Summer 2009

[PapaG]

I think its a huge deal. we had an asset, didn't use it and all it did was open up some cap space this summer. I'm trying to find out what exactly our options are this summer, not some mysterious "let's have Tom Penn figure it out"...because Summer 09 was the target when we traded Zach, wasn't it?

Again though, that's not completely true. RLEC is 1/5 on the dollar out of the Blazer operating budget compared to taking in an equal contract.

 

[PapaG]

Yeah, I forgot Webster. Hopefully, he's still a trade asset even if he doesn't play again this year.

I'm hoping Martell comes back soon, lights it up, and sees his value skyrocket.

 

[Minstrel]

So is the summer of 2009 the very 'last' chance for KP to make a big splash and bring in someone to go with Roy/LMA/Oden? With cap space gone after the summer, I could see this being the last really big shot to land someone big.

Yeah, it seems like summer is. He can open up enough cap space to tempt a team to trade a pretty major player, if he chooses, and sweeten in with a first round pick or two. So summer still offers the chance for a major move.

After this summer, he'll be constrained to MLE signings, drafting and trading talent-for-talent.

 

[Nikolokolus]

i'm guessing Mike Bibby or Raymond Felton are 2 PG's portland's going to look at. one of them might be able to be had at that price.

Perhaps. My feelings are that KP possibly covets Sessions, which is why he demanded him if we were going to take on Jefferson's deal. But beyond offering a restricted free agent a deal, I think consolidation trades are going to be of paramount importance this summer; there are just too many fair to middling players bunched up and too close together in age for there not to be major impacts on chemistry at some point.

 

[PapaG]

So is the summer of 2009 the very 'last' chance for KP to make a big splash and bring in someone to go with Roy/LMA/Oden? With cap space gone after the summer, I could see this being the last really big shot to land someone big.

Oden will hopefully be the biggest improvement on the roster next season regardless of who is brought in this summer.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

yes, we will let his contract expire...leaving us a few mil under the cap. what we can do with that, I'm not sure...you advocate taking back a big contract.....but I just don't see reasonable scenarios for that to happen in which we get a player to fit in with our core other than being a sporadic roleplayer instead of an integral portion.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

IMO we have a glut of small forwards on the team as it stands..none are outstanding at the moment.

Rudy, Batum, Outlaw and Martell. I feel we are going to likely trade at a minimum 2 of those 4 this summer. The problem with the "obvious" (Outlaw and Martell) is that both are under very attractive contracts given their age and potential.

 

[Minstrel]

yes, we will let his contract expire...leaving us a few mil under the cap. what we can do with that, I'm not sure

Up to $13 million under the cap.

you advocate taking back a big contract.....but I just don't see reasonable scenarios for that to happen in which we get a player to fit in with our core other than being a sporadic roleplayer instead of an integral portion.

I have no idea what $13 million in freed money, first round draft picks and Webster can fetch in trade. Hopefully a pretty good player. I am not saying that Pritchard can make a big impact move, just that it is well within the realm of reasonable possibility.

 

[PapaG]

IMO we have a glut of small forwards on the team as it stands..none are outstanding at the moment.

Rudy, Batum, Outlaw and Martell. I feel we are going to likely trade at a minimum 2 of those 4 this summer. The problem with the "obvious" (Outlaw and Martell) is that both are under very attractive contracts given their age and potential.

Yeah, I'm sure there would be teams very interested in them.

 

[B-Roy]

You know that if the cap goes down, we might only be around 6 million (MLE) under the cap, in which case we'd have to give up our MLE but end up only having around MLE to offer.

 

[1 Eye Jack]

Perhaps. My feelings are that KP possibly covets Sessions, which is why he demanded him if we were going to take on Jefferson's deal. But beyond offering a restricted free agent a deal, I think consolidation trades are going to be of paramount importance this summer; there are just too many fair to middling players bunched up and too close together in age for there not to be major impacts on chemistry at some point.

I agree I think Sessions is the target. Great young up and coming PG.

 

[free_lafrentz]

Sessions and Lee I would think are FA Targets.

 

[Minstrel]

You know that if the cap goes down, we might only be around 6 million (MLE) under the cap, in which case we'd have to give up our MLE but end up only having around MLE to offer.

I've been actually using $5 million as my base figure, which is even lower than the one you're using. The difference between that cap space and the MLE is that Portland can expand the cap space by renouncing Blake and can expand it further by renouncing Outlaw. That can't be done with the MLE. Further, the cap space can be used in trade (by taking back more salary than Portland sends out)...that also can't be done with the MLE.

So, there's a fairly large difference.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

Up to $13 million under the cap.



I have no idea what $13 million in freed money, first round draft picks and Webster can fetch in trade. Hopefully a pretty good player. I am not saying that Pritchard can make a big impact move, just that it is well within the realm of reasonable possibility.

Where do you come up with $13 million? Is that if we renounce Channing Frye?

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......

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

Sessions and Lee I would think are FA Targets.

I think Lee will be out of our price range.

 

[maxiep]

What are the plans for Summer of 2009.

We'll be about 7.5-8 million dollars under the salary cap. Raef's Contract and Francis' contract are off the books. Honestly, for all that wheeling and dealing on draft day 07, I thought we would be in a much better position. This does not seem like that much or can deliver much for us.

Exactly, what are our options for this summer?

We realistically only have about $6-$7. So the answer is we can't do much without giving up a TON of talent. The free lunch is over.

 

[free_lafrentz]

When does Francis come off?

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

We realistically only have about $6-$7. So the answer is we can't do much without giving up a TON of talent. The free lunch is over.

that's what i was thinking.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

When does Francis come off?

end of the season. so this number includes all the "flexibility" from his huge contract coming off as well as LaFrentz...we've had to live with those two fucking contracts for the last 2 years and now all we get is shit from it. same goes with Miles too...we can't trade that away...we would have been better keeping him on the roster. yuck.

 

[GoBlazersGo]

I'd probably go after Ramon Sessions and, either, Trevor Ariza or Josh Childress... if it were up to me.

 

[Minstrel]

Where do you come up with $13 million? Is that if we renounce Channing Frye?

Based on normal increases in the cap, letting LaFrentz expire and renouncing Frye and Diogu would open up about $10 million in cap space. But Stern said that the cap may actually drop a bit, so I'm cutting that number in half, to $5 million.

Renouncing Blake would free up $4 million more in cap space. Renouncing Outlaw would free up another $4 million in cap space. That adds up to around $13 million.

Obviously, renouncing Blake and Outlaw costs the team some value, so it would have to be done only if they can get a return on that extra money that's superior to Blake and/or Outlaw. The point is, they have the option to do this if, for example, Charlotte decides that $13 million of immediate savings would be great and they'll give us Gerald Wallace.

 

[B-Roy]

I've been actually using $5 million as my base figure, which is even lower than the one you're using. The difference between that cap space and the MLE is that Portland can expand the cap space by renouncing Blake and can expand it further by renouncing Outlaw. That can't be done with the MLE. Further, the cap space can be used in trade (by taking back more salary than Portland sends out)...that also can't be done with the MLE.

So, there's a fairly large difference.

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

 

[Nikolokolus]

We realistically only have about $6-$7. So the answer is we can't do much without giving up a TON of talent. The free lunch is over.

Add in team options on Blake (4 million) and Travis (3.6 million) and the cap figure can climb dramatically.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

I think the chances of us renouncing Blake and/or Outlaw are at 0%. It sounds cool on teh interwebs, but its not a very realistic scenario.

 

[Minstrel]

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

It's the same thing to Portland. But if the other team, that Portland wants to trade with, prefers cash savings to Blake or Outlaw, then having the option to renounce those players gives Portland more flexibility to make a trade. If the other team wants Outlaw, then Portland can simply choose not to renounce him and package him with, say, $9 million in cap savings.

 

[Minstrel]

I think the chances of us renouncing Blake and/or Outlaw are at 0%. It sounds cool on teh interwebs, but its not a very realistic scenario.

Renouncing Outlaw is unlikely. Blake is eminently possible. It entirely depends on what the options are. If Portland can net Sessions? Goodbye Blake.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

Renouncing Outlaw is unlikely. Blake is eminently possible. It entirely depends on what the options are. If Portland can net Sessions? Goodbye Blake.

I just can't see it happening even if we can get sessions. Blake is a very apt point guard, not old...well liked in the community. I just can't imagine KP being that much of a dick to him for the second time....

 

[Nikolokolus]

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

Sure, but then we also have the option of trading other spare parts (Sergio, etc.) for another player.

I wouldn't be shocked to see the team waive Travis or Blake, get one free agent acquisition, make one lopsided trade, and then use their trade exception to get another team's first round pick and try to get a legit backup power forward that way (or maybe finally bring Freeland over?)

Lots of options moving forward.

 

[J_Ray]

Assloads? I thought he makes $6-7 mill / year there, but I could be wrong.

Childress signed a 3yr/$30-$33 million contract...and he just tore his ACL this season, so not sure what his status would be going into next year since those injuries linger for at least a year.

 

[Minstrel]

I just can't see it happening even if we can get sessions. Blake is a very apt point guard, not old...well liked in the community. I just can't imagine KP being that much of a dick to him for the second time....

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.