That really was Wes' last game as a Blazer, wasn't it?

[KingSpeed]

Lying in bed, I thought it through. If we succeed (win at least 2 rounds in playoffs) with Afflalo, it will make sense to re-sign Afflalo. Other teams need Wes and will be willing to take a huge gamble on him. It wouldn't be prudent for us to give a large contract to an injured guy playing a position that is well taken care of especially if CJ blossoms. It's sad but maybe he'll come back later in his career.

The only other thing I can think of is if Afflalo opts in, then we'd be more willing to give Wes money.

I don't know. It's killing me.

 

[Strenuus]

I think he comes back regardless.

Either way, I can't wait for the reception he's gonna get the first time he's back at the Rose Garden!

 

[dviss1]

There is absolutely no way Wes is leaving... I just don't see it happening. I think it (the injury) only means we'll pay less.

 

[riverman]

I say he spends his entire career with the Blazers and he'll have a long career. This injury is challenging and disappointing but not career ending yet. Nobody thought Paul George would be playing full court this spring in practice...Wes will be back.

 

[crowTrobot]

I could see other teams offering something like a near max 2 year deal with team option on the second year, but seems unlikely Wes will be offered guaranteed 4-5 year deal at 10m+ elsewhere like he would have been.

PA on the other hand might have sort of a gamble-on-the-future-because-of-contributions-in-the-past thing going on, and will probably be willing to blow away any remotely conservative offers from other teams.

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

I do not see a team throwing huge money at him now. Most likely scenario I see is us signing him to a one year deal, possibly after he is ready to play. then rewarding him next offseason with the salary cap jumping.

 

[PCmor7]

I have no inside information, but I expect him to be back. And I usually am not that optimistic. Just that my gut leads me that way and I think the injury might make a return even more likely for a couple of reasons.

 

[magnifier661]

How about lets not worry about losing him huh?

 

[kjironman1]

I think he comes back but like Sly's other thread is pointing out he has a very tough road getting healthy and playing anywhere near the same level. That is as close to a career ending injury as you get without it actually being called one. His claim to fame has been defense and that is where he is going to take a hit. Now he is going to become a spot up shooter and that means he will become a bench rotation guy at best.

 

[rasheedfan2005]

Quality anti jinx

Wes is a blazer 4 life.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I just can't see a team paying him lots of money factoring in his injury. He hasn't proven to be a first or second option on a team, he's a swing-third plus he has an achillies injury. A GM would be a real idiot to take a gamble on a big contract, its what made the knicks the knicks they are right now.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

If a team offers Wes a stupid high $$$ contract do we match it?

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Quality anti jinx

Wes is a blazer 4 life.

Technically he can never be a Blazer for life.

 

[brooklynballer]

If a team offers Wes a stupid high $$$ contract do we match it?

I wouldn't if I were NO - too much risk. I would sign him to a 1- or 2-year deal to see how he's recovered from the Achilles injury. If he can demonstrate that there are no ill effects from the injury then resign him to a larger $ contract.

 

[blue32]

Maybe maybe not

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Technically he can never be a Blazer for life.

Jerome was.

 

[Eastoff]

I'm on the KS camp. I think NYK are desperate and will gamble. NO will let them take the gamble.

 

[BBert]

No

IOW

What everyone else said.

Don't worry about it KS. Wes will be back on the court off the Blazers bench this December.

Bank on it.

 

[BBert]

If a team offers Wes a stupid high $$$ contract do we match it?

Are there suicidal GMs with mad cap room who want to spend it on a shooting guard who is in the middle of rehabbing a ruptured Achilles?

That seems extremely unlikely.

 

[kjironman1]

If a team offers Wes a stupid high $$$ contract do we match it?

Depends on what you call"Stupidly high"? What do you base it on? Where would your cutoff be? Is a guy dealing with what most call a career ending injury worth anything more than a 1-2 year contract? Do they pay him plenty just to see if he comes back strong?
When does this become a business decision?

 

[kjironman1]

I think the Blazers will pay to keep him throughout his rehab. They will pay more than any other team for a short time to see what he can do.
I personally think they owe him that much.

 

[BBert]

I think the Blazers will pay to keep him throughout his rehab. They will pay more than any other team for a short time to see what he can do.
I personally think they owe him that much.

This

 

[Further]

I would love Wes to stay, but with all the teams with money to spend and a very limited number of quality players this year, I think Wes is gone. Wes has always been an iron man and has built that reputation, making many GM's feel if ever there is an injured person to take a flier on, it's Wes. With Crabbe and CJ on deck, and AA being a capable starter, I just don't see the Blazers matching what will likely be a pretty lofty offer.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I think the chances of him coming back to the Blazers are extremely high. The more articles I read on this type of injury and how many players never fully recover from it, leads me to believe that the only team that Wes will definitely brings value to.....are the Blazers. And much of that value is "emotional". Wes is our emotional leader. No one else's. So why would someone else take the chance on him unless the contract was really low.

Now I am not saying Wes can't come back from this injury, just that the statistics seem higher that he won't than from other injuries. In an age of "analytics" and limited cap space, teams will be looking closely at the statistics of other players who had the injury and didn't fully recover. And even though the chances are still around 50/50 ....is that enough for another team to use all their precious cap space on?

I think the only way he does not come back is if he feels insulted by the Portland offer and takes a one year offer somewhere else in order to prove everyone wrong. We know Wes has a lot of pride and I think that his pride is the only thing that would keep him from coming back. So as long as he doesn't feel slighted by the Blazers, he will be back.

 

[julius]

The good thing is, other teams can't sign Wesley to a huge contract and cause the Blazers to rush to make a move. Their free agents are all RFA, so it won't matter if their cap space is being used by Wesley on the first day or the last day of free agency.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

If a team offers Wes a stupid high $$$ contract do we match it?

I can't believe anyone would offer him a stupidly high contract and not expect to see instant dividends from him. Like Bert said above, he won't even be half into rehab. They are taking a real chance with a large amount of money with as one of your posts suggested him may never making it on the court again. But for fun, No I wouldn't match it. I don't think the Blazers will have to.

And I have no concerns about him coming back. Blazers will in the end will be out to take care of him and will offer him a nice, fair contract to him based on all his hard work and previous contributions.

 

[magnifier661]

I think the chances of him coming back to the Blazers are extremely high. The more articles I read on this type of injury and how many players never fully recover from it, leads me to believe that the only team that Wes will definitely brings value to.....are the Blazers. And much of that value is "emotional". Wes is our emotional leader. No one else's. So why would someone else take the chance on him unless the contract was really low.

Now I am not saying Wes can't come back from this injury, just that the statistics seem higher that he won't than from other injuries. In an age of "analytics" and limited cap space, teams will be looking closely at the statistics of other players who had the injury and didn't fully recover. And even though the chances are still around 50/50 ....is that enough for another team to use all their precious cap space on?

I think the only way he does not come back is if he feels insulted by the Portland offer and takes a one year offer somewhere else in order to prove everyone wrong. We know Wes has a lot of pride and I think that his pride is the only thing that would keep him from coming back. So as long as he doesn't feel slighted by the Blazers, he will be back.

Well I sure hope we don't slight him. I would hate to be the team he always shows up for

 

[3RA1N1AC]

i think something protecting both sides could work, something like 2 years/16 million, with a player option after the first year. he makes good, he opts out and gets a massive contract. if hes a a desiccated husk, he gets 16 million to ride into the sunset with

 

[3RA1N1AC]

whats the timeline? 6-9 months?



i fully expect wes back starting by opening night next year, maybe ill be disappointed but i dont think so

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I'm on the KS camp. I think NYK are desperate and will gamble. NO will let them take the gamble.

That would be the most New York Knicks move of all time.