Zombie Festus Ezeli becomes a Blazer

[Pinwheel1]

Problem is, after 2 years they can only offer him 175% of his previous contract because they'd only have his early bird rights, and we'd certainly be over the cap. That means that lowballing him means we probably won't be able to offer him enough money in his next contract to keep him if he plays well and stays healthy.

Yes that is a problem. I assume they wanted to get 3 cheap years out of him, but I think that was probably nixed by Ezeli and his agent. If he stays healthy for two years he will want to get paid. We can't have it all. I think we went the wiser route.

 

[Blazinaway]

Yes that is a problem. I assume they wanted to get 3 cheap years out of him, but I think that was probably nixed by Ezeli and his agent. If he stays healthy for two years he will want to get paid. We can't have it all. I think we went the wiser route.

I agree, with his "potential" knee concerns I like what we did, we could get two of the best yrs of his career if he stays reasonably healthy, and in two yrs this wild cap situation will have settled down

 

[Driew]

Yes that is a problem. I assume they wanted to get 3 cheap years out of him, but I think that was probably nixed by Ezeli and his agent. If he stays healthy for two years he will want to get paid. We can't have it all. I think we went the wiser route.

Yeah that's a good situation in to be in--if he's playing well then that means we're most likely doing well as a team anyways.

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

I figured Hooked on Phonics would be simpler for you to understand

Hooked on abacus learned u math.

 

[crandc]

Hooked on abacus learned u math.

I still don't trust calculators
I always double check with pen and paper or in my head.

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

I still don't trust calculators
I always double check with pen and paper or in my head.

I just don't do math I can't do in my head. As I get older I'll probably just stop doing math altogether.

 

[crandc]

Sometimes it's necessary, balance checkbook or budget.

 

[Bandwagonfansince77]

I still don't trust calculators
I always double check with pen and paper or in my head.

I trust my calculator, I don't trust my ability to input the numbers. Luckily there are enough good calc apps that will show all input so you can make sure everything is input correctly.

 

[SIeepwalker]

 

[lawai'a]

i'm liking this acquisition a whole lot

 

[Orion Bailey]

i'm liking this acquisition a whole lot

Especially after reading this!!! VVVVVVVVVVV

 

[JDC]

Here's a collection of (not so mobile friendly) clips that show off what Ezeli brings. Important fact to note: all of these plays were pre-knee injury.

http://on.nba.com/2a4oJlY Video #5: Impressive dunk vs NOP

http://on.nba.com/2a4ponr Blocks Anthony Davis in post

http://on.nba.com/1XSOzHn Video #4: Good read, fake and finish vs LAC

http://on.nba.com/1MKgxTK Video: #1 Meets Giffin at the top

http://on.nba.com/2a1gkMZ Entire playlist gives you a great idea of what he can bring on both ends
-Video #2 & #3: Two good reads, seals and finishes
-Video #4 & #5: Skillset on total display

http://on.nba.com/1kSfFjs 2 great blocks vs. DET

http://on.nba.com/1WWfz6m FGM vs MIN: Another set of plays that gives you a good look at his value on the offensive end

http://on.nba.com/1OPPabn Video #3: Blocks Valanciunas twice in one possession

http://on.nba.com/1lyyEjL Has the size and strength to match up against a freak like DeAndre Jordan

http://on.nba.com/1R5x85w Video #5: Nice left hand drive and finish vs BKN

http://on.nba.com/1R5xysI 4 blocks in 20 minutes vs BKN

Color me excited if he can stay healthy. He's raw, but he brings a sorely needed set of skills to this team

 

[STOMP]

Here's a collection of (not so mobile friendly) clips that show off what Ezeli brings. Important fact to note: all of these plays were pre-knee injury.

We were privy to seeing him dominate PDX's front line in the playoffs, so safe to say he's moving alright these days. According to reports, his "injury" this past season was really more of a scare then an injury. He came down wrong in a January game vs San Antonio and had discomfort in the week following. They opted for surgery to find out what was what and though nothing was structurally amiss, he had some loose debris that they cleaned up because they were already in. It's the sort of thing that players often have in the offseason that we barely get a mention of.

thanks for the links, my jones needed a feeding. The 5th was my favorite

STOMP

 

[STOMP]

Especially after reading this!!! VVVVVVVVVVV

I was pining for him to be the #1 FA target prior to the signing period, so that tweet is just another cherry on top of the sunday I'm looking forward to enjoying all next season. By far my favorite moment was him arriving in Portland on a 1 way ticket saying we're going to get a contract done... while wearing a red and black flannel shirt. Total buy-in. Reminds me of Dame's draft day outfit

STOMP

 

[Trackjack]

It look like when he gets mins he can put up double digits I believe he will be the starter to make our defense strong at the start of the game.

 

[KingSpeed]

Knees must be shot.

Sigh

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

^Hurts to be so wise.

 

[illmatic99]

Man, this is depressing. Shame it didn't work out.

Neil says he won't be here. Can't we use him in a trade as a salary filler (before July 1)? He's essentially an expiring contract (along with Ed and Aminu). We can pile up more than 20 mil in expiring deals with these three.

 

[e_blazer]

Man, this is depressing. Shame it didn't work out.

Neil says he won't be here. Can't we use him in a trade as a salary filler (before July 1)? He's essentially an expiring contract (along with Ed and Aminu). We can pile up more than 20 mil in expiring deals with these three.

From the CBA FAQ page section on when a player can't be traded:

• When the trade deadline has passed. Teams are free to make trades again once their season has ended4, but cannot trade players whose contracts are ending or could end due to an option or ETO.

 

[illmatic99]

From the CBA FAQ page section on when a player can't be traded:

• When the trade deadline has passed. Teams are free to make trades again once their season has ended4, but cannot trade players whose contracts are ending or could end due to an option or ETO.

Does this apply to Fes?

I figured it would be a mil cap hit to absorb his deal?

 

[e_blazer]

Does this apply to Fes?

I figured it would be a mil cap hit to absorb his deal?

I'm not sure. If the contract has a cap hit, then I don't think so. If he can just be waived without any cost, then it would.

 

[tester551]

Does this apply to Fes?

I figured it would be a mil cap hit to absorb his deal?

No, Ezeli's contract does NOT have a team option and is not ending. It's a partially guaranteed contract for the 18-19 year.

 

[illmatic99]

I'm not sure. If the contract has a cap hit, then I don't think so. If he can just be waived without any cost, then it would.

No, Ezeli's contract does NOT have a team option and is not ending. It's a partially guaranteed contract for the 18-19 year.

So that's a damn good trade chip, right? On book for 7+ mil this year, and only a mil or so next year. We can use him to match salaries but the receiving team won't pay out of pocket all that much.

 

[Minstrel]

So that's a damn good trade chip, right? On book for 7+ mil this year, and only a mil or so next year. We can use him to match salaries but the receiving team won't pay out of pocket all that much.

It's a good trade chip for someone else's bad contract. If someone wants to dump a contract they regret, Portland can use Ezeli's deal to help them do that. So maybe Portland can extract another draft pick, but take on yet another bad deal. I'm not sure if that would be helpful or not.

 

[tester551]

So that's a damn good trade chip, right? On book for 7+ mil this year, and only a mil or so next year. We can use him to match salaries but the receiving team won't pay out of pocket all that much.

In theory, maybe. But in reality, not so much.... Blazers need to cut salary more than anyone else. There aren't too many teams that are over the cap and looking to cut salary. Kind of diminishes the theoretical value of the contract.

 

[illmatic99]

It's a good trade chip for someone else's bad contract. If someone wants to dump a contract they regret, Portland can use Ezeli's deal to help them do that. So maybe Portland can extract another draft pick, but take on yet another bad deal. I'm not sure if that would be helpful or not.

Seems like Neil was trying to do just that at the deadline:


Stein:

Sources say Portland is determined to move injured center Festus Ezeli before the deadline and is pitching him in particular to teams well below the salary floor that would be willing to take on Ezeli's contract with some level of draft compensation attached. This is the first year of a two-year deal that pays Ezeli $7.4 million this season but is guaranteed for only $1 million next season. Denver ($7.6 million), Philadelphia ($7.5 million) and Brooklyn ($6.8 million) are the three teams that sit the farthest under the league's $84.7 million salary floor.

We have a financial incentive to keep him and let his contract go for his partial guarantee next season, but it seems that we were trying to get something more tangible in return for him.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Which would have made sense when we were trying to add pieces to try to contend. As it stands now, it would be a great trade chip for us to receive, but there's not really any scenario I can think of where we benefit from a deal in which Ezeli's contract would be useful.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Which would have made sense when we were trying to add pieces to try to contend. As it stands now, it would be a great trade chip for us to receive, but there's not really any scenario I can think of where we benefit from a deal in which Ezeli's contract would be useful.

The only way I can think of that it could maybe make sense for us (and of course a long-shot that I don't see happening) would be is if he went in a package with someone like Leonard.

Even then it would have to be very few (specific) teams like PHI.

Not happening but...

 

[PtldPlatypus]

The only way I can think of that it could maybe make sense for us (and of course a long-shot that I don't see happening) would be is if he went in a package with someone like Leonard.

Even then it would have to be very few (specific teams) like PHI.

Not happening but...

But why would a team like Philly take him? Unless they're sending significant salary back, there's no incentive on their part to do so.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

But why would a team like Philly take him? Unless they're sending significant salary back, there's no incentive on their part to do so.

No idea really.

Which is why I said not happening....