So, Is The Miles Saga Over?

[Ed O]

Watching Gerald Wallace right now (NBATV). Man, REALLY liking his game! I think he'd be a fine fit here, actually.

I've agreed for some time. Wallace is a defender and a slasher and an athlete and unselfish. He'd be a great fit... and what we all hope Batum is four or five years from now.

I am having troubles really enjoying the game because of John Nash. The dude fucked our team up so badly.

At least the picture is magnificent. It pisses me off that Comcast Sports Northwest (or whatever it's called) can't look like this.

Ed O.

 

[Natebishop3]

Do you really believe that or just messing with peoples minds? If you are serious then what is your reasoning?

Pritchard has targeted the '09 free agent market. He has spoken about this coming free agency again and again. Who else on the list would you consider a big name worth signing? Iverson? Right... Marion? I don't think so. Most of the big name restricted free agents are gone. Kobe is the only name that would be worth the money. The question is, will he opt out? I think he will. The other question is, if he opts out and the Blazers throw huge money at him, would he say no? Would you turn down a chance to play with Brandon Roy, Aldridge, Oden, and Rudy? I guess it depends on how well the Blazers do this season.

 

[Fawzi83]

Pritchard has targeted the '09 free agent market. He has spoken about this coming free agency again and again. Who else on the list would you consider a big name worth signing? Iverson? Right... Marion? I don't think so. Most of the big name restricted free agents are gone. Kobe is the only name that would be worth the money. The question is, will he opt out? I think he will. The other question is, if he opts out and the Blazers throw huge money at him, would he say no? Would you turn down a chance to play with Brandon Roy, Aldridge, Oden, and Rudy? I guess it depends on how well the Blazers do this season.

He's also played under Nate in the Olympics and he had good things to say about him

 

[Natebishop3]

He's also played under Nate in the Olympics and he had good things to say about him

I might be totally fishing on this one, but I still get the feeling that Kobe might like the idea of going somewhere completely fresh and winning a title. But there's always the "small market vs. large market" argument. Would he be willing to play in Portland vs LA or NY? I'm not sure. I just know that Kobe wants to win another championship badly. He has a chance with the Lakers, so I'm not convinced he would leave. I do believe, however, that Portland has a longer window, which could entice him. Either way, it's fun to speculate. What would you do Rizzle, if Kobe signed with the Blazers this summer?

 

[Minstrel]

For the sake of argument though, what about a SF that can both shoot from outside and take it to the hole?

I mean if we're having our pick of the best player to add to our team why not go all out and select one with fewer weaknesses.

Just sayin.

But we don't have our pick. We can't get any player we want, only ones that are available. Very few players possess no flaws in their game and none of them are realistically available.

Gerald Wallace is actually quite a multi-faceted player and he really shouldn't be available (and I'm still a bit skeptical that he is). He plays great defense, he has positional flexibility, he's an efficient and productive scorer and he rebounds very well for a wing.

Plus, he's not an old player. He's only in his age-26 year. You'll be hard-pressed to find such a good and young player available that you might be able to get without giving up one of the core.

 

[Minstrel]

I might be totally fishing on this one, but I still get the feeling that Kobe might like the idea of going somewhere completely fresh and winning a title. But there's always the "small market vs. large market" argument. Would he be willing to play in Portland vs LA or NY? I'm not sure. I just know that Kobe wants to win another championship badly. He has a chance with the Lakers, so I'm not convinced he would leave. I do believe, however, that Portland has a longer window, which could entice him.

Kobe is the oldest of the key players on the Lakers, I believe. The window there basically goes with him, so I don't think that's an enticement. In addition, there's the market size, the glamour of the team and the money (the Lakers can give him more, by CBA rules, than Portland can).

When money, glamour, market size and certain contention are all in one place, the place he already is (he also loves the area, from reports), I see basically a zero percent chance that he'll change teams.

 

[Natebishop3]

But we don't have our pick. We can't get any player we want, only ones that are available. Very few players possess no flaws in their game and none of them are realistically available.

Gerald Wallace is actually quite a multi-faceted player and he really shouldn't be available (and I'm still a bit skeptical that he is). He plays great defense, he has positional flexibility, he's an efficient and productive scorer and he rebounds very well for a wing.

Plus, he's not an old player. He's only in his age-26 year. You'll be hard-pressed to find such a good and young player available that you might be able to get without giving up one of the core.

Well put Minstrel. I think we're in a unique position though, that we can offer a number of quality young players AND cap space for an All-Star caliber player. We have some very talented guys that we can throw into a trade. Outlaw has good value around the league. I really think we could get someone like Wallace if we offered up Outlaw and LaFrentz, with a couple others. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

 

[Natebishop3]

Kobe is the oldest of the key players on the Lakers, I believe. The window there basically goes with him, so I don't think that's an enticement. In addition, there's the market size, the glamour of the team and the money (the Lakers can give him more, by CBA rules, than Portland can).

When money, glamour, market size and certain contention are all in one place, the place he already is (he also loves the area, from reports), I see basically a zero percent chance that he'll change teams.

You're probably right, buy as far as the window goes, Gasol is 28 and I've never been a huge Gasol fan regardless of age. Odom is probably on his way out of town. That leaves guys like Bynum, Farmar, and Vujacic. If you did a side-by-side comparison of the two rosters, who would you say has the brighter future? I think LA has a much better chance of winning a championship this season, and maybe next season, but I don't think they will be a better team three years from now.

Kobe has to think future. If he's looking at what will more than likely be his final contract in the NBA, why would he sign with the Lakers when they realistically don't have a second star? Wasn't there some article this month about winning championships with more than one star player? Who is the other star on LA? I felt that was the main reason why Boston was able to shut the Lakers down in the Finals last season. They focused on Kobe and the Lakers' offense collapsed. Has that changed? I'm still not sold on Bynum as a star. I think he's solid, but a star? Not sure yet.

The Blazers have one All-Star already in Roy, and at least two other potential stars in Oden and Aldridge. Not to mention Rudy. I completely concede the glamour argument, Portland can't compete with that, and the market size is unquestionable. But once you've reached a certain status, do you really need that market?

 

[bluefrog]

If Miles were signed to a ten game contract would his ten game suspension for drug violations bar him from playing or would he sit out ten games, then play?

 

[Minstrel]

If Miles were signed to a ten game contract would his ten game suspension for drug violations bar him from playing or would he sit out ten games, then play?

He'd have to sit out the six games or so that his team played during those ten days, and then the ten day contract would expire and he'd be a free agent again, with a four-game suspension left.

 

[drexlersdad]

He'd have to sit out the six games or so that his team played during those ten days, and then the ten day contract would expire and he'd be a free agent again, with a four-game suspension left.

at which point they could sign him to another 10 day, but that would expire before he actually PLAYED in 10 games, so he would need to be signed to a guaranteed contract.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

But we don't have our pick. We can't get any player we want, only ones that are available. Very few players possess no flaws in their game and none of them are realistically available.

Gerald Wallace is actually quite a multi-faceted player and he really shouldn't be available (and I'm still a bit skeptical that he is). He plays great defense, he has positional flexibility, he's an efficient and productive scorer and he rebounds very well for a wing.

Plus, he's not an old player. He's only in his age-26 year. You'll be hard-pressed to find such a good and young player available that you might be able to get without giving up one of the core.

But what if say marvin williams becomes this year's danny granger? If he developed into an equally special player, yet younger would you still say Wallace is your only choice? That's what I meant about having your pick.

 

[Minstrel]

But what if say marvin williams becomes this year's danny granger? If he developed into an equally special player, yet younger would you still say Wallace is your only choice? That's what I meant about having your pick.

What if Webster turns into the this year's Granger? If so, great! I'm just commenting on currently displayed talent. I reserve the right to change my opinions as the players change.

And, of course, probabilities must be considered in terms of making decisions now. There's a (basically) 100% chance that Gerald Wallace will be Gerald Wallace. There's a much lower chance that a currently worse player like Marvin Williams will become Wallace (or Granger).

 

[STOMP]

I'm not saying any of them deserve those contracts, but do you honestly think they're going to take a huge paycut, especially considering how productive they are and can still be a year from now?

you are aware that most teams can't offer above an MLE (around 6M per) right? Unless their respective teams feel some sort of obligation to the player to bid against themselves, probably several of the guys mentioned will be taking huge paycuts staying with their current team.

Portland is one of the few teams positioned to be able to offer greater then MLE deals, but I'm sort of doubting they'll be going after any of those guys. A lopsided trade from a financial perspective (more coming in then going out) is the more likely way they'll utilize the extra capspace.

STOMP

 

[Mediocre Man]

We've got more jump shooting specialists than you can shake a stick at on this roster

We've got more jump shooting specialists that can't hit a jump shot




ATTACK THE BASKET!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Crimson the Cat]

What if Webster turns into the this year's Granger? If so, great! I'm just commenting on currently displayed talent. I reserve the right to change my opinions as the players change.

Right, but Marvin Williams at least has shown evidence of this in the regular season. Still, I see your point.

And, of course, probabilities must be considered in terms of making decisions now. There's a (basically) 100% chance that Gerald Wallace will be Gerald Wallace. There's a much lower chance that a currently worse player like Marvin Williams will become Wallace (or Granger).

Makes sense, but now that I'm seeing an indication that there may be more than one option, I'm a bit hesitant to pull the trigger so soon. Heck, there's another Bobcat that I hope Pritchard is strongly eyeing - Augustin.

The end goal is to create the very best team possible. If that means sacrificing short-term success for greater long-term success, I'd prefer to do that.

 

[anonymous gambler]

I don't think we can relax regarding miles until after the all star break- I think there is still a chance that someone else will take a flyer on him- though it takes a guaranteed contract. Our only real hope is that he stops working out or decides he doesn't want to go through life with a blown knee.

 

[anonymous gambler]

You're probably right, buy as far as the window goes, Gasol is 28 and I've never been a huge Gasol fan regardless of age. Odom is probably on his way out of town. That leaves guys like Bynum, Farmar, and Vujacic. If you did a side-by-side comparison of the two rosters, who would you say has the brighter future? I think LA has a much better chance of winning a championship this season, and maybe next season, but I don't think they will be a better team three years from now.

Kobe has to think future. If he's looking at what will more than likely be his final contract in the NBA, why would he sign with the Lakers when they realistically don't have a second star? Wasn't there some article this month about winning championships with more than one star player? Who is the other star on LA? I felt that was the main reason why Boston was able to shut the Lakers down in the Finals last season. They focused on Kobe and the Lakers' offense collapsed. Has that changed? I'm still not sold on Bynum as a star. I think he's solid, but a star? Not sure yet.

The Blazers have one All-Star already in Roy, and at least two other potential stars in Oden and Aldridge. Not to mention Rudy. I completely concede the glamour argument, Portland can't compete with that, and the market size is unquestionable. But once you've reached a certain status, do you really need that market?

I think Kobe changes teams only if he is convinced that the Lakers won't be contenders in the near future. Before the Gasol trade, this was possible. Now it seems unlikely barring some catastrophic injury.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

That veterans minimum salary goes down by the game, making a 1 year contract easier to swallow for a team.

I'm thinking one team takes a fl yer on Miles half way through the season to see if he has any game for either the playoffs or next year.