Blazers sign Mo Williams

[JfizzleBlazer]

Thanks! Do you know what, if any, exceptions we have left? Have we used the bi-annual?

BNM

I don't think we have any left. We would have had to renounce the bi annual exception so we could use the cap space. The only exception you get if you have cap space is the room exception I believe. Next year as a non taxpayer team I believe we will have the mle and bi annual exceptions

Edit - non taxpayer team that will stay under the apron I believe

 

[KingSpeed]

9 pages and no mention that Mo Williams was a 2009 NBA All Star.

Also, mags, it's weird seeing LeBron in Darius Miles' jersey. Can you pick a better number?

 

[Boob-No-More]

Why was Olshey so happy to have the 15th spot open, when you can just waive players to create roster space for a trade, anyhow? Are you positive you can release as many players as you want with the vet minimum and add players if you're over the cap? I still don't see that in the CBA. I'm not saying I don't believe you, but I wonder why even have 15-man rosters if you can just pay up to, let's say, 20 players over the course of a year? Seems like a way to circumvent the cap.

Well, you still have to pay all those guys you waive. So, you're basically paying them not to play for you. Plus they still count against the cap and the luxury tax. Do you really want to cross the luxury tax threshold for guys like Ronnie Price? There are strong financial disincentives to just waiving players willy nilly.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

I don't think we have any left. We would have had to renounce the bi annual exception so we could use the cap space. The only exception you get if you have cap space is the room exception I believe. Next year as a non taxpayer team I believe we will have the mle and bi annual exceptions

Thanks!

 

[PapaG]

Again from the CBA FAQ:

"MINIMUM PLAYER SALARY EXCEPTION -- Teams can offer players minimum salary contracts even if they are over the cap. Contracts can be up to two years in length. For two-year contracts, the second season salary is the minimum salary for that season. The contract may not contain a bonus of any kind. This exception can also be used to acquire minimum salary players via trade. There is no limit to the number of players that can be signed or acquired using this exception."

BNM

That still says nothing about having a full roster, though.

 

[Draco]

Why was Olshey so happy to have the 15th spot open, when you can just waive players to create roster space for a trade, anyhow? Are you positive you can release as many players as you want with the vet minimum and add players if you're over the cap? I still don't see that in the CBA. I'm not saying I don't believe you, but I wonder why even have 15-man rosters if you can just pay up to, let's say, 20 players over the course of a year? Seems like a way to circumvent the cap.

How many owners want to pay a player $700k to not be on the team? Plus a tax team like Miami has to pay 300% luxury tax so that is over $2 million for a player that isn't on the roster. There are usually a few teams that end up doing this but the only benefit is acquiring additional minimum salary players.

 

[e_blazer]

Been gone all day, but...Mo Williams? Nice pick-up. I'm thinking that the days of the Blazers having the worst bench in the league are long gone in the rear-view mirror. I think that, between improved defensive stats taking away say a couple of buckets per game, and increased offensive production of maybe 4-5 points per game due to having a bench that can actually score, this summer's moves should easily equate to a net improvement of 7-8 points per game. It would be interesting to look at last year's record and see what that would equate to in increased wins.

 

[PapaG]

Well, you still have to pay all those guys you waive. So, you're basically paying them not to play for you. Plus they still count against the cap and the luxury tax. Do you really want to cross the luxury tax threshold for guys like Ronnie Price? There are strong financial disincentives to just waiving players willy nilly.

BNM

I get it, but I'm surprised teams contending don't use this option more often to fill a hole late in the season.

 

[e_blazer]

That still says nothing about having a full roster, though.

I'm not getting your issue here, PapaG. The Blazers can waive a player anytime they want. It doesn't remove their obligation to pay him and it doesn't take him off of their team salary, but it opens a roster spot. They can then sign a veteran for the minimum to fill that spot.

 

[Boob-No-More]

That still says nothing about having a full roster, though.

When you waive a player, it immediately clears a roster spot:

"The player's roster spot is freed-up as soon as the team places the player on waivers. It can sign a new player or acquire one via trade immediately, without waiting for the player to be claimed or to clear waivers."

It's all spelled out in the CBA FAQ.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

I get it, but I'm surprised teams contending don't use this option more often to fill a hole late in the season.

It does happen, but it really only makes sense for teams that are playoff bound and if they are signed too late they won't be eligible for the playoffs. For example, players who are waived after March 1 are not playoff eligible.

When the Blazers picked up J.J. Hickson on March 21st of 2012, he would not have been playoff eligible. So, none of the playoff teams would have been interested in him even if he'd cleared waivers and become a free agent that they could have signed for the minimum salary.

BNM

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Well our backcourt may be small and may not be able to defend a lick but at least we will be able to score with the best of them. Fits Stotts offense.

 

[PapaG]

When you waive a player, it immediately clears a roster spot:

"The player's roster spot is freed-up as soon as the team places the player on waivers. It can sign a new player or acquire one via trade immediately, without waiting for the player to be claimed or to clear waivers."

It's all spelled out in the CBA FAQ.

BNM

Thanks BNM. Repped. I didn't realize that 15 guaranteed spots weren't static.

 

[Draco]

I get it, but I'm surprised teams contending don't use this option more often to fill a hole late in the season.

They do it all the time.

 

[shamelessblazer]

Another thought:

Because we got Williams for such a cheap price (and it was the most the team could pay him at this point), I wouldn't doubt that to sweeten the deal, Neil promised Mo that he would not trade him. I wouldn't include him in fantasy trades.

I doubt he'd whine much if we weren't great near the deadline and he got sent to Houston along with Lopez for Asik (if he's causing a stink).

If we're humming and Lopez and Williams fit great, we keep things the same, if Houston wants another shooter and CJ is looking ok, then you make a deal like that.

 

[shamelessblazer]

Thought: Mo Williams would be very useful to the Rockets. But the Rockets can't sign him. Are we stockpiling assets to grade for Asik at some point?

Exactly, +1

Asik for Lopez & Williams fits perfectly. Williams is actually perfect (far better than Lin in this role) next to Harden and Howard. He would know how to stay out of the way and is a deadly shooter.

 

[e_blazer]

Exactly, +1

Asik for Lopez & Williams fits perfectly. Williams is actually perfect (far better than Lin in this role) next to Harden and Howard. He would know how to stay out of the way and is a deadly shooter.

Can't happen until Dec. 15th at the earliest since Williams is a FA signing a new contract.

 

[e_blazer]

Pretty good write-up about the signing on si.com. Confirms that the Room MLE was used and that Mo's salary will start at $2.7M. Also, notes that he can opt out next summer and go looking for a bigger deal.

http://nba.si.com/2013/08/07/mo-wil...rtland-trail-blazers-utah-jazz/?sct=nba_t2_a2

 

[ehizzy3]

So many people on here will bitch about Mo Williams once he plays for us.

Me, I'm happy with the signing. He's a scorer, but will shoot a lot

 

[PapaG]

Pretty good write-up about the signing on si.com. Confirms that the Room MLE was used and that Mo's salary will start at $2.7M. Also, notes that he can opt out next summer and go looking for a bigger deal.

http://nba.si.com/2013/08/07/mo-wil...rtland-trail-blazers-utah-jazz/?sct=nba_t2_a2

A fantastic signing. I do feel that Olshey may have jumped the gun a bit on Watson. There are veteran bigs still available that would make more sense than having Watson as a 4th string PG.

 

[PapaG]

So many people on here will bitch about Mo Williams once he plays for us.

Me, I'm happy with the signing. He's a scorer, but will shoot a lot

Hoping he isn't Jamal Crawford in the locker room. If he's Crawford on the court, that's OK.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

So many people on here will bitch about Mo Williams once he plays for us.

Me, I'm happy with the signing. He's a scorer, but will shoot a lot

I don't think it'll be too bad; we as a fanbase seem okay with inefficient players off the bench as long as we don't lose 15 point leads because of them.

 

[e_blazer]

A fantastic signing. I do feel that Olshey may have jumped the gun a bit on Watson. There are veteran bigs still available that would make more sense than having Watson as a 4th string PG.

If Olshey thinks one of those bigs will add to the mix better than Watson (whose major role is probably coach/mentor for the young guys), then I think that he wouldn't blink at waiving Watson...or maybe Barton or Freeland.

 

[Boise Blazer]

And that sly dog Olshey (excuse the reference SLP) said he was done making moves! Make me wonder if this just popped up or if this was in the works all along ...???

Well I guess this answers my question:

Candace Buckner @blazerbanter
Interesting note about Mo Williams, who should be getting on a plane shortly to Portland, his agent has been in touch w/ Olshey since July 1

Candace Buckner @blazerbanter
Mo Williams waited to gage the market, & after an "exhausting" free agency process & Olshey staying in touch w/ his camp, he agrees

Candace Buckner @blazerbanter
Per his agent, Mo Williams should be arriving in Portland tonight. #Blazers

 

[SlyPokerDog]

So is Mo Williams considered a quality free agent or can the Blazers still not sign those?

 

[BBert]

Mike Rice @mikerice6
"@JesseMadsen_RS: @mikerice6 you think we have too many PGs on our roster now though? CJ, Mo and Earl? CJ needs all the playing time earn it

Mike Rice @mikerice6
Blazers now have a nice blend of young & vets with experience. Now your going to have to earn your min on a team with their eye on playoffs

LOL @JesseMadsen thinks CJ is a PG. He'll backup Wes, without too much pressure on his shoulders. And he'll be hungry.

 

[Masbee]

So many people on here will bitch about Mo Williams once he plays for us.

Me, I'm happy with the signing. He's a scorer, but will shoot a lot

His one season as a bench player (since his rookie year) he played for the Clippers:

28 mpg
12 fga
18.5% assist percentage
23% usage

those are reasonable numbers for a designated shooter off the bench. I don't think that will piss fans off.

By the way, his numbers in Utah last season as the starting PG:
33% assist percentage

As you can see, if his role is to set guys up he will, if he is asked run an offense and pass and has someone worth passing to, he will.

We don't have the proven offensive players on our bench, so I think he will take a lot of the shots just because he will need to. But, I don't see him freezing guys out.

 

[Masbee]

I doubt he'd whine much if we weren't great near the deadline and he got sent to Houston along with Lopez for Asik (if he's causing a stink).

If we're humming and Lopez and Williams fit great, we keep things the same, if Houston wants another shooter and CJ is looking ok, then you make a deal like that.

You know, that kind of goes without saying.

Neil: Mo, sign with us and I promise I won't trade you.
or
Neil: Mo, sign with us and I promise I won't trade you without your permission.

pretty much the same thing.

 

[Shooter]

We kind of have a bench now, guys.

We do indeed. This is a completely different team from last year. Thank you, Neil Olshey!!

 

[PapaG]

If Olshey thinks one of those bigs will add to the mix better than Watson (whose major role is probably coach/mentor for the young guys), then I think that he wouldn't blink at waiving Watson...or maybe Barton or Freeland.

Freeland is too big of a cap hit, since he has 2014-15 guaranteed as well.