"Not Spending, Buying"

[Rastapopoulos]

From the not-exactly-reliable HoopsWorld:

Not Spending - Buying: The Portland Trail Blazers are backing away from free agents. The belief is that none of the existing non-committed free agents have enough upside and fit for the Blazers and they are now considering bowing out of the free agent market and turning their attention to the trade market. The Blazers have had some discussions with both Andre Miller (too many years and too much money) and David Lee (also too much money). The team made a lukewarm pass at Shawn Marion, as one source said to gauge the price tag. The Lamar Odom to the Blazers rumors seem to be coming from Lamar's camp as they try and get a new deal done with the Lakers. Blazer sources said yesterday that they will likely use the cap dollars to acquire a top shelf player in trade and using cap space to offset differences, especially for teams looking to trim costs.

So... Hinrich again?

Maybe we can help Toronto clear cap room for Hedo by taking Calderon off their hands...

 

[Mediocre Man]

I'm great with this plan as long as it gets done before training camp.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I get the feeling it's going to be a long summer ...

 

[Miksaid]

Takes two to tango.. Hope we can land someone significant.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I get the feeling it's going to be a long summer ...

Me too.

 

[blue32]

dont we have summer league comin' up? that should keep us occupied on here eh?

 

[Sedatedfork]

This is the best option that is left. No need to panic. If we could somehow pry away both Kirk and Battier without giving up Roy, LMA, and Oden (yeah I am not exactly sure how) that would be a significantly better defensive team and would be a good move for the team this summer. I was thinking the other day, if we were thinking with our head and not our hearts, we would try to get Chris Paul in a deal that included Roy. While my head would do it, it would not feel like the Blazers any more without Roy.

Paul/Bayless/Mills
Rudy/Bayless
Batum/Webster
LMA/Outlaw
Oden/Joel

Oh well, back on topic, I would like to see a deal done before training camp, but you have to think there is some team that has high expectations but falls flat early and decides to make a cap move before the trading deadline. Should we wait to make a move when we can make a more lopsided trade and perhaps have better opportunities in mid-season? Or should we make a move this summer? Which teams are likely to be sellers now? Probably only NJ, Phoenix, Detroit? That list will grow after the season starts.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I'm not opposed to Kirk, but he 's a marginal upgrade from Blake at a price that's stupidly high. I just think KP's smarter than committing to a "PG of the future" that's maybe 10% better than Blake and pay him so much he's untradable when they realize we still need an upgrade at PG.

 

[Draco]

This is the best option that is left. No need to panic. If we could somehow pry away both Kirk and Battier without giving up Roy, LMA, and Oden (yeah I am not exactly sure how) that would be a significantly better defensive team and would be a good move for the team

Battier should be one of our top targets. Houston is retooling their roster with younger players who have upside, they don't need the last few good season of a solid veteran, but we do!

 

[Sinobas]

Screw this. We're not getting anyone.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Screw this. We're not getting anyone.

That's not necessarily a bad thing. If we can't get the people we want/need, then we should stand pat for now.

 

[illmatic99]

This is what Sam Smith has to say:

... I guess Rudy Fernandez isn't allegedly upset anymore, as he supposedly was by the recruitment of Hedo Turkoglu. Had Turkoglu gone to Portland, there was a chance the Bulls would have been engaged in a deal, presumably for small forward Travis Outlaw and a guard. Now that seems unlikely, though Hinrich still is on the Trail Blazers list of interest.

 

[maxiep]

That's not necessarily a bad thing. If we can't get the people we want/need, then we should stand pat for now.

Exactly. It's the smart move. Repped.

 

[Sinobas]

What about Chris Anderson....besides the drug thing, isn't the most logical free agent choice out there? Portland says they want a tough backup PF, and Chris Anderson fits that to a T. He's been a career backup, and accepts that role. Taking him would also be weakening a division rival.

Our interior defense off the bench would be smothering!

 

[maxiep]

What about Chris Anderson....besides the drug thing, isn't the most logical free agent choice out there? Portland says they want a tough backup PF, and Chris Anderson fits that to a T. He's been a career backup, and accepts that role. Taking him would also be weakening a division rival.

Our interior defense off the bench would be smothering!

I live in Denver for most of the year. Just say no to Birdman.

You know, Sinobas, it's okay not to do anything if there's nothing out there that will improve the team. You don't have to do something just to feel like you've been active.

 

[RickyRubio]

This is the best option that is left. No need to panic. If we could somehow pry away both Kirk and Battier without giving up Roy, LMA, and Oden (yeah I am not exactly sure how) that would be a significantly better defensive team and would be a good move for the team this summer. I was thinking the other day, if we were thinking with our head and not our hearts, we would try to get Chris Paul in a deal that included Roy. While my head would do it, it would not feel like the Blazers any more without Roy.

Paul/Bayless/Mills
Rudy/Bayless
Batum/Webster
LMA/Outlaw
Oden/Joel

Oh well, back on topic, I would like to see a deal done before training camp, but you have to think there is some team that has high expectations but falls flat early and decides to make a cap move before the trading deadline. Should we wait to make a move when we can make a more lopsided trade and perhaps have better opportunities in mid-season? Or should we make a move this summer? Which teams are likely to be sellers now? Probably only NJ, Phoenix, Detroit? That list will grow after the season starts.

If you ever say anything that has to do with trading any of our big 3, I am blocking you. You are not a true Blazer if you want to trade Roy. You disgust me.

Battier should be one of our top targets. Houston is retooling their roster with younger players who have upside, they don't need the last few good season of a solid veteran, but we do!

I agree, Battier would be cool, but for who?

Screw this. We're not getting anyone.

Are you gonna cry about it? We have a good team.

 

[oldmangrouch]

You know, Sinobas, it's okay not to do anything if there's nothing out there that will improve the team. You don't have to do something just to feel like you've been active.

That's true - but it raises another question. Why do *other* teams seem to be able to find players to trade for or sign in FA?

For example: you might believe Carter is not an upgrade over Hedo in Orlando. Fair enough - but beside the point. Orlando management was able to go out and find a guy *they* think was an upgrade. The same with Jefferson to the Spurs, or Shaq to the Cavs.

You or I might disagree with the trades, but they weren't made just to "feel active." They were made because somebody felt they were helping make their team better. (and were willing to assume an element of risk to get there)

 

[Natebishop3]

Yeah, it's looking more and more like we're going into next season with the same team, minus sergio and frye, and adding some rookies. Nate McMillan is going to shoot himself.

 

[LittleAlex]

Yeah, it's looking more and more like we're going into next season with the same team, minus sergio and frye, and adding some rookies. Nate McMillan is going to shoot himself.

In all fairness, Claver and Mills probably will spend the year in Europe. I don't Portland will have 4 rookies on the team all playing significant minutes at various times during the season.

 

[Sedatedfork]

If you ever say anything that has to do with trading any of our big 3, I am blocking you. You are not a true Blazer if you want to trade Roy. You disgust me.

Reading comprehension, head vs. heart, etc.

 

[LittleAlex]

That's true - but it raises another question. Why do *other* teams seem to be able to find players to trade for or sign in FA?

For example: you might believe Carter is not an upgrade over Hedo in Orlando. Fair enough - but beside the point. Orlando management was able to go out and find a guy *they* think was an upgrade. The same with Jefferson to the Spurs, or Shaq to the Cavs.

You or I might disagree with the trades, but they weren't made just to "feel active." They were made because somebody felt they were helping make their team better. (and were willing to assume an element of risk to get there)

This is something I wonder myself. Is it because all of those other teams are insane/stupid? I doubt it.

 

[Cake]

That's true - but it raises another question. Why do *other* teams seem to be able to find players to trade for or sign in FA?

For example: you might believe Carter is not an upgrade over Hedo in Orlando. Fair enough - but beside the point. Orlando management was able to go out and find a guy *they* think was an upgrade. The same with Jefferson to the Spurs, or Shaq to the Cavs.

You or I might disagree with the trades, but they weren't made just to "feel active." They were made because somebody felt they were helping make their team better. (and were willing to assume an element of risk to get there)

But it's not a matter of finding ANY deals. It's a matter of finding deals that DO make the team better. Perhaps KP could have had Shaq or Carter or Jefferson...but didn't think they'd help. Or that they could help but at too high a cost.

Trades can't even be made yet anyway, so I'm guessing SOMETHING ends up happening.

 

[ppilot]

This is something I wonder myself. Is it because all of those other teams are insane/stupid? I doubt it.

Well Orlando got Carter because they knew Hedo was leaving and who plays the three for San Antonio? Neither one of the those players would be a great fit for the Blazers because of either salary or playing style.

 

[STOMP]

That's not necessarily a bad thing. If we can't get the people we want/need, then we should stand pat for now.

tiiiiiiiiiiiiaaahhhhhheeeeeeeiiiiiime is on our side... yes it is! Portland doesn't have to make a trade to become a solid club. I support standing pat until the right move is available... an obvious move. The Turk courtship concerned me as I didn't think he was that guy.

Most of the other buyers with capspace (Toronto, Detroit, Atlanta) have spent their money. For the rest of this offseason and possibly up to the next midseason trade deadline (if they hold off dealing), there is only one real seller of capspace relief left, and the lux tax line looks to be dropping lower in 2010-11. 16M is a lot of money to have on the books.

Supply & Demand can be great when it's on your side.

STOMP

 

[Nikolokolus]

tiiiiiiiiiiiiaaahhhhhheeeeeeeiiiiiime is on our side... yes it is! Portland doesn't have to make a trade to become a solid club. I support standing pat until the right move is available... an obvious move. The Turk courtship concerned me as I didn't think he was that guy.

Most of the other buyers with capspace (Toronto, Detroit, Atlanta) have spent their money. For the rest of this offseason and possibly up to the next midseason trade deadline (if they hold off dealing), there is only one real seller of capspace relief left, and the lux tax line looks to be dropping lower in 2010-11. 16M is a lot of money to have on the books.

Supply & Demand can be great when it's on your side.

STOMP

Theoretically the team has all the way until next year's draft to do a lopsided trade with their cap room, but with each passing day, week and month other teams are going to know that the expiration date on that flexibility is slowly but surely evaporating, the likelihood of a team suddenly deciding to do KP a solid by making a sweetheart of a trade goes down the longer the space is held. From the looks of things the "teams will be desperate to shed salary because of the economy/free agency 2010" meme that's been floating around appears to have been grossly overestimated by the media (at least so far).

My guess is that if KP goes into the regular season having done nothing but keep the current roster intact the trade offers will probably get increasingly poorer in quality as time goes by not more so. In fact I'm not so certain KP has it in him to pull off a high risk, high reward trade once the season is under way, at least there's been precious little evidence to suggest he's got that in him.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

tiiiiiiiiiiiiaaahhhhhheeeeeeeiiiiiime is on our side... yes it is! Portland doesn't have to make a trade to become a solid club. I support standing pat until the right move is available... an obvious move. The Turk courtship concerned me as I didn't think he was that guy.

Most of the other buyers with capspace (Toronto, Detroit, Atlanta) have spent their money. For the rest of this offseason and possibly up to the next midseason trade deadline (if they hold off dealing), there is only one real seller of capspace relief left, and the lux tax line looks to be dropping lower in 2010-11. 16M is a lot of money to have on the books.

Supply & Demand can be great when it's on your side.

STOMP

Yes, but if we don't make an acquisition by the midseason deadline, then
tiiiiiiiiiiiiaaahhhhhheeeeeeeiiiiiime will be gone... yes it will!

 

[Minstrel]

Theoretically the team has all the way until next year's draft to do a lopsided trade with their cap room, but with each passing day, week and month other teams are going to know that the expiration date on that flexibility is slowly but surely evaporating, the likelihood of a team suddenly deciding to do KP a solid by making a sweetheart of a trade goes down the longer the space is held.

That doesn't really make sense. Pritchard isn't looking for another GM to "do him a solid." Major trades aren't generally due to camaraderie and the desire to help a fellow GM out. A major trade happens because both teams feel it helps them.

You're viewing this in the wrong context, as if it is Pritchard against a unified front of all other GMs...like the NBA just wants anyone but Portland to win and individual teams don't care who wins so long as it isn't Portland. If a team feels it'll get a competitive advantage against everyone else, they'll do a trade with Pritchard. It's not like a GM is going to think, "Well, this trade would really help my team out...but wait! Pritchard only has 6 more months to use that cap space...I could really screw him by not doing a deal!"

Basically, Pritchard has about a year to find a deal that helps Portland and that another franchise feels helps themselves out. I don't think the chances of a deal go down with every passing day, beyond the obvious that he has one day less to find a deal. That is, I don't think there's a psychological element in the rest of the GMs at work over the "expiration date" on the cap space. They want to save money / add talent as quickly as possibly for their own purposes.

 

[barfo]

In all fairness, Claver and Mills probably will spend the year in Europe. I don't Portland will have 4 rookies on the team all playing significant minutes at various times during the season.

Claver, yes. I think Mills makes the roster (although he might spend some time in the D-league). At the moment we have only 10 guys and 2 PGs, excluding Mills. That makes Mills almost a lock for the team, assuming we don't trade for another PG while keeping the 2 we have.

barfo

 

[Draco]

Most of the other buyers with capspace (Toronto, Detroit, Atlanta) have spent their money. For the rest of this offseason and possibly up to the next midseason trade deadline (if they hold off dealing), there is only one real seller of capspace relief left, and the lux tax line looks to be dropping lower in 2010-11. 16M is a lot of money to have on the books.

Oklahoma City has more cap space than we do and don't appear interested in any big free agents. They have shown a willingness to utilize space in trades before. They acquired 3 first rounders for Kurt Thomas in two transactions. Sacramento, Memphis, and Detroit may have some space as well.

Yes we do have a potential asset to put to use, but we are far from the only supplier.

 

[Draco]

I agree, Battier would be cool, but for who?

That's really the whole trick, the devil is in the details. Just from an observers perspective it appears there could be mutual benefit with a Battier to Portland deal as it fits the timeline and objectives of both franchises.

I'd start with Travis and a future first rounder or two, rights to our Euro's. I wouldn't give up Batum or Rudy but we don't have a lot else of value to offer the Rockets.

Perhaps we don't have the necessary pieces to make a swap at this time, but could include a side deal with Battier in whatever other move we ultimately make. Then depending on what we receive we could include Bayless or Joel.