We're looking for guards with our MLE

[illmatic99]

Freeman reports.

The Blazers will have $5.85 million dollars to work with in free agency, thanks to the mid-level exception, and Mike Born, the team's director of NBA scouting, says the team will focus on adding a point guard or shooting guard. The front office will be operating without a general manager for the foreseeable future, but Born said things have run smoothly since owner Paul Allen fired Kevin Pritchard on draft night.

Wonder whom we pursue....

Looking back at this thread I started two months ago, I still like Livingston, but if we intend to use full MLE, we're probably looking at someone better. I also like JJ Redick and Ray Ray if they're available. And I'm also guessing that we're trading Rudy.

And fwiw:

The Blazers tried to construct a trade for Gomes -- Born says they had "a couple" offers -- but decided the financial benefits of waiving the 6-foot-7 forward were more valuable than the players being offered in return.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

JJ Reddick would be sweet. What about the Stash? holla!

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Ray Ray would want more money no? Maybe he'd like to play with Nate-dawg again (as coach)?

 

[illmatic99]

Ya, Allen could possibly get more than the MLE from teams that have struck out with the second tier stars like Rudy Gay or David Lee. But after his weak finals performance (all crap except for one game), I don't know if many teams would take a chance on him for too much money.

Also, would he really fit on this roster?

The article also says PG. I'm betting that's Blakey. ugh.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

would he accept a role as a backup?

He'd be a good spark off the bench and provide some vet leadership. too bad he choked but that might help us get him?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Wow, so not only is Steve Blake going to get his 3rd tour with the Blazers he's going to make $5.85 million dollars next season!

 

[alex42083]

More guards huh. That would leave us with Andre, Roy, Bayless, Rudy, Elliot Williams and Armon Johnson ... and then Mills, if you want to count him. That's seven guys. Oh well.. we'll see I guess.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

More guards huh. That would leave us with Andre, Roy, Bayless, Rudy, Elliot Williams and Armon Johnson ... and then Mills, if you want to count him. That's seven guys. Oh well.. we'll see I guess.

Is Mills expected to be on the team next year? I kinda thought Johnson would replace him as the emergency PG.

 

[alex42083]

Is Mills expected to be on the team next year? I kinda thought Johnson would replace him as the emergency PG.

Not sure, but he was essentially PA's pick for the 15th player so he must like him for some reason.

 

[oldmangrouch]

More guards huh. That would leave us with Andre, Roy, Bayless, Rudy, Elliot Williams and Armon Johnson ... and then Mills, if you want to count him. That's seven guys. Oh well.. we'll see I guess.

I'm having a vision. Nate becomes GM, and we hire Don Nelson as coach to run a 5 guard line-up!

Or maybe it is just the head injury.....

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

We need a better solution at PG than this. There are some decent PG's for the taking that could be here for 5 or 6 years and we're looking at fluff. I'm disappointed. Now that KP has been kicked to the curb by Vulcan our chances of improving at that position seem to have disappeared.

 

[craigehlo]

We need a better solution at PG than this. There are some decent PG's for the taking that could be here for 5 or 6 years and we're looking at fluff. I'm disappointed. Now that KP has been kicked to the curb by Vulcan our chances of improving at that position seem to have disappeared.

Who are the decent PG available for the MLE? I doubt Raymond Felton could even be had for that. It has to be done via trade most likely.

As for KP, he's had a ton of chances to get us a young PG in the draft and struck out miserably. Last summer we could have moved up for Lawson or Collison, both who came in for workouts, and KP sat on his hands.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

That's not much of an endorsement of two out of the three draft picks they just chose.

 

[craigehlo]

That's not much of an endorsement of two out of the three draft picks they just chose.

Or of Andre Miller. The PG spot has been a huge question mark and only got worse when Miller's lack of effectiveness got exposed by Grant Hill in the playoffs.

To me, this job priority #1 for the next GM.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Who are the decent PG available for the MLE? I doubt Raymond Felton could even be had for that. It has to be done via trade most likely.

How much do you think Felton will command in FA?

 

[craigehlo]

How much do you think Felton will command in FA?

He turned down about a deal that paid him $7 million per year last summer. While he's not worth more than that, I have a feeling that some of the teams with cap room that miss out on the big free agent names will pony up $8-9 million for him.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

He turned down about a deal that paid him $7 million per year last summer. While he's not worth more than that, I have a feeling that some of the teams with cap room that miss out on the big free agent names will pony up $8-9 million for him.

I'd be cool with $40M/5y. If CHA wants to, we could send Miller/Rudy for him in an S&T deal, settling the PG question long term while retaining our MLE. Yes, that's unbalanced talent-wise, but I'd be down with it anyway.

 

[Pinwheel1]

We need a better solution at PG than this. There are some decent PG's for the taking that could be here for 5 or 6 years and we're looking at fluff. I'm disappointed. Now that KP has been kicked to the curb by Vulcan our chances of improving at that position seem to have disappeared.

So we need a better solution at PG than what KP brought in, but now that KP is gone our chances of doing that have disappeared? And we wonder why there was some animosity towards KP.

I am sure there are othere that can evaluate PG's.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Point guard or shooting guard at mid-level money? Lowry, Felton, Ridnour, Raja Bell, JJ Reddick ... I'm having a hard time thinking of any other guys that fit that rough salary range and that might be interesting to the team.

Maybe it's just me, but I just don't see any of those guys being game changers and it sure would muddy the rotation for a coach who has already demonstrated that he might not be the most adept guy at juggling too much talent.

The only way I'd feel happy about adding yet another guard is if I knew some consolidation trade was already in the works that was going to net the team a really high quality point guard.

 

[shamelessblazer]

If they let Ray-Ray walk, maybe a S&T possibility exists...

Rudy/Bayless/Pryz for Allen (2 years 6-7 mill each, team option on third?)

Miller/Johnson/Mills
Roy/Allen/Williams
Batum/Babbit
Aldridge/Cunningham
Camby/Oden/Pendergraph

Obviously Allen would get some burn at the 1 too, and we'd have some hybrid lineups, but that's a lot of talent and vet experience to bring in nonetheless. Weak in depth at backup 3/4, but I think we could make due, Cunningham's very scrappy.

 

[craigehlo]

Point guard or shooting guard at mid-level money? Lowry, Felton, Ridnour, Raja Bell, JJ Reddick ... I'm having a hard time thinking of any other guys that fit that rough salary range and that might be interesting to the team.

I agree. Trades seem to be our only legit hope of upgrading the position.

BTW Reddick is this year's Jason Kapono. He'll get overpaid because he shot well in the playoffs. Whoever get's stuck with him long-term will regret his lack of D and playmaking.

 

[Tortimer]

I agree. Trades seem to be our only legit hope of upgrading the position.

BTW Reddick is this year's Jason Kapono. He'll get overpaid because he shot well in the playoffs. Whoever get's stuck with him long-term will regret his lack of D and playmaking.

Reddick's D really has improved and he is a pretty good defender.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I do think this statement says one thing loud and clear though: Bayless and Rudy are not seen as pivotal pieces of the puzzle moving forward and they recognize that Miller's effectiveness probably can't be counted on for more than 1 more year.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Interesting today there is an article on Hoopshype talking about the Lakers possibly going after Blake or Ridnour if they do not re-sign Farmar. Luke is one guy that I think would be a good back up PG for us. Sure is D is not the best, but he is still a solid back up if they decide to move away from Bayless.

 

[LittleAlex]

Since when did Portland trade places with the T'Wolves?

We just watched a finals that clearly showed that length wins in the playoffs.

So what does Portland do? Draft 2 of 3 players 6'4" and under then target guards in free agency.

Brilliant!

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Since when did Portland trade places with the T'Wolves?

We just watched a finals that clearly showed that length wins in the playoffs.

So what does Portland do? Draft 2 of 3 players 6'4" and under then target guards in free agency.

Brilliant!

We have Oden, Aldridge, Camby, and Batum. If they're healthy, we have plenty of length. Plus Babbitt and Williams bring significant length for the positions they play too. But let's ignore all that.

What available free agent would you have us add to our team to improve our length without disrupting chemistry?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Interesting today there is an article on Hoopshype talking about the Lakers possibly going after Blake or Ridnour if they do not re-sign Farmar. Luke is one guy that I think would be a good back up PG for us. Sure is D is not the best, but he is still a solid back up if they decide to move away from Bayless.

Damn! If Blake goes to the Lakers he'll show Phil all of Nate's ISO secrets.

 

[barfo]

Damn! If Blake goes to the Lakers he'll show Phil all of Nate's ISO secrets.

And how to execute the secret stand-in-the-corner-and-wait-for-the-ball play.

barfo

 

[maxiep]

Blake is the perfect guard to play with K*be. I still think we bring him back, however.

 

[hasoos]

Point guard or shooting guard at mid-level money? Lowry, Felton, Ridnour, Raja Bell, JJ Reddick ... I'm having a hard time thinking of any other guys that fit that rough salary range and that might be interesting to the team.

Maybe it's just me, but I just don't see any of those guys being game changers and it sure would muddy the rotation for a coach who has already demonstrated that he might not be the most adept guy at juggling too much talent.

The only way I'd feel happy about adding yet another guard is if I knew some consolidation trade was already in the works that was going to net the team a really high quality point guard.

I disagree. I think if many of the players listed above had been shooting instead of Rudy in the playoffs, it would have changed the results drastically.