Offseason Plan

[BonesJones]

Why don't we trade #23 and Batum to Indiana for #11 and Mahinmi, draft Deckker, do that trade with Golden State, then use the MLE on CJ Watson

Lillard/Matthews/Iggy/LMA/Lopez
CJW/CJM/Deckker/Leonard/Mahinmi

 

[RR7]

I like Winslow way more than Dekker.

 

[BonesJones]

Deckers going to be good bro and I don't think it's worth tying us down with bad salaries to get Winslow over Deckker

 

[RR7]

If you're bringing everyone back, which is only way I tie my down with those salaries, then I don't see it as a big issue. Assuming it's Calderon and Landry, you have 14 million in expiring deals to move next offseason to add to the roster. You're not going to have much space to do anything with anyways.

 

[BonesJones]

Calderon could end up being Blake 2.0 at $8M and Landry could end up only paying 5-10 minutes again at $6M.. Nobody will want those guys after that even if they're expiring. Then you have no way to improve the team so you end up with 1st/2nd round exits with LA demanding a trade after 2 years..

 

[Pinwheel1]

Deckers going to be good bro and I don't think it's worth tying us down with bad salaries to get Winslow over Deckker

Wouldn't you rather have a SF who attacks the basket? I know Deckker will be decent, but there are a lot of tall SF's who can shoot from the 3 point line. (Which btw Deckker struggled with all year until the tourney.) Yes I know he moves well with out the ball, is a smart player, and can run straight to the basket and dunk. But I would really would rather have a SF who handles the ball a little better and has a few moves when he attacks. because in the NBA you are not going to see many opportunities where there is an open lane all the way to the hoop like he saw in college.

Having said that all that he would be OK at 23, but I am not sure he has starter potential. He really doesn't excel at anyone thing.

 

[damianlillard]

i would loves to trade wright, and 2018 and 2019 1st rounds picks for stanley johnson i would trade for detroit 1st pick. i think we need a guy who focus on defense, not the jack up 3 point shooter, at best he can become kawhi leonard, and at worst tony allen. and then with our pick, we should get rondae hollis-jefferson. he another defensive player. look at the spurs and GSW, a defense player really help. then trade for a 2nd round pick and get terry rozier. then resign wes and LA. sign hibbert who i think will come cheaper then jordan. get robin back if it at a reasonable price
dame/rozier/frazier
wes/cj
johnson/rondae
LA/leonard/freeland
hibbert/robin/kaman
this team instantly become the best team now and long term

 

[BonesJones]

Wouldn't you rather have a SF who attacks the basket? I know Deckker will be decent, but there are a lot of tall SF's who can shoot from the 3 point line. (Which btw Deckker struggled with all year until the tourney.) Yes I know he moves well with out the ball, is a smart player, and can run straight to the basket and dunk. But I would really would rather have a SF who handles the ball a little better and has a few moves when he attacks. because in the NBA you are not going to see many opportunities where there is an open lane all the way to the hoop like he saw in college.

Having said that all that he would be OK at 23, but I am not sure he has starter potential. He really doesn't excel at anyone thing.

you don't need a SF trying to cross people up. The same exact thing couldve been said about Kawhi when he was drafted. A guy that big that develops a couple dribble moves becomes really good. Which is one of the easiest thing to develop

 

[Rastapopoulos]

We will also need a backup 3 and ideally a rebounder. If we went the Euro route, I'd advocate Sonny Weems for the backup wing, but he might command too much money.

Looks like he's heading back to the NBA.



...and expecting to get paid!

 

[lawai'a]

re=resign Elliot Williams
I know soft spot for the guy

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

re=resign Elliot Williams
I know soft spot for the guy

Ugh... you just opened up a can of BGD

 

[Rastapopoulos]

 

[PCmor7]

As a rule, I try to avoid ESPN, but I heard a couple of things this morning that caught my attention. First was that the Knicks aren't high on anyone with the fourth pick beyond the two bigs and DeAngelo Russell. Also, Chad Ford shares my opinion on Mario Hezonja. I think he's a Peja Stojakovic clone with better playmaking skills. Ford thinks he has star potential and is the sleeper of the draft.

It's an extreme longshot, but I wouldn't mind seeing the Blazers explore using the Knicks' desire to move out of the No. 4 pick and dealing Batum to move up into the top 10. Obviously, it will take more than Batum to get that high, and, unless Phil Jackson can be convinced that Batum can start for the Knicks at the 2, his being on the Knicks roster makes no sense for them. But maybe you could get a third team involved, get the Blazers perhaps winding up at 6, 7 or 8 and getting either Hezonja or Winslow, who I think both are dynamic talents who will be superior to Batum within a couple of years.

Clearing Batum's contract off the books opens the door to sign or trade for someone who can offset his loss in the meantime, and hopefully convince Aldridge that this move won't diminish the Blazers' chances in the short term and will significantly upgrade them in the long term.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

It never ceases to amaze me that people believe at the same time:
1) Batum is crap and we've got to get rid of him
2)Other teams will shower us with riches in order to get hold of him

 

[Rastapopoulos]

The kind of teams that would want Batum are not the kind of teams with high draft picks. The kind of team to whom Batum is more valuable than a rookie is a team that's (a) trying to compete, and (b) trying to convince a star FA that they're trying to compete. Guess what? That's us!

 

[Rastapopoulos]

The Blazers' assets that WOULD get us higher draft picks are:
Damian Lillard
CJ
Maybe Leonard.

Tempted?

 

[PCmor7]

It never ceases to amaze me that people believe at the same time:
1) Batum is crap and we've got to get rid of him
2)Other teams will shower us with riches in order to get hold of him

I hope that's not directed at my post, because I didn't say either of those things. I thought that was pretty clear from my post.

I have said on several occasions, though, that Batum is the asset that I think makes the most sense if you are going to move someone, because he doesn't perform consistently enough to justify his contract, especially in scoring, and he is a talented player that could bring you some assets back while also giving you cap room to make other moves.

You have to figure out something unless you think this team as currently comprised is good enough to get it done. I know some people feel that way. I do not. I think it is close, but I think some creative moves need to be made and maybe some risky moves to take that next step. IIRC, Jordan's Bulls his first few years had some promising supporting players that were dealt or let go to create ultimately championship teams.

You have to be careful about falling in love with your own players, because sometimes you have to let some of them go to take the next step.

 

[PCmor7]

The kind of teams that would want Batum are not the kind of teams with high draft picks. The kind of team to whom Batum is more valuable than a rookie is a team that's (a) trying to compete, and (b) trying to convince a star FA that they're trying to compete. Guess what? That's us!

Don't think that's entirely true on either count.

 

[Sinobas]

I think we should sign Larry Johnson. He's currently a free agent.

 

[BonesJones]

The kind of teams that would want Batum are not the kind of teams with high draft picks. The kind of team to whom Batum is more valuable than a rookie is a team that's (a) trying to compete, and (b) trying to convince a star FA that they're trying to compete. Guess what? That's us!

I think Detroit would love to get him. He and Drummond would certainly be dynamic in the pick n roll.

 

[BonesJones]

Different subject, I know it seems like a pipedream but I think we would have an actual chance at getting Jimmy Butler in a sign and trade. I think he wants out of Chicago, some Bulls fans on S2 were talking about how Woj said he didn't want to return to Chicago. I think they'll want to get something out of him because he'll walk as soon as possible.

3 things that could make it possible.
1. Butler views Wesley as a mentor, and they both played for Marquette.. He was also hanging out with Aldridge recently.

2. He'd be the missing piece that would make us a legitimate contender. There's been talk about him and the Lakers, but he's a humble guy from what I've heard, and playing with good friends in Wes and (maybe?) Aldridge while contending would be a great situation for him.

3. We have the pieces for a sign and trade. Ideally we would convince Afflalo to opt in with the gauruntee of a trade if he wants. Chicago for the longest time hasn't had 2 legitimate wings. Afflalo didn't play well here but I think he has more value across the league then we realize. Plus him and Batum would be a good fit for that roster and Hoiberg. Getting those 2 would require them dumping Taj but they're trying to do that anyways. If Butler is really going to leave I think Batum, Afflalo and filler is enticing for them to create a balanced starting lineup. They may ask for Leonard as a future replacement for Noah (if his knees fail) or Pau, and I'd be willing to do that

Most of you will probably call me crazy, but I think we can convince him to come here and convince Chicago to sign and trade him. Batum, Afflalo, Leonard and a 2018 1st round pick for Butler, Gibson, and Snell would be something the Bulls would at least have to look hard at. And We'd still have our MLE to sign another free agent (Gerald Green?)

Lillard/Wright/Frazier
Matthews/McCollum/Crabbe
Butler/Green/Snell
Aldridge/Gibson/Freeland
Lopez/Kaman/O'Neal

 

[Blazinaway]

I've mentioned him before and depending which route we go with LMA and Wes I think Rodney Stuckey is a good PG/SG option at 6'5" and 29 yrs old, he quietly had a very good season for Indy last yr and is a UFA this summer

 

[tester551]

I've mentioned him before and depending which route we go with LMA and Wes I think Rodney Stuckey is a good PG/SG option at 6'5" and 29 yrs old, he quietly had a very good season for Indy last yr and is a UFA this summer

Completely agree. I would love to see him come in and be a backup PG/SG playing with both Wes and Dame.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

No thanks on stuckey.... Why the Heck would we want him? Anytime he is on the court most likely means Cj is off of it. We need a backup Pg, not another combo guard

 

[Blazinaway]

No thanks on stuckey.... Why the Heck would we want him? Anytime he is on the court most likely means Cj is off of it. We need a backup Pg, not another combo guard

lets see he plays the "PG" position pretty darn well and with his size would be a good fit with either CJ or Dame - what's your problem with that?

 

[tester551]

No thanks on stuckey.... Why the Heck would we want him? Anytime he is on the court most likely means Cj is off of it. We need a backup Pg, not another combo guard

CJ still hasn't done enough to warrant playing time. He may get there this year, but that isn't a reason not to bring in a good vet.

 

[BonesJones]

CJ still hasn't done enough to warrant playing time. He may get there this year, but that isn't a reason not to bring in a good vet.

CJ is deserving of at least 20 min a game. If he isn't playing well then his minutes will go down and Wesley's (or whoever the starting SG is) will go up. We need a PG to play 12 min a game and fit next to CJ, while using more resources for other needs

 

[OneLifeToLive]

CJ still hasn't done enough to warrant playing time. .

How do you figure? Based on his behaviors in the last 15 games and what he showed in the playoffs, I don't see it the same way. Especially with a team who has shown they lack scoring at times from the bench. Finally, You're still trying to develop him. You're not going to do that keeping him on the bench.

In the end, He's a solid rotational player.