"Kaman has been trash… I think Neil made a huge mistake by bringing him here."

[Schilly]

So I have a question...

We don't have bird rights on Blake or Kaman. Does their contracts run out before they qualify?

After 2 seasons they qualify for early bird rights. We can exceed the salary cap to re-sign them but can only give them a contract that it 175% of the previous seasons contact and it must be at least for 2 seasons. There is a team option for Kaman and a player option for Blake. I don't think we would be in jeopardy of losing either to larger contact offers.

 

[magnifier661]

After 2 seasons they qualify for early bird rights. We can exceed the salary cap to re-sign them but can only give them a contract that it 175% of the previous seasons contact and it must be at least for 2 seasons. There is a team option for Kaman and a player option for Blake. I don't think we would be in jeopardy of losing either to larger contact offers.

Sweeeeeet!

 

[Natebishop3]

Sweeeeeet!

Bro, at that point I don't see us giving Kaman more than he's currently making. So I'm not sweating it.

 

[Schilly]

Kamans contact could start as high as 8.75 mil, Blake's at near MLE. At their ages neither will get that.

As far as petiole thinking we could have done better, as fans we have a tendency of being delusional that we can convince a player to take less to pay here. This summer we were being done that Monroe wanted to be here.

 

[magnifier661]

Bro, at that point I don't see us giving Kaman more than he's currently making. So I'm not sweating it.

Team will offer him more if he keeps this up because he's playing better than ever anticipated.

 

[Natebishop3]

Team will offer him more if he keeps this up because he's playing better than ever anticipated.

I guess it's possible. He's only 32, but I don't see a team throwing a huge deal at him at this stage in his career. I hope we keep him though. I love his footwork and tenacity. He's a smart guy. I would love to see him work with our young bigs on post moves.

 

[magnifier661]

I guess it's possible. He's only 32, but I don't see a team throwing a huge deal at him at this stage in his career. I hope we keep him though. I love his footwork and tenacity. He's a smart guy. I would love to see him work with our young bigs on post moves.

I know! Could you imagine Aldridge with Kaman's post moves?!

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I bet the distance between my hatred of the signing and the current love of the performance could exceed anyone's! Olshey should do nothing but acquire centers, because clearly he has a gift for it.

 

[Strenuus]

People are surprised because they always think every move is terrible. Kansan averaged 19.8 points and 11.2reb per 36 last season. Highest for his career for scoring and second for rebounding. And we are taking about a guy who has been an All Star.

he barely played last year. lol.

 

[Natebishop3]

I know! Could you imagine Aldridge with Kaman's post moves?!

That would require Aldridge to actually get post position, which is something he doesn't seem to want to do.

 

[magnifier661]

That would require Aldridge to actually get post position, which is something he doesn't seem to want to do.

I think Kaman could show him how. I think he needs to set better picks and work screens better

 

[Natebishop3]

I think Kaman could show him how. I think he needs to set better picks and work screens better

It's not really something you show. It's about wanting to do it. Aldridge wants to set up shop on the elbow. Kaman on the other hand goes straight into the post and gets deep position. One player wants to play in the post, the other wants to play in the mid-range. The problem is that Aldridge then tries to post up from like 15 feet out and back his man down from the elbow. It doesn't really work.

 

[Pinwheel1]

The funny part about it is the Clipper fans are pissed about Hawes. At this point he has been disappointing for them. Personally i think it is a bit premature to write Hawes off, but as of now and for what Portland needed, Kaman was a steal. He just needs to stay healthy...............

 

[illmatic99]

That would require Aldridge to actually get post position, which is something he doesn't seem to want to do.

If LA played 15-20 mins a nights instead of 35-40, I'm sure LA would be okay with getting inside more.

 

[Schilly]

Are we seriously going to be complaining about Aldridge? Top 3 PF in the league.

 

[Natebishop3]

If LA played 15-20 mins a nights instead of 35-40, I'm sure LA would be okay with getting inside more.

Great, but it's problematic that he tries to post up like he's 5 feet away from the hoop, but in reality he's about 15 feet away from the hoop.

 

[Natebishop3]

Are we seriously going to be complaining about Aldridge? Top 3 PF in the league.

It's a discussion

 

[Schilly]

Great, but it's problematic that he tries to post up like he's 5 feet away from the hoop, but in reality he's about 15 feet away from the hoop.

And he still scores the ball... Very reliably at that.

 

[Natebishop3]

And he still scores the ball... Very reliably at that.

Mags said that LA could learn post moves from Kaman.

I said that post moves from Kaman wouldn't be very effective with how far away from the hoop that LA usually plays.

What does him scoring the ball effectively have to do with this line of discussion? Why is there constantly a knee-jerk reaction to defend Aldridge if there is ANY criticism of him?

 

[Schilly]

Because he's doing a pretty dang good job, and I think people manufacture things to complain about.

 

[Strenuus]

Because he's doing a pretty dang good job, and I think people manufacture things to complain about.

Message boards, much like the world, would be a boring place if we all just agreed.

 

[Schilly]

Message boards, much like the world, would be a boring place if we all just agreed.

I disagree

 

[Strenuus]

I disagree

I see what you did there. Well done.

 

[Schilly]

I see what you did there. Well done.

It was terrible

 

[blue9]

It's not really something you show. It's about wanting to do it. Aldridge wants to set up shop on the elbow. Kaman on the other hand goes straight into the post and gets deep position. One player wants to play in the post, the other wants to play in the mid-range. The problem is that Aldridge then tries to post up from like 15 feet out and back his man down from the elbow. It doesn't really work.

Sure, desire has a lot to do with it. But so does lower body strength. I've long suspected that LMA just doesn't have strong legs and that's why it's hard for him to get deep position, and why he struggles to back players down, and why he can't jump over a defender to dunk the ball.

Kaman's offense is brilliant. He's far and away the best post player we've had since Z-Bo. Great foot-work, very agile, able to go either direction, can face-up and take the ball to the hoop, or back down and use spins and fakes to get clean shots. And on top of all that he's got good vision to be able to pass the ball when defenses collapse on him, or lose their assignment.

 

[magnifier661]

Sure, desire has a lot to do with it. But so does lower body strength. I've long suspected that LMA just doesn't have strong legs and that's why it's hard for him to get deep position, and why he struggles to back players down, and why he can't jump over a defender to dunk the ball.

Kaman's offense is brilliant. He's far and away the best post player we've had since Z-Bo. Great foot-work, very agile, able to go either direction, can face-up and take the ball to the hoop, or back down and use spins and fakes to get clean shots. And on top of all that he's got good vision to be able to pass the ball when defenses collapse on him, or lose their assignment.

I think we've lit a fire with Kaman. He's more dialed in to do what he does best. It's like "no pressure" which allows him to play freely.

Whatever we are doing to motivate him, we need to keep it up! Now we have 2 solid post players which helps our chances

 

[Further]

I think Hawes is hurt.
Kaman was also a dick on the last couple teams, or at least that was the scuttlebutt, that he always wanted more playing time and would moan about it. Apparently he realized he was shooting himself in the foot and joined the Blazers knowing where he stood, and that helped him be less dick. Funny thing is, is seems like he gets along very well with the rest of the Blazers. His personality went from a negative to a positive, and that's exactly what the Blazers needed.

I was not thrilled with the signing, but trusted that Olshey was making a decent move. This situation has completely exceeded my expectations.

 

[riverman]

That interview with LA was the first time I felt he actually had a wicked sense of humor! When he took jabs at Kaman I don't remember 1 "y'now" the whole time

 

[riverman]

I think Hawes is hurt.
Kaman was also a dick on the last couple teams, or at least that was the scuttlebutt, that he always wanted more playing time and would moan about it. Apparently he realized he was shooting himself in the foot and joined the Blazers knowing where he stood, and that helped him be less dick. Funny thing is, is seems like he gets along very well with the rest of the Blazers. His personality went from a negative to a positive, and that's exactly what the Blazers needed.

I was not thrilled with the signing, but trusted that Olshey was making a decent move. This situation has completely exceeded my expectations.

He was a laker for god's sake. D'Antoni was his coach and he was on the bench alongside Pau Gasol who was also pissed off. That's a plus in my book!

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Was happy about the signing at the time, but nervous about his injury history.

Am now VERY happy about the signing, and am less nervous (but still not completely comfortable) about his injury history. I'm less nervous because he's not playing starters minutes, so I think it's a lot easier on his body.