Zombie Time to evaluate

[KeepOnRollin]

Marvin Williams needs to be added to this list. I don't understand why he's not getting any attention; he's one of the best UFA PF options out there this summer.

I like Marvin Williams as well. But he is only a PF in the same sense that Al-Farouq Aminu is a PF. In that they really aren't they just play one on TV. Stotts would like him though as he loves stretch 4's.

I would take Marvin as a backup plan but I would prefer a true bruiser PF personally. We might not be able to be picky this off-season though so still a good suggestion!

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I like Marvin Williams as well. But he is only a PF in the same sense that Al-Farouq Aminu is a PF. In that they really aren't they just play one on TV. Stotts would like him though as he loves stretch 4's.

I would take Marvin as a backup plan but I would prefer a true bruiser PF personally. We might not be able to be picky this off-season though so still a good suggestion!

Marvin Williams is 6'9" 240. He may not be Zach Randolph, but he's MUCH more of a PF than Aminu. The main thing is that he's a much more effective offensive player than Aminu, IMO.

 

[e_blazer]

It will be very difficult for the Blazers to get better this off-season. Every player suggested in this thread that would be an upgrade will also be receiving interest from 20 other teams, or more.

The hard truth is, we may lose several of our 5 FA young guns. We may start next season with less depth than we have now. We have no draft picks to reload with projects on rookie contracts. Denver cashes in our first and the Bulls own our second round pick.

Olshey will need to pull a rabbit out of his hat this summer to improve this roster.

Whoa, you're definitely a glass half empty guy. In fact, you may be a full-blown that glass is as dry as dust so I may as well smash it kind of guy.

This narrative that Portland is the doormat of NBA free agency is really tired. Olshey has assembled a bunch of young guys who love playing here. They've achieved unexpected success and the league has noticed. There are going to be plenty of free agents who are looking for what Olshey will be selling this summer.

 

[Natebishop3]

If I'm a free agent, I'm looking at Portland and thinking "I can help that team."

Anyone looking in from the outside can see that we're a young team with a couple of star caliber players, but some holes in the starting lineup. If I'm Horford or even Durant, I'm thinking I can win with that team.

 

[riverman]

any NBA player that has been in the Moda Center for a game knows what we have to offer...best fans in the league..roster filled with guys who like the coach and each other..team captain with a global brand and a chance to play...what's not to like?

 

[blue9]

I haven't seen enough Marvin Williams to have a solid opinion on him. But from what I have seen, I'd take him at SF - not PF, but SF. I suspect that he will get reasonable contract offers, and not something outrageous, which is another reason why he's the only realistic Free Agent I'm interested in pursuing. Although, a non-traditional Free Agent I also hope we explore is Larry Sanders. If we could get both Williams and Sanders on good contracts that would be the best I could hope for this summer. Then lock in Crabbe and Meyers on team-friendly contracts and call it a day as far as signings go.

We should look to trade for a PF. Vonleh for Taj Gibson is what I'm pitching.

PG: Dame/CJ/Montero
SG: CJ/Crabbe
SF: Williams/Aminu/Pat
PF: Gibson/Davis/Alexander
C: Plumlee/Sanders/Meyers

If we're able to get the above roster then Olshey starts working the final tinker-trade(s), utilizing some combo of Aminu/Davis/Crabbe/Plumlee/Meyers as the primary bait.

 

[riverman]

I think Vonleh is a keeper...at his age the sky is the limit..his defensive skillset is ahead of the curve already but I like the idea of taking a chance on an affordable Larry Sanders..he's got a boatload of talent and won't get big bucks in a return to the league

 

[Schilly]

Nope. You said we had ONE legit NBA starter. And Plumlee is legit too, by the way. He was the best player in the Clippers series, the only Blazer with a 20+ PER. Also, Aminu dropped 30 on the Clippers. You are wrong about our guys.

Do you have to hijack every thread with your compulsive desire to assault specific people?

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

This is all true, however, I still think some of his perceived length problems are actually something else in disguise, especially in regards to getting stuffed in the paint. One of the tnt announcers pointed out that Plumlee needs to take another dribble closer to the basketball ring before elevating for his shot. I had never thought about that before and started paying attention to that detail. And it is totally true. He is taking off from the ground entirely too early and this is making him jump more horizontally than vertically. And this leads to not as much lift and consequently getting his shot eaten alive. This is a teachable moment for him if they look at film. Will this make his arms grow? Nope. But, I think he could measurably increase his chances of successful drives.

Plus he doesn't actually shoot the ball; he pushes it horizontally towards the basket.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Marvin Williams is 6'9" 240. He may not be Zach Randolph, but he's MUCH more of a PF than Aminu. The main thing is that he's a much more effective offensive player than Aminu, IMO.

I said I would take a look at him. He is a good suggestion. But Aminu is also 6 foot 9. Sure Marvin has 20 pounds on him but Williams also didn't play any PF until last season (as in 14-15 I mean) so it isn't like teams thought he would be a PF all along.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

You guys have done a good job covering the better ideas to fill in the rotation holes. I am going make a suggestion to fill in the other end of our bench, spot 15.

FA Dewayne Dedmon, 7’ Center, will be signed by someone for next to nothing. He went undrafted, bounced around the NBA & D league for a couple of seasons. He was very raw and needed a lot of development. Then he spent two seasons with the Magic.

Fast forward to today. He has now played in 148 games for the Magic, starting 41 of them. He has made good progress, but is only 26 years old with room to grow. He is not ready to start for a playoff team, but probably would do fine in certain situations off of the bench.

I would consider him as our 3rd center on the cheap to replace Kaman. His low cost vs ceiling is worth the gamble.

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/2580913/dewayne-dedmon

That's a good find. I would rather go with a guy like him (and try to find the next Whiteside) rather than sign a Whiteside at a huge contract. He actually shoots free throws pretty good and made 37% of his jump shots in college. Of course if we got him I really would like to get that big man coach we have been waiting for a couple of years.http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/DeWayne-Dedmon-6506/

 

[oldfisherman]

Whoa, you're definitely a glass half empty guy. In fact, you may be a full-blown that glass is as dry as dust so I may as well smash it kind of guy.

This narrative that Portland is the doormat of NBA free agency is really tired. Olshey has assembled a bunch of young guys who love playing here. They've achieved unexpected success and the league has noticed. There are going to be plenty of free agents who are looking for what Olshey will be selling this summer.

I agree with you 100%. If Olshey can sign a max caliber starter such as Horford, I will be doing the happy dance, and then back flips with a brown bottle in my hand to celebrate.

But, the reality is. Every team will be looking to improve. Every team wants Horford. Almost every team has a lot of money to spend on FAs.

To improve, unless it is a Horford type max player, Olshey will need to overpay. Just to keep some of our FAs will probably cost a lot more than most Blazer fans want to believe.

What we need is a third scorer that can create his own shot. This will take pressure off of Dame & CJ. Blazers fans that want to trade CJ, who can create his own shot, for a big that can not create his own shot, are nuts.

If Olshey overpays for a FA, it better be for one that can create his own shot, or, the Blazers will not improve by very much, if at all.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

That's a good find. I would rather go with a guy like him (and try to find the next Whiteside) rather than sign a Whiteside at a huge contract. He actually shoots free throws pretty good and made 37% of his jump shots in college. Of course if we got him I really would like to get that big man coach we have been waiting for a couple of years.http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/DeWayne-Dedmon-6506/

However I see that Orlando can make him a restricted free agent by extending a qualifying offer.

 

[Schilly]

Williams has always been a PF in a bigger SF body. Jeff Green is similar that way.

 

[PCmor7]

Meyers is not agile, nor is he actually that strong. And there's maybe three big guys in the league that he's actually good at defending.

I realize some people don't like to admit it because Meyers Leonard didn't live up to being an elite center or even a fulltime starter, but I think to deny that he actually moves pretty well and can hold his own in the low post against some of the physically stronger centers in this league to the point that he actually gets under their skin is being willfully and completely blind to the truth. But the most physically-gifted player in the world -- and I am not saying Meyers Leonard is that -- can only do so much when he doesn't have the mindset, instincts and experience to use those raw tools.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

I agree with you 100%. If Olshey can sign a max caliber starter such as Horford, I will be doing the happy dance, and then back flips with a brown bottle in my hand to celebrate.

But, the reality is. Every team will be looking to improve. Every team wants Horford. Almost every team has a lot of money to spend on FAs.

To improve, unless it is a Horford type max player, Olshey will need to overpay. Just to keep some of our FAs will probably cost a lot more than most Blazer fans want to believe.

What we need is a third scorer that can create his own shot. This will take pressure off of Dame & CJ. Blazers fans that want to trade CJ, who can create his own shot, for a big that can not create his own shot, are nuts.

If Olshey overpays for a FA, it better be for one that can create his own shot, or, the Blazers will not improve by very much, if at all.

We will have most the young guys under restricted free agency. So we pretty much can bring them back if we want to.

Henderson and kaman can go wherever they want, but meh.

The only two i really would like to resign for sure are harkless and crabbe. Maybe leonard if the price is right.

 

[Schilly]

So here is a hypothetical.... Which would you rather have? Ryan Anderson, or Meyers Leonard and Roy Hibbert.

BTW before anyone gets the undergarments in a knot, I am not a fan of Hibbert at all nor Advocating him as being our big target. I do think though that the price of those 2 options is overall about the same.

 

[Natebishop3]

So here is a hypothetical.... Which would you rather have? Ryan Anderson, or Meyers Leonard and Roy Hibbert.

BTW before anyone gets the undergarments in a knot, I am not a fan of Hibbert at all nor Advocating him as being our big target. I do think though that the price of those 2 options is overall about the same.

Based on talent alone? Anderson. Hands down.

Based on contract? They're all going to be overpaid. Still probably Anderson.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Based on talent alone? Anderson. Hands down.

Based on contract? They're all going to be overpaid. Still probably Anderson.

Agreed. I just dont see meyers ever averaging 20 ppg.

 

[riverman]

So here is a hypothetical.... Which would you rather have? Ryan Anderson, or Meyers Leonard and Roy Hibbert.

BTW before anyone gets the undergarments in a knot, I am not a fan of Hibbert at all nor Advocating him as being our big target. I do think though that the price of those 2 options is overall about the same.

B...and it's not even close but I'd replace Hibbert with Sanders for even less money

 

[riverman]

Anderson is talented but fragile...he's always injured

 

[Orion Bailey]

So here is a hypothetical.... Which would you rather have? Ryan Anderson, or Meyers Leonard and Roy Hibbert.

BTW before anyone gets the undergarments in a knot, I am not a fan of Hibbert at all nor Advocating him as being our big target. I do think though that the price of those 2 options is overall about the same.

Thats a tough one. I think Hibbert and Leonard are more valuable combined than Anderson, but can Leonard and Hibbert work well on this roster?

Not necessarily together but with the rest of the roster.

Can I have leonard and Anderson? And force Leonard into C? Lets make a deal!

 

[Natebishop3]

Anderson is talented but fragile...he's always injured

I don't think you can bring that in as a factor while Meyers has missed most of the season with a recurring shoulder injury.

 

[riverman]

I don't think you can bring that in as a factor while Meyers has missed most of the season with a recurring shoulder injury.

Anderson has missed season after season with injuries...sure I can bring it up...having Meyers and a big like Hibbert or Sanders as opposed to Ryan Anderson? To me it's not even a discussion

 

[Natebishop3]

Anderson has missed season after season with injuries...sure I can bring it up...having Meyers and a big like Hibbert or Sanders as opposed to Ryan Anderson? To me it's not even a discussion

Hibbert is awful. That ship has sailed. We are never signing Hibbert.

So the alternative is sign a guy that might get injured, or sign two guys that suck? I don't like those choices.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Anderson has missed season after season with injuries...sure I can bring it up...having Meyers and a big like Hibbert or Sanders as opposed to Ryan Anderson? To me it's not even a discussion

Anderson is a proven scorer in the league from a position we sorely need it from. Leonard is not a proven scorer.

 

[Natebishop3]

Larry Sanders already quit on basketball.

Hibbert is in the process of quitting on basketball.

I wouldn't sign either of them, unless we can have them at Walmart bargain bin discount prices.

 

[riverman]

Anderson is a proven scorer in the league from a position we sorely need it from. Leonard is not a proven scorer.

hard to score much if you're in a suit or bagged in ice...I don't like his health flags....I agree he's a lights out shooter and smart player..just think he's a high risk roster spot

 

[riverman]

Larry Sanders already quit on basketball.

Hibbert is in the process of quitting on basketball.

I wouldn't sign either of them, unless we can have them at Walmart bargain bin discount prices.

I read some Sanders articles and he's prepping for a return...read a rumor Olshey had called him. That guy is a rim protector. Michael Jordan quit basketball to play baseball....that doesn't bother me

 

[Schilly]

Hmm interesting.... Anderson hasn't quite had a 20ppg season, career average is 13.1ppg or 18.1pp36 with a career usage of 22.6%. Meyers on the other hand has a higher effective FG% (And better 2pt% and 3pt%) for his career, better rebounding and assist numbers, better at blocking shots and Drtg. From a stats standpoint the only ANderson has had a better career PER and takes about 5 shots more per game. Give Meyers 939 fga in a season and let's see how his scoring is. Yeah I get the whole eyeball test thing, but there is also the concept of Moneyball and statistical evaluation that is fact, not opinion as well.

Now all that said I'm not saying Anderson is a worse player, but I am saying is people in here are seeing Anderson as being greener grass.