VanillaGorilla
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Why not?
Just too small. I don't think it would work much against any good teams.
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Why not?
Bledsoe plays a lot of SG. He's short but has a long wingspan and is strong and athletic. He can guard SGs.Just too small. I don't think it would work much against any good teams.
Bledsoe plays a lot of SG. He's short but has a long wingspan and is strong and athletic. He can guard SGs.
Well if you can play your 3 together at times you do it. Against Golden State? No. But in situations where you there's a 2nd string SF in (Roberson, Ross, Josh Richardson, MKG, Bazemore, Solomon Hill, Matt Barnes, etc), or the other team goes small, you can get away with playing CJ at SF.That may well be true for some SGs, but then CJ can't guard SFs. It's probably not a good idea to always think about Golden State, but I don't think Bledsoe could guard Thompson. Lillard/Bledsoe/CJ would get eaten alive by any GS line up because even when they play small ball they still have good length.
Since there has been so little interest in my bold and beautiful post, I guess I will need to add some more of my own thoughts.OK, here is my most ambitious attempt.
1. If we want Durant or Horford or Whiteside: I think we have to get two of them to come. One of them will not come alone; he won't see the team as being strong enough to have a chance for a championship.
I think we would need to clear a minimum of $50 million cap space to try to sign two. We'd have to renounce Roberts, Henderson, Kaman, Leonard and Harkless. (If there was any chance to match offers on Leonard and Harkless and trade for draft picks, of course do that).
We would have to trade Aminu and Davis for draft picks.
That would create a little over 53 million in cap space. I would hope that two of the three would agree to sign for that even if it wasn't quite max for them. We could create almost 56 million if we got rid of the three guys at the bottom of the roster, but could we sign anyone else as good for that low of prices, we would need a backup big in Alexander, hopefully Montero could be a backup PG and backup SF, and Connaughton backup SG and SF. They could fill in the places we would need the most. Or we could jettison those three and keep Aminu and hope the two new stars would settle for less. That scenario would only leave about $48.3 million to sign them, but it would sure be nice to have Aminu to backup Durant and the bigs. But could then jettison Vonleh to bring that total up to $51 million.
2. If that doesn't work I would go for Dwight Howard. After reading the one article that he actually started working out right at the end of the season annd then another one a couple days ago that seems to show he is still a really strong player defensively and rebounding and could be more productive offensively if given a chance. http://www.blazersedge.com/2016/6/8...d-portland-trail-blazers-2016-nba-free-agency
This would be a really big risk. Would try to get him to sign for about $20 million a year and try to add someone like Ryan Anderson also. (I read that they have worked well together previously). This would probably still require renouncing Leonard, but not Harkless and still require trading Ed Davis (although just getting rid of Vonleh might allow us to keep Leonard or Davis). I would bring in Clifford Ray just to try to keep Howard focused, he is mentioned in the ESPN interview. http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/15596878/dwight-howard-qa-superman-returns
3. If neither of those was possible, I think my main target would be Ian Mahimni. This is a guy who is above average on both defense and offense; something none of our bigs are. If we think that we aren't sure if Leonard is gonna hold up physically and mentally, ditch him and go also for a Ryan Anderson or Marvin Williams, otherwise just stick with what we got.
I'm down. Always liked Bayless' intensity and athleticism, and now that he's become a deadeye three-ball shooter, I'd probably really enjoy seeing him back up Dame and CJ. Not gonna happen, but I'd be pleasantly surprised if it did.OK, I forgot one guy, who might be included on Plan 3, or even any of the plans since I think he would come cheap. Did anyone realize that Jerryd Bayless, age 27, was the fifth best 3pt shooter in the league last year at .427 and that he has always shot .395 or better when he had at least three attempts a game? Not a good defender and of course he has those alligator arms, but he would be intriguing as our backup PG.
I'm kind of waffling on Plan 3; as I keep saying this is Portland's only chance to do something big, so I am a little hesitant about signing a couple 29 year olds. I think I would make offers to both Ezeli and Barnes and see what Golden State does.I'm down. Always liked Bayless' intensity and athleticism, and now that he's become a deadeye three-ball shooter, I'd probably really enjoy seeing him back up Dame and CJ. Not gonna happen, but I'd be pleasantly surprised if it did.
So, plan 3 becomes sign Mahinmi (or maybe Cole Aldrich, whom I've been pushing), Williams, and Bayless, and re-sign Crabbe and Harkless. Gives us Dame/CJ/Harkless/Williams/Mahinmi(Aldrich) backed up by Bayless/Crabbe/Aminu/Davis/Plumlee with a third string of GP2/Montero/Connaughton/Vonleh/Alexander. I like that plan.
OK, I'm not waffling anymore; have no interest in Barnes or Ezeli.I'm kind of waffling on Plan 3; as I keep saying this is Portland's only chance to do something big, so I am a little hesitant about signing a couple 29 year olds. I think I would make offers to both Ezeli and Barnes and see what Golden State does.
I know I come up with a lot of 3/4 team trades, but oh well.
Tell me who wouldn't do this deal:
Portland Gets:
6th Pick (NOP)
Boston Gets:
Kevin Love (CLE)
2018 CLE 1st (from POR)
Cleveland Gets:
Al-Farouq Aminu (POR)
Mason Plumlee (POR)
Jae Crowder (BOS)
Tyreke Evans (NOP)
New Orleans Gets:
3rd Pick (BOS)
23rd Pick (BOS)
31st Pick (BOS)
Iman Shumpert (CLE)
-Portland clears cap space while getting a good young piece from the pick
-Boston gets their go to player while only giving up one rotation player
-Cleveland gets pieces that fit their rotation perfectly (Irving/Evans/James/Aminu/Thompson with Delly/Smith/Crowder/Plumlee off the bench)
-New Orleans trades up and gets extra picks, they need the depth.
Because we can sign someone better to replace them.Tyreke Evans is worth 2 first round picks?
And why do we need a draft pick this year, exactly? Especially for Aminu AND plums?
Because we can sign someone better to replace them.
Keep 2 guys, or trade for a pick them upgrade the 2 guys...

Same type of thing was being said with Lillards and McCollums draft. We have the chance to get a future star and we clear up cap space to upgrade their positions regardless.Aminu, Plumlee and a future 1st for the #6 pick in a Draft that is considered mostly a 2-player draft?
Two starters and a pick for a guy who wouldn't start seems over the top.
I know I come up with a lot of 3/4 team trades, but oh well.
Tell me who wouldn't do this deal:
OK, here is my most ambitious attempt.
1. If we want Durant or Horford or Whiteside: I think we have to get two of them to come. One of them will not come alone; he won't see the team as being strong enough to have a chance for a championship.
I think we would need to clear a minimum of $50 million cap space to try to sign two. We'd have to renounce Roberts, Henderson, Kaman, Leonard and Harkless. (If there was any chance to match offers on Leonard and Harkless and trade for draft picks, of course do that).
We would have to trade Aminu and Davis for draft picks.
That would create a little over 53 million in cap space. I would hope that two of the three would agree to sign for that even if it wasn't quite max for them. We could create almost 56 million if we got rid of the three guys at the bottom of the roster, but could we sign anyone else as good for that low of prices, we would need a backup big in Alexander, hopefully Montero could be a backup PG and backup SF, and Connaughton backup SG and SF. They could fill in the places we would need the most. Or we could jettison those three and keep Aminu and hope the two new stars would settle for less. That scenario would only leave about $48.3 million to sign them, but it would sure be nice to have Aminu to backup Durant and the bigs. But could then jettison Vonleh to bring that total up to $51 million.
That's good. It will help keep your mind nimble as you age. Kind of like joining a bridge club.I know I come up with a lot of 3/4 team trades, but oh well.

How many of you are happy knowing our biggest FA signings this summer will be broadcasters?

Dwight Howard.How many of you are happy knowing our biggest FA signings this summer will be broadcasters?
Especially at their cap hits (would likely be 2x-3x more expensive to replace them).We better have some good leads before we do that, or we take a step back. Not guaranteed to get two comparable players.![]()
You also have a "chance" to win the lottery. Doesn't mean that chance is very likely. Aminu & Plumlee are currently on very cap friendly deals. No need to "clear up cap space". Also, there aren't a whole lot of upgrade options this year on the FA market.Same type of thing was being said with Lillards and McCollums draft. We have the chance to get a future star and we clear up cap space to upgrade their positions regardless.
Agreed.Portland.
BNM
The Chicago Bulls announced today they have acquired guard Spencer Dinwiddie from the Detroit Pistons in exchange for forward/center Cameron Bairstow.
Dinwiddie (6-6, 200) played the last two seasons in Detroit, where he posted 4.4 points, 2.7 assists and 1.4 rebounds in 13.3 minutes per game. A product of the University of Colorado, the 23-year old Dinwiddie was drafted by the Pistons in the second round (38th overall) of the 2014 NBA Draft.
Bairstow (6-9, 260) was selected by the Bulls in the second round (49th overall) of the 2014 NBA Draft. In two seasons with Chicago, he saw action in a total of 36 games (three starts) and averaged 1.2 points and 1.0 rebound in 4.6 minutes a game.
Especially at their cap hits (would likely be 2x-3x more expensive to replace them).
You also have a "chance" to win the lottery. Doesn't mean that chance is very likely. Aminu & Plumlee are currently on very cap friendly deals. No need to "clear up cap space". Also, there aren't a whole lot of upgrade options this year on the FA market.
