Portland trying to get PAUL MILLSAP!

[BoomChakaLaka]

Well since the post that you quoted from me was about a Joel for Battier swap I'm not sure what that has to do with Deng and Hinrich

Sorry Nik. Didn't mean to make a direct association or anything. Just reading posts immediately preceding yours..and including your post. (I should have quoted multiple posts, of course).

Nevertheless, and hoping my appology is accepted - I speak in generalities when I state my personal opinion of the idea of trading Pryz (at all) let alone for the sake of seeing Deng/Hinrich on our team!

What have either (Deng/Hinrich) shown us over the past two years?

I also believe that Battier is not a player to acquire for the future of this team. Maybe as "that last piece" to make a run for the title - but not as a player for years to come.

Gerald Wallace and Paul Millsap, on the other hand, make great sense to secure now. Especially if we are going to be capped out for years to come.

IF we could somehow land both Wallace and Millsap - I'd live with Blake/Bayless/Mills knowing full well we have Roy & Rudy that can take minutes at PG.


Again, sorry for making an association that you were for Deng/Hinrich - if you are indeed not so.

I'm sure hoping that we can see something happen between now and Monday! This speculation stuff, while fun, can drive us all crazy!

 

[Minstrel]

dude is 6'6.25 barefoot with a standing reach just under Martell's. Maybe he knows where he matches up best (off the bench) + wants to get paid, and yet wants to win?

He did extremely well as a starter when Boozer was out with injury. He's small for his position, but his Defensive Rating is strong, plus he rebounds extremely well. His lack of size doesn't seem to hurt him much, though I do agree that it limits him to power forward.

That said, I feel Portland can shift Aldridge over to center for periods of the game. That effectively allows Millsap to back up both positions, without ever actually playing center. You have center/power forward units of Oden/Aldridge, Oden/Millsap and Aldridge/Millsap.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

A couple of things:

• Let's give Quick some props for having this news (we rip the guy enough for missing things, he deserves some props here I think)
  [
  Ed O.

• 
  
  I'm guessing that Quick has this news only because the Blazer organization wants it out there. The question is why do they want it out there before they have even made an offer?

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

He did extremely well as a starter when Boozer was out with injury. He's small for his position, but his Defensive Rating is strong, plus he rebounds extremely well. His lack of size doesn't seem to hurt him much, though I do agree that it limits him to power forward.

That said, I feel Portland can shift Aldridge over to center for periods of the game. That effectively allows Millsap to back up both positions, without ever actually playing center. You have center/power forward units of Oden/Aldridge, Oden/Millsap and Aldridge/Millsap.

Exactly. Boozer was out for all of December and Millsap went off that month. He put up 18 ppg 12 rpg.

 

[Wheels]

He did extremely well as a starter when Boozer was out with injury. He's small for his position, but his Defensive Rating is strong, plus he rebounds extremely well. His lack of size doesn't seem to hurt him much, though I do agree that it limits him to power forward.

That said, I feel Portland can shift Aldridge over to center for periods of the game. That effectively allows Millsap to back up both positions, without ever actually playing center. You have center/power forward units of Oden/Aldridge, Oden/Millsap and Aldridge/Millsap.

I agree with this, except I worry cause I'm not sure I want Aldridge at the 5 for up to 18 MPG (this is assuming that Oden is even ready for 30 MPG)

 

[Ed O]

I'm guessing that Quick has this news only because the Blazer organization wants it out there. The question is why do they want it out there before they have even made an offer?

Well, it makes for good PR. Letting fans know they're TRYING to make things happen. Sort of a shield against criticism if nothing does...

Ed O.

 

[barfo]

He's small for his position, but his Defensive Rating is strong, plus he rebounds extremely well.

He holds a +4 Axe of Vengeance and a Potion of Purple Pomegranate Passion. I say we get him.

barfo

 

[barfo]

Well, it makes for good PR. Letting fans know they're TRYING to make things happen. Sort of a shield against criticism if nothing does...

Ed O.

Maybe, but is that as compelling a story as trying to psych Utah (or others) into doing something stupid?

barfo

 

[Minstrel]

He holds a +4 Axe of Vengeance and a Potion of Purple Pomegranate Passion. I say we get him.

"Sir, when Bill and Lisa work together, their power of persuasion goes up five-fold..."

"Dave, I appreciate your Dungeons & Dragons approach to office management, but I left my twelve-sided dice at home. I'm just going to go talk to them." <leaves>

"...Good luck, fair wizard..."

 

[gambitnut]

I'll miss Frye, and Przybilla if we end up trading him, but this would be a very good signing. Was KP waiting to see if Boozer and Okur would opt out and planning this all along? I love the idea of making Utah decide how far over the luxury tax they want to go.

 

[Iwatas]

This whole thing is a not very obvious attempt to cow Utah into doing the Boozer trade that could net us a Gerald Wallace.

The Blazers don't really want Millsap if we could get a starting SF instead. But threatening to make the offer drives Utah to the table, since they want Millsap more than they want Boozer, and they don't want to pony up $9 million for Millsap.

For them, it is a simple problem: either

1: Deal Boozer for BIG cap relief, or
2: Keep Boozer *and* Millsap at an extravagant cost, or
3: Watch Millsap leave with nothing to show for him.

As long as KP makes the threat credible (he'll follow through with the bluff), then Utah has every reason to choose door 1, and voila! Portland has a Boozer we can trade for a Gerald Wallace or Caron Butler kind of talent. *That* is what the game is, folks. So don't get too worked up about how Millsap will find minutes here.

BTW, this explains why Millsap is willing to play the game as well. The most likely outcome is that Boozer gets traded, giving Millsap the starting role outright. The other outcome is that Millsap has turned an MLE into $9 million per year (whether he plays for Utah or Portland). He wins either way, so he says he is thrilled to play for Portland as a backup PF.

iWatas

 

[ant]

Getting Millsap would allow us too suddenly have a valuable trading piece: Joel.

Then we can package a Joel/Blake/Webster/picks/money combo of some sort to make an upgrade at the point.

PG: Upgrade (like Kirk)/Bayless
SG: Roy/Rudy
SF: Nic/Outlaw
PF: LA/Millsap
C: Oden/Millsap/rookies

I like it. A Bayless, Rudy, Outlaw, Millsap 2nd unit is awesome

 

[STOMP]

I'm guessing that Quick has this news only because the Blazer organization wants it out there. The question is why do they want it out there before they have even made an offer?

if it's true at all, more likely it's Millsap's agent who put it out there. Regardless of the situation, teams have little reason to tip their cards on roster moves to reporters.

STOMP

 

[STOMP]

He did extremely well as a starter when Boozer was out with injury. He's small for his position, but his Defensive Rating is strong, plus he rebounds extremely well. His lack of size doesn't seem to hurt him much, though I do agree that it limits him to power forward.

of course having 250lbs+ that he moves very well is good size for an inside banger. A 7'1.25 Wingspan, a 8'9.5 standing reach, good hops, and awesome hands are his other assets.

That said, I feel Portland can shift Aldridge over to center for periods of the game. That effectively allows Millsap to back up both positions, without ever actually playing center. You have center/power forward units of Oden/Aldridge, Oden/Millsap and Aldridge/Millsap.

yup, I've made this same point several times... LaMarcus is a tremendous asset to the club.

STOMP

 

[Pinwheel1]

SLC radio this morning:

The local media and fans do not understand why he would come to portland to be a backup when he can start in Utah after this year. Some fans are calling him selfish for thinking only about the money. A three way with Boozer/chicago is being hoped for. The media does not think it will be matched if the offer really is toxic. One media guy (an ASU alum) even took a shot at the Ducks. (throwing in the obligatory Nike reference.) They think the Blazers should go for Lee or Miller and Millsap makes no sense with LMA playing 37 minutes a game.

Basically same stuff we have all said.

Edit: they are also taking shots at the "Golden Boy" (KP) for feeling the pressure from fans to spend Paul Allen's money.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

No he isn't.

Yes he is

 

[STOMP]

SLC radio this morning:

The local media and fans do not understand why he would come to portland to be a backup when he can start in Utah after this year. Some fans are calling him selfish for thinking only about the money. A three way with Boozer/chicago is being hoped for. The media does not think it will be matched if the offer really is toxic. One media guy (an ASU alum) even took a shot at the Ducks. (throwing in the obligatory Nike reference.) They think the Blazers should go for Lee or Miller and Millsap makes no sense with LMA playing 37 minutes a game.

Millsap wants to sign as big a contract as he can... dude is an American after all. Jazz management isn't going to come up with this offer on their own, thats just the way the dynamics of this sort of negotiation works. I won't be surprised at all if they choose to match.

STOMP

 

[tlongII]

Apparently KP's been reading my posts and come to the conclusion that our biggest need is a backup PF. Great move. If this fails then go after Brandon Bass.

 

[Iwatas]

The whole point is to force Utah to do a 3-way with Boozer

 

[Mediocre Man]

The whole point is to force Utah to do a 3-way with Boozer

I think so too.

If it doesn;t force them you still end up with Milsap. If it's true, it's a great plan. Then again Quick lately has been shooting into this air at most everything

 

[B-Roy]

Apparently KP's been reading my posts and come to the conclusion that our biggest need is a backup PF. Great move. If this fails then go after Brandon Bass.

If this fails, Bass will already be signed by the time the 10-days are over.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Millsap wants to sign as big a contract as he can... dude is an American after all. Jazz management isn't going to come up with this offer on their own, thats just the way the dynamics of this sort of negotiation works. I won't be surprised at all if they choose to match.

STOMP

I would agree. They would have time to move Boozer later.

 

[B-Roy]

I would agree. They would have time to move Boozer later.

But they would have to move Boozer for mainly capspace, otherwise, they have to take back at least ~10Million in salaries.

 

[Iwatas]

The funny thing is that even IF Portland makes the offer, and IF Utah matches it, then Utah has even more reason to do the 3-way with Boozer. But if they are smart, they'll offer Portland the 3-way now instead of being forced to do it the hard way.

iWatas

 

[RR7]

I remember Memphis makign an offer last year for Josh Smith, adn hearing how it was essentially a favor to the agent, so that they could finally get Atlanta to do something, since they seem to like to sit on their hands with their restricted free agents. Was starting to wonder if thi might be a similar such situation, but his agent doesn't really represent anyone else, so so much for that theory. I'm still intrigued as to the details of what an offer might be. 5 years, 50 million seems really high for him. The idea of the signing bonus is a good one, with the money paid up front. I like combining that with a de-escalating contract. If we were to, say, move Outlaw for cap space(Memphis?) and started his deal out high, i tmight be an option. I just wonder of different provisions possible under the CBA. I keep thinking of the Seahawks and Vikings signing eachother's free agents, one with a clause where he has to be the highest paid lineman, one where he can't play half of his games in the state of Minnesota, lol. Can we say his contract doubles if he plays half his games in Utah? (I know we can't do that, j/k)

 

[tlongII]

If this fails, Bass will already be signed by the time the 10-days are over.

Nope. Bass's agent will get a feel as to what Utah will do and make sure Bass is available if the deal falls through.

 

[oldguy]

If the Blazers trade Joel, and Greg does down for a prolonged time, game over. If we have Joel and Greg goes down, we still make the playoffs. Trading Joel would be a HUGE rolling of the dice.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

Yes he is

In 30 minutes, Millsap has a defensive rating of 105, which is quite good, and FAR better than what we got from Outlaw. His career PER is 18, and last year, he was at 19 (yes I'm rounding up, but I like whole numbers).

This team lacked defense, toughness, and rebounding from the reserve power forward position last year. We add this with this move. What we lose with Outlaw's scoring and ability to create a shot, we will replace, IMO, with broadening Fernandez and Bayless's roles.

This is actually a huge team improvement in more ways than one.

 

[hasoos]

In 30 minutes, Millsap has a defensive rating of 105, which is quite good, and FAR better than what we got from Outlaw. His career PER is 18, and last year, he was at 19 (yes I'm rounding up, but I like whole numbers).

This team lacked defense, toughness, and rebounding from the reserve power forward position last year. We add this with this move. What we lose with Outlaw's scoring and ability to create a shot, we will replace, IMO, with broadening Fernandez and Bayless's roles.

This is actually a huge team improvement in more ways than one.

It is definitly. The Blazers bench would have been much better with more physicality on it. But at this point, with Bargiani getting 10 million, I just don't really know if Milsap is worth it. He is better than Bargiani, so he would have to get more than that. That would be over 1/5 of your salary going to your backup PF. I could see that situation being like the John "Hot Rod" Williams situation from years ago. Hot Rod Williams was a good player, and got a huge contract, but he was kind of like "Sheed". Overpaid for the production you get out of him. Top tier money for a tier 2 player.

On the other side of the coin, Portland two biggest needs still go unfulfilled. But you can only improve usually one thing at a time, unlesss you get the mega bonus trade deal to go down, where you fill half your team needs in one shot from a team cleaning house.

But it doesn't matter. The Milsap thing isn't happening. As I have said all along, nothing is going to happen.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

It is definitly. The Blazers bench would have been much better with more physicality on it. But at this point, with Bargiani getting 10 million, I just don't really know if Milsap is worth it. He is better than Bargiani, so he would have to get more than that. That would be over 1/5 of your salary going to your backup PF. I could see that situation being like the John "Hot Rod" Williams situation from years ago. Hot Rod Williams was a good player, and got a huge contract, but he was kind of like "Sheed". Overpaid for the production you get out of him. Top tier money for a tier 2 player.

On the other side of the coin, Portland two biggest needs still go unfulfilled. But you can only improve usually one thing at a time, unlesss you get the mega bonus trade deal to go down, where you fill half your team needs in one shot from a team cleaning house.

But it doesn't matter. The Milsap thing isn't happening. As I have said all along, nothing is going to happen.

Also, I forgot to include a few other key stats that show how valuable Milsap is.

- He led his team in Win% with 64.8%
- He tied Kirilenko for first place in +/- for the season with +266!
- per 48/min his +/- PER for the season was +4.1 at PF and +9.5 at C