Best Player available-just like the draft

[Pinwheel1]

We could soon be the only team with Cap space. Keeping it until the trade deadline is fine, but maybe taking the best availabe player like they do in the draft is the way to go. KP is always looking to obtain assets.

Both Millsap and David Lee are excellent hustle players with great attitudes. Do you pass on them just because they do not meet our biggest need? We still need a back up PF so it's not like they don't meet any need. Yes 9 million is too much for a backup. But they both give us a big chip to use later. Plus I like fucking over both Utah and New York. If I had to choose one I would go with Millsap. Utah is in our division and loosing Millsap would be a huge blow to them as he is one of their few front line players that plays physical.

Do it KP. At least make them match it at a high price.

 

[B-Roy]

Odom is the BPFA

 

[Minstrel]

I could understand just taking the best player, Paul Milsap, if Pritchard was then able to trade Aldridge for a big-time point guard. And by big-time, it would have to be a legitimate star, like a Chris Paul (this would obviously require more in addition to Aldridge), Deron Williams, Tony Parker...someone like that.

Milsap as a back-up doesn't make a lot of sense long-term.

 

[Idog1976]

We could soon be the only team with Cap space. Keeping it until the trade deadline is fine, but maybe taking the best availabe player like they do in the draft is the way to go. KP is always looking to obtain assets.

Both Milsap and David Lee are excellent hustle players with great attitudes. Do you pass on them just because they do not meet our biggest need? We still need a back up PF so it's not like they don't meet any need. Yes 9 million is too much for a backup. But they both give us a big chip to use later. Plus I like fucking over both Utah and New York. If I had to choose one I would go with Milsap. Utah is in our division and loosing Milsap would be a huge blow to them as he is one of their few front line players that plays physical.

Do it KP. At least make them match it at a high price.

Agree Millsap is a great option. I think you have to go for Sessions though. Milwaukee could hurt us with a match and that we be the end of Free Agency for us. I only like Lee if he is brought in so we can move Joel for Battier and play LMA at center with Lee at PF in the second unit and then rest LMA by going Oden at C and for PF Lee.

 

[Idog1976]

I could understand just taking the best player, Paul Milsap, if Pritchard was then able to trade Aldridge for a big-time point guard. And by big-time, it would have to be a legitimate star, like a Chris Paul (this would obviously require more in addition to Aldridge), Deron Williams, Tony Parker...someone like that.

Milsap as a back-up doesn't make a lot of sense long-term.

What about bringing in Millsap and trading LMA + Blake for Harris? Too steep? You have to keep Joel if you trade LMA.

PG Harris/Bayless/Mills
SG Roy/Rudy/Bayless
SF Batum/Rudy/Roy
PF Millsap/Cunningham
C Oden/Przybilla.

Hmm, not sure I like the SF or PF position.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Keep in mind you can always trade Millsap or Lee later as well.

 

[Minstrel]

What about bringing in Millsap and trading LMA + Blake for Harris? Too steep? You have to keep Joel if you trade LMA.

PG Harris/Bayless/Mills
SG Roy/Rudy/Bayless
SF Batum/Rudy/Roy
PF Millsap/Cunningham
C Oden/Przybilla.

Hmm, not sure I like the SF or PF position.

You don't like Batum and Milsap? I think that's a very strong forward combo, considering the team's stars would then be at SG, PG and (hopefully) C.

IF Portland was certain they had/could get Milsap, I'd probably pull the trigger on LMA for Harris, Rondo or Rose, even though none of the three are yet on the level of the players I mentioned. For that matter, Aldridge isn't yet, either. I predict further growth from him, but those three will also develop further.

 

[bobf]

I think if you fill up the SF slot with someone good who can not play PF then you will have real problems with Rudy's playing time and hinder Batum's development. I think that could have been made to work with Hedo since a decent % of his minutes could have been at backup PF.

 

[Idog1976]

You don't like Batum and Milsap? I think that's a very strong forward combo, considering the team's stars would then be at SG, PG and (hopefully) C.

IF Portland was certain they had/could get Milsap, I'd probably pull the trigger on LMA for Harris, Rondo or Rose, even though none of the three are yet on the level of the players I mentioned. For that matter, Aldridge isn't yet, either. I predict further growth from him, but those three will also develop further.

Millsap Batum is pretty good (not as good as Aldridge Batum) but their back ups are Rudy/Roy and Cunningham. The lack of depth is a tad scary. I am in the don't count on Martell ever coming back camp.

Boston would cream in it's jeans for Aldridge for Rondo I am almost certain of it. You could start Garnett at Center and bring Kendrick off the bench. )

I think Rondo can be had for cheaper if you take on Ray Allen's contract.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

1a) Lamar Odom
1b) David Lee

The Lakers are prepared to offer Odom a three year deal worth around $25m.

If KP wants Odom, we can trump that offer.

 

[cdub503]

as much as i like the vanilla gorilla i like the get lee and have aldridge as second unit center that would be enough minutes for lee probably and if oden somehow goes down cunningham/pendergraph could back up after they get their garbage minutes

 

[ODENISGOD]

millsap bye a mile

 

[Idog1976]

as much as i like the vanilla gorilla i like the get lee and have aldridge as second unit center that would be enough minutes for lee probably and if oden somehow goes down cunningham/pendergraph could back up after they get their garbage minutes

Clearly he just needs to stay away from neon-pink skirt-belts and he should give us a healthy season. That might be too much to ask...

 

[SteelBlaze1]

FA's available at SF:
Marvin Williams, Atlanta
Linas Kleiza, Denver
Lamar Odom, LA
Shawn Marion, Toronto
Grant Hill, Phoenix
Matt Barnes, Phoenix
Hakim Warrick, Memphis

What about Linas Kleiza?

 

[Idog1976]

FA's available at SF:
Marvin Williams, Atlanta
Linas Kleiza, Denver
Lamar Odom, LA
Shawn Marion, Toronto
Grant Hill, Phoenix
Matt Barnes, Phoenix
Hakim Warrick, Memphis

What about Linas Kleiza?

What about Childress? If you're sold on Bayless that might not be a bad way to go. Marvin Williams is he that much of an upgrade over Batum? So much so that it's worth stunting Batum's growth?

 

[SteelBlaze1]

Childress would be okay, but I am not sold on anything right now...really strange mood...sorry?

 

[Idog1976]

Childress would be okay, but I am not sold on anything right now...really strange mood...sorry?

I hear ya. I just start going nuts with trade ideas when options are taken off the table.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

For years we had Rasheed and Brian Grant,
and Shareef and Rasheed.

We never really did as good as I think we could have because of the positional redundancies.

Shareef, in particular, never really played well for Portland because he mostly played out of position.

 

[Minstrel]

For years we had Rasheed and Brian Grant,
and Shareef and Rasheed.

We never really did as good as I think we could have because of the positional redundancies.

Shareef, in particular, never really played well for Portland because he mostly played out of position.

Portland never had Abdur-Rahim and Wallace together. Abdur-Rahim was part of what Portland got in return for Wallace.

I think Abdur-Rahim wasn't very good for Portland because he was passing out of his prime. He was 3/4 through his career, but Portland had Miles and Randolph as their "future."

 

[Denny Crane]

Sign David Lee. Trade LMA for Rondo.

Rondo/Blake
Roy/Rudy
Batum/Outlaw
Lee/Oden
Joel/Oden

(Twin towers part of the time)

 

[anonymous gambler]

Odom is the obvious choice- make an offer (quietly if possible) for 9 million a year. If we get him, then we can play him at both the 3 and the 4- with mostly starter minutes at the 3.

He's been a good defender, can pass, and can score.

 

[B-Roy]

Sign David Lee. Trade LMA for Rondo.

Rondo/Blake
Roy/Rudy
Batum/Outlaw
Lee/Oden
Joel/Oden

(Twin towers part of the time)

EWw.

 

[Iwatas]

If Portland feels it has the money to burn, then make a huge offer to Sessions. He is a long-term answer at one of the two weakest positions on the team. Milwaukee will only match an offer than makes economic sense to them.

Sessions is a 23 year old player, has excellent stats for his age, works hard on his game, and plays defense. Hollinger puts him at 13th best PG in the league, with a 17.7 PER. For a very young guard, those are excellent numbers. I'd be very happy with a long term deal at heavy money. Milwaukee are not going to break the bank for him.

Pendergraph should be a fine, scrapping backup PF -- that is precisely why he was drafted.

And at SF - If trading Outlaw+Blake+Bayless+picks cannot get us a Gerald Wallace, then continue to sit tight. Let Rudy/Roy play together more. Let Batum develop. We all know he will.

iWatas

 

[Minstrel]

If Portland feels it has the money to burn, then make a huge offer to Sessions.

By CBA rules, the most Portland can offer is a deal starting at the MLE. Sessions is a second-round pick, which means he reaches RFA a season earlier but it also means he's restricted in how much he can be offered...by Milwaukee or anyone else.

A deal starting at the MLE, Milwaukee will match without question. They cleared out Richard Jefferson and Charlie Villaneuva, presumably for this reason.

I'd love to get Sessions, but I think the only way to do it is to arrange a sign-and-trade with Milwaukee, if they're willing.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Portland never had Abdur-Rahim and Wallace together. Abdur-Rahim was part of what Portland got in return for Wallace.

I think Abdur-Rahim wasn't very good for Portland because he was passing out of his prime. He was 3/4 through his career, but Portland had Miles and Randolph as their "future."

Quite right, quite right, but I hope the point was not lost. We could not play SAR at PF because we had another one, so we started him at SF. His value went into the toilet. To me, that's the lesson of history. You don't BPA Free Agency, unless you are ready to trade your current players.

 

[Minstrel]

Quite right, quite right, but I hope the point was not lost. We could not play SAR at PF because we had another one, so we started him at SF. His value went into the toilet. To me, that's the lesson of history. You don't BPA Free Agency, unless you are ready to trade your current players.

Hmm, it's a fair point, but I don't think 'Sheed's value went into the toilet when he was on the team with Grant. And, looking up SAR's numbers, he really wasn't bad at all. He collapsed pretty rapidly after he left Portland. And he wasn't out of position...he was a 3/4 when he was a star and he played some of both positions in Portland.

Ideally, of course, you don't want to stack starters at the same position because you won't utilize one of them fully. Either they'll play less minutes or a role they're not used to. If there were a number of good free agents, I'd definitely pick for need because you can adjust the dollars for talent (whereas, you can't adjust the draft pick for talent if you pick for need in the draft).

But, at this point, Portland is looking at potentially having to use all their cap space no matter who they get and the possible point guard options may not be as worth that as the power forward options. If you had to spend $50 million/5 years either way, would you rather spend it on a good, young power forward or an old, declining point guard?

Even though Portland needs a point guard, I'd probably choose the good, young power forward and hope to spin a power forward off in trade later.

 

[HOWIE]

Sign David Lee. Trade LMA for Rondo.

Rondo/Blake
Roy/Rudy
Batum/Outlaw
Lee/Oden
Joel/Oden

(Twin towers part of the time)

That has to be the MAD COW talking Denny. There is no way Portland would ever trade LMA for Rondo. I'd move LMA to New Orleans for Chris Paul, Paul is just a more proven player at this point and it would make Portland better, Rondo not so much.

 

[Draco]

I like the idea of giving big offers to Lee or Millsap. A frontcourt rotation of LMA/Oden/Lee or LMA/Oden/Millsap would be a huge improvement for this team. I love rooting for Joel and he has a great attitude but his offensive inemptitude hurts the team substantially. Houston destroyed our offense when Joel was in the game. Joel would however be a magnificent 4th bigman if we need some shot blocking or if an injury happens. An injury to one of those four is extremely likely over the course of 82 games.

LaMarcus could also have the option of sometimes playing 30-35 minutes a game instead of near 40. Last year he was over played because we didn't have a good replacement on the bench.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

By CBA rules, the most Portland can offer is a deal starting at the MLE. Sessions is a second-round pick, which means he reaches RFA a season earlier but it also means he's restricted in how much he can be offered...by Milwaukee or anyone else.

A deal starting at the MLE, Milwaukee will match without question. They cleared out Richard Jefferson and Charlie Villaneuva, presumably for this reason.

I'd love to get Sessions, but I think the only way to do it is to arrange a sign-and-trade with Milwaukee, if they're willing.

As has been mentioned before, the CBA also allows for an much larger raise in the third year, as long as the contract average fits within the first year's cap figure. For instance, we can offer 5y/$40M if it's structured as 5.5M/6.0M/8.5M/9.0M/9.5M. Depending on how much cap space we actually have, we could offer a deal that Milwaukee would be unlikely to match.

 

[Denny Crane]

That has to be the MAD COW talking Denny. There is no way Portland would ever trade LMA for Rondo. I'd move LMA to New Orleans for Chris Paul, Paul is just a more proven player at this point and it would make Portland better, Rondo not so much.

I'm surprised people don't appreciate Rondo. He's one of the top young PGs. He shot over 50% from the field, he knows how to defer to a Pierce (Roy) type teammate, had a ~19 PER, averaged over 8 APG, and he was on one of the top defensive teams in the league.

I'm also surprised that people don't appreciate David Lee. The guy was good 16/12 type numbers, and he complements any combination of PF/C types the Blazers have.

New Orleans should be ejected from the league if they trade Chris Paul.