Free Agent Under the Radar Free Agent List

[TBpup]

CBSSports.com has a list of 50 'Under the Radar' Free Agents and there may be some that were missed. https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/...market-from-patrick-beverley-to-derrick-rose/
From that list (a few additional players were added), the RFA's have been removed and the rest grouped into something close to a position on the floor. There are a lot of names out there and after the big money dries up, it seems possible that the Blazers may have the opportunity for a minimum expense veteran or two. In alphabetical order of first name:

GUARDS:
Austin Rivers
Avery Bradley
Derrick Rose
Elfrid Payton
George Hill
Isaiah Thomas
Patrick Beverly
Quinn Cook
Rajon Rondo
Seth Curry
Shabazz Napier
Tim Frazier
TJ McConnell
Wayne Ellington

WINGS:
Al-Farouq Aminu
DeMarre Carroll
Garrett Temple
Jared Dudley
Jeremy Lamb
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Kyle Korver
Reggie Bullock
Rodney Hood
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
Rudy Gay
Thabo Sefolosha
Wes Matthews

FORWARDS:
Bobby Portis
Greg Monroe
JaMychal Green
Jordan Bell
Mike Scott
Noah Vonleh
Taj Gibson

BIGS:
DeAndre Jordan
Dewayne Dedmon
Dragan Bender
Ed Davis
Frank Kaminsky
Ivica Zubac
JaVale McGee
Joakim Noah
Jonas Valenciunas
Kevon Looney
Kosta Koufos
Nerlens Noel
Robin Lopez
Tyson Chandler

I would think at the least a 'big' might sign here because of the opportunity for minutes with Nurkic out and Kantor possibly not coming back. Wouldn't might a Reggie Bullock type or Noah Vonleh on the cheap. Do you trust Ant with the backup PG duties or do you go after a Derrick Rose or bring back friend of Dame, Timmy?

 

[Reep]

I would think at the least a 'big' might sign here because of the opportunity for minutes with Nurkic out and Kantor possibly not coming back. Wouldn't might a Reggie Bullock type or Noah Vonleh on the cheap. Do you trust Ant with the backup PG duties or do you go after a Derrick Rose or bring back friend of Dame, Timmy?

If we dump Aminu and don't somehow get Love or Griffin, I would really like Vonleh back on the cheap.

Bender seems like a total Neil project if he is available cheap.

Valenciunas is probably too expensive, as is Noel.

RoLo or Chandler would be nice placeholders until Nurkic comes back.

 

[noknobs]

I'd like Easy Ed or RoLo to come back.

 

[Scalma]

Kyle O’Quinn, Cheick Diallo, Nando de Colo. Where are they? They’re at the top of my list.

Greg Monroe is a poor mans Kanter, wouldn’t mind it if they struck out on other bigs.

 

[BigGameDamian]

I'd like Easy Ed or RoLo to come back.

Because there untouchable?

 

[GhostOfPGA]

Carmelo. Anthony.


Lol jk

 

[tlongII]

We will have to sign 2 or 3 just to fill out our roster.

 

[illmatic99]

I would absolutely LOVE the idea of bringing Ed back.

Also we need to be patient here-- don't overpay a guy on July 1.

 

[GhostOfPGA]

I would absolutely LOVE the idea of bringing Ed back.

Also we need to be patient here-- don't overpay a guy on July 1.

I don’t think it’s possible for us to overpay anyone lol

 

[illmatic99]

I don’t think it’s possible for us to overpay anyone lol

I mean we need to get two guys for our TP MLE. Adding Tim Frazier and Ed Davis for a total of 5 mil would be nuts.

 

[TBpup]

Kyle O’Quinn, Cheick Diallo, Nando de Colo. Where are they? They’re at the top of my list.

Greg Monroe is a poor mans Kanter, wouldn’t mind it if they struck out on other bigs.

de Colo is a RFA and I took those out. Diallo was as well but was just renounced so will be a UFA. O'Quinn is one of those "some were missed" candidates.

 

[Scalma]

Davis isn’t coming back. There’s a reason they let him go.

 

[Scalma]

Kaminsky is now an UFA.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I'd be happy to give Thabo Sefolosha a shot.

 

[Scalma]

I'd be happy to give Thabo Sefolosha a shot.

If we dump Harkless he’d be a nice bridge to Little.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

 

[illmatic99]

Davis isn’t coming back. There’s a reason they let him go.

Our starting C is gonna be out til prolly 2020. The reason he was let go was to give Zach minutes behind Nurk. Now with no Nurk for an extended period, it makes total sense for both the team and Ed to come back (provided he doesn't get $$$ elsewhere).

I'd roll with a 3 man rotation of Ed/Zach/Meyers for 3-4 months. Prefer that to bringing Kanter back, tbh.

 

[Scalma]

Our starting C is gonna be out til prolly 2020. The reason he was let go was to give Zach minutes behind Nurk. Now with no Nurk for an extended period, it makes total sense for both the team and Ed to come back (provided he doesn't get $$$ elsewhere).

I'd roll with a 3 man rotation of Ed/Zach/Meyers for 3-4 months. Prefer that to bringing Kanter back, tbh.

Olshey specifically mentioned why they let him go and it had little to do with Collins. Davis clutters the offense as he’s not someone you can post up nor is he someone that can shoot, nor is he someone that can pass. They saw what happened in the playoffs last year and moved on. Operative words—moved on.

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

RoLo and Frazier wouldnt be a bad combo if we cant get Kanter to see

 

[Scalma]

Olshey specifically mentioned why they let him go and it had little to do with Collins. Davis clutters the offense as he’s not someone you can post up nor is he someone that can shoot, nor is he someone that can pass. They saw what happened in the playoffs last year and moved on. Operative words—moved on.

Here’s the exact quote:

So why weren't the Blazers interested in bringing Davis back? Olshey said the first-round playoff sweep to the New Orleans Pelicans played a big part in the decision. He pointed out the Blazers’ lack of floor spacing and floor balance in that series, and attributed that shortcoming, in part, to Davis being on the court.

“As productive as Ed was, there was certainly limitations in terms of what it exposed us to defensively by an elite defensive team like New Orleans,” Olshey said.

 

[hoopsjock]

I've been saying all year that waiting this summer will be the best approach. Fill out the roster with cheap filler and use the Tax-MLE but not the Full-MLE. In 2013 the Blazers got Mo Williams cheap with this strategy.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

I've been saying all year that waiting this summer will be the best approach. Fill out the roster with cheap filler and use the Tax-MLE but not the Full-MLE. In 2013 the Blazers got Mo Williams cheap with this strategy.

The only issue I have with that is, if they have someone in mind they want they think they can get they should go after them. There is no guarantee the "filler" they wait for will be guys they want. If the idea is to just fill out the roster with bodies, then sure I guess.

 

[Hobbesarable]

I've been saying all year that waiting this summer will be the best approach. Fill out the roster with cheap filler and use the Tax-MLE but not the Full-MLE. In 2013 the Blazers got Mo Williams cheap with this strategy.

The only issue I have with that is, if they have someone in mind they want they think they can get they should go after them. There is no guarantee the "filler" they wait for will be guys they want. If the idea is to just fill out the roster with bodies, then sure I guess.

I agree with both of you guys. However, it depends on the plan our team has in place. I am waiting to see how it plays out.

Olshey might have to wait it out as well unless he has a trade or two in mind.

 

[hoopsjock]

The only issue I have with that is, if they have someone in mind they want they think they can get they should go after them. There is no guarantee the "filler" they wait for will be guys they want. If the idea is to just fill out the roster with bodies, then sure I guess.

Well yeah, if we have a chance to sign a guy to a good deal right away of course you take it. Most players who think they deserve more wait though. Lets say Hood and Kanter sign elsewhere in the first couple days then we should definitely go hard after the best possible player for the Tax-MLE.

 

[illmatic99]

Realistically, we're looking at these additions to be the 9th/10th men. I'm not expecting our TP-MLE to be help us find a difference maker-- think we gotta get that via trade.

How do you rank our guys now? Here's my estimation:

Tier 1:
1. Dame
2. CJ
3. Nurk

Tier 2:
4. Collins

Tier 3:
5. Bazemore
6. Harkless

Tier 4:
7. Simons
8. Leonard
9. Little

Tier 5:
10. Skal
11. Trent


I think we bring back Layman since his addition won't eat up our MLE and we can simply sign him with his bird rights ( believe this is the case, someone correct me if I'm wrong). Just gotta make sure no other team messes with us to overpay him. Layman prolly can climb to Tier 3 with regular rotation minutes, so that leaves us with 2-3 roster spots left to fill out the roster. Gotta go BPA, but I'd love another vet PG and a C.

Edit:

And by extension, we're losing three tier 3 guys in Aminu/Hood/Kanter. Unless Collins takes the expected leap, and Simons shows why everyone his so hyped about him, or if Little pops and gets regular minutes, I think this roster will be effectively worse on paper than last year (especially with Nurk out).

 

[Scalma]

I think Layman ends up taking his QO. I don’t think there will be a new deal, not from Portland at least. If someone else signs him to an offer sheet, I think we’ll let him go. Stotts doesn’t really seem to trust him.

 

[illmatic99]

I think Layman ends up taking his QO. I don’t think there will be a new deal, not from Portland at least. If someone else signs him to an offer sheet, I think we’ll let him go. Stotts doesn’t really seem to trust him.

QO works out to 1.9 mil for 1 yr. You don't think he'll get more than that anywhere?

 

[Scalma]

QO works out to 1.9 mil for 1 yr. You don't think he'll get more than that anywhere?

From someone other than Portland? Maybe. I just don’t think the blazers will be giving him a multi year deal.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

From someone other than Portland? Maybe. I just don’t think the blazers will be giving him a multi year deal.

If they can keep him multi-year on a cheap deal ($8M/3yrs?), they should. Always important to have inexpensive role-players.

 

[B-Roy]

QO works out to 1.9 mil for 1 yr. You don't think he'll get more than that anywhere?

Who's paying him that much? Everyone is talking about how much money is out there but literally 40% of the league is a free agent. Once the big names get their max deals there really won't be that much money out there to pay some of these tier 3 and tier 4 guys "fair" value.