Summer 2009

[andalusian]

If we go after Sessions, the Bucks will want Bayless and more.

Sessions is a great young PG, he is going nowhere.

Sessions is a free-agent and Portland can offer more than the Bucks for his services...

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Maybe someone can compile a list of guys that we could get in lopsided trades? or guys that will make about $3 million with your TE. I believe you can use the TE to get a guy through a sign and trade as well, flipping a second to the other team so they get a TE and a 2nd round pick for helping

 

[B-Roy]

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.

Two players that deserve playing time, on a team with 4 point guards. What happens to the losers? It virtually guarantee's that one of Bayless/Sessions leave after their contracts are up (Or if Bayless wins, we just made a mistake), and one of them gets traded. Portland needs to commit to one of the players and go from there. Is Bayless the future? Or is Sessions the future?

 

[Minstrel]

Maybe someone can compile a list of guys that we could get in lopsided trades? or guys that will make about $3 million with your TE. I believe you can use the TE to get a guy through a sign and trade as well, flipping a second to the other team so they get a TE and a 2nd round pick for helping

You can use it in a sign and trade only if the player you are trading for makes $3 million or less, because you can't combine the TE with another player to match salaries.

IMO, the trade exception will be used to acquire a first-round pick from a cash-hungry team, the way they used the last one to acquire Rudy.

 

[Minstrel]

My bad, I actually deleted my post before you even responded. So in that case, how much do you think Portland will be willing to pay to get him?

I think Portland can get him for slightly more than the MLE. Milwaukee can only match up to the MLE. The other two teams with cap room, Memphis and OKC, already have young point guards they're grooming.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

You can use it in a sign and trade only if the player you are trading for makes $3 million or less, because you can't combine the TE with another player to match salaries.

IMO, the trade exception will be used to acquire a first-round pick from a cash-hungry team, the way they used the last one to acquire Rudy.

yeah I know, maybe thats where we could get a guy like Brandon Bass? I don't think he would be THAT much better than Frye though to be honest.

And didn't they acquire the one with Rudy only because we were able to take on James Jones with the TE?

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

I think Portland can get him for slightly more than the MLE. Milwaukee can only match up to the MLE. The other two teams with cap room, Memphis and OKC, already have young point guards they're grooming.

Although if the rumors are true, Memphis was looking at Sessions at the beginning of the season

 

[B-Roy]

yeah I know, maybe thats where we could get a guy like Brandon Bass? I don't think he would be THAT much better than Frye though to be honest.

And didn't they acquire the one with Rudy only because we were able to take on James Jones with the TE?

How would you get Bass from a S/T? The team that just signed him will trade him to you for a TE? Does that make sense?

 

[Minstrel]

And didn't they acquire the one with Rudy only because we were able to take on James Jones with the TE?

Yeah, they used the TE plus $3 million in cash to take on James Jones and, in return, Phoenix gave Portland the rights to Rudy.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

How would you get Bass from a S/T? The team that just signed him will trade him to you for a TE? Does that make sense?

yes because they get a TE themselves for doing the deal, and you can flip them a 2nd round pick in the process for their help.

 

[B-Roy]

yes because they get a TE themselves for doing the deal, and you can flip them a 2nd round pick in the process for their help.

I doubt any team would want to help Portland that way just for a 2nd rounder....

Anyways, we could give them Sergio.

 

[JDC]

I think Portland can get him for slightly more than the MLE. Milwaukee can only match up to the MLE. The other two teams with cap room, Memphis and OKC, already have young point guards they're grooming.

Aren't we grooming Bayless? If we really are targeting Sessions, I see Bayless getting traded over the summer. Our we renounce Blake. Leaving portland in a very sticky situation.

 

[PapaG]

I think Lee will be out of our price range.

The price range is a relative issue in this economy. I can't hammer this point home enough. If you thought it was a buyer's market now, just wait a few months or even a year.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

I doubt any team would want to help Portland that way just for a 2nd rounder....

Anyways, we could give them Sergio.

haha I wish, but you can't combine players with TE's.

I think a team would do it for cash, a 2nd round pick, and a TE (which they would be getting if they did a sign and trade for ours)

 

[Minstrel]

Aren't we grooming Bayless? If we really are targeting Sessions, I see Bayless getting traded over the summer. Our we renounce Blake.

We are grooming Bayless. Sessions is more of a traditional point guard and is more ready to start right now. IMO, Sessions could go into next season as the starter with Bayless as his primary backup. Both Sessions and Bayless have a lot of potential. Whichever one turns out to be the best, Portland can hold onto and trade the other.

 

[B-Roy]

The price range is a relative issue in this economy. I can't hammer this point home enough. If you thought it was a buyer's market now, just wait a few months or even a year.

I would imagine that NYK would make at least some effort to retain his services. He's worth at least the MLE though, wouldn't you agree?

Anyways, I don't think Lee would sign with Portland anyways if we would make him a bench player.

 

[PapaG]

I would imagine that NYK would make at least some effort to retain his services. He's worth at least the MLE though, wouldn't you agree?

Anyways, I don't think Lee would sign with Portland anyways if we would make him a bench player.

I don't want Lee. What I am saying is I don't think we'll see many bidding wars this summer for available FAs due to very tight payroll budgets. And based on what is out there, I think Portland scouts will be following Ramon Sessions very closely the rest of this season.

 

[andalusian]

Maybe someone can compile a list of guys that we could get in lopsided trades? or guys that will make about $3 million with your TE. I believe you can use the TE to get a guy through a sign and trade as well, flipping a second to the other team so they get a TE and a 2nd round pick for helping

Here is a partial list of guys making $3m and less next year that do not expire next year - so there is some incentive for the team to move them to free some money:

Atlanta: Acie Law, Maurice Evans
Boston: Rondo
Charlotte: DJ, Alexis Ajinca
Chicago: Don't know anymore who is on this team - too many trades
GSW : Wright, Randolph, Bellinelli
Houston: Landry
Indiana: Rush, Hibbert
Ckips : Thornton, Mardy Collins
Bucks: Alexander, Elson, Malik Allen
Wolves: Brewer, Bassy
NJ: Najera, Boone
NOH: Armstrong, J-Wright
Orlando: JJ Redick
PHX: Tucker, Dudley, Lopez
Sacramento: See Bulls
Toronto: Humpris
Wizards: Blatche

The ones that stand out to me are:

1. from the Bucks - Elson/Alexander - since they are in financial problems - and this could be a way to do a pick swap + player for TE + money with them

2. Wizards - if they want to do the same

3. PHX - Always good for a pick for money / being cheap

 

[B-Roy]

I don't want Lee. What I am saying is I don't think we'll see many bidding wars this summer for available FAs due to very tight payroll budgets. And based on what is out there, I think Portland scouts will be following Ramon Sessions very closely the rest of this season.

I agree with you, I just don't think there are enough players in the 09 FA class that are worth pursuing. It seems like we had more options with RLEC than with this.

 

[PapaG]

I agree with you, I just don't think there are enough players in the 09 FA class that are worth pursuing. It seems like we had more options with RLEC than with this.

It's hard to say without really knowing. Clearly Portland rattled Rod Thorn; let's see what happens this summer or even next season. Meanwhile, I'm going to enjoy the ride this young team is taking me on right now.

 

[free_lafrentz]

Here is a partial list of guys making $3m and less next year that do not expire next year - so there is some incentive for the team to move them to free some money:

Atlanta: Acie Law, Maurice Evans
Boston: Rondo
Charlotte: DJ, Alexis Ajinca
Chicago: Don't know anymore who is on this team - too many trades
GSW : Wright, Randolph, Bellinelli
Houston: Landry
Indiana: Rush, Hibbert
Ckips : Thornton, Mardy Collins
Bucks: Alexander, Elson, Malik Allen
Wolves: Brewer, Bassy
NJ: Najera, Boone
NOH: Armstrong, J-Wright
Orlando: JJ Redick
PHX: Tucker, Dudley, Lopez
Sacramento: See Bulls
Toronto: Humpris
Wizards: Blatche

The ones that stand out to me are:

1. from the Bucks - Elson/Alexander - since they are in financial problems - and this could be a way to do a pick swap + player for TE + money with them

2. Wizards - if they want to do the same

3. PHX - Always good for a pick for money / being cheap

Al Thornton catches my eye.

 

[B-Roy]

Al Thornton catches my eye.

Al Thornton isn't leaving.

Plus, Al Thornton = Travis Outlaw.

 

[andalusian]

I agree. LAC knows better than any other team in the league how to get production from cheap players on rookie deals and then dump them. They are not trading Al-T.

 

[free_lafrentz]

Al Thornton isn't leaving.

Plus, Al Thornton = Travis Outlaw.

I guess that's a good comparison. My top 2 assets I'd like, and I've been growing to like this guy even more is Ramon Sessions and David Lee.

Not sure how we get both, but if we could manage to sign one with FA money then the other in a S&T that would be really nice.

 

[Draco]

Can't we do a trade with a team over the cap and take on their extra salary? I thought that was going to be the main advantage of cap space this offseason. Clippers got Camby for free last offseason, we won't have quite that much space but still enough to provide another team substantial relief at the cost of value coming to PDX.

 

[PapaG]

Can't we do a trade with a team over the cap and take on their extra salary? I thought that was going to be the main advantage of cap space this offseason. Clippers got Camby for free last offseason, we won't have quite that much space but still enough to provide another team substantial relief at the cost of value coming to PDX.

Yes, I've said this, but nobody wants to hear it. They are too busy having nervous breakdowns.

 

[Minstrel]

Yes, I've said this, but nobody wants to hear it. They are too busy having nervous breakdowns.

I wanna hear it, yo.

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

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.

Nate Robinson is a point guard, no?

 

[B-Roy]

Nate Robinson is a point guard, no?

No, he's not.

 

[PapaG]

I wanna hear it, yo.

KP said the same thing on the Fan. I've been saying that because of either a trade or FA, the Blazers really had reason to force a trade today.

On a side note, how unreal is it that the Blazers have cap space at all considering the Miles fiasco, yet are still 4th in the West?