Tank, or mediocrity?

[Rastapopoulos]

On the assumption that Aldridge is gone, what now? We have a bunch of cap space to use now - how should we use it?
I say go full-on with the tankage.

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

The main problem with tanking is that there is a salary cap floor right? Can we just sign 10 guys to 1 year deals so they expire this year? will lillard be ok with that?

 

[magnifier661]

You forgot to add lopsided trades so I can't vote.

 

[Pinwheel1]

On the assumption that Aldridge is gone, what now? We have a bunch of cap space to use now - how should we use it?
I say go full-on with the tankage.

So what does that mean "full-on tankage"? Trade Dame?
We have to sign players to get to the minimum. Who do we add?

 

[oldmangrouch]

 

[Rastapopoulos]

So what does that mean "full-on tankage"? Trade Dame?
We have to sign players to get to the minimum. Who do we add?

The sensational BOBAN MARJANOVIC!!!!!!!!!!!!



Failing that: other teams' final cut day in training camp = our Christmas!

 

[Rastapopoulos]

So what does that mean "full-on tankage"? Trade Dame?

We missed the boat on that one - the bloom is off the rose.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Aldridge.


Ain't.


Leaving.

 

[RR7]

Jesus Christ you're becoming insufferable.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Jesus Christ you're becoming insufferable.

Religious crisis? Or poor punctuation?

 

[TBpup]

IF the Blazers were to tank, set it up for a 1-year full on tankage. Sign a you SF like Aminu, play the hell out of the young guys...really develop them, hope you get lucky with the lottery pick like a Ben Simmons next summer and then be ready to make a sustained run for 5-7 years.

Plumlee/Leonard
Leonard/Vonley
Aminu/Crabbe
Henderson/CJ
Dame/CJ/Frazier

Have a veteran or two around like Henderson and Kaman to help mentor the young guys and let their talent flourish....see what you have.

That would be 5 lottery picks plus technically a 6th if you could get Henderson to stay. Not a bad crop to build on. Mediocrity from around #5 seeding in the playoffs down to aroun #7-14 in the lottery just isn't a good place to be.

 

[Sinobas]

IF the Blazers were to tank, set it up for a 1-year full on tankage. Sign a you SF like Aminu, play the hell out of the young guys...really develop them, hope you get lucky with the lottery pick like a Ben Simmons next summer and then be ready to make a sustained run for 5-7 years.

Plumlee/Leonard
Leonard/Vonley
Aminu/Crabbe
Henderson/CJ
Dame/CJ/Frazier

Have a veteran or two around like Henderson and Kaman to help mentor the young guys and let their talent flourish....see what you have.

That would be 5 lottery picks plus technically a 6th if you could get Henderson to stay. Not a bad crop to build on. Mediocrity from around #5 seeding in the playoffs down to aroun #7-14 in the lottery just isn't a good place to be.

I think there is some sort of rule about needing to spend most of your cap space. (any cap experts out there), and this roster wouldn't come close.

 

[TBpup]

I think there is some sort of rule about needing to spend most of your cap space. (any cap experts out there), and this roster wouldn't come close.

Of course there is a team minimum. That is only 9 players listed above. You fill out the rest with 3-5 more players that equal up to the minimum salary but play guys that you are hoping you can build on in the future, not guys like Dorell Wright, Steve Blake, Chris Kaman etc.

 

[BrianFromWA]

you don't need to worry too much about the team minimum. Even if you played all season with just a (say) 40M salary, NOT cap number (well under the 90%, or about 60M in 2015-16), the only "bad" thing that happens to you is you have to cut a check to your roster that splits the difference between your salary and the minimum, split among the players

 

[TBpup]

you don't need to worry too much about the team minimum. Even if you played all season with just a (say) 40M salary, NOT cap number (well under the 90%, or about 60M in 2015-16), the only "bad" thing that happens to you is you have to cut a check to your roster that splits the difference between your salary and the minimum, split among the players

They would probably like that. I'd rather do that than pay a bunch of straggler vets who are just taking up a roster space.

 

[Denny Crane]

There's no option to try to build cap space for next summer. Not a bad option, IMO.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Even with the cap jump, it's going to be tough to be in a better position than we (potentially) are this summer. Dame, for one, goes from a ~4M cap hit to about 21M. Leonard should get a decent bump in pay. The rookie contract players all will tick up a million or so each. I imagine our floor is probably around 45M, sluffing off as much as possible. On a 90M projected cap, we're still at 45M cap space (nothing to sneeze at, but about what we can get to right now).

 

[Denny Crane]

Even with the cap jump, it's going to be tough to be in a better position than we (potentially) are this summer. Dame, for one, goes from a ~4M cap hit to about 21M. Leonard should get a decent bump in pay. The rookie contract players all will tick up a million or so each. I imagine our floor is probably around 45M, sluffing off as much as possible. On a 90M projected cap, we're still at 45M cap space (nothing to sneeze at, but about what we can get to right now).

Yeah, but you can offer the new MAX salary to get a FA, maybe two.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Yeah, but you can offer the new MAX salary to get a FA, maybe two.

Sure, but there will be even more FA money out there next summer than this; what would make the Blazer FO think they would have any more success then than they're not having now?

 

[Denny Crane]

Sure, but there will be even more FA money out there next summer than this; what would make the Blazer FO think they would have any more success then than they're not having now?

I think there will be enough quality FAs go to around. Probably a better selection, too.

My point is tying up cap space now, you may regret it next summer.

 

[RoyToy]

Feels like this team is fucked going forward next season

Aldridge is most likely gone and the Blazers just don't attract the best free agents.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Sure, but there will be even more FA money out there next summer than this; what would make the Blazer FO think they would have any more success then than they're not having now?

"If you build it, he will come" theory is our best option. Right now there is too much "unknown" about the team's future. It is a harder sell. Our best chance is to put together the best team we can and fill that missing piece with a FA. If a players sees himself as that missing piece he will land in Portland. Just like Charles wanted to do in the 90's.

LMA would help, but if we lose him then we better hope either Vonleh or Meyers impresses everyone.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

can't tank, we lose our pick next year unless we are one of the worst teams in the league

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I think there will be enough quality FAs go to around. Probably a better selection, too.

My point is tying up cap space now, you may regret it next summer.

This.

 

[BrianFromWA]

We just need to not make the playoffs to keep our pick. And frankly, that's a non-zero possibility from today's vantage point.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

We just need to not make the playoffs to keep our pick. And frankly, that's a non-zero possibility from today's vantage point.

Wow - don't sugar-coat it!

 

[BlazerWookee]

Feels like this team is fucked going forward next season

Aldridge is most likely gone and the Blazers just don't attract the best free agents.

"Most likely," lol...

 

[glazeduck]

can't tank, we lose our pick next year unless we are one of the worst teams in the league

The pick is lottery protected next year and the following year, so unless you're envisioning a "tank, but somehow make the playoffs scenario", then yes, we can tank...

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Tristan Thompson seems to be something of a forgotten man in free agency. He was a big part of the Cavs' run.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Tristan Thompson seems to be something of a forgotten man in free agency. He was a big part of the Cavs' run.

Because he is Restricted and seems like a stone-cold lock to resign with the Cavs. LeBron wants him more than Love.