Zombie Summer of 2016 NBA Free Agency

[Charcoal Filtered]

It is tough to speculate since the players could opt out in 2017 and we have no idea if teams are going to be silly. My guess is that their will be some really bad contracts given out and just hope it is not us that does it. The four year limit on contracts does save the owners from themselves though.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Realistic targets -- backup PG

Jeremy Lin
Matt Dellavedova
Mario Chalmers

I'd like Dellavedova or Chalmers. Delly could play with any of our guards, Chalmers is clutch and has rings. Would be good fits.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Do NOT over pay for a FA PF. Vonleh will be just fine. He is solid in every area of the game. And he will only get better.

Do not over pay for Barnes. He is a good player, I like him, but I really like Harkless and Crabbe and Aminu. Love our versatility more than paying for one guy.

 

[Natebishop3]

Do NOT over pay for a FA PF. Vonleh will be just fine. He is solid in every area of the game. And he will only get better.

Do not over pay for Barnes. He is a good player, I like him, but I really like Harkless and Crabbe and Aminu. Love our versatility more than paying for one guy.

I like Parsons a lot. I think he would fit in VERY well here. He would be my target.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

We are one guy away, just one. I think we make a splash via trade not signing.

 

[rotary111]

Sign and trade Meyers for whatever you can get. Vonleh is starting to look comfortable.

Sent from my SM-G900P

 

[Pinwheel1]

I like Parsons a lot. I think he would fit in VERY well here. He would be my target.

Parsons looked good tonight. I just don't think he is going anywhere. I think Cuban pays him

 

[ripcityboy]

I think it will definitely be a case of makeup and personality over talent. One thing I hadn't figured till the last few months was just how serious Olshey was about team chemistry. After LMA skipped, I think he realized that Dame HAD to be on board with every move and build a foundation from the ground up. The way the league operates its like, "well get a couple of stars and work the rest out later." (But, hell, that can backfire, just look at Houston.) And that just doesn't work in Portland. You needed one CAPTAIN to build around and build a team that overachieves in many ways. Our only championship was achieved that way. Dame will convince the guys to stay and he'll convince FAs to come here.

 

[Natebishop3]

Parsons looked good tonight. I just don't think he is going anywhere. I think Cuban pays him

You have to wonder though, if you're Parsons and you're 27 years old. Do you really want to commit to that team long term? Dirk is older than dirt. They don't have a good core to build around.

 

[HolyBackboard]

We are one guy away, just one. I think we make a splash via trade not signing.

I was thinking about this on my walk home from work this evening. I think we are two solid players away. We're likely never going to have a Big 3 unless Vonleh develops into a superstar or by a major miracle KD decides to sign here. So how do we win? We just continue to add depth. I feel like we're building this team similar to the 2000 Blazers where you have a ton of good players and are deep at every position. Now, there are a couple of differences, most notably the 2000 team was filled with veterans and this version has the best player of the bunch (Lillard) and a legitimate go-to guy in the clutch (Lillard, again).

If we can keep Crabbe, Harkless, and Henderson and still find room to go after a Barnes/Parsons + Anderson ... now you're looking at a team that's a bonafide WCF contender.

 

[Draco]

If this team keeps exceeding expectations we might just try to keep all our own guys and skip adding anyone.

But who knows it's all just so hard to predict. Last March I would've thought our roster would be totally different than it was in July. Then Wes gets hurt and that team broke up. In July I thought our roster would've performed far worse than it has now. So what happens between now and this coming July? Might not be at all what we expect now.

Neil signs Kent Bazemore for the max and he becomes an all-star.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Lillard
McCollum
_______
Vonleh
Plumlee

This is the core.

The obvious hole is SF.

I'd try to package Cleveland's 1st with our 2018 first as a starter package for Middleton.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Lillard
McCollum
_______
Vonleh
Plumlee

This is the core.

The obvious hole is SF.

I'd try to package Cleveland's 1st with our 2018 first as a starter package for Middleton.

Crabbe should be involved in our core

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I was mainly talking about starters.

 

[Pinwheel1]

You have to wonder though, if you're Parsons and you're 27 years old. Do you really want to commit to that team long term? Dirk is older than dirt. They don't have a good core to build around.

I agree with you. But Cuban is a pretty good salesman. I think he can sell Parson's on the fact that he can lure FA's to Dallas.
Parson's is a Florida boy. Portland seems like a tough sell. Plus does he want to watch the Dame hightligh over and over of the winning shot againt him when he played for Houston ? It has to be a painful memory.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I agree with you. But Cuban is a pretty good salesman. I think he can sell Parson's on the fact that he can lure FA's to Dallas.
Parson's is a Florida boy. Portland seems like a tough sell. Plus does he want to watch the Dame hightligh over and over of the winning shot againt him when he played for Dallas? It has to be a painful memory.

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!

 

[Pinwheel1]

I was mainly talking about starters.

He might never start, but he often finishes. I know I keep repeating myself on Crabbe's length, but I bet his wingspan is on par with most SFs in the league. I would include him in the core.

 

[Sinobas]

A guy I"m thinking could be a good pickup for the Blazers: Festus Ezeli backup center for the Warriors.

He fits age wise, at 26. And look at his per 36 numbers this season. 15/12/2.5 blocks, he is a very good finisher inside at 70%. He just injured his knee

He's -8.5% defensively at the rim, and is actually negative from all over the court. As a comparison Mason is -4%

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

A guy I"m thinking could be a good pickup for the Blazers: Festus Ezeli backup center for the Warriors.

He fits age wise, at 26. And look at his per 36 numbers this season. 15/12/2.5 blocks, he is a very good finisher inside at 70%. He just injured his knee

He's -8.5% defensively at the rim, and is actually negative from all over the court. As a comparison Mason is -4%

Center with a knee injury? Nah.

 

[Sinobas]

He's not supposed to be out all year, so we'd get to see him late in the season and in the playoffs. If it keeps him out all year, then maybe not.

 

[B-Roy]

Lillard
McCollum
_______
Vonleh
Plumlee

This is the core.

The obvious hole is SF.

I'd try to package Cleveland's 1st with our 2018 first as a starter package for Middleton.

The core is Lillard and McCollum. Anyone else can and should be moved for a clear upgrade.

 

[Draco]

I was mainly talking about starters.

So Manu was never part of the Spurs core?

 

[Draco]

Lillard
McCollum
_______
Vonleh
Plumlee

This is the core.

The obvious hole is SF.

I'd try to package Cleveland's 1st with our 2018 first as a starter package for Middleton.

I'd probably put Ed Davis in there. Has the second best PER on the team and excellent defense. He could certainly be on a title contender as a 20mpg player. Again depends how you define core. I think of a core piece as someone who could start if needed or be one of the 3 main backups for a contending team.

Vonleh is hard to project. I've been very impressed with him for his last 5-10 games. But he has a long ways to be an above average NBA starter. So I think either him or the SF need to be a good deal better for us to be a contender. If Vonleh becomes a stud we could be fine with some good role players at SF. If Vonleh is more just an average starter we need something closer to an All-star at SF.

I'm really not sure about Plumlee though. He fits great with this team. But if we have a more offensive minded SF then we might want a more defensive rim protecting center.

 

[BonesJones]

Lillard
McCollum
_______
Vonleh
Plumlee

This is the core.

The obvious hole is SF.

I'd try to package Cleveland's 1st with our 2018 first as a starter package for Middleton.

Middleton would be perfect as our starting SF. I'd try and trade Aminu for a 1st and offer the pick with the two 2018 1sts and filler. But I'm afraid Middleton is untouchable, but Tobias Harris was a same level player on the same kind of contract who got traded for a whole lot less.

Milwaukee could go younger and cheaper because Antetokounmpo is only 21 years old. Maybe trading their expensive contracts (Middleton, Monroe) for assets and cap space then using the capspace to buy free agents who fit with Giannis, Parker, and MCW would be the way to go.

The moves would leave us with around $35M in cap. That means we could sign someone like Horford + Role Player(s), which would then bump us to a top 5 NBA team. It'd be an Olshey move nobody saw coming but would make a ton of sense.

 

[B-Roy]

Middleton is a lot better and more of a modern nba player than Tobias Harris...

 

[Blazinaway]

Middleton would be perfect as our starting SF. I'd try and trade Aminu for a 1st and offer the pick with the two 2018 1sts and filler. But I'm afraid Middleton is untouchable, but Tobias Harris was a same level player on the same kind of contract who got traded for a whole lot less.

Milwaukee could go younger and cheaper because Antetokounmpo is only 21 years old. Maybe trading their expensive contracts (Middleton, Monroe) for assets and cap space then using the capspace to buy free agents who fit with Giannis, Parker, and MCW would be the way to go.

The moves would leave us with around $35M in cap. That means we could sign someone like Horford + Role Player(s), which would then bump us to a top 5 NBA team. It'd be an Olshey move nobody saw coming but would make a ton of sense.

I can't believe I am writing this but if Harkless can keep playing like this he can play either PF or SF as Aminu can - we'll likely have a better answer if he can by seasons end. If he does and we can lock him up for 6-8 mil per then screw these other guys and Harrison Barnes does not impress me at all. However "iF" hark can keep this up his payday this summer is going up as well

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I can't believe I am writing this but if Harkless can keep playing like this he can play either PF or SF as Aminu can - we'll likely have a better answer if he can by seasons end. If he does and we can lock him up for 6-8 mil per then screw these other guys and Harrison Barnes does not impress me at all. However "iF" hark can keep this up his payday this summer is going up as well

Lots of room on the Harkless train. All aboard!!

 

[Nikolokolus]

I remember when I said Leonard would never become a rotational player. I learned. I'm not limiting him, especially offensively. He can shoot from pretty much anywhere on the court. You run plays for him, he keeps developing, and this statement might look pretty funny in a year or two.

As long as it's not at the rim?

I've said my piece about Meyers multiple times (not a fan for the uninitiated/unware), the guy is going to get paid exactly because some GM will be tantalized by his shooting and size -- A classic tease. @Fez Hammersticks called him Bargnani without the dribble and I think that's a pretty apt comparison.

 

[Blazinaway]

As long as it's not at the rim?

I've said my piece about Meyers multiple times (not a fan for the uninitiated/unware), the guy is going to get paid exactly because some GM will be tantalized by his shooting and size -- A classic tease. @Fez Hammersticks called him Bargnani without the dribble and I think that's a pretty apt comparison.

it better as hell NOT be us that pays him!

 

[illmatic99]

Said this a few times earlier before Hark fell out of the rotation, but I like him as our SFotF more than Aminu.

That Chief contract is very movable if needed. He's a more mobile defender than Hark, but I feel like Moe does everything else better. Better handle, better finisher, better rebounder, better shooter.

Edit: Last 5 games:

14.4 pts, 7.2 rebs, 1.4 ast, 1.2 stl on 63% FG, 43% from 3 in 26 mpg. 44% FT is the only negative here. But with more PT, I think that will get consistently better.