Neil is building towards something...

[BrianFromWA]

The interesting thing is that MIL and PHI are far enough below the cap right now to take Henderson for nothing (getting us an extra 6M in cap space). We'd probably have to give up a future 1st (or swap) for it, but technically we could trade Kaman and 1M to one team (1M to cover the salary they'd have to pay after cutting him) and Henderson to the other, and have about 14M in salary committed (or ~53M in cap space) to Dame/CJ/Crabbe/Vonleh/Meyers/Plumlee.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

So are Greg Oden and Hasheem Thabeet last time I checked...Bennett is a bust

I remember on draft day, they were still talking like he might slide to Portland at #10 (thank God he didn't). That 2013 draft was a wild one.

 

[Schilly]

Kaman for Bennett... Do it.

 

[BonesJones]

The thing I've noticed about Olshey is how unpredictable he is. He always does a trade that you never would've expected, but makes sense. The trades for Rolo and T-Rob, and more recently, the acquisitions of Plumlee, Vonleh and Henderson.

If I have to guess at a Olshey out-of-the-blue trade, here's my guess:
3 Team Trade
PORTLAND Gets: Trevor Ariza
DENVER Gets: Sam Dekker, Montrezl Harrell, Noah Vonleh, 2018 POR 1st Round Pick (Lottery Protected)
HOUSTON Gets: Ty Lawson

By trading Vonleh with the trade exception acquired from Batum, that's enough to cover Ariza's contract.
Denver gets 3 extremely young prospects, cap relief, and a 1st round pick for Lawson, which is a pretty good haul in my opinion. As a rebuilding team, they'd rather have Vonleh and a 1st round pick then Ariza, especially with Chandler and Gallinari at SF. Houston unexpectedly picked up K Paps option, which I think is a sign they'll move Ariza. I expect them to start Brewer, with K Pap as the backup, sign Sergio Llull or match Beverley as backup PG, and use their MLE to bring back Josh Smith.
After getting Ariza for Vonleh, we'd still have $40M in cap space, which we could use to sign Tyson Chandler ($10M) and to resign LMA ($20M)and Wes ($10M cap hold, but could go over cuz of bird rights. Then we could use the cap exception on Jameer Nelson
Sign Jermaine O'Neal and Cliff Alexander to minimums:

PG Lilard / Nelson / Frazier
SG Matthews / McCollum / Pat
SF Ariza / Henderson / Crabbe
PF Aldridge / Leonard / Cliff
C Chandler / Plumlee / O'Neal

That's a contending team with a top 5 NBA bench, and a top 5 starting lineup. Good defenders in Wes, Ariza, and Chandler. Athleticism in Plumlee, Leonard and Henderson. A solid blend of Veterans and youth. O'Neal could mentor Leonard and Plumlee.

-Another BonesJones Grade A Proposal-

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

I don't think I can accept Arizona in my vocab.

See, I couldn't even type Arizona.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Quick said Neil will look at players who can create their own shot.

 

[BonesJones]

Henderson, Nelson, CJ and Dame can. Ariza can slash and hit pull up 2s.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Henderson, Nelson, CJ and Dame can. Ariza can slash and hit pull up 2s.

2s? As in Rudy?

 

[Scalma]

Henderson, Nelson, CJ and Dame can. Ariza can slash and hit pull up 2s.

That's funny cuz right after quick said blazers will be looking to add guys that can create for themselves, he mentioned that the only guy on the team that could was CJ. Used the grizzlies series as an example

 

[MAS RipCity]

I have a hard time seeing Neil move Vonleh after just picking him up unless it's in a package for Boogie-type player.

 

[BonesJones]

I have a hard time seeing Neil move Vonleh after just picking him up unless it's in a package for Boogie-type player.

if they're trying to contend next year then Vonleh for Ariza is a steal

 

[BonesJones]

That's funny cuz right after quick said blazers will be looking to add guys that can create for themselves, he mentioned that the only guy on the team that could was CJ. Used the grizzlies series as an example

Dame can't create his own shot??? Hah! Maybe you should stop listening to Quick.

 

[MAS RipCity]

if they're trying to contend next year then Vonleh for Ariza is a steal

We're not winning the title next year, so it makes no sense to me to move a guy that Neil has admitted they are fond of, and at only 19 years of age, for an average small forward who has peaked.

That just doesn't seem like a Neil Olshey move to me.

 

[MAS RipCity]

Dame can't create his own shot??? Hah! Maybe you should stop listening to Quick.

Heard that to and chuckled .... but besides that, it's been a pretty good interview so far (still listening). I'm still not sold on Hibbert though ...

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

To be fair, like most Blazers fans, he was probably trying to hear any and all chatter and banter on the team/draft/free agency. Quick was on. I noticed the same thing re: the lack of Dame mention, but I kinda think he did it cuz it goes without saying. Beyond those two, there is no one else.

 

[Scalma]

To be fair, like most Blazers fans, he was probably trying to hear any and all chatter and banter on the team/draft/free agency. Quick was on. I noticed the same thing re: the lack of Dame mention, but I kinda think he did it cuz it goes without saying. Beyond those two, there is no one else.

No he straight up said dame can't create his own shot. I was like huh?

 

[BonesJones]

We're not winning the title next year, so it makes no sense to me to move a guy that Neil has admitted they are fond of, and at only 19 years of age, for an average small forward who has peaked.

That just doesn't seem like a Neil Olshey move to me.

Ariza's above average, and a perfect value at SF. That lineup I put together would be 2nd place in the west. That's a contender. Ariza and Chandler is an upgrade over Batum and Rolo and Nelson/Henderson/Plumlee is an upgrade over Blake/Afflalo/Kaman. And we were, what, 3rd before Wesleys injury? And we'll have another year of improvement from Dame, CJ, Meyers, and Plumlee. That's a top 2 or 3 team in the west

 

[Scalma]

Ariza isn't that much better than what we could find on the FA market, and it wouldn't cost us a good young prospect like Vonleh.

 

[BonesJones]

Ariza isn't that much better than what we could find on the FA market, and it wouldn't cost us a good young prospect like Vonleh.

the thing is, those guys are more expensive. Deng and Carroll is the closest thing, and they'll make at least $10M. Trading Vonleh for Ariza only adds $5.8M onto the cap. Which means you could go get Tyson Chandler and resign Wes and LMA.

 

[BonesJones]

Maybe Denver is high enough on Vonleh to flip us Ariza with Wilson Chandler for Vonleh, Henderson, and a future 1st. Would yall like that better?

 

[BonesJones]

Heard that to and chuckled .... but besides that, it's been a pretty good interview so far (still listening). I'm still not sold on Hibbert though ...

big fat NO to Hibbert. He's a big man version of Batum, with the same talent level while making more money

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

No he straight up said dame can't create his own shot. I was like huh?

Was driving to the beach house, so reception was fuzzy and heard the replay, so I'm sure I missed some things, but I wouldn't have missed this if it was played. Damn! Maybe he's still dizzy from Neil whooping his ass?

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Ariza is garbage. That deal? No thanks.

 

[BonesJones]

Ariza is garbage. That deal? No thanks.

he's no worse than Batum and more consistent, a better defender and $4M cheaper

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

he's no worse than Batum and more consistent, a better defender and $4M cheaper

All debatable, but we did deal Batum, no? And Ariza has, what, 2-3 years remaining?

 

[BonesJones]

On a declining contract. He's making around $7.5M next year which, with the cap jump, is equal to $5M right now. That's at least a fair deal, especially when Batum will be making twice as much

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

On a declining contract. He's making around $7.5M next year which, with the cap jump, is equal to $5M right now. That's at least a fair deal, especially when Batum will be making twice as much

$8.2. And again, we traded Batum for a reason. Ariza ain't worth that and still has more years.

 

[BrianFromWA]

yeah, I'm not feeling the Ariza love. He's a solid defender about to be on the wrong side of 30 with 11 seasons on his wheels. He's had one year in his life where he shot 37% or better on 3's. He's had one year in the last 6 where he's had an average PER. He's making 8M/yr.

He might be a useful player...maybe even start for us, but he's not someone you start throwing lotto picks and future firsts at for the right to pay for a 3-and-D guy who's not very good at 3's and losing a step on D 8M for the next 3 years.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

^KRS-ONE.

 

[BonesJones]

$8.2. And again, we traded Batum for a reason. Ariza ain't worth that and still has more years.

I meant when the cap jumps he's making $7.8M not 7.5 but close, and still a good deal especially with the lack of depth league-wide at SF. He's a good defender, good shooter and can finish at the rim. That's worth his contract.