Free Agent Potential options to fill Zach's spot

[TBpup]

There aren't many unsigned FA's left floating around the NBA but a few that would be at least interesting. Here are the ones that have played at least some PF or C. BE had a piece on this but wanted to expand it a bit. https://www.blazersedge.com/2019/11...-free-agents-nba-dante-cunningham-joakim-noah

Dante Cunningham - 6'8", 230 lbs, 32 years old. Last year shot .462 from '3' and avg'd 7.3 rebs/36.
Kenneth Farid - 6'8", 220 lbs, 30 years old. Career high .350 from '3' with Hou last year. 12.2 rebs/36
Amir Johnson - 6'9", 240 lbs, 32 years old. Career .332 from '3'. 10.0 rebounds per 36 last season.
Joakim Noah - 6'11", 230, 34 years old. No '3's but avg'd 12.4 rebs and 4.6 assts/36 last year.
Zaza Pachulia - 6'11", 270 lbs, 35 yrs old. No '3's but 10.9 rebs and 3.7 assts/36 last year.
Jason Smith - 7'0", 240, 33 years old. Career 33% from '3'. 7.2 rebs per/36 last season.
Tyler Zeller - 7'0", 253 lbs, 29 yrs old. No '3's and 9.3 rebs/36 in very limited mins last year.

My preference before Tolliver was signed was Noah because he is still a very good passer plus he can rebound and play decent defense. Cunningham has history with the Blazers and still has a home in Vancouver (girlfriend is there). He would be a better version of Tolliver to me. Farid would be the 'wild card' as he can still be a terror on the boards but there can be other issues to deal with...which is why he is still available.

Those would be my Top-3 with the rest seeming to be long shots. There is a roster spot left but Neil might want to wait to use that for when someone is waived after the trade deadline like Kanter last year. It might be too late by then as they need someone now and you could treat Zach as your late season pick up.

Who do you like?

 

[Chris Craig]

Sign Noah or keep the spot open

 

[illmatic99]

Ooh Faried is really interesting. He's a great P&R threat.

 

[hoopsjock]

Faried would be the best fit rest of season and helps now too. Guys like Noah and Amir Johnson would help immediately but not so much once guys are healthy.

For those worried about losing the extra roster spot, we could sign someone to a non-guaranteed contract and that gives us until January 10th to decide whether or not to guarantee it for the rest of the season or we could waive them at any point before that. My guess is guys like Faried and Noah aren't willing to except that kind of contract and are holding out for a guaranteed deal, otherwise we would've signed one already.

 

[TBpup]

Ooh Faried is really interesting. He's a great P&R threat.

He is interesting....very interesting. But there has to be reasons why a 29 year old rebounding demon that shost 61% from the field last year still is without a job. Do we put Farid on Dame as well on top of keeping Whiteside in line?

 

[illmatic99]

He is interesting....very interesting. But there has to be reasons why a 29 year old rebounding demon that shost 61% from the field last year still is without a job. Do we put Farid on Dame as well on top of keeping Whiteside in line?

We've had some success with reclamation projects before. As long as he's playing, he should be fine. Can always cut him later if he's a malcontent.

I think he still harbors some resentment against us though for picking Nolan Smith over him (ugh, chad buchanan). He used to say that he wanted to go at us, even if it was the previous regime that messed up.

 

[TBpup]

I voted for DC just because I think he would be the most seemless fit....and hopefully that would reduce Tolliver's minutes.

 

[hoopsjock]

I voted for DC just because I think he would be the most seemless fit....and hopefully that would reduce Tolliver's minutes.

Cunningham was arrested for domestic violence about 5 years ago. No way the Blazers sign him and risk the PR hit.

 

[Scalma]

They’re not going to sign anyone for the same reason they didn’t carry a fifteenth guy; the cost isn’t worth it. If there’s another injury they may be forced into a decision, but I don’t think they're at that point right now. I bet they’d call up Moses/Hoard before going external anyway.

 

[illmatic99]

Found this on BEdge:https://www.blazersedge.com/2019/11...-free-agents-nba-dante-cunningham-joakim-noah

On Sunday, Blazer’s Edge spoke with Cunningham’s agent in regards to his availability. Joel Bell, of Bell Management International, informed Blazer’s Edge that the veteran forward is currently living in Portland and training hard in hopes of returning to the NBA.

 

[B-Roy]

Found this on BEdge:https://www.blazersedge.com/2019/11...-free-agents-nba-dante-cunningham-joakim-noah

God fuck no please. Just sign Faried and get it over with. 20 mpg of rebounding and PnR with Dame = profit.

 

[illmatic99]

What's the latest on Pau? There's no point in bringing yet another guy in if Gasol is somewhat close to returning. If he can play 15 mpg and provide some impact, we should be fine.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I'm Ok with any of Noah, Cunningham or Faried; bring them all in for a workout and find out who is in best shape.

 

[B-Roy]

What's the latest on Pau? There's no point in bringing yet another guy in if Gasol is somewhat close to returning. If he can play 15 mpg and provide some impact, we should be fine.

He had surgery for a stress fracture in his foot. Players have missed entire seasons on this kind of injury. He was supposed to be ready by training camp, then opening night, now indefinitely. These things heal very differently from person to person and it seems like it's not going too well for Pau. I wouldn't be surprised if he's out for most of the season.

 

[illmatic99]

He had surgery for a stress fracture in his foot. Players have missed entire seasons on this kind of injury. He was supposed to be ready by training camp, then opening night, now indefinitely. These things heal very differently from person to person and it seems like it's not going too well for Pau. I wouldn't be surprised if he's out for most of the season.

ugh. this is gonna be one of those years, isn't it?

 

[B-Roy]

ugh. this is gonna be one of those years, isn't it?

My hope is we get through this rough injury stretch early, get everyone back late and make a late season push and peak in time for the playoffs.

 

[illmatic99]

My hope is we get through this rough injury stretch early, get everyone back late and make a late season push and peak in time for the playoffs.

Just hope we don't run Dame into the ground in the process.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

I don't think any of these guys will help...
Rather they give Moses some run, even though he's not going to be much help either more than likely.

 

[andalusian]

Cunningham was arrested for domestic violence about 5 years ago. No way the Blazers sign him and risk the PR hit.

All charges against him were dropped after investigation found inconsistencies in the story.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2014/12/04/pelicans-sign-f-dante-cunningham/19895787/

 

[hoopsjock]

All charges against him were dropped after investigation found inconsistencies in the story.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2014/12/04/pelicans-sign-f-dante-cunningham/19895787/

I know the story but the court of public opinion is different. Plus he was arrested for "terrorism" 3 days after that arrest and has also been arrested for drug possession in the past.

The Blazers don't sign those type of guys.

 

[hoopsjock]

Just hope we run Dame into the ground in the process.

Ummm, you might want to change what you just said, ha ha. We're cursed enough as it is!

 

[riverman]

Noah on a non guaranteed deal or I'd bring up Moses and throw him in the fire until Gasol can get on the court. ….no better school for a young center than playing against NBA centers night after night. He'll make some mistakes but I think he'd get you the rebounds we're missing last game....Skal only got 4 boards in that game...he's on a cheap deal and would work as a stop gap until we get some bigs healthy again...it's 6 fouls in the paint that Hassan wouldn't have to pick up early in a game. He's certainly young but so is Simmons.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Noah on a non guaranteed deal or I'd bring up Moses and throw him in the fire until Gasol can get on the court. ….no better school for a young center than playing against NBA centers night after night. He'll make some mistakes but I think he'd get you the rebounds we're missing last game....Skal only got 4 boards in that game...he's on a cheap deal and would work as a stop gap until we get some bigs healthy again...it's 6 fouls in the paint that Hassan wouldn't have to pick up early in a game. He's certainly young but so is Simmons.

You keep typing Simmons, is it just to mess with me?

 

[riverman]

You keep typing Simmons, is it just to mess with me?

I keep using phonetics to type his name or I think Paul Simon....strange pronounciation he uses for the spelling...the short "i" tone and the double mm following just comes out naturally thinking the guy's name....I mess up Jusef and Jusif or Jusuf as well often...

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

I keep using phonetics to type his name or I think Paul Simon....strange pronounciation he uses for the spelling...the short "i" tone and the double mm following just comes out naturally thinking the guy's name....I mess up Jusef and Jusif or Jusuf as well often...

It's no problem, I shouldn't make anything out of it. I just keep seeing Simmons and not Simons and my first reaction every time is, "Who's Simmons?", I need my brain's default behavior to change.

 

[Scalma]

Hehe

 

[B-Roy]

Hehe

He hasn't even started on court work. "Patient"....

For what it's worth, Windhorst just reported that Joakim Noah has a significant injury and his career is in jeopardy.

 

[HailBlazers]

We Want MosEs

 

[e_blazer]

Hehe

I think a trade would be much more likely than a signing. Zach's likely going to be out 4-6 months, which means playoffs at best. In order to get to the playoffs, the Blazers are going to need a starting caliber PF. I love what Bazemore brings to the team, but we have plenty of wings. Trading him and a pick for a starting caliber player seems to me like the right move. Gallinari fits the bill, in my estimation. I'm sure that there are others.

 

[wizenheimer]

Olshey may not want to add another player for a variety of reasons, but if the Blazers keep giving up 60-80 points in the paint while their defensive numbers continue to tank, and their rebounding sucks, he might not have a choice unless he's ok with Portland being a 6th or 7th seed

for what it's worth:

* last season, Portland was 8th in defensive rebound rate; this season they are 23rd

* last season, Portland was 2nd in offensive rebound rate, this season they are 27th.....yeeeeesh!

that's a terrible regression on the glass and it points out that the Blazers may end up missing the contributions of Aminu, Harkless, & Turner (and Meyers) in rebounding as much as on defense. Whiteside alone might not be enough

a player like Faried would certainly go a long way in mitigating the rebounding deficit