If Utah doesn't match

[RR7]

and Millsap is signed, what move do you want to see done next? Or what would you do next? It's been discussed that signing Millsap makes it slightly more possible to move Joel, as the minutes just won't be there for all 4 of our big men. Outlaw seems like he would be on the way out as well, as the backup 4 minutes won't be there for him.
Joel and Outlaw combined make 10.4 million next season. Outlaw is expiring, and it seems like Joel will opt out of the last year o fhis deal, to get a longer deal done next offseason, so for all intents and purposes, it's 10.4 in expiring contracts right there. 125% plus 100,000 gets us a little over 13 million dollars in trade we can look to make just using those two players. Adding Blake and his expiring into the mix gets us slightly over 18 million of expiring contracts(again, assuming Joel is opting out). 6.8(Joel)+4(Blake)+3.6(TO)=14.4x125%+100,000=18.1 million in expirings.
A lot of times, a large expiring contract is seen strictly for their contract. The added benefit of these 3 is all could play and contribute to a decent team, making them that much more attractive. And, you can still add pieces to them, to try for a better player, like adding in Bayless, or Rudy. But I think those 3 as large expirings could potentially get us a decent player, if we were willing to take on a bad contract with that player. Just need to see who is a possibility. Any thoughts?

 

[SteelBlaze1]

I agree with your thought process, but I am not certain that Portland is willing to trade Joel.

If we could trade Joel/Outlaw for Harris, Hinrich, Battier, etc. that would be great, but I am not sure how all the numbers work out to make that happen AND if Portland is willing to part with Joel as I said.

But, to answer your question...I would like to see the next move to upgrade the PG position. I am okay with Batum/Webster at SF if we have to.

 

[Sug]

If we get Sap then I say wait and see how this team plays before making further changes.

 

[RR7]

But waiting to see how the team does means you're most likely just sitting Outlaw on the bench, because there is no minutes for him, sitting Joel on the bench, because there is not enough minutes for him, or sitting Millsap on the bench right after signing him, because there is not enough minutes for him.

 

[handiman]

If we end up landing Millsap, making no additional moves would be a train wreck of epic proportions. Sadly, I fear that puts us in the same position (i.e. fire sale) that we're hoping to put Utah in with Boozer...

 

[julius]

If we end up landing Millsap, making no additional moves would be a train wreck of epic proportions. Sadly, I fear that puts us in the same position (i.e. fire sale) that we're hoping to put Utah in with Boozer...

How?

 

[illmatic99]

I'd trade Joel for Battier, and try as hard as possible to land Hinrich with Outlaw/Blake/Webster. In my mind, a rotation of three quality bigs is enough to win a title if you have an elite guard. LA did it with Bynum/Gasol/Odom. We could do it with Oden/Aldridge/Millsap.

A lineup of:

Hinrich/ Bayless
Roy/ Rudy
Battier/ Batum
Aldridge/ Millsap
Oden/ Aldridge/Millsap

is good enough to win a title.

 

[Idog1976]

I will just go ahead and say it. If we get Millsap we will either trade Joel or LMA. I'm pretty sure it will be Joel for a variety of reasons. The logical move with Joel is get a PG or vet SF. So we need to look at teams desperate for a center who have a glut of SF or PG's.

I'm sure there are others but Houston's situation leaps out at me as I am a huge Battier fan and think he would take this team to a new level and would really make our team run like a well oiled machine. Roy + Battier is such a great combo you have leadership on both ends of the court a great defender and a master of offense.

What other teams need a center (Joel), back up pg (Blake), SF/PF swing man (Outlaw) or talented SG (Rudy).

Is Harris achievable for Joel, Blake, Outlaw and Rudy? I mean would NJ consider it with their move to Brooklyn and LeBron etc.? Who else is out there? It looks like Memphis is sticking with Mike Conley Jr. What about a move for Rubio or Flynn?

Last question do you have 100% faith in either Bayless alongside Roy or our ability to get a starting PG in the future?

If we end up with Millsap the Sessions door closes.

here is my guess how it all plays out.

PG Hinrich/Bayless
SG Roy/Rudy
SF Battier/Batum
PF LMA/Lee or Millsap/Cunningham
C Oden/LMA/Lee/Pendergraph

Seeing how things have developed in the last couple of days this is my hope.

 

[Idog1976]

I'd trade Joel for Battier, and try as hard as possible to land Hinrich with Outlaw/Blake/Webster. In my mind, a rotation of three quality bigs is enough to win a title if you have an elite guard. LA did it with Bynum/Gasol/Odom. We could do it with Oden/Aldridge/Millsap.

A lineup of:

Hinrich/ Bayless
Roy/ Rudy
Battier/ Batum
Aldridge/ Millsap
Oden/ Aldridge/Millsap

is good enough to win a title.

Great minds think alike!

 

[RR7]

I can't see why Houston would bother with a Battier for Joel trade. I keep seeing it bandied about, but it doesn't really do anything for them this season. Yes, I know Yao is out, but adding Joel while losing Battier doesn't all of a sudden make them a contender. So why make that swap? Would make more sense for them to trade Battier to a contender for a younger player, and kind of punt this season, and hope for a healthy Yao next season. Just makes no sense for Houston at all.

 

[RR7]

I can't see Harris being available for that package. If they had long term deals they needed to shed, maybe. But Harris is their only big contract that goes beyond this season. Moving him to shed Dooling and Najera is stupid,a nd you need someone to attract those star players with.

I think Sessions could still be an option if we wanted it to be. You can do a sign and trade, and take on Gadzuric and Charlie Bell from them. I just don't see him and Bayless as our two PGs next season happening. Minnesota is unlikely, because they also don't have a lot of slary to shed beyond this season, to justify getting rid of a good young player, anyways. Joel, Blake, and Outlaw for Deng and Hinrich is close to working. Sure it could be tweaked somehow.

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

But waiting to see how the team does means you're most likely just sitting Outlaw on the bench, because there is no minutes for him, sitting Joel on the bench, because there is not enough minutes for him, or sitting Millsap on the bench right after signing him, because there is not enough minutes for him.

There is one thing to do:


Package up anyone who's not named: Oden/Roy/LMA/Millsap/Blake and trade for Gerald Wallace.

A PG will come.

 

[illmatic99]

Would make more sense for them to trade Battier to a contender for a younger player, and kind of punt this season, and hope for a healthy Yao next season.

Wouldn't a Joel for Battier swap satisfy that exactly? Joel is younger than Shane, and is a serviceable starting C. I guess it wouldn't really help them "punt" the season, though. But, would they really want to?

With the addition of Ariza, they would have no need to hold onto Battier. Also, Przy has a team option in his deal for next season, meaning Houston can save some money at the end of next year.

A lineup of Brooks/TMac (maybe)/ Ariza/ Scola/ Joel is good enough for a chance at the playoffs.

 

[handiman]

How?

The idea with Boozer is that if Utah matches Millsap's offer, teams know they have to get rid of Boozer, so the offers will be of the lowball variety. Similarly, if we have Millsap, we have to get rid of Przybilla or Outlaw. We'll get much less in return, negotiating from a position of weakness like that. Utah's situation is financial, our's is minutes. The net effect is the same, though. Now that I think about it, it makes the Millsap offer pretty damn ironic.

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

Great minds think alike!

But a lineup of:


Blake/Bayless/Mills
Roy/Rudy
G.Wallace/Batum/Cunningham
LMA/Millsap/Pendergraph
Oden/Pryzbilla


WILL win a championship!


This lineup could sustain an injury and still succeed.

 

[RR7]

Joel is only 1 year younger than Battier. When I said young player, I meant actual youth, and someone who can have a future with the team potentially, not a 30 year old C. I agree that with Ariza, they don't have a huge need for Battier, but adding Joel isn't making them a threat this season. So again, why not try to move him for someone like JR Smith, who is a lot younger, and can give you some offense and some future with the team potentially.

 

[Draco]

We don't HAVE to make any other moves, a big man rotation with LaMarcus, Paul, Joel and Greg would be one of best and deepest big man rotations in years. We'd have three of the top 10 rebounders in the NBA, multiple post options, a couple excellent shotblockers, and four good defenders. If anybody has foul trouble there would be an excellent alternate. If any of the four has an extended injury the team would still have a solid 3 big rotation.

But we should always explore options that would improve the roster. If there is a good trade available to bring in a starter at a position of weakness for a backup at a position of strength then it is worth looking at. But we don't HAVE to trade anybody. It's a win win, we either keep the best big man rotation in the league or we upgrade our starting lineup. Either option would improve the team.

That is unless Utah matches.

 

[DaRizzle]

As a side note...Thanks for not going after the better SF/PF in Odom...Not only is he better than Milsap you would have completely screwed over the Lakers leaving them only the vets min to pursue another player

 

[RR7]

Well, if Odom could play SF well enough to start for us, I'm sure we would have seen more Odom, Gasol, Bynum lineups out of LA. But we didn't.

 

[BengalDuck]

Millsap is better than Odom.

And Odom is nowhere near what this team needs.

 

[Draco]

One idea I saw today in a Hollinger chat peaked my interest;

Pryz and Travis for Prince

I'm not sure if Detroit would do it, but it makes more sense for them then a Boozer deal.

I'd much rather do that than a Battier deal. Shane would be a nice player but his offense is horrible. He has a PER of ~10. Joel is a great defender and still manages to be above 15. Prince is younger, similar on defense, and far better on offense.

 

[DaRizzle]

Well, if Odom could play SF well enough to start for us, I'm sure we would have seen more Odom, Gasol, Bynum lineups out of LA. But we didn't.

That must be it.....Either that or we had the luxury of putting him in the second unit where he could dominate...we had enough height already in the starting lineup, obviously

Nevermind when Bynum went down and Odom was dominating in the starting lineup

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Prince's value has to be as low as it's ever been.

He was average last season and absolutely brutal in the playoffs (4ppg / 4rpg / +2.5)

For that package, we better get something along with Prince.

 

[LittleAlex]

As a side note...Thanks for not going after the better SF/PF in Odom...Not only is he better than Milsap you would have completely screwed over the Lakers leaving them only the vets min to pursue another player

Odom was a better option. Perhaps he will be the next target if Milsap gets matched. Then Portland would have 3 free agents out there they helped get a pay raise.

The Blazers are just so giving.

 

[Draco]

As a side note...Thanks for not going after the better SF/PF in Odom...Not only is he better than Milsap you would have completely screwed over the Lakers leaving them only the vets min to pursue another player

Your welcome.

Sounds like the Lakers are offering him over $8 million a season, more than our "toxic" offer to Millsap. The only other options for Lamar were $5.8 million MLE deals.

Looks as though the Lakers are doing a fine job of screwing themselves.

 

[handiman]

You guys are insane if you think Millsap is a better fit than Odom. I've got nothing against Millsap, but signing him to address our 'banger' needs at the backup 4 is like using an assault rifle to hammer in a thumb tack... Way too few minutes to go around for that rotation to work.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

When you factor in Millsap isn't close to his ceiling and a full 6 years younger, we made the right choice.

 

[Draco]

Prince's value has to be as low as it's ever been.

He was average last season and absolutely brutal in the playoffs (4ppg / 4rpg / +2.5)

For that package, we better get something along with Prince.

That's the reason he might be available. If he was a borderline all-star and dominated in the playoffs we wouldn't have a chance at getting him for a couple of backups.

 

[maxiep]

As a side note...Thanks for not going after the better SF/PF in Odom...Not only is he better than Milsap you would have completely screwed over the Lakers leaving them only the vets min to pursue another player

Bob Whitsitt would have gone after Lamar Odom with everything in his arsenal. And it would have been a huge mistake. For everything he brings on the court, he would have gutted the chemistry of this team.

I'm glad Kevin Pritchard can see past the talent a player brings to the table.

 

[Draco]

You guys are insane if you think Millsap is a better fit than Odom. I've got nothing against Millsap, but signing him to address our 'banger' needs at the backup 4 is like using an assault rifle to hammer in a thumb tack... Way too few minutes to go around for that rotation to work.

If Odom was interested in coming to Portland and he didn't have the "baggage" then yeah I'd agree. His play on the court would be a better fit for what we're currently lacking next season.

I highly doubt he would have left LA, he would have just used us to get an extra couple million like the baby Bulls got used. Then we'd have even less time to go after free agents/trades.