Source: Blazers Identified As 'Wild Card' For Omer Asik

[magnifier661]

"Hey Asik, we know you aren't happy backing up Howard, but how about you go to a different team and back up Lopez."

The difference is Howard is a career 38 minute guy and Lopez is a career 20-30 minute guy. And... In Portland's system, I could see Lopez and Asik able to play together, since Lopez is a team first guy.

 

[Natebishop3]

Keep in mind that some of Asik's anger is that he signed with Houston as a free agent, and I'm sure he feels betrayed after putting up some pretty good numbers last year. He did not sign in Houston to be a backup.

 

[PapaG]

While I agree with you, it's so hard to really judge the bench without CJ in the mix.

That said, if you can trade scraps for another piece, you do it. Plus, the clock is ticking on the Randle/Wiggins motive.

Blow up the bench before it even gets to play together. That seems to be the result of the (non-stop) angst of a few posters.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Keep in mind that some of Asik's anger is that he signed with Houston as a free agent, and I'm sure he feels betrayed after putting up some pretty good numbers last year. He did not sign in Houston to be a backup.

This is a good point. he may be "ok" off the bench for a team and or GM that is honest with him. Olshey seems to have that rep around the league. I thin he goes to Philly, but he would be a great addition on paper.

I personally would like to find a player that could play the 4 and 5. Not sure Asik is that guy

 

[TBpup]

Keep in mind that some of Asik's anger is that he signed with Houston as a free agent, and I'm sure he feels betrayed after putting up some pretty good numbers last year. He did not sign in Houston to be a backup.

Agreed. If he came here, he would know ahead of time what the situation was. They changed that on him in Houston in a big way. Also, although he makes $15MM next season, I believe only a little more than half of that counts against the salary cap.

 

[Natebishop3]

Blow up the bench before it even gets to play together. That seems to be the result of the (non-stop) angst of a few posters.

We haven't heard any names yet. Do you think it's blowing up the bench if the trade is Leonard/Claver/Barton?

 

[Mediocre Man]

While I agree with you, it's so hard to really judge the bench without CJ in the mix.

That said, if you can trade scraps for another piece, you do it. Plus, the clock is ticking on the Randle/Wiggins motive.

CJ is a rookie that has played ZERO minutes in the NBA or Pre Season.

 

[PapaG]

So, the idea on Hawes is to bring him to Portland this year for 50-some games and playoffs, and then he's a UFA, so the only advantage Portland has is on a max contract in terms of retaining him?

This is a good idea ... how?

 

[Natebishop3]

This is a good point. he may be "ok" off the bench for a team and or GM that is honest with him. Olshey seems to have that rep around the league. I thin he goes to Philly, but he would be a great addition on paper.

I personally would like to find a player that could play the 4 and 5. Not sure Asik is that guy

He isn't that guy. He is not an offensive player at all, and he's a horrible free throw shooter.

Also, out of all the teams that are supposedly talking to Houston, I have no idea why Philly is one of them. They're tanking, they've pretty much admitted to tanking, and I find it interesting that Michael Carter-Williams has suddenly come down with a mysterious skin infection after he had the team winning.

 

[Nikolokolus]

"Hey Asik, we know you aren't happy backing up Howard, but how about you go to a different team and back up Lopez."

I think it would be more like "split time." Lopez isn't exactly logging 38 minutes a night.

 

[Natebishop3]

So, the idea on Hawes is to bring him to Portland this year for 50-some games and playoffs, and then he's a UFA, so the only advantage Portland has is on a max contract in terms of retaining him?

This is a good idea ... how?

I don't think Hawes will get max money. He isn't THAT good. I'd give him a pretty decent contract though. The guy can play both frontcourt positions. He would be great coming off the bench. He's also a guy with the range to fill in for LA, AND he's still young.

 

[PapaG]

We haven't heard any names yet. Do you think it's blowing up the bench if the trade is Leonard/Claver/Barton?

No, but why would Philly, for example, want those three players, when two of them are under contract for next year?

 

[Blazinaway]

This is a good point. he may be "ok" off the bench for a team and or GM that is honest with him. Olshey seems to have that rep around the league. I thin he goes to Philly, but he would be a great addition on paper.

I personally would like to find a player that could play the 4 and 5. Not sure Asik is that guy

can't see Philly really wanting to keep Asik as they are in full rebuild and TANK mode, however they could acquire him as an asset and then quickly flip him as they are below the cap, maybe send him to OKC for Adams and another asset

 

[PapaG]

CJ is a rookie that has played ZERO minutes in the NBA or Pre Season.

So was Lillard last year. Then he was starting PG and had one of the better rookie seasons for a PG in NBA history. Good thing the Blazers waited to see what they had in him!

 

[Blazinaway]

He isn't that guy. He is not an offensive player at all, and he's a horrible free throw shooter.

Also, out of all the teams that are supposedly talking to Houston, I have no idea why Philly is one of them. They're tanking, they've pretty much admitted to tanking, and I find it interesting that Michael Carter-Williams has suddenly come down with a mysterious skin infection after he had the team winning.

Philly simply flips him to someone else for assets/picks, a team like OKC or some other would love to have Asik

 

[OregonHuskerMan]

Not necessarily. Contract status comes into play, too, and Hawes will get over $10m/year as a UFA, IMO. I'd rather keep Ropez at $5m for another year, then make a decision on him or the long-term center solution in summer 2015.

Where are you getting the notion that we are getting rid of Lopez?

 

[Natebishop3]

No, but why would Philly, for example, want those three players, when two of them are under contract for next year?

I don't think we're players right now in the Asik deal. I'm totally spit balling, but if anything I think Neil is either trying to be a third team in the trade, OR he's a "last resort" for Houston. The Rockets have set a deadline, and if they can't find anything better, maybe they would take a lesser deal. Who knows. I just don't see Neil giving up a ton of assets for Asik.

 

[PapaG]

I don't think Hawes will get max money. He isn't THAT good. I'd give him a pretty decent contract though. The guy can play both frontcourt positions. He would be great coming off the bench. He's also a guy with the range to fill in for LA, AND he's still young.

Why would Hawes want to come off of the bench for Portland? He's an NBA starter who is only 25 years old and gets 32 mpg right now. I never said he was a max guy. I said that the only advantage Portland had in re-signing him is to offer him a max contract. It doesn't really matter what the Blazers "want" to pay him, since he'll be a UFA and would be stupid as a young big to not test the FA market.

 

[PapaG]

Where are you getting the notion that we are getting rid of Lopez?

Keep Ropez as the starting center. It seems dumb to me to trade away players for Hawes to come off of the bench, when I feel Hawes is likely to leave as a UFA after the season.

 

[TBpup]

Why would Hawes want to come off of the bench for Portland? He's an NBA starter who is only 25 years old and gets 32 mpg right now. I never said he was a max guy. I said that the only advantage Portland had in re-signing him is to offer him a max contract. It doesn't really matter what the Blazers "want" to pay him, since he'll be a UFA and would be stupid as a young big to not test the FA market.

If he fills in for Freeland/Robinson and cuts down on a few of Lopez's career high minutes, he's not far from 30 minutes a game right there. And the difference in playing for Philly and playing for the Blazers close to home probably means something as well.

 

[OregonHuskerMan]

So, the idea on Hawes is to bring him to Portland this year for 50-some games and playoffs, and then he's a UFA, so the only advantage Portland has is on a max contract in terms of retaining him?

This is a good idea ... how?

How is it not a good idea, at the right price?

Helps us win now without sacrificing any real contributors? That's a steal.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

So, the idea on Hawes is to bring him to Portland this year for 50-some games and playoffs, and then he's a UFA, so the only advantage Portland has is on a max contract in terms of retaining him?

This is a good idea ... how?

It wouldn't be about Portland having an advantage over other teams. It would be about Portland not having a disadvantage in relation to teams with cap space, because we would have his bird rights, so he wouldn't have to give a discount if he wanted to re-sign here. As it stands now, if we wanted Hawes this offseason, we would have no more than the MLE; if we traded for him, we could offer him more, and still have the MLE for someone else.

Yes, he would be a UFA, but he's also a northwest guy, and would have spent 2/3 of a season playing on one of the best teams in the league alongside the best PF in the game, in an offense tailor-made for his strengths. With the money being equal, can you see a more attractive situation for him?

 

[magnifier661]

No, but why would Philly, for example, want those three players, when two of them are under contract for next year?

Maybe because they are all young and under contract? It's a good way to tank and have tradable assets for the future.

And what's to save them when Hawes leaves town? They get nothing in return.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think Hawes is the perfect guy, but I think he would cost some young talent, like CJ.

 

[OregonHuskerMan]

Keep Ropez as the starting center. It seems dumb to me to trade away players for Hawes to come off of the bench, when I feel Hawes is likely to leave as a UFA after the season.

We don't even know what players we would be getting rid of in this fantasy world.

If it was Barton/Crabbe/Meyers, I'd be all for a one year rental.

 

[Boise Blazer]

Matt Moore CBS @MattMooreCBS
Rumor: Knicks trying to get in on Omer Asik talks:

cbsprt.co/1gGGl2o Of course, because, Knicks.

 

[magnifier661]

I think Hawes is the perfect guy, but I think he would cost some young talent, like CJ.

Don't be too sure. Hawes is most likely going to leave Philly. They would get nothing in return. If they somehow was able to turn Hawes (likely to lose) and young into "Leonard, Asik, Barton and Claver", it's actually a really good exchange.

 

[PapaG]

We don't even know what players we would be getting rid of in this fantasy world.

If it was Barton/Crabbe/Meyers, I'd be all for a one year rental.

I think we're on the same side, here. I agree with you. This is what happens when imaginary trades are argued with other imaginary trades. It's Imagination Land to the nth degree!

 

[Natebishop3]

I think we're on the same side, here. I agree with you. This is what happens when imaginary trades are argued with other imaginary trades. It's Imagination Land to the nth degree!

Well, in this case, I think it's just people scratching their heads at being the "wild card" for Asik. He doesn't make sense at all. Someone like Hawes would at least make sense because he can score, he can play both positions, and he's a NW guy. Totally an imaginary trade though. Just makes more sense than Asik.

 

[Reep]

I think Hawes is the perfect guy, but I think he would cost some young talent, like CJ.

Personally, I would make that trade.