It's not like Portland has to spend their money this offseason

[Harry's Raincoat]

I mean I count them at 42.4 in salaries for next year not including a lottery pick, so add another 1.8 and call it 44 million. That is with a roster of

Aldridge
Lillard
Batum
Matthews
Leonard
Freeland
Claver
Barton
Lottery pick

If Portland strikes out on a player they really want this summer, why couldn't they simply deal Hickson for someone like Iggy? Then fill out the roster accordingly, take the next step into the playoffs with the 7-8 seed and then have another go at FA with max money again?

2014 list of FA is a little bit sexier than the 2013 class. Plus we would have another asset in Iggy to S&T if we so chose to do that

We could do something along these lines. You don't account for the minimum 1 yr contracts you'd be required to ink. But we could PUNT on this offseason.

The downside to this is it makes the hope of Aldridge playing a part of your rebuild fall apart. He'd be too old for this nucleus of players to learn and go deep in the postseason - unless the 2014 Cap space got you the one missing piece. Otherwise, we'll probably end up dealing him for other young pieces or picks to try filling in those missing pieces.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Isn't the minimum salary requirement in the new CBA a lot higher than the old CBA?

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

According to Howard Eskin of Fox 29 News in Philadelphia, the Rockets are set to offer Andrew Bynum a multi-year contract this summer in free agency. Bynum, the 25 year old center with the Philadelphia 76ers, has missed the entire season after being traded from Los Angeles in the Dwight Howard deal.

Do they plan to move Asik or bring him off the bench?

He'd be an expensive insurance policy.

 

[KingSpeed]

I want Bynum. If healthy, he's the best center in the league. He's a dick but he can play. He would instantly make us matter.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I want Bynum. If healthy, he's the best center in the league. He's a dick but he can play. He would instantly make us matter.

Can he play though? All I've seen this year is a lot of sitting on the bench trying out hairdos.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Maybe a good way of looking at it is Paul Allen is the old Donald Sterling and Donald Sterling is the old Paul Allen?:MARIS61:

 

[Blaze01]

No link, but Jfizzleraider was with me at the season ticketholder meeting Sunday before the game when Olshey spoke. Said first priority was starting center then spending whatever is left for bench help. If JJ was the best option then he would be back. Was pretty clear waiting was not an option and he likes our current 1-4.

a mid tier center and a few bench players isn't going to propel this team anywhere.....

 

[blazerboy30]

I mean I count them at 42.4 in salaries for next year not including a lottery pick, so add another 1.8 and call it 44 million. That is with a roster of

Aldridge
Lillard
Batum
Matthews
Leonard
Freeland
Claver
Barton
Lottery pick

If Portland strikes out on a player they really want this summer, why couldn't they simply deal Hickson for someone like Iggy? Then fill out the roster accordingly, take the next step into the playoffs with the 7-8 seed and then have another go at FA with max money again?

2014 list of FA is a little bit sexier than the 2013 class. Plus we would have another asset in Iggy to S&T if we so chose to do that

You need to get some original material:

It doesn't have to be done immediately. And of course it isn't guaranteed. That's why it is a risk/reward question. The reward for keeping JJ isn't extremely high.

The current list of players with JJ isn't going to be a title contender, even if Lillard turns out to be a top 5 PG (I'll change my mind if Meyers turns into a top 3 center, but that isn't going to happen). So even if we don't replace JJ's production, it's not like it is the end of the world. We might get some better draft picks. We don't have to spend the money immediately if we don't see a "needle mover".

http://sportstwo.com/threads/227489...Offseason-Plan/page2?highlight=lopsided+trade

 

[Mediocre Man]

You need to get some original material:



http://sportstwo.com/threads/227489...Offseason-Plan/page2?highlight=lopsided+trade

Ya, but you were foolish enough to think keeping Hickson is a good idea

 

[mook]

I said postpone for a summer if the free agent and trade market dry up, not postpone indefinitely.

I understand. It's only one year. (Or rather actually 4 years--LMA, Lillard, Wes and Batum should sacrifice another year each of their careers missing the playoffs so we can try to do something in the summer of 2014.) But it's a slippery slope.

The problem is there are significant opportunity costs in waiting. One of those guys could get injured, putting us in a worse place a year from now. Every year that passes brings us closer to having to re-up our vets, and pay full market price for Lillard. There's also the culture of losing that can set in when you continue to lower expectations.

I'll be really disappointed if Portland opts to not make a big splash this summer in hopes of doing something the following year. Last summer was a complete failure (other than the draft, obviously). I liked the attempt at Hibbert, and I'm hoping for a similar kind of acquisition this summer to succeed.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I understand. It's only one year. (Or rather actually 4 years--LMA, Lillard, Wes and Batum should sacrifice another year each of their careers missing the playoffs so we can try to do something in the summer of 2014.) But it's a slippery slope.

The problem is there are significant opportunity costs in waiting. One of those guys could get injured, putting us in a worse place a year from now. Every year that passes brings us closer to having to re-up our vets, and pay full market price for Lillard. There's also the culture of losing that can set in when you continue to lower expectations.

I'll be really disappointed if Portland opts to not make a big splash this summer in hopes of doing something the following year. Last summer was a complete failure (other than the draft, obviously). I liked the attempt at Hibbert, and I'm hoping for a similar kind of acquisition this summer to succeed.

I agree with you, so I am playing devil's advocate here. Would you be more disappointed if we used 15mm to sign Kaman, and a wing like Mayo rather than holding it for another year?

 

[mook]

I agree with you, so I am playing devil's advocate here. Would you be more disappointed if we used 15mm to sign Kaman, and a wing like Mayo rather than holding it for another year?

I haven't seen Kaman in a while, but that might be acceptable (depending on length of contract). In terms of talent infusion, I'd consider that the bare minimum of being acceptable.

Kaman is tough, because although he's a starting-caliber center, he has a history of averaging only 26mpg over the past 3 seasons. That's for 3 different teams, too. Which tells you he isn't going to come here and log the 30-35mpg we really need out of our center. He'd need to be signed in such a way that we'd have room for another journeyman-type decent big man.

Mayo would be a solid addition. He seems to be doing well in Dallas. I think with him it'd depend on his mindset. If he came here expecting to be The Man, fuck that. If he's ok with competing for a starting job (and not bitching in a 6th man role if he loses out) it could work.

These additions aren't mind-blowing. But they get us in the playoffs and hopefully out of the first round (if Lillard/Batum continue to improve).