[Official] MLE targets

[42N8Bounce]

Comparing some of the unrestricted point guards that have been discussed in this thread (I believe Thomas is restricted):
http://www.basketball-reference.com...013&p4=sessira01&y4=2014&p5=stuckro01&y5=2014
- Stuckey (16.6) and Sessions (16.4) are the best scorers per 36.
- Stucky (0.440) and Sessions (0.454) have the lowest eFG% of this group.
- Chalmers (0.521) has the highest eFG%.
- Sessions (6.5) is top in assists per 36.
- Sessions (16.7) is top in PER.
- Chalmers has the highest steals per 36 (2.0) and best defensive numbers (DRtg & DWS), and highest overall WS (25.1).

The two that interest me the most - Livingston and Collison, both seem to be middle of the road on most of these numbers.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

I am not sure we will be able to pry him away for the Suns with the MLE but he is a perfect system fit.

They picked up his qualifier so more than likely it will be a waste of time. You don't do that unless you have a desire to hold on to him.

 

[ehizzy3]

Vásquez Vásquez Vásquez

 

[TBpup]

I like Sessions but not sure if there are enough minutes for him. The solution might already be here and we say bits and pieces of it late last season....'The People's Champ'.

Will handles the ball quite well for a SG (better than Wes and CJ). But don't put him out there by himself. Combine him with someone else that can handle like CJ and Nic and I think he would do just fine.

Also, that means we don't always have to be Smurf/Lilliputian in the backcourt. He is not near this type of player but I don't remember anyone since Clyde that could rebound as well and immediately start the break on his own, and either finish or dish. He is still a little out of control but it is so much better.

Almost every time he gets significant minutes, he puts up serious numbers off the bench.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

For the record, I like Chalmers. He can D it up and play some offense. That and he has the championship experience. He's also relatively young.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Anyways, Mario Chalmers should be the #1 target for the Blazers backup PG spot right now. It'd be perfect.

Don't disappoint, Neil.

Kirk Hinrich has my vote. Oh but I guess he's getting to old.

 

[Strenuus]

Anyways, Mario Chalmers should be the #1 target for the Blazers backup PG spot right now. It'd be perfect.

Don't disappoint, Neil.

Wow. We actually agree on something.

Though, I would caution, lets temper expectations. Because, for the most part, expectations are resentments waiting to happen.

 

[Hobbesarable]

Wow. We actually agree on something.

Though, I would caution, lets temper expectations. Because, for the most part, expectations are resentments waiting to happen.

I hope Stotts is willing to play Batum as the point forward with the reserves at times while Dame is resting. That's if we don't go after a pg with the MLE.

I would like to see Shawn Marion playing for our team!

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Some of you are severely underrating Thomas. He does everything a prime Mo Williams did, only much more efficient.

His TS% and eFg% also are better than Lillard's, despite being 5'10".

He should be the #1 target. Isaiah proved he could score against anyone. A legit go-to guy off the bench.

Chalmers is a poor man's Steve Blake. Take him away from that talent in Miami and you won't even notice that he exists.

 

[RoyToy]

Some of you are severely underrating Thomas. He does everything a prime Mo Williams did, only much more efficient.

His TS% and eFg% also are better than Lillard's, despite being 5'10".

He should be the #1 target. Isaiah proved he could score against anyone. A legit go-to guy off the bench.

Chalmers is a poor man's Steve Blake. Take him away from that talent in Miami and you won't even notice that he exists.

You obviously haven't seen Chalmers play enough.

Tough
Good defender
Shoots the 3 well and can get to the rim
Has a knack for making the big moment shots

He's better than Steve Blake in every way possible

Chalmers is actually underrated since he plays with the big 3. He doesn't get enough credit for how well he's played in big games. You want guys like him on your team.

 

[RoyToy]

Basically he's a legit 2-way player

 

[MAS RipCity]

As long as we don't end up with Steve Blake!

Love PJ Tucker, but no way does PHX not match a MLE offer

Thomas would be the perfect backup PG, but would SAC let him go for the MLE?

He's not a FA, but I'd love to get Korver from ATL. We need scoring off the bench in the worst way.

 

[riverman]

If Mo isn't resigned, I want Patty Mills or Vasquez and Diaw or Marion.

 

[HailBlazers]

I wonder what the Mavs will do with Jameer Nelson, especially after drafting the PG Payton, I believe Jameer can be waived with them only owing 2 mil of next yrs 8 mil salary.

Assuming you mean the Magic? I would take Jameer over just about any veteran PG out there. Fits in Stotts system and he's on the downside of his career so he'd have no problem being a team player.

 

[blazedanugz]

If Mo isn't resigned, I want Patty Mills or Vasquez and Diaw or Marion.

that would be great i dont know if we could afford that tho

 

[Scalma]

Assuming you mean the Magic? I would take Jameer over just about any veteran PG out there. Fits in Stotts system and he's on the downside of his career so he'd have no problem being a team player.

Agreed

 

[Natebishop3]

Forget Nick Young and recruit this kid!

 

[Pinwheel1]

You obviously haven't seen Chalmers play enough.

Tough
Good defender
Shoots the 3 well and can get to the rim
Has a knack for making the big moment shots

He's better than Steve Blake in every way possible

Chalmers is actually underrated since he plays with the big 3. He doesn't get enough credit for how well he's played in big games. You want guys like him on your team.

Can he set up his teammates? The reason I ask is because when you play with LeBron and Wade you don't exactly run the offense. I am not slamming the guy, he may be a great option, it is just hard to evaluate a PG that plays with those guys and then ask him to play with a young Portland 2nd unit.

 

[Blazer4ever]

Isiah Thomas shouldn't be available for the MLE and if he is there are many teams that would offer that, it's a long-shot that he comes to Portland where he wouldn't be a starter.
Nick Young is another very exciting player but I don't know if we have room for him with both Wesley and Barton playing mostly SG.
I think that our biggest 'need' is a big pass-first PG, though I'm hoping Nic continues to run the offense more like he did in the playoffs. Still, Livingston could be a good signing, he could play alongside Damian with maybe other advantages than Mo brought in this role. I think Livingston could actually be Batum's backup and that signing him doesn't nessecarily mean we don't bring Mo back as well.

Dame/Mo
Wesley/Barton
Nic/Livingston
Lamarcus/T-Rob
Lopez/Freeland

Claver, McCollum, Leonard, Wright, Crabbe

 

[Tince]

With so many backup PGs on the market, a starting PG who will play most the game, and other areas the team could improve on; I think the economically wise move would be to let some FAs sign early and when the demand dives, snatch up the best available player left for $2-3m.

While a lockdown defensive PG would be great, a serviceable backup PG in any form is all that is needed.

 

[1eyejack]

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The one player on the list that can instantly make players on te 2nd unit better is Livingston. Great play maker can play and create shots for Lillard. If not Livingston then i want a good back up power forward.

I personally think Barton will have a bigger role next year.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I'm still clinging to hope that we can somehow get Luol Deng. Now, he/his agent should be thinking right now of at least $10M a year, so why the hell should he even consider a MLE? Answer: because it's a bad year to be a FA SF not called Lebron or Carmelo. Who's going to view Deng as their first target? Especially after the shitshow that was the Cavaliers last year. I think if somebody went ALL OUT and showed up at his door at 12:01 with a big slideshow (or with the trainer holding a sign saying "Welcome to Portland") it could maybe make a difference? And could we give him an opt out, a la Mo, so he can hit the market again next year when the pickings are slimmer?

Maybe I'm deluding myself. But who's going to go after him who can offer him what he thinks he's worth?

In the likely event that that really is a pipe dream, an alternative would be (prepare for sacrilege) Trevor Ariza. He was arguably Washington's second most important player last year, but they've got a ton of SFs, including Porter, the #3 pick last year, so they might not want to break the bank to keep him. Hey, and now everyone here has decided they hate Rudy, maybe they'll welcome the guy who practically drove him from the NBA.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

​

The one player on the list that can instantly make players on te 2nd unit better is Livingston. Great play maker can play and create shots for Lillard. If not Livingston then i want a good back up power forward.

Think how cheap we could've got him LAST year.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

According to THIS, the Heat think they can sign all the guys we're interested in.

 

[Scalma]

MLE? Marion. That would be my target #1

 

[Natebishop3]

I really like Frye, and the reason is that I think he can fill the LMA role while TRob works in the paint. Plus we know Channing loves it here.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Its like you are starting these threads to piss me off. Cole Aldrich? Isaiah Thomas? Seriously, can you not find anyone who can defend?

 

[Natebishop3]

Its like you are staring these threads to puss me off. Cole Aldrich? Isaiah Thomas? Seriously, can you not find anyone who can defend?

Thomas would fit the "spark plug" role perfectly, but I don't think he would really work well next to Dame.

 

[shamelessblazer]

I really like Frye, and the reason is that I think he can fill the LMA role while TRob works in the paint. Plus we know Channing loves it here.

I want him here for this:



With Lillard that would be deadly! Lane wide open to drive, Frye pick n pop for three on one side, Robinson pick n roll on the other, yes please! Plus, I think he'd pair well with Robinson by playing C on defense and stretch 4 on offense (allowing Robinson to pick n roll - which he should be great at long term w/his athleticism; and to crash the boards) and pair decent with Aldridge. I wouldn't want to play him w/Lopez much, that would be terrible perimeter D.

I think we could kind of make two units out of the team (other than starters).

Dame/Barton/Matthews/Robinson/Frye - enough ball handling out there next to Dame in Barton, 3 shooters, and some fast break opportunities.

Batum/McCollum/Matthews/Aldridge/Lopez - Batum can kind of run the offense, which would revolve around Aldridge and Batum p'n'r with Lopez. Obviously Matthews isn't playing 48 but that would be a solid 9 man rotation I think.

 

[H.C.]

It is the least efficient shot in the NBA, but it's still better to shoot a higher percentage than a lower one.

I was being sarcastic. Just thought it was funny you decided to like the midrange jumper for Thomas... when I've read many posts that says the opposite about Aldridge.

It's also a more acceptable shot for a Guard/Wing than a PF.

Would love to see stats to back that up because logically that's pretty invalid.
It's either a good shot for all, or it's not a good shot for anyone.

A tougher shot is always a guard having to dribble off of a p&r regain balance and shoot the mid range 15-20ft jumper while a defender recovers.
They're not in a catch and shoot situation like most PF's are off of the pick & pop.

Not to mention 99.99% of the time a Big man shooting a 15-20ft jumper doesn't have a defender behind him trying to recover... It has a defender trying to close out on a 6"9+ jump shooter who is on balance in a catch and shoot situation.(see nene/ibaka/Aldridge/lee to list a few)

I bet if I could find the stats it would back my hypothesis up in a catch and shoot situation for a big man shooting a higher % than a guard does from 2 in a p&r situation or when one creates their own shot.