Kaman Decision

[RR7]

I know there's been a similar thread before, and I imagine this one will just turn into a discussion of Batum or draft picks,

but came across this this morning, that shows that a decision on Kaman's guarantee must come by June 30th. Meaning, July 1st, he's fully guaranteed. I had previously thought it was later in the offseason, which kind of sucks. Would have been nicer to delay the timing on it, to see how the rest of free agency starts to shake out. But, it'd look like, if he's going to be traded, it'd be around draft time. So...
Is he traded? For what? Is he just waived for maximum cap space? Do we just keep him?

http://www.hoopsrumors.com/2015/06/schedule-salary-guarantee.html

June

• 30th — Caron Butler (Pistons) full ($4.5MM)
• 30th — Chris Kaman (Trail Blazers) full ($5,016,000) — already $1MM guaranteed
• 30th — Jon Leuer (Grizzlies) full ($1,035,000)
• 30th — Robert Sacre (Lakers) full

 

[PtldPlatypus]

He's Leonard's mentor, and his post game is exactly what we need Leonard to learn. I'm happy keeping him if for no other reason than that.

 

[tester551]

He is inconsequential to the teams success. I have no problem keeping him, but I would not be hesitant to include him in a trade or cut him if Olshey wants the cap space.

 

[illmatic99]

He's Leonard's mentor, and his post game is exactly what we need Leonard to learn. I'm happy keeping him if for no other reason than that.

Can always make him an offer as an asst coach. I don't think he's worth a roster spot... he did like nothing in the playoffs when we most needed him (on the court).

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

I view him as more of a trade chip now than a player.

I don't see him back next year either way

 

[blue9]

It's always good to have a few short-term/expiring, mid-level salaries on the books to make trades work. It's even better to have a real mentor for Leonard. Pick up the option - declining it for cap space is a bad idea.
Remember this: the Blazers DON'T SIGN FREE AGENTS.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

You don't have to sign guys with cap space. You can use it to take on other players with mid level deals that teams are trying to get off the books to make offers while acquiring new assets.

We don't have very many assets to deal right now anyways unless someone wants a 2018 1st

 

[santeesioux]

It's always good to have a few short-term/expiring, mid-level salaries on the books to make trades work. It's even better to have a real mentor for Leonard. Pick up the option - declining it for cap space is a bad idea.
Remember this: the Blazers DON'T SIGN FREE AGENTS.

Hey man, we can sign guys like Steve Blake and Kaman that probably should have retired several years ago!

 

[RR7]

I think, looking at trades, ideally you look for teams trying to shed salary to move down below the luxury tax, to save money. Cutting him instantly saves them a bundle, potentially.

OKC is over the LT, and has a free agent decision to mae on Enes Kanter. By all accounts they like him and want to bring him back. But they'd have a ton of salary just with him, Ibaka, Durant and Westbrook. I doubt it'd pass for them, but Kaman and Crabbe for Novak, Lamb, McGary, Jones. They replace Lamb with Crabbe, likely don't lose much in the swap, and save over 2 million on the swap. By immediately cutting Kaman, they'd save 8.3 million dollar just in salary on next year's contracts. They save an additional 13.3 roughly in luxury tax payout. So a savings of over 21 million dollars next season, at the cost of, really, McGary.

My view, Lamb and Crabbe are comparable. So they woudn't lose a ton on the swap. Novak won't see time there. Jones likely won't see much. So they save 21 million to shed McGary. They have Ibaka, Kanter, Collison, and Adams. So McGary is really more a luxury for them. McGary is the "prize" for us, who would pair well alongside Leonard off the bench at C.

 

[Sedatedfork]

We need more cap space to sign Oden.

 

[BlazerWookee]

He is inconsequential to the teams success. I have no problem keeping him, but I would not be hesitant to include him in a trade or cut him if Olshey wants the cap space.

I agree with the second sentence, but the first one is a drastic overstatement.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

He would be the perfect means to acquire a draft pick. They unload a contract on us for Kaman + $3M and give us a pick.

Possible pick? Minnesota's, first in the second round, in return for us taking Kevin Martin, Bennett, or Budinger.

 

[RR7]

He would be the perfect means to acquire a draft pick. They unload a contract on us for Kaman + $3M and give us a pick.

Possible pick? Minnesota's, first in the second round, in return for us taking Kevin Martin, Bennett, or Budinger.

I'd do Bennet and 31. I don't expect much out of Bennet, but in a similar fashion to T-Rob, maybe you take a flyer and see i f there's something potentially there.

 

[BonesJones]

What about this
Kaman, Crabbe, Frazier, 23, and cash for Dudley, Zaza, and 17. They could cut all 3 and have $26M in cap space before the Middleton extension . They could theoretically get a max FA before Middleton signs an offer sheet (possibly Jordan?), and even if they don't get before KM signs an offer sheet, they'd still have at least $12M. They don't need Dudley and they could use the $12M to upgrade Zaza.
--MCW/Middleton/Giannis/Parker/Jordan or Chandler.
That's a contender right there.
We upgrade backup center and get an underrated backup SF. We could bring everyone back then use the MLE on Jarrett Jack. Or draft D Wright at 17. Or use Batum and 17 to trade up. We'd have lots of options
Bench: Jack/CJ/Dudley/Meyers/Zaza

 

[Orion Bailey]

What about this
Kaman, Crabbe, Frazier, 23, and cash for Dudley, Zaza, and 17. They could cut all 3 and have $26M in cap space before the Middleton extension . They could theoretically get a max FA before Middleton signs an offer sheet (possibly Jordan?), and even if they don't get before KM signs an offer sheet, they'd still have at least $12M. They don't need Dudley and they could use the $12M to upgrade Zaza.
--MCW/Middleton/Giannis/Parker/Jordan or Chandler.
That's a contender right there.
We upgrade backup center and get an underrated backup SF. We could bring everyone back then use the MLE on Jarrett Jack. Or draft D Wright at 17. Or use Batum and 17 to trade up. We'd have lots of options
Bench: Jack/CJ/Dudley/Meyers/Zaza

Meyers has made it crystal clear how he feels about Kaman and the progress he has made being attributed to Kaman's mentoring.
If we plan on having Meyers as a solid force for our long term future ( Long term being 5-7 years in today world), then we shouldn't be trading Kaman.
I think we pay him for that mentoring and to ride the end of the bench spot, who can be used if an injury comes about. Because we know how Portland never has injuries issues, especially with big men...
Kaman did everything we asked of him and more. His knowledge, presence and leadership is part of what we need. More experienced toughness. And just because he is injury prone doesn't mean he isn't tough. Tough is drive and dedication and will to push through the pain and persevere. Kaman has as much drive as anyone on the team but Wes in my opinion. Wes is a freak that very few players in the NBA equal when it comes to toughness and the drive and want to win.
If we end up without a roster spot because of good acquisitions, or however it plays out, then we bring him on as a big man coach. We all know Stotts could use some help on the defensive end and setting screens, both of which I think Kaman could help with for the bigs.
Kaman needs to stay on the payroll and on the practice court if at all possible in my opinion.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Leonard has kamans phone number and will still be visiting him this summer regardless of if he is on the team or not.

You move him if you think you can improve the talent on the team

 

[Orion Bailey]

Leonard has kamans phone number and will still be visiting him this summer regardless of if he is on the team or not.

You move him if you think you can improve the talent on the team

Or you keep him if you think HE can improve the talent on the team? You have to think beyond this summer. Further more, summer is only 2-3 months and it wont provide any game time, situational education. I want Kaman there ( as many clips have shown him to do) being a bug in Kamans's ear telling him how to deal with specific situations he encounters, during timeouts and in between plays. I think Meyers is a very bright guy and so is Kaman. I could see Meyers benefiting from Kaman for at least two more years...as a possible coach.
How much do you think Kaman would get us anyhow? I dont think there is a situation that we cant fill the void of a trade with something/someone else in order for the trade to happen. Kaman is by far more valuable to us than any other team in the league,. so we wont get much more for him by including him in anything, whether teams are looking to dump him or not.

I personally think this is a no brainer if you consider Meyers to be a core of the long term future of this franchise.

 

[oldmangrouch]

I agree with the second sentence, but the first one is a drastic overstatement.

True. He was often a net negative. There were times his defense was so bad it looked like he was trying to give Stotts a stroke!

 

[tlongII]

Keep him. You can never have too many big guys that can play.

 

[riverman]

Kaman is perfect as a bench big..he doesn't care about minutes and he's a talented player. He's better than the last version of Pryzbilla on the bench or Jared Jeffries or Hasheem Thabeet. He's cheap. Unless his contract is needed for a major move the needle deal, he's a low risk roster spot

 

[stampedehero]

We need more cap space to sign Oden.

Thats funny.

 

[stampedehero]

Kaman is perfect as a bench big..he doesn't care about minutes and he's a talented player. He's better than the last version of Pryzbilla on the bench or Jared Jeffries or Hasheem Thabeet. He's cheap. Unless his contract is needed for a major move the needle deal, he's a low risk roster spot

+>That is good logic

 

[magnifier661]

Only way I see Kaman being moved is if we use him and Batum in a trade for a legit big. Otherwise, I don't see any incentive of moving him. Actually, I'm liking the concept of bringing the entire crew back, with the exception of grabbing an MLE vet, to try for another "injury free" run at the title

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Batum and kaman for hibbert please

 

[RR7]

Batum and kaman for hibbert please

We can do just Batum for him, and still try to use Kaman elsewhere

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

We can do just Batum for him, and still try to use Kaman elsewhere

True. Id give them to him if they asked. But you're right, could move him in a separate deal for assets

 

[blue9]

Batum for Hibbert would be a terrible trade.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Batum for Hibbert would be a terrible trade.

I agree, but I'm curious as to your reasoning?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I agree, but I'm curious as to your reasoning?

Because Indiana already has Paul George--why would they need Batum?

Oh, you meant terrible for the Blazers...

 

[blue9]

I agree, but I'm curious as to your reasoning?

We'd get moderate improvement (hopefully!) at the C position and take a HUGE step backwards at the SF position.
To go along with that, the only player that gets our C involved in the offense on a consistent basis is Nic. So while Hibbert might provide better defense than Rolo, we'll lose ~6 points that Rolo gets off of good set-ups from Nic.