2020 Free Agency Thread

[Scalma]

Here are Marks’ contract predictions as a guide. He does note that these estimates are for multi year deals, and that guys could certainly get more on one year pacts.

 

[tester551]

This is a terrible FA class. There's not many players I'm even that interested in. However, I wouldn't mind the following players at the projected salary listed:

PG: (Not that Olshey would actually bring in a real backup PG). Portland could really use a good backup.
- Jeff Teague -> Perfect for the role. However, Portland probably has bigger holes to plug with the MLE money.
- Evan Turner -> He'd be good as a vet min player (with a small role).... but he's NOT a PG.

SG:
- Shaq Harrison -> I view him more as a PG. He's been solid in a limited role - which could be a good value move.

SF:
- Danilo Gallinari -> More than the MLE, but if we can get him for the MLE - you do it.
- Derrick Jones -> He's going to get more than $4-6M. He's a nice plug & play type player.
- Josh Jackson -> Might be an interesting reclamation project player... but I'd pass.

PF:
- Giles -> He's still young and has some 'potential' still.

C:
- Noel -> Good fit for a backup C role player.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

Chris Boucher.

I'm sure Terry Stotts is salivating at the prospect of getting Anthony Tolliver again.

 

[Scalma]

I don’t remember the last free agent Olshey signed I was genuinely pumped about. Maybe Hood re-signing? It feels like it’s always cautious optimism at best. I’m more excited about the draft, but I still hope he signs a Millsap or a younger guy like Giles/Noel. The dream is Ibaka.

 

[handiman]

Not a lot of top tier talent, but if those contract estimates are at all accurate, there's tons of value to be found in vets coming off big contracts and no longer looked upon in that light. (Ahem, Evan Turner, Mo Harkless, Meyers Leonard, Nic Batum...)

 

[tykendo]

Please NO Nerlens. Giles i feel will stay in Sactown. Ibaka is a nice player but i don't see him leaving Toronto. Harrell is a real nice pick up, but i don't see him leaving either. I think Crowder would be a real nice pickup, and is more realistic. Along with re-signing Melo, and keeping Trevor Ariza. A healthy Blazers team contends in my opinion. Gallo, or Hayward, would be nice.

 

[HolyBackboard]

Given how well Dragic and Grant played in the bubble, they are no longer feasible options with the MLE.

I'd make Jae Crowder the No. 1 option to go after ... full 4-year MLE (vs. 1 large lump sum with Miami) and a starting role in Portland.

It would also allow Portland to explore packaging Ariza and Collins for the final starter (Lillard, McCollum, Crowder, Nurkic) or they could keep Ariza have very versatile starting frontcourt.

 

[blazerkor]

Here are Marks’ contract predictions as a guide. He does note that these estimates are for multi year deals, and that guys could certainly get more on one year pacts.

View attachment 34523 View attachment 34524 View attachment 34525 View attachment 34526 View attachment 34527

I would love to get Otto Porter for the MLE but I very highly doubt he opts out of 28.4 million to drop into free agency that projects that he gets around 9.

 

[pougie]

Wow, if those contract predictions are at all remotely correct, Christian Wood could be had for only $10-12m?? He’s still young and has shown flashes and is also unrestricted. If we could convince him to sign, we could offer to do a sign-and-trade where we give Detroit Ariza’s $13.8m contract, Simons ($1.8m), #46, and a lotto-protected 2021 pick. That would allow the Blazers to offer Wood close to $15m a year. Adding Hezonja would allow close to $16.5m.

And realistically, if we drafted one of Bey, Neismith, or Smith, our bench should be deep and full of shooting with Trent and Hood on the bench as well. This may be just me, but I would not mind bringing Turner back for the minimum to be our backup PG. I’d bring in Crowder on the full MLE. That would push Collins to the bench where he could be a backup C/PF rather than a starting PF. I’d also probably re-sign Gabriel for the amount Trent has right now.

We would be going into the season with

Dame/CJ/Crowder/Wood/Nurkic Turner/Trent/Hood/TPE/Collins /Little/#16//Gabriel

I like this team a lot. I like Carroll or Green as SF/PF options if they would come for the vet min and maybe Napier as a vet min 3rd-string.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I would target Gallo at nontax MLE and Harkless for BAE. Best PG on vet minimum deal and Kanter in trade.

Dame ? Simons
CJ Trent Hood
Ariza Harkless Hoard
Gallo Collins Little
Nurk Kanter Gabriel

Melo doesn't make the cut. We trade the pick for a future 1st or drop one of Gabriel/Hoard

 

[Scalma]

Jackson would fit Olsheys habit of going after former top prospects/recruits.

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2020/11/2/21542023/nba-free-agents-preview-offseason-contracts

I’ll be honest: I have no idea what to make of Jackson.

The fourth overall pick in the 2017 draft washed out of Phoenix, losing his spot on the wing to 2018 draftee Mikal Bridges, and falling out of favor entirely after multiple off-court incidents. After the Suns sent Jackson to the Grizzlies with De’Anthony Melton to carve out the cap space to sign Ricky Rubio, he had to climb the ladder in Memphis all the way up from the bottom rung. To his credit, he did it, starting in the G League, proving he could produce there, and earning a call-up only after injuries had battered the Grizzlies’ rotation.

Jackson didn’t leap off the page once he got his second chance, but he didcontribute, averaging 10.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.1 steals in 20.7 minutes per game over his final 17 appearances before the hiatus. His jumper remains a work in progress, but Jackson’s willingness to fire from deep and ability to slash to the hoop paid dividends in Memphis: The Grizz outscored opponents by 4.1 points per 100 possessions in his minutes.

And then the league shut down for four months, and Jackson barely played for Memphis in the bubble, and now we’re left with a great big shrug emoji. He’s not a great 3-point shooter, but he’s a willing one (nearly nine attempts per 100 possessions with the Grizz) who shot 38.2 percent from deep in the G League. He’s not a great ball handler, but he can run a pick-and-roll and the fast break. He’s not a great defender, but at 6-foot-8 and 207 pounds, he’s got the size to guard multiple positions, and a knack for using his quickness and 6-foot-10 wingspan to create turnovers. And he’s still less than four years removed from being a top-five pick.


Twenty-two games of decent rotation play for an injury-plagued team probably isn’t enough to earn a significant multiyear commitment. After how things fell apart in Phoenix, he’ll probably have to accept another cheap prove-it deal before he gets a longer look. But if he can turn the flashes he showed in Memphis into sustained production, he could wind up being a really nice buy-low option for teams in need of an injection of athleticism and adrenaline on the wing.

 

[Scalma]

Stein thinks free agency will start two or three days after the draft. Since the draft is on a Wednesday, that week is gonna end with a bang.

 

[Scalma]

Open it next week LFG

 

[Scalma]

looks like the trade moratorium will be lifted about a week before the draft. Wonder if they start free agency then as well.

 

[Boise Blazer]

I think it would be interesting to see how having free agency BEFORE the draft may change how teams make their plans.

 

[TBpup]

@Scalma ... player like Josh Jackson is right up Neil's alley. Certainly still room to grow and should come pretty inexpensively, expecially this off-season.

 

[Scalma]

@Scalma ... player like Josh Jackson is right up Neil's alley. Certainly still room to grow and should come pretty inexpensively, expecially this off-season.

only concern might be his off court stuff, some of which continued in Memphis. Olshey doesn’t really play that game, don’t remember the last time he brought in someone that wasn’t a law abiding citizeeeen

 

[Mediocre Man]

My prediction is some role player that helps us get the 6th seed

 

[Zach Collins Enthusiast]

My prediction is some role player that helps us get the 6th seed

Only one name on that list: Robin. Lopez.

 

[Labinot41]

KD looking like 50 lol. Shit i'm 26 and i'm starting to lose my hair too

 

[Scalma]

The Knicks still plan to pursue former star Carmelo Anthony, even if they can’t pull off a trade for his buddy, Chris Paul. The Post has reported Anthony would be eager to join the Knicks if they land Paul.
——

I’m team Melo but it would be better for the team if he left.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Yeah I'd prefer Melo go elsewhere. It was a great story for a year, but we don't need him now. He will want touches or starts and we are better off trying to get a more complete player who can defend and contribute off ball. If we end up with Hezonja scrub playing forward minutes again next year trade a second round pick to get Melo back.

 

[rumbletumble2]

The Knicks still plan to pursue former star Carmelo Anthony, even if they can’t pull off a trade for his buddy, Chris Paul. The Post has reported Anthony would be eager to join the Knicks if they land Paul.
——

I’m team Melo but it would be better for the team if he left.

Same with CJ. Team CJ but better for the team if he was traded.

 

[Scalma]

I still kinda hope we sign Cousins. I know we have Collins but if you take a flier on cousins and he stays healthy, you can play Collins next to him. I doubt anyone is gonna offer him a starting role, so he may as well team up with Dame in a comfortable environment and rebuild his value.

 

[Scalma]

Another question is how many open roster spots will Olshey have to work with? I think Hezonja will pick his player option up, something I didn’t think he’d do pre covid. Hood was a certainty. So including those two, Portland has 10 players under contract. I’m going to assume that Wenyen will be back as well, so the safe guess says four openings, two of which would go to the draft picks. You also have Hoard and Moses, but they’re RFAs that are still eligible for two ways.

So that leaves two spots for free agents, assuming Olshey doesn’t make any trades, which I think is a safe bet. He’s got the full MLE and the BAE to work with, although I don’t think someone like Cousins will require anything more than the minimum.

 

[Scalma]

The Raptors are still the favorite to keep Ibaka. But if he leaves, he would only do so to have a chance at a championship—teams like the Celtics, the Clippers, the Heat, the Mavericks and the Trail Blazers are among those interested in Ibaka.
https://heavy.com/sports/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-free-agency-serge-ibaka/

 

[BonesJones]

Everyone wants big changes... All I want is Bjelica and Ibaka.

Using the TPE, I'd do either #16 for Bjelica and #35 or, if possible, #46 and a future 2nd for Bjelica.

Then pursue Ibaka with the MLE. If we had to pay him more, I'd consider doing 3 years, $12M-$13M a year (3rd year non-guaranteed) and try to sign-and-trade Ariza for him. If he did that we would then use the MLE to go after an Ariza replacement.

So our lineup would be:
Lillard / McCollum
McCollum / Trent
Ariza or MLE / Hood
Collins / Bjelica
Nurkic / Ibaka

In my opinion, that's the best bench in the league. It has a good mix of defense, shot creation, and shooting. We'd have three guys (Trent, Hood, Bjelica) that shot 41.8% or higher from 3. Ibaka is a good shooting C who can protect the rim. C.J. would eat against those bench units with all that space.

Imagine Dame coming out of the game and still having just as much confidence (or maybe more) as when he's in because of how good the bench unit is?

Better yet: We'd still have pieces to make a splash move at the deadline including all our future 1sts, Simons, Collins, Nassir, and Trent... But if we didn't I think that lineup might be able to contend if coached properly.

 

[BonesJones]

Yeah I'd prefer Melo go elsewhere. It was a great story for a year, but we don't need him now. He will want touches or starts and we are better off trying to get a more complete player who can defend and contribute off ball. If we end up with Hezonja scrub playing forward minutes again next year trade a second round pick to get Melo back.

Would match rather try to make a move for someone like Bjelica than to keep Melo, for multiple reasons:
1. Bjelica is a better 3pt shooter
2. Bjelica takes better, more efficient shots.
3. Bjelica would be more comfortable/willing to come off the bench
4. Bjelica isn't a ball-stopper/iso player
5. Bjelica is a better passer
6. Bjelica is probably a better defender (assuming Melo doesn't defend like how he did in the bubble)
7. We could use the TPE to absorb Bjelica's salary in a trade instead of using part of a free agent exception.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Ibaka would be awesome. But I suspect TOR and him agree on something such as 20 mil for a one year deal. They want to save space for Giannis in 2021.

 

[Scalma]

Yeah I see Ibaka staying in Toronto. Millsap is probably more realistic.