Locking up RoLo

[Fez Hammersticks]

He's only 25 and has taken his game to another level. I think his back is finally 100% -- while in PHX he injured his back and lost eight inches of his vertical leap. He totally regressed until the last few years in New Orleans.

17.3 PER (and climbing) | 14.1 USG% | 107 DRtg

$5.1m this year
$5.3m team option next year

If he can stay healthy I think he's playing himself into a contract similar to what Pekovic received - $12m/per

 

[THE HCP]

Couldn't agree more. What a steal that was from NOLA! Lock 'em up FAMS!


Who the hell did we give up for him anyways?

 

[PapaG]

Couldn't agree more. What a steal that was from NOLA! Lock 'em up FAMS!


Who the hell did we give up for him anyways?

Jeff Withey, I think?

 

[PapaG]

The Blazers can't extend him until next season, though, and I doubt RoLo, if he keeps playing this way, wants anything other than a max extension. He is playing that well right now. Next year for the Blazers is going to be incredible. 60 wins should be the goal.

 

[Natebishop3]

The guy is one of the best true centers in the league. I'd have to look to see where I'd rank him.

 

[THE HCP]

Somebody please find the original thread after we acquired him ..... Wonder what all of us experts were saying.

 

[Natebishop3]

Somebody please find the original thread after we acquired him ..... Wonder what all of us experts were saying.

I remember a lot of people being pissed about losing Jeff Withey.

 

[Natebishop3]

Somebody please find the original thread after we acquired him ..... Wonder what all of us experts were saying.

Uh oh HCP...

I don't like either of 'em!

http://sportstwo.com/threads/126602-OT-Robin-Lopez?highlight=robin+lopez

Here is the trade thread. Seems like a lot of people were thrilled (myself included.)

http://sportstwo.com/threads/240063...bin-Lopez-thread!/page2?highlight=robin+lopez

 

[Natebishop3]

The Blazers can't extend him until next season, though, and I doubt RoLo, if he keeps playing this way, wants anything other than a max extension. He is playing that well right now. Next year for the Blazers is going to be incredible. 60 wins should be the goal.

Ugh... you think a max? So that could be three max deals on our team? I don't know if Rolo is a max player. He hasn't made an All-Star team yet. I could see paying him 12 million or something along those lines. Right now the only two max players would be Dame and LA, at least in my opinion.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Rolo is great but there is no way on this green earth that he is a MAX player. Even with the big man tax he won't come close to MAX.

 

[Eastoff]

Jeff Withey, I think?

You think, huh? Oh you know for sure who we got rid of...

 

[Pinwheel1]

I agree he is not worth the max. And neither was his brother, but he got it. That partially worries me since I think Robin is just as valuable.

 

[maxiep]

Uh oh HCP...



http://sportstwo.com/threads/126602-OT-Robin-Lopez?highlight=robin+lopez

Here is the trade thread. Seems like a lot of people were thrilled (myself included.)

http://sportstwo.com/threads/240063...bin-Lopez-thread!/page2?highlight=robin+lopez

I referred to him as a cheap stopgap who solidifies our bench. Once again, I show my lack of basketball knowledge.

 

[maxiep]

Rolo is great but there is no way on this green earth that he is a MAX player. Even with the big man tax he won't come close to MAX.

Agreed. He'll get an eight figure annual salary, but not the max.

 

[DaLong]

The question that springs to mind is whether or not our defense will always be as poor as it is with Lopez as the starting center.

Is it him? Is it our turnstile guards? Is it the lack of weak side shot blocking? The system?

If it's the majority of the latter three, then hell yes lock him up!

 

[SlyPokerDog]

The question that springs to mind is whether or not our defense will always be as poor as it is with Lopez as the starting center.

Is it him? Is it our turnstile guards? Is it the lack of weak side shot blocking? The system?

If it's the majority of the latter three, then hell yes lock him up!

Lopez does work on the defensive end.

 

[Rhal]

Lopez agent has to be doing laps around his office laughing hysterically. Lopez is going to get at least 10m a year after next year and I dont think he would be featured as much if he stayed on NO

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Lopez does work on the defensive end.

He is much better than Hickson for sure but stats say Lopez has done better on Offense then Defense for use.

So to answer DaLong's question I think some of it has to be the guards just sucking on D.

 

[Natebishop3]

The question that springs to mind is whether or not our defense will always be as poor as it is with Lopez as the starting center.

Is it him? Is it our turnstile guards? Is it the lack of weak side shot blocking? The system?

If it's the majority of the latter three, then hell yes lock him up!

We play the pick and roll very poorly. I'm not sure if that's on the guards or the big guys, but it's something that needs to be worked on.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

We play the pick and roll very poorly. I'm not sure if that's on the guards or the big guys, but it's something that needs to be worked on.

Often it is LMA that fails to show on the P and R for whatever reason, groin, fatique, laziness, take your pick. He is not being consistent defensively.

 

[Schilly]

Interesting stat I heard yesterday, RoLo is 2nd in the league for altered shots.

 

[HailBlazers]

Interesting stat I heard yesterday, RoLo is 2nd in the league for altered shots.

Amazing Stat. Just like Pryzbilla before him.

Trail Blazers' Robin Lopez making a case for NBA's Most Improved Player

 

[illmatic99]

Interesting stat I heard yesterday, RoLo is 2nd in the league for altered shots.

How is something like that quantified?

Rolo has improved so much from that lead footed clumsy scrub I remember in phoenix. Easily a top 10 c in the league and he's improving tangibly

 

[maxiep]

Luckily we have him for next year at a reasonable salary. It will give us plenty of time to vet him to see what he's really worth on a long-term deal.

 

[KingSpeed]

At the center position, Lopez is a near All Star. How many West centers are better than him? Gasol and Howard? Maybe Jordan and Pekovic? He's close. And he still has room to grow. I have no problem with giving him the max.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

He's only 25 and has taken his game to another level. I think his back is finally 100% -- while in PHX he injured his back and lost eight inches of his vertical leap. He totally regressed until the last few years in New Orleans.

17.3 PER (and climbing) | 14.1 USG% | 107 DRtg

$5.1m this year
$5.3m team option next year

If he can stay healthy I think he's playing himself into a contract similar to what Pekovic received - $12m/per

If they don't, I'm pretty certain the way he worked this last off season, Neil can someone similar for maybe less money.

 

[rasheedfan2005]

At the center position, Lopez is a near All Star. How many West centers are better than him? Gasol and Howard? Maybe Jordan and Pekovic? He's close. And he still has room to grow. I have no problem with giving him the max.

I'm fine with every player getting a max, its not my money.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

At the center position, Lopez is a near All Star. How many West centers are better than him? Gasol and Howard? Maybe Jordan and Pekovic? He's close. And he still has room to grow. I have no problem with giving him the max.

You can only afford (at most) 3 MAX players in the NBA today. Lopez is great but with LMA and Lillard getting MAX in two years and Wes Matthew's contract up soon Lopez realistically can't get MAX for us to continue to improve (good thing is I don't think Lopez cares about getting close to max). We will have 6th man-types (either already on the team or free-agents) to pay soon as well.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

I'm fine with every player getting a max, its not my money.

Until you give say your 1st, 4th, and 5th best players MAX and can't pay your 2nd and 3rd best player so they leave.

Of course this doesn't necessarily apply to us (just an issue for most all teams in general) but it could down the road if we went that route.

 

[Reep]

I would guess he will sign for a reasonable/high compromise. I think he likes it here, and recognizes this is a good fit and system for him. But, he also deserves to get paid. Pek money sounds likely and is a good comp.