Blazers Edge Podcast, Last Minute Trades and More

[BigGameDamian]

Whiteside? He's not going anywhere.

Hibbert? Not this again.

This list is crap.

This is the list Neil Olshy likes though.

 

[Trackjack]

On the latest Blazers Edge podcast Phil and Dave went over a list of players that the Blazers might go after before the season starts to better the roster. While I agreed with a few, most were veterans who wouldn't fit with our mold, some were guys we don't have the assets to get, while others I just found myself saying NO!
They seemed to really be waiving their "magic wands". Still there were a few that caught my eye. Here is the list

Roy Hibbert
Hassan Whiteside
Julius Randle
Luol Deng
Ryan Anderson
Eric Gordan
Iman Shumpert
Harrison Barnes
Joakim Noah
Taj Gibson
Rajon Rondo
Demar Derozan
Al Jefferson

Whiteside, Randle, Anderson and Derozan stand out to me into this list as players who would fit our current roster. I know Derozan's name has been thrown out there in a lot of posts this offseason. But at this point he is probably ungettable for the Blazers. What do you guys think about this list? Should the Blazers try to make a move if it makes sense before the season? Can they with the assets they have? We are sitting on Miller hoping for a trade to come along. Seems like teams are just gonna wait it out till we waive him. What other players besides those on this list should the Blazers be looking at/ would fit with our current young team?

I believe wait to see what these young guys can do before we sending down the road.

 

[Fun in the Sun]

This is the list Neil Olshy likes though.

What?!

 

[Boob-No-More]

Derozan > Matthews, Thompson, others who are going to GET PAID.
shrug.

DeRozan is not > than Klay Thompson, and it's not even close. Thompson shoots better from 3-point range than DeRozan does from 2-point range. Here are their shooting percentages:

DeRozan:
2FG% = .426
3FG% = .284
FG% = .413
eFG% = .426

Thompson:
2FG% = .481
3FG% = .439
FG% = .463
eFG% = .555

Thompson wins by a landslide - and he's a better defender, too. Oh, and he already got paid - and it's a LOT less than DeRozan is seeking. Thompson signed a four year extension prior to the start of last season. It was a $70 million contract that starts this year at $15,501,000 and tops out at $18,988,725 in 2018-19. DeRozan is seeking a max deal starting at about $25 million a season (depending on what the new cap is).

Matthews did get overpaid, which is why we didn't try to keep him. Like Thompson, Matthews signed a 4-year $70 million deal with Dallas. Initially, it was $57 - he took less so they could sign DeAndre Jordan, but it was bumped up to $70 million when Jordan changed his mind and went back to the Clippers.

Again, Wes is a MUCH better shooter and more efficient scorer than DeRozan.

Matthews:
2FG% = .534
3FG% = .389
FG% = .448
eFG% = .563

DeRozan is a better rebounder, ballheandler and passer, but Wes is a better defender - at least he was pre-injury. I love Wesley Matthews, but I agree with Portland's decision to not attempt to resign him. You just never know how a player will come back after a ruptured achilles. Most are never the same player they were pre-injury. It just wasn't worth the risk, but as overpaid as I think Matthews is, he got far less than DeRozan is seeking.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

This is the list Neil Olshy likes though.

Where the fuck did you get that???? This was just two local guys speculating on their podcast.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

Wes Mathews wanted to be paid like one too and if not for his injury the Blazers probably would have.

Link please. I don't recall ANYONE in the Blazers organization saying they were ever going to offer Wesley Matthews a max. contract.

BNM

 

[Strenuus]

This is the list Neil Olshy likes though.

...... how do you know this, exactly?

 

[Orion Bailey]

This is the list Neil Olshy likes though.

What?!

Where the fuck did you get that???? This was just two local guys speculating on their podcast.

BNM

ASSumptions sure do make an ass out of SlyPokerDog.

(Mod edit, personal insult.)

 

[BigGameDamian]

Can't wait until C.J. or Mereys asking for a max deal on an extension. It's a norm for borderline players these days.

 

[oldfisherman]

The only players on the list I like are Gibson & Barnes. I doubt Barnes is a trade option. At some point Gibson maybe traded. The problem with Gibson as a Blazer would be the same problem he has with the Bulls, minutes and starting vs backup.

This next part is out of the box thinking and very debatable. I am starting to believe that the offseason moves Olshey made were to build a team around Meyers being the starting PF, or at least to complement his skills. Using Meyer’s to spread the floor will create space for the slashers, bangers and rebounders. Gibson would collapse the floor spacing if he was our starting PF.

Just do not see a trade in the future that makes any sense yet.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

If "Mereys" were going to do that, he'd already have done so this off season. CJ might do they next summer, depending on his performance this season. Doubtful though.

 

[Boob-No-More]

It's a norm for borderline players these days.

I get your chagrin. No way do borderline players like Demar DeRozan deserve the max. Not even close.

BNM

 

[Wizard Mentor]

DeRozan is not > than Klay Thompson, and it's not even close. Thompson shoots better from 3-point range than DeRozan does from 2-point range. Here are their shooting percentages:

DeRozan:
2FG% = .426
3FG% = .284
FG% = .413
eFG% = .426

Thompson:
2FG% = .481
3FG% = .439
FG% = .463
eFG% = .555

Thompson wins by a landslide - and he's a better defender, too. Oh, and he already got paid - and it's a LOT less than DeRozan is seeking. Thompson signed a four year extension prior to the start of last season. It was a $70 million contract that starts this year at $15,501,000 and tops out at $18,988,725 in 2018-19. DeRozan is seeking a max deal starting at about $25 million a season (depending on what the new cap is).

Matthews did get overpaid, which is why we didn't try to keep him. Like Thompson, Matthews signed a 4-year $70 million deal with Dallas. Initially, it was $57 - he took less so they could sign DeAndre Jordan, but it was bumped up to $70 million when Jordan changed his mind and went back to the Clippers.

Again, Wes is a MUCH better shooter and more efficient scorer than DeRozan.

Matthews:
2FG% = .534
3FG% = .389
FG% = .448
eFG% = .563

DeRozan is a better rebounder, ballheandler and passer, but Wes is a better defender - at least he was pre-injury. I love Wesley Matthews, but I agree with Portland's decision to not attempt to resign him. You just never know how a player will come back after a ruptured achilles. Most are never the same player they were pre-injury. It just wasn't worth the risk, but as overpaid as I think Matthews is, he got far less than DeRozan is seeking.

BNM

1) Wes plays off others, Others play off DeRozan
2) Sorry, but I actually meant Tristan Thompson who, like Wes want a Lot of $$$.

 

[Boob-No-More]

1) Wes plays off others, Others play off DeRozan

Not sure if agree with the second half of that statement. Does DeRozan really make his teammates better? TOR seemed to struggle more when Lowry went down than when DeRozan was injured.

2) Sorry, but I actually meant Tristan Thompson who, like Wes want a Lot of $$$.

Really makes Klay Thompson look like a bargain at 4 year 7$70 million, doesn't it?

Wes also got 4 years and $70 million. He's probably worth it if healthy, but after his injury is a HUGE risk.

And, DeRozan is asking for a lot more. He will be a 7 year vet seeking a max contract from his existing team. The cap will be much higher with the new TV deal and the exact numbers aren't known yet, but you're looking at roughly a 5-year contract starting at ~ $25 million. That works out to about $143 million over 5 years - more than twice the total contract amount Wes Matthews and Klay Thompson got.

BNM

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

I'd like to make a couple small moves, maybe a 3 way deal?

I'd like to move Mike Miller somewhere he likes so he can retire with the team he prefers.

Players I'd target: Avery Bradley, Tony Snell, Terrence Ross, and Jerami Grant.

 

[Strenuus]

Can't wait until C.J. or Mereys asking for a max deal on an extension. It's a norm for borderline players these days.

Do you just avoid all the questions you have no answer to?

 

[jlprk]

So Toronto overpaid Derozan. Big deal. You try GMing in Toronto sometime and holding talent.

 

[Chris Craig]

I'd like to make a couple small moves, maybe a 3 way deal?

I'd like to move Mike Miller somewhere he likes so he can retire with the team he prefers.

Players I'd target: Avery Bradley, Tony Snell, Terrence Ross, and Jerami Grant.

That's be nice...too bad everyone is waiting us out...Bradley for Miller hells yeah...Ross or grant would good too, but Snell?

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Not sure if agree with the second half of that statement. Does DeRozan really make his teammates better? TOR seemed to struggle more when Lowry went down than when DeRozan was injured.



Really makes Klay Thompson look like a bargain at 4 year 7$70 million, doesn't it?

Wes also got 4 years and $70 million. He's probably worth it if healthy, but after his injury is a HUGE risk.

And, DeRozan is asking for a lot more. He will be a 7 year vet seeking a max contract from his existing team. The cap will be much higher with the new TV deal and the exact numbers aren't known yet, but you're looking at roughly a 5-year contract starting at ~ $25 million. That works out to about $143 million over 5 years - more than twice the total contract amount Wes Matthews and Klay Thompson got.

BNM

I absolutely agree that $143 million over 5 years would completely suck.

 

[Sinobas]

Whiteside? He's not going anywhere.

Hibbert? Not this again.

This list is crap.

What about Harrison Fucking Barnes? That would be a good signing.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I absolutely agree that $143 million over 5 years would completely suck.

Yeah, no way is DeMar DeRozan worth 2x Klay Thompson. More like 1/2X. Although, he's entering free agency at the right time, so even if he doesn't get the full ~$143 max, he'll probably still get substantially more than Thompson got.

BNM

 

[BigGameDamian]

What about Harrison Fucking Barnes? That would be a good signing.

Wouldn't he cost to much? Plus he would probably take time away from the guys we already have and he's not a Blazers.

 

[Sinobas]

Wouldn't he cost to much? Plus he would probably take time away from the guys we already have and he's not a Blazers.

Yes, good point there. We definitely never want to sign a guy who is not a Blazers.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Yes, good point there. We definitely never want to sign a guy who is not a Blazers.

Especially veteran players that will take time away from younger players that we want to see get PT.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

As long as Casey is their coach he could be attainable: Jonas Valanciunas.

Signed a below market extension IMO. Had he waited he could've landed a max deal next summer.

 

[Sinobas]

As long as Casey is their coach he could be attainable: Jonas Valanciunas.

Signed a below market extension IMO. Had he waited he could've landed a max deal next summer.

Mike Rice would never allow that deal to happen.

 

[blue9]

Wouldn't he cost to much? Plus he would probably take time away from the guys we already have and he's not a Blazers.

Yeah, he'd take time away from all those SFs that we have. Oh wait...

 

[BigGameDamian]

Yeah, he'd take time away from all those SFs that we have. Oh wait...

Well we do have a lot of unknowns at SF that need time.

 

[BrianFromWA]

We have 18 on the roster right now, including Diaz (who's signed with Unicaja Malaga), Pressey and Frazier (one of whom I think is likely not to make it through camp), Miller (who I think will not break camp with the team) and Alexander and Montero. Right now I think we're pretty good for roster spots with the guys we have. So if we did pick up Bennett (whether off of waivers or a UFA deal), he'd take the spot of either one of the projects (Alexander, Connaughton or Montero) OR one of the "established" players (Kaman? Crabbe?). I think we still have room for "competition" during camp.

 

[illmatic99]

In addition to Derozan, Barnes, and Boogie keep any eye on Paul George.

Have a feeling that he might become available later in the year. His team got dismantled just like POR and he's going to be wasting years of his prime on a treadmill team.

Feel like he and Dame would make an absolutely deadly duo.