Hold onto your shorts!

[Ed O]

I think a team (any team) should continue to add talent to the team with the MLE. The only reason NOT to use it is if you have 10+ better players ahead of the possible addition. That's not us. We have 6 NBA level starters only. We need more.
Use the MLE each year and you keep your talent base up. You can always trade guys not measuring up to standards (Rudy, Bayless, Cunningham, Pendergraph, Mills, etc. etc.).

I think Mathews is a rotation level player (top 8-9) on our team. Slide the others down the bench.

Another point: Signing players in free agency is always the worst option financially. You're paying retail most times for decent talent. Only the real scrubs trying to stay in the league will sign for minimum. You don't steal anyone from another team without overpaying. Portland is never going to attract the best Free Agents available. Location, location, location. In our history, we've only signed a few impact UFA's in our 40 years (Twardzik, Ainge, Strickland, Grant, Miller).

Agreed on all points. Repped.

Ed O.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Canzano, via Sports Sunday, said he thinks Utah will match.

They lost Boozer and Korver and losing their starting SG would be a huge blow to them.

So, with that said, who should plan-B be?

That confirms it. The Jazz won't match. Especially if JC thinks they will. Yeah they lost Boozer (they knew they would) they lost Korver (They wanted to as they never even called him) and they could lose Matthews. That one would hurt but I think they are confident/cocky enough to think they can find a cheaper replacement in summer league. And maybe they can. Plus I don't think they believe they are going to win anything this year anyways, so they may want to wait until next year when AK's contract is gone, and the new CBA is in place. (Which may help smaller market teams)

Bottom line is that I think the 9 million dollar (In 7 days) kicker was a good move by the Blazers. Utah won't match

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I thought the Martell move might have been an indication the Blazers are going into cost cutting mode . . . glad I was way off on that idea.