How many players would you keep?

[BlazerCaravan]

I've been looking at the stats, and there are only four players I really want to keep: Dame, Ed, Mason, and CJ. Everyone else to me is totally expendable this summer. I doubt Neil O will be so ruthless this summer; continuity is helpful to maximizing performance.

Now, I love the team, but I'm a root-for-laundry guy.

How many and who do you want back in October, regardless of who we get in trade/FA this summer?

 

[H.C.]

Lillard is the only one I'd be upset to not see back.
CJ is depending on the player coming in.
I'd love to see Plumlee/Aminu gone.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Why Plumlee?

 

[Strenuus]

Lillard
CJ
Davis
Harkless
Henderson

 

[dviss1]

4

Lillard
CJ
Davis
Harkless

 

[blue9]

Lillard. Duh.
CJ. Again, duh.

After that it really depends - I'd trade anyone else in the right deal. And I'd even trade CJ if it were an obvious win. But I like the following guys, in descending order:

Davis
Henderson
Harkless (cheaper than Henderson, so might keep him over Henderson)
Plumlee
Leonard (on a $6Mish/year deal)

Guys who probably don't have any trade value, so we're probably better off keeping them:

Vonleh
Pat
Montero

Shop Aminu HARD.

 

[42N8Bounce]

Keepers (I'd be really bummed if they were traded):
- Lillard
- McCollum

Like (I'd prefer to see them back, but I'd be okay if we got decent return):
- Davis
- Crabbe {restricted fa}
- Aminu
- Plumlee

Meh (If we lost them for nothing, no big deal):
- Leonard {restricted fa}
- Henderson {unrestricted fa}
- Harkless {restricted fa}
- Vonleh

Minor Interest (If we have a roster spot, sure keep 'em):
- Montero {non-guaranteed}
- Alexander {non-guaranteed}
- Roberts {unrestricted fa}

No Interest:
- Connaughton

Gone:
- Kaman {unrestricted fa}

 

[Scalma]

Lillard
McCollum
Davis
Harkless

The rest are replaceable.

 

[KingSpeed]

In order, I'd like ALL of these to stay:

Dame
CJ
Leonard
Crabbe
Davis
Henderson
Plumlee
Aminu
Harkless

 

[Strenuus]

In order, I'd like ALL of these to stay:

Dame
CJ
Leonard
Crabbe
Davis
Henderson
Plumlee
Aminu
Harkless

Just for clarification, why Harkless at the bottom of the list? He's played rather well as of late since being inserted into the starting lineup...

 

[Draco]

I'm a believer in the culture of having players here for multiple seasons. Players perform better when they are familiar with teammates and build multi-year chemistry. It allows a more productive stable long term environment. Yeah if there's an option to make a significant upgrade explore it. But if its a marginal difference lean towards the guys we have. The biggest reasons for our success this year is depth and playing so many players under 30 mpg. This same roster can win 50+ game next year so there's no reason for radical changes.

Keep on any roster
CJ
Dame
Ed Davis

Likely keep; proven backup or starter upside
Plumlee
Harkless
Crabbe
Aminu

Keep if cheap contract or no better options
Vonleh
Hendo
Meyers

Bring to training camp to earn 15th spot
Montero
Pat

Bye
Kaman
Cliff
Roberts

 

[BonesJones]

Keep:
Lillard
McCollum
Davis
Montero

Leaning towards keeping:
Henderson
Plumlee
Crabbe
Harkless
Leonard
Vonleh

Get Rid Of:
Aminu

Don't Care:
Kaman
Roberts
Connaughton
Alexander

 

[SIeepwalker]

I would be really upset if we don't get back:
Lillard
McCollum
Ed Davis
Harkless

I would be happy to keep, but not devastated if they leave:
Crabbe
Plumlee
Aminu
Henderson

I don't really care about:
Vonleh
Alexander
Montero
Kaman
Roberts
Pat C

I would be delighted to get rid of:
Leonard

 

[dviss1]

No one here has really talks too much about Montero. He is very cheap so there is no reason not to keep him. I would add him to my list of 4. Yes he's a scrub, but he's a young scrub who has nothing but upside. I wouldn't be sad if he was gone but I would rather keep him.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I've been looking at the stats, and there are only four players I really want to keep: Dame, Ed, Mason, and CJ. Everyone else to me is totally expendable this summer. I doubt Neil O will be so ruthless this summer; continuity is helpful to maximizing performance.

Now, I love the team, but I'm a root-for-laundry guy.

How many and who do you want back in October, regardless of who we get in trade/FA this summer?

This is where I come down as well. IMO, Lillard is the only untouchable. I'd even be willing to deal CJ, but only for a Paul George-level return.

However, I love the current direction of the team, and want to see most of the guys we have return.

 

[B-Roy]

We need a big upgrade at one of the front court positions. Figure out who that is first and bring back everyone else based on fit.

If you can't get an upgrade, I really wouldn't mind seeing everyone back.

 

[blue9]

We need a big upgrade at one of the front court positions. Figure out who that is first and bring back everyone else based on fit.

If you can't get an upgrade, I really wouldn't mind seeing everyone back.

Yup - whether we get a starting SF, PF, or C will determine who we keep and who we don't.
I personally feel that SF is the most important. Ed Davis would be a fine starting PF if we had a SF or C who could score. Imagine either George or Cousins with Davis:

Dame
CJ
George
Davis
Plumlee

or

Dame
CJ
Harkless
Davis
Cousins

Davis provides great defense, screens, hustle and rebounds. Doesn't need any touches, but is more than capable of running the P/R and swinging the ball if the defense collapses. I think I prefer the second option with Cousins more than the first with George.

 

[B-Roy]

George is a pipe dream upon pipe dreams, but I would love it.

 

[blue9]

George is a pipe dream upon pipe dreams, but I would love it.

Yeah, I just used him as an example because people keep bringing his name up. Not gonna happen. But one of these days the Kings are gonna have to trade Boogie.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Not meant as a put down, but there is a real difference between being an armchair GM and a real GM.

In practice, good GMs don't:

1. give up quickly on players they've drafted.
2. trade recently signed FAs unless they get a top tier talent.
3. piss off their star player for no good reason.
4. randomly trade players who fit their system and culture.
5. randomly trade players who are a good bang for the buck.

Definitely Keep
Lillard - Star Player
McCollum - Star Player + (3)
Ed Davis - (2)
Aminu - (2) (sorry, Aminu VERY likely to stay)

Very Probably Keep
Harkless - (5)
Crabbe - (1)
Plumlee - (5)
Vonleh - they've shown a lot of commitment to him, would be surprised to trade him - his value is not that high.
Roberts - is absolutely everything I want in a backup 1 - doesn't complain, can shoot, plays D, doesn't do stupid stuff on or off the court, low cost.

Probably Keep
Montero - low risk, high reward.
Leonard - (1) - Price?

Bubblicious
Henderson - (4) - Price?
Alexander - Can't get a feel for his progression without actually seeing practices.
Kaman - could totally see him returning for vet min, could totally see him leaving, too.
Pat C - Seems a bit too low risk, low reward.

With all that said, it's clear we need more talent. So, if a big talent (i.e. someone who would clearly become our 3rd best player or better) is available at the 3, 4, or 5, things change. Unfortunately, the likelihood of this scenario is debatable. In simple terms, I don't think we'll get someone as good or better than Batum joining the team, but, like the rest of you, I'm hoping we do.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Keep:

Dame
CJ
Plums
Harkless
Davis
Crabbe
Aminu


Everyone else, can be used to help upgrade, but Id like to see these guys come back. I think this is our core going forward.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Not meant as a put down, but there is a real difference between being an armchair GM and a real GM.

Absolutely there is; that's why I couched the question as who do you want to see back, rather than asking anyone to realistically predict player movement.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I would not break up the Dame -CJ backcourt. Sure there are always the exceptions for the ridiculous unrealistic superstar trade scenarios.....but other than that I think it would be foolish to break that duo up. I would build around it.

I don't dis-like any player on this team, especially as role players off the bench. We still need that 3rd dependable scoring starter....preferably at SF. But I am not sure we can get him this summer. So I am fine if we keep the top 13-14 players and continue to develop them, and hope one emerges. All while waiting for the right opportunity for a trade.

Even if we keep everyone (except maybe Kaman) we will be better next year. I don't mind letting this cake bake...for a little longer.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I would not break up the Dame -CJ backcourt. Sure there are always the exceptions for the ridiculous unrealistic superstar trade scenarios.....but other than that I think it would be foolish to break that duo up. I would build around it.

I don't dis-like any player on this team, especially as role players off the bench. We still need that 3rd dependable scoring starter....preferably at SF. But I am not sure we can get him this summer. So I am fine if we keep the top 13-14 players and continue to develop them, and hope one emerges. All while waiting for the right opportunity for a trade.

Even if we keep everyone (except maybe Kaman) we will be better next year. I don't mind letting this cake bake...for a little longer.

The Leonard experiment can end too. A bonafide starting center replacing those two and sliding Plums to a reserve role is ultimately the best possible outcome for this offseason.

 

[Turftoejoe]

Without any regard to financial considerations I want to keep all of these:

Dame
CJ
Harkless
Davis
Crabbe
Hendo
Plumlee

And it's not that I want to get rid of anyone else. I really like all of the pieces currently in place, but know that to take the next step a few changes will have to happen.

I am excited to see what Olshey can do with this roster to improve it next year, after how he put this squad together.

 

[theprunetang]

Like it or not, Aminu is coming back. I am happy about that. He makes mistakes in offense and isn't the best shooter, but he is the kind of long disruptive defender we need. He has been asked to do a little more than he should because we kind of needed that this year with a thin and new roster with only 2 reliable scorers. If we keep filling the roster out with talent, Aminu can ease back a bit and focus on strengths. We need that. And his contact is great.

Also, keep Montero. He is raw, but he is loaded with talent and is cheap as hell. Why not have upside in your 15 th man? Also, if we let him go, he probably gays signed by the spurs and becomes fucking amazing and Buford and Pop look like geniuses. You know it would happen. They loved Batum, and Montero reminds me of the unproven 19 year old Nico.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I would trade everyone for draft picks.

 

[Pinwheel1]

The Leonard experiment can end too. A bonafide starting center replacing those two and sliding Plums to a reserve role is ultimately the best possible outcome for this offseason.

Sure but what center is that? I see the offensive option like Monroe and the defensive option like Whiteside. But both have weaknesses in their game. So I would rather keep our "center by committee". Not a fan anymore of maxing out the contracts for centers. You get me Drummond then that is another story.

 

[BigGameDamian]

George is a pipe dream upon pipe dreams, but I would love it.

That would require dealing C.J.

 

[oldfisherman]

The Dame/CJ scoring machine is next to untouchable.

We talk about which players we want back, and some lists are very short. But how do you replace any of the players we do not keep?

We do not have a draft pick. We maybe able to buy a second round pick. But so what, just another long term project on the bench.

There are tons of teams with money to overpay in the FA market. Competition for FAs will be the strongest in years, maybe ever. Plus, not one FA has hinted he wants to come to Portland.

Trades are possible, however, beyond Dame & CJ, only a couple of our players have a positive trade value, and they are on most everyone’s keep list. The rest of the roster needs more time to develop and build their trade value. I believe we will have a 2017 first to use this summer in a trade.

We probably will lose a couple of our FA players. Henderson, Leonard, Harkless, & Crabbe will get some interest from other teams. Olshey will find FAs to replace the players that sign with other teams.

In the long run, which FA players we keep and sign away from other teams will come down to how much is needed to sign them, and how well their contract fits into the long range cap space.

The bottom line is, this roster is overachieving. We are winning more games than was predicted by a vast majority of experts. This makes our players more valuable to us than to other teams.

I do not foresee a major shakeup to our roster this summer.