wonky in construction. So I'm curious if even some minor trades/signings are inevitable. They sure seem to be saying that Scoot and Sharpe are not the priority of the franchise, though.