If you were GM, what would you require from Houston for Aldridge?

[Draco]

Keeping him and letting him walk is a bad idea for us because we will never get back anything remotely equal in value through free agency. Our only chance at recouping value is by trading him for young guys or draft picks. Maybe they won't be equal value now, but they at least have the chance of developing into equal value. Letting him walk will bring back nothing.

If LaMarcus walks for “nothing” we will save almost $20 million in cap room. If we strike out with trades and he enters free agency appearing destine to leave for nothing there is still a chance of him not being able to find a team that has an enticing combo of a contending roster, cap room and a city he prefers. Then he might change his mind and decide a Portland team is the best fit of the those three criteria.

To get the most in these situations you have to be willing to lose it all. If we want to hold out for the best Aldridge deal we need to be willing to not pull the trigger. Anytime you decide to absolutely trade a player away or absolutely bring a player in you limit your options.

The year before the Heat formed the big 3 they had Dwayne Wade and nothing else. They were begging him to sign an extension all season and Wade refused. Miami has not historically been a city that attracted big name free agents. Miami could have traded Wade for less value to avoid the chance of losing him for nothing. Wade visited with the Bulls at the start of free agency, Wade is from Chicago and the Bulls had a great roster with Deng, Noah and Derrick Rose.

Miami took the risk of losing Wade for nothing, if he left they would’ve had zero assets on that roster. They took a gamble and won. I’d rather see the Blazers take a similar risk with LaMarcus, stare his looming free agency down straight in the face and don’t flinch an eyelash. Take the risk of losing him for nothing, that is better than making a move just to avoid a failure. Take a chance of striking out to get a chance of hitting more than a single. A single is fine for drafts and mid level free agent signings. For All-star roster moves we should go big or bust.

 

[Natebishop3]

If LaMarcus walks for “nothing” we will save almost $20 million in cap room. If we strike out with trades and he enters free agency appearing destine to leave for nothing there is still a chance of him not being able to find a team that has an enticing combo of a contending roster, cap room and a city he prefers. Then he might change his mind and decide a Portland team is the best fit of the those three criteria.

To get the most in these situations you have to be willing to lose it all. If we want to hold out for the best Aldridge deal we need to be willing to not pull the trigger. Anytime you decide to absolutely trade a player away or absolutely bring a player in you limit your options.

The year before the Heat formed the big 3 they had Dwayne Wade and nothing else. They were begging him to sign an extension all season and Wade refused. Miami has not historically been a city that attracted big name free agents. Miami could have traded Wade for less value to avoid the chance of losing him for nothing. Wade visited with the Bulls at the start of free agency, Wade is from Chicago and the Bulls had a great roster with Deng, Noah and Derrick Rose.

Miami took the risk of losing Wade for nothing, if he left they would’ve had zero assets on that roster. They took a gamble and won. I’d rather see the Blazers take a similar risk with LaMarcus, stare his looming free agency down straight in the face and don’t flinch an eyelash. Take the risk of losing him for nothing, that is better than making a move just to avoid a failure. Take a chance of striking out to get a chance of hitting more than a single. A single is fine for drafts and mid level free agent signings. For All-star roster moves we should go big or bust.

This is Portland man. Cap space is only valuable if free agents want to sign with you. We aren't Miami, New York, or Los Angeles. Miami is much more attractive to a young, black free agent than Portland is. We will only build a contender through the draft and trades. We aren't signing a superstar. Name the last superstar player that publicly said they wanted to play in Portland? Chris Paul, maybe?

 

[magnifier661]

If LaMarcus walks for “nothing” we will save almost $20 million in cap room. If we strike out with trades and he enters free agency appearing destine to leave for nothing there is still a chance of him not being able to find a team that has an enticing combo of a contending roster, cap room and a city he prefers. Then he might change his mind and decide a Portland team is the best fit of the those three criteria.

To get the most in these situations you have to be willing to lose it all. If we want to hold out for the best Aldridge deal we need to be willing to not pull the trigger. Anytime you decide to absolutely trade a player away or absolutely bring a player in you limit your options.

The year before the Heat formed the big 3 they had Dwayne Wade and nothing else. They were begging him to sign an extension all season and Wade refused. Miami has not historically been a city that attracted big name free agents. Miami could have traded Wade for less value to avoid the chance of losing him for nothing. Wade visited with the Bulls at the start of free agency, Wade is from Chicago and the Bulls had a great roster with Deng, Noah and Derrick Rose.

Miami took the risk of losing Wade for nothing, if he left they would’ve had zero assets on that roster. They took a gamble and won. I’d rather see the Blazers take a similar risk with LaMarcus, stare his looming free agency down straight in the face and don’t flinch an eyelash. Take the risk of losing him for nothing, that is better than making a move just to avoid a failure. Take a chance of striking out to get a chance of hitting more than a single. A single is fine for drafts and mid level free agent signings. For All-star roster moves we should go big or bust.

Lakers will have the resources, desirable location and ability to land free talent when his contract is up.

And they will probably suck this season and next; so they will have good draft picks.

 

[BlazerWookee]

I wouldn't trade Aldridge at all.

 

[magnifier661]

I wouldn't trade Aldridge at all.

Then is he truly wants to leave; be prepared to see him in a laker uni.

 

[Natebishop3]

Then is he truly wants to leave; be prepared to see him in a laker uni.

I think he'll end up in Dallas.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Lakers will have the resources, desirable location and ability to land free talent when his contract is up.

And they will probably suck this season and next; so they will have good draft picks.

Aldridge is in his prime now, not two years from now. By that time he'll be a relatively depreciating asset....unless the lakers have other stars at that immediate moment, its a no-go.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Based on houston's roster, I wouldn't trade him there at all. There's nothing of lasting value on that roster.

 

[Natebishop3]

Aldridge is in his prime now, not two years from now. By that time he'll be a relatively depreciating asset....unless the lakers have other stars at that immediate moment, its a no-go.

I think Aldridge will be effective into his thirties. He's a finesse guy. He's basically Tim Duncan light, without the great defense.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I think Aldridge will be effective into his thirties. He's a finesse guy. He's basically Tim Duncan light, without the great defense.

Yeah, but I doubt he'll be better than he will be in the next two years. He'll still be good, but not as good.

 

[magnifier661]

I think he'll end up in Dallas.

How you figure? They will most likely be over cap. But lakers have the ultimate free agent destination.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

How you figure? They will most likely be over cap. But lakers have the ultimate free agent destination.

they have to save their nut for a KD/LeBron run. They need a top 5 player in the game.

do you think Kobe will settle for $1m a season? He'll probably want one or two years @ $30m or some jordanesque final payday.

 

[magnifier661]

they have to save their nut for a KD/LeBron run. They need a top 5 player in the game.

They will have a ton of cap room for both lebron/kd and Aldridge.

 

[Natebishop3]

How you figure? They will most likely be over cap. But lakers have the ultimate free agent destination.

Look at their contracts... even Dirk is expiring after next season. I think they'll have crazy cap space.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

They will have a ton of cap room for both lebron/kd and Aldridge.

oh well, deal with it then. no use in doing crappy ass trades to teams with crappy assets because you're scared a guy will walk 2 years into the future.

 

[Natebishop3]

oh well, deal with it then. no use in doing crappy ass trades to teams with crappy assets because you're scared a guy will walk 2 years into the future.

What is your definition of a "crappy ass trade"?

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

What is your definition of a "crappy ass trade"?

whatever's listed here in this thread. everyone listed are basically Houston's afterthoughts after they got Lin and then Harden.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I don't give a shit if Aldirdge wants to go some where, you trade him where you want to trade him, not where he wants to go. He doesn't have veto power so if he wants to go to Houston, they better figure out a way to get us something better in return.

 

[magnifier661]

oh well, deal with it then. no use in doing crappy ass trades to teams with crappy assets because you're scared a guy will walk 2 years into the future.

Yep it sucks being a fan of a place no one wants to play for

 

[Natebishop3]

whatever's listed here in this thread. everyone listed are basically Houston's afterthoughts after they got Lin and then Harden.

Oh, I agree, any trade with Houston will suck, but I think there are decent trades to be had.

 

[BBert]

Too much $$ chasing too few quality free agents.

The Dwight-cision coming soon.

Once Dwight is signed, it seems LaMarcus will be the most valuable commodity available this summer.

Olshey has rejected several offers already.

Now, Olshey sits and waits for the offers to improve.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Oh, I agree, any trade with Houston will suck, but I think there are decent trades to be had.

yeah, with other teams. they'll have to ship Lin somewhere and then get us value back. Whatever they have on their roster is fucking useless unless we already have a team in place, those are glue guys.

 

[Draco]

This is Portland man. Cap space is only valuable if free agents want to sign with you. We aren't Miami, New York, or Los Angeles. Miami is much more attractive to a young, black free agent than Portland is. We will only build a contender through the draft and trades. We aren't signing a superstar. Name the last superstar player that publicly said they wanted to play in Portland? Chris Paul, maybe?

Cap space has value, it might have more value to NY or LA but it still has value to a team with a good GM. Just look at the TRob trade. We signed Brian Grant with cap space and that is the last time we got out of the first round.

Lakers will have the resources, desirable location and ability to land free talent when his contract is up.

And they will probably suck this season and next; so they will have good draft picks.

Yes its a risk, I'd rather take my chance and keep LaMarcus. Trading him for a package based around Chandler Parsons or a 2015 draft pick is a joke. Just roll the dice that LaMarcus leaves at which point we get cap space but also consider there is a chance we are the best option at free agency and he stays. For the crap trades LaMarcus is rumored in we are better off "renting" him for the next two seasons and if both parties decide to have him resign fine if not we remove him from our cap and work to acquire other assets.

I don't fear losing LaMarcus for nothing, if we start dumping assets for less than optimal value we will never compete for anything.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Then is he truly wants to leave; be prepared to see him in a laker uni.

No, he doesn't, and if he does become a L*ker, I'll self-immolate in the Rose Quarter...

 

[maxiep]

Could you imagine if we landed wiggins with our pick, then drafted like 7 or 8 from the pick we obtained, then had over 20 mil in cap space? That would instantly turn things around.

I predict the winner of the 2014 draft lottery will be...The Los Angeles L*kers.

 

[maxiep]

oh well, deal with it then. no use in doing crappy ass trades to teams with crappy assets because you're scared a guy will walk 2 years into the future.

Exactly.

 

[MARIS61]

Houston has nothing to offer that would rate giving them LaMarcus.