Summer 2009

[Fez Hammersticks]

Maybe KP has plans of asking the league to allow an extra roster spot so he can sign a player and not trade any of his boys currently on the roster...

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

Being a dick to him? So do you feel the team should hold onto Frye, also, because he's a good guy and contributes to the community with his blog?

Ultimately, I think Pritchard will make moves based on what's best for the franchise. There's nothing dickish about that. Blake wasn't told he was a Blazer for life. He's here because Portland felt he'd be useful and because he felt their offer was the best one for him. Once either side doesn't feel that way, and there are no contractual obligations, there's nothing remotely unethical or mean about severing the relationship.

He's still our best option at the point. Guys like him...don't see them getting waived to faciliate trades. Sure...9th or 10th man on the bench on a shit team...waive away.....

I mean, can you name an instance where a starter on a playoff team was waived in order to do a free agent signing? It just seems very strange and unrealistic.

 

[Minstrel]

He's still our best option at the point. Guys like him...don't see them getting waived to faciliate trades. Sure...9th or 10th man on the bench on a shit team...waive away.....

I mean, can you name an instance where a starter on a playoff team was waived in order to do a free agent signing? It just seems very strange and unrealistic.

Blake is not a starting-caliber point guard and no one seriously expects him to remain the starter for long. He's been the starter because this team's point guard situation has been a mess. If Portland got Sessions, their point guard situation, with Sessions and Bayless, would be excellent.

The term "starter" is a bit meaningless. The quality of the player is what matters. Blake is a decent reserve-caliber player. Those types of players are jettisoned all the time.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

Blake is not a starting-caliber point guard and no one seriously expects him to remain the starter for long. He's been the starter because this team's point guard situation has been a mess. If Portland got Sessions, their point guard situation, with Sessions and Bayless, would be excellent.

The term "starter" is a bit meaningless. The quality of the player is what matters. Blake is a decent reserve-caliber player. Those types of players are jettisoned all the time.

To me, waiving Blake would just seem like a very very strange move to do. Something I just can't see happening this summer just to clear up some cap space. He's a good veteran presence on a team of really young players, and having Sessions and Bayless.....we're likely going to have to come to a point where its going to be one or the other.

As stated earlier, I find the likelihood of waiving blake to free cap space to sign a Free Agent pretty ludicrous. If this is our "summer plan", I highly doubt its going to transpire this way. I feel we're only going to play with the money we have, we'll probably renounce Frye, although as stated earlier that opens a gap in the backup PF position.

 

[Minstrel]

To me, waiving Blake would just seem like a very very strange move to do. Something I just can't see happening this summer just to clear up some cap space. He's a good veteran presence on a team of really young players, and having Sessions and Bayless.....we're likely going to have to come to a point where its going to be one or the other.

They won't do it "just to clear some cap space." They'll probably do it if they agree with Sessions on a price and Blake's contract is the difference. In other words, I think they'd only renounce Blake if they have a certainty as to what they'll do with his money.

And yes, I think it'll come to a point where it's either Sessions or Bayless. At which point, the other will have quite a bit of trade value. Much moreso than Blake.

 

[andalusian]

We're going to also going to need to make a move to get a backup PF, unless SBO can handle it all....that's 4-5 milli out the door...unless TROUT is really going to play backup 4 from now on......

Joel Freeland. No need for any exceptions on this kid - he is a 1st round pick - can just sign him for the rookie pay scale after we make whatever other move we make (which I honestly think will be Sessions).

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

Joel Freeland. No need for any exceptions on this kid - he is a 1st round pick - can just sign him for the rookie pay scale after we make whatever other move we make (which I honestly think will be Sessions).

What makes you think he's our "target"?

This is all very "fluffy" to me to say the least. Going after a FA point guard by waiving our current starter then signing a sigh-unseen PF from England who started playing basketball only a few years ago?

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Wouldn't that essentially be the same as making a trade? I mean, we'd lose Blake and Outlaw, and gain a SF/PG.

indeed. And as I said earlier, if we would have made a deal (for say Wallace) we would have still had a MLE this offseason to go for a backup pf. Now we do not and we have our cap space instead. YAY!

 

[andalusian]

What makes you think he's our "target"?

Nate was very complimentary of him after he worked for the Blazers pre-draft, the rumors are that the R-Jeff trade did not happen because the Bucks were not willing to include Sessions in the package (from Hollinger) and Sessions had some monster games when Skiles actually gave him some play-time.

This is all very "fluffy" to me to say the least. Going after a FA point guard by waiving our current starter then signing a sigh-unseen PF from England who started playing basketball only a few years ago?

I do not think you need to cut a current starter to be in the Sessions sweek-stakes - you can probably get him at the MLE - the Bucks can't pay more than that for him - so it comes to him wanting to play for the Bucks or the Blazers - I think that Blazers are more interesting to most free-agents than the Bucks at this point in the game.

As for Freeland - all you need is 10-15 minutes per game of a banger in there - and Freeland's success in the ACB this year leads me to suspect that KP and his team had a good hunch about him when they drafted him 3 years ago - I am sure they keep an eye on his progress.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Being a dick to him? So do you feel the team should hold onto Frye, also, because he's a good guy and contributes to the community with his blog?

Ultimately, I think Pritchard will make moves based on what's best for the franchise. There's nothing dickish about that. Blake wasn't told he was a Blazer for life. He's here because Portland felt he'd be useful and because he felt their offer was the best one for him. Once either side doesn't feel that way, and there are no contractual obligations, there's nothing remotely unethical or mean about severing the relationship.

I'd say what they did to Freddie Jones was pretty messed up

 

[Minstrel]

I'd say what they did to Freddie Jones was pretty messed up

What did they do to Freddie Jones, out of curiosity?

It's unrelated, though. I don't think cutting Blake loose would be an unfair thing to do.

 

[JDC]

This year Blake is playing like a starting quality PG. Renouncing Blake next year would be very foolish, considering how little were paying for his solid production.

Your not going to find better value for a vetran PG than Blake. We're very lucky to have him.

 

[Minstrel]

This year Blake is playing like a starting quality PG. Renouncing Blake next year would be very foolish, considering how little were paying for his solid production.

Can't say as I agree. He is having a career season, yes, and from a production standpoint, he's been starting-caliber. But his defense is awful, so even in this, his best season, I'd say he's sub-starter level.

And when you factor in that this is his best season, not his average season, I see no real issues with cutting Blake loose if Portland can sign Sessions. Obviously, Portland shouldn't renounce Blake for no reason. He has value. They should only do it if they can better use his salary.

 

[cdub503]

just out of curiousity what PG's that are reasonably attainable have really good defense? and more specific hows sessions defense?

 

[shamelessblazer]

how about if the suns don't make the playoffs (maybe a longshot but possible)

We renounce Blake and go Outlaw and Bayless for Nash (they save money and get some young pieces)...

The real question is what will Webster look like next year?

 

[B-Roy]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=FreeAgents-09-10

Free agents of 09.



There's literally like two players that are worth going after.

 

[alex42083]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=FreeAgents-09-10

Free agents of 09.



There's literally like two players that are worth going after.

Just based off that list, out of the unrestricted FAs that are even possibly worth going after that I'd be interested in:
Jason Kidd
Shawn Marion
Andre Miller
Trevor Ariza
Ron Artest
Antonio McDyess
Brandon Bass
Ben Gordon
Mike Bibby

Restricted:
Josh Childress
Marvin Williams
Raymond Felton
Ramon Sessions
David Lee
Nate Robinson
Paul Millsap

 

[free_lafrentz]

Just based off that list, out of the unrestricted FAs that are even possibly worth going after that I'd be interested in:
Jason Kidd
Shawn Marion
Andre Miller
Trevor Ariza
Ron Artest
Antonio McDyess
Brandon Bass
Ben Gordon
Mike Bibby

Restricted:
Josh Childress
Marvin Williams
Raymond Felton
Ramon Sessions
David Lee
Nate Robinson
Paul Millsap

You forgot Kobe, Barnes and Korver.

 

[B-Roy]

Just based off that list, out of the unrestricted FAs that are even possibly worth going after that I'd be interested in:
Jason Kidd
Shawn Marion
Andre Miller
Trevor Ariza
Ron Artest
Antonio McDyess
Brandon Bass
Ben Gordon
Mike Bibby

Restricted:
Josh Childress
Marvin Williams
Raymond Felton
Ramon Sessions
David Lee
Nate Robinson
Paul Millsap

Those unrestricted players are all too "old". Aren't most people complaining that VC was too "old" for our team?

Anyways...

Jason Kidd - Too old, how much money and years are you willing to offer to a heavily declining player?
Shawn Marion - Prima donna, production has gotten significantly worse w/o Nash.
Andre Miller - Same as Kidd, also no outside shot.
Trevor Ariza - Doubt he leaves LA, and even if he does, we'd have to give ~6 million, which is all the cap we would have. Is he really better than Batum/Webster?
Ron Artest - Would never be signed by KP, regardless of ability.
Antonio McDyess - Old. Also, like Ariza, you're probably going to have to give up most of your cap for a backup PF? Eww.
Brandon Bass - Same as McDyess, only not old. Possible target.
Ben Gordon - SG. We have two.
Mike Bibby - Just a better Steve Blake imo, also same concerns as JKidd and Miller.

Restricted: - Low chance of getting any of these players anyways
Josh Childress - Tore his ACL this season, how much would you offer?
Marvin Williams - Arguably better than Webster/Batum. Potential offer.
Raymond Felton - Eww. Average PG whose stats are bloated because of the minutes he plays. He's not that good.
Ramon Sessions - One of the only legit targets.
David Lee - Going to have to outbid a bunch of teams.....for a backup PF? Who deserves to start? Would he even sign here?
Nate Robinson - SG. We have two.
Paul Millsap - Same as Lee.

 

[Minstrel]

Restricted: - Low chance of getting any of these players anyways

Yes, with two exceptions: Childress and Sessions.

Childress because Atlanta knows they can never get him to play for them and Sessions because Milwaukee only has his early-Bird rights and thus can only match up to the MLE. Offer even slightly above MLE and Milwaukee can't match.

 

[B-Roy]

Yes, with two exceptions: Childress and Sessions.

Childress because Atlanta knows they can never get him to play for them and Sessions because Milwaukee only has his early-Bird rights and thus can only match up to the MLE. Offer even slightly above MLE and Milwaukee can't match.

Hence. Two targets.

But you're going to have to choose between one or the other.

 

[Entity]

Yes, with two exceptions: Childress and Sessions.

Childress because Atlanta knows they can never get him to play for them and Sessions because Milwaukee only has his early-Bird rights and thus can only match up to the MLE. Offer even slightly above MLE and Milwaukee can't match.

Who else will have cap room this summer? I imagine a lot of teams are gearing up for 2010 instead.

Hence. Two targets.

But you're going to have to choose between one or the other.

I choose the point guard.

 

[B-Roy]

Who else will have cap room this summer? I imagine a lot of teams are gearing up for 2010 instead.

Memphis will, OKC will. A couple of the crappy teams who will need to fill some positions will.

I choose the point guard.

Might as well trade Bayless.

 

[JDC]

Like one of the previous posters mentioned, you don't renounce your starting point guard just for the sake of making room for a FA signing or trade. It's foolish.

I really think the Blazers will keep Steve until Bayless develops, and even then I still say he remains in Portland as Jerryd's back up.

Teams don't trade young promising PG's, teams don't waive productive cheap players to sign overpaid declining players.

They just dont.

And for the people thinking we have chance at Sessions this summer....lol @ you.

 

[andalusian]

I think it's Sessions as well. I think Bayless will be a star in this league - just not sure he is a PG star - on the other hand - I have no doubts that Batum has the tools, BBIQ and apparently the talent to be a good SF in this league. That's why I go for Sessions and let him and B-Rex duke it out as time goes on.

 

[B-Roy]

I think it's Sessions as well. I think Bayless will be a star in this league - just not sure he is a PG star - on the other hand - I have no doubts that Batum has the tools, BBIQ and apparently the talent to be a good SF in this league. That's why I go for Sessions and let him and B-Rex duke it out as time goes on.

That would be terrible for the team imo.

 

[andalusian]

And for the people thinking we have chance a Sessions this summer....lol @ you.

Why not? He is a free agent and the Bucks have only his early-bird rights - so they can not offer more than the MLE - since they are over the cap.

He is fair game - and I just do not see that many teams that will offer him over the MLE - OKC has a PG and so does Memphis. If the Blazers really want him - I do not think they will have much competition unless he is married to the idea of staying a Buck (and why would he when they do not start him now over Rid?) or get less money elsewhere...

 

[Minstrel]

Memphis will, OKC will. A couple of the crappy teams who will need to fill some positions will.

Yes, but happily, not those two positions.

Memphis has Conley and Gay at point guard and small forward. OKC has Westbrook and Green at those two positions. IMO, they are unlikely to go after Sessions or Childress.

Portland will only be able to sign one, I agree. I'd choose Sessions as first priority and go after Childress as the backup plan, so long as he's not likely to suffer long-term issues from his ACL injury.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Meh, I would be content with Childress I really like him as a player. Still doesn't take away the dreams of Gerald Wallace though

 

[andalusian]

That would be terrible for the team imo.

Why? It's consistent with what KP always said he wants to do - have competition in every position. I do not think Sergio has a chance in hell to be here long-term - so it is either JayBay/Blake for ever or they team thinks Sessions can be better than one or both of them. Personally - I think he has a chance to be better than Blake and maybe even JayBay if you want a more traditional PG - so getting him to be the one competing for minutes, long-term, with JayBay sounds like a good idea.