What to do with our cap space?

[Chuck Taylor]

I like Deron Williams, and would love to see him as a Blazer. But, even if we could sign him, he wouldn't leave us with much left over money. Assuming we sign Batum for 8-9 million, lose Crawford, are stuck with Shawne Williams and keep our two draft picks...we should have about 18 million to spend in free agency (I hope my math is right). We could end up with more if we try and do a draft day trade to shed salary, or ending up buying-out Shawne Williams. I would guess that Dracic will command somewhere around 8-10 million. That leaves us with a minimum or 8 or 9 million to go after someone else: say Eric Gordon or Roy Hibbert, maybe?

What would you rather see: Portland spending almost all of it's money on Dwill, or getting two guys like Dragic & Gordon/Hibbert?

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Gordon and hibbert are rfas, I guarantee they will get more than 8 to 9 mil, and if thatsvall we offered, there reapective teams would instantly match.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure your math is incorrect.

According to ShamSports, here are the salaries or cap holds that we have for this summer:

• Aldridge 14M
• Matthews 6.5M
• Babbitt 1.9M
• Thomas 1.35M
• Williams 1.44M
• Smith 1.37M
• Batum 5.4M (cap hold)
• Hickson 5.8M (cap hold)
• Claver 1.05M (cap hold)
• Freeland 850K (cap hold)

Factoring in our two picks (I estimated #6 & #10, totaling an additional 4.4M, based on the rookie scale), our total salaries/holds entering free agency total about $44M, which would give us a best-case scenario of about $14M in cap space (based on the presumed $58M cap). Add in Shawne Williams, and it's more like $11M.

 

[Chuck Taylor]

If you really wanted Gordon or Hibbert then you could make a trade to free up more room. Or we could still sign a nice player for 8 or 9 million.

 

[Chuck Taylor]

Hoopshype has Thomas' contract coming off the books this summer. I wonder which is right?

As for the cap holds, I would renounce the rights to everyone but Batum if we could sign 2 studs.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure your math is incorrect.

According to ShamSports, here are the salaries or cap holds that we have for this summer:

• Aldridge 14M
• Matthews 6.5M
• Babbitt 1.9M
• Thomas 1.35M
• Williams 1.44M
• Smith 1.37M
• Batum 5.4M (cap hold)
• Hickson 5.8M (cap hold)
• Claver 1.05M (cap hold)
• Freeland 850K (cap hold)

Factoring in our two picks (I estimated #6 & #10, totaling an additional 4.4M, based on the rookie scale), our total salaries/holds entering free agency total about $44M, which would give us a best-case scenario of about $14M in cap space (based on the presumed $58M cap). Add in Shawne Williams, and it's more like $11M.

I have been trying to tell people this for weeks now, but never had the numbers to back it up. Thanks for posting this. We don't have as much cap space as people think we do unless we renounce Batum and Hibbert

 

[Mediocre Man]

Hoopshype has Thomas' contract coming off the books this summer. I wonder which is right?

As for the cap holds, I would renounce the rights to everyone but Batum if we could sign 2 studs.

Thomas is under contract through next year. Hoopshype gets things wrong all the time. If you want the best site, go to StoryTellers contracts

 

[Chuck Taylor]

I have been trying to tell people this for weeks now, but never had the numbers to back it up. Thanks for posting this. We don't have as much cap space as people think we do unless we renounce Batum and Hibbert

Yeah but if you renounce Hickson, Claver and Freeland and that 11M turns into 19M. I really hope the Blazers don't let those guys get in the way of some serious cap room.
Plus it shouldn't be that hard to shed salary in a trade, especially if we are willing to trade one of our picks. If the Blazers want to go after two 10M type guys, they can.

The Hornets just got sold to the owner of the Saints though, so Gordon probably isn't going anywhere.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Hoopshype has Thomas' contract coming off the books this summer. I wonder which is right?

Hoopshype is notoriously inaccurate. DraftExpress and StoryTeller also agree with Sham. I'm going with the majority.

Yeah, I agree that I would give up all our holds to get Deron. As someone else mentioned, the nice thing about cap holds is that you can always renounce them. I imagine we'll retain the holds, but if Aldridge somehow convinces DW to come here, then Hickson's gone.

 

[Blaze01]

Yeah but if you renounce Hickson, Claver and Freeland and that 11M turns into 19M. I really hope the Blazers don't let those guys get in the way of some serious cap room.
Plus it shouldn't be that hard to shed salary in a trade, especially if we are willing to trade one of our picks. If the Blazers want to go after two 10M type guys, they can.

The Hornets just got sold to the owner of the Saints though, so Gordon probably isn't going anywhere.

I hope they don't renounce them....

You are not going to get 2 studs by renouncing those guys...I think that is a pipedream

Max contract offer to ONE stud is around $16mil...meaning a D-Will (doubt he will come here, but they should try)...Nash is going to be what $10-14? , meaning you have $5mil left to go after your 2nd stud? and to do so you had to let Hickson go, who I think is worth re-signing. Claver, I could care less & Freeland who is intriguing enough to me at least to be worth looking at, but if they had to let him go, so be it. I could live with that...

and that doesn't even factor in if someone signs Batum to an offer sheet, which now POR only has THREE days to match....meaning they better have thier shit in order and offer who they want and get a decision right away, b\c if some other team offers Batum right away and POR doesn't sign someone before then, then goodbye capspace...and POR mgmt should definitely expect that kind of gamesmanship to occur.

Make your pitch to D-Will and Nash, but have you offer ready to go for Dragic\Hawes whomever b\c I would be shocked if some other team doesn't have an offer to Batum and\or Hickson on Day 1 of Free Agency...

Going after a guy like Dragic or Aaaron Brooks BTW, allows POR to retain Hickson, Freeland (and of course Batum), get 2 quality players and then go after that 2nd\3rd stud woth thier 2 lottery picks....

That is probably the correct course to take.

 

[Masbee]

Thomas is under contract through next year. Hoopshype gets things wrong all the time. If you want the best site, go to StoryTellers contracts

Both Chad and Storyteller have stated that the Blazers will have between $15mil and $20mil in cap space IF Crawford does not opt in.

Obviously, between $10mil and $15mil if he does.

And, between $20mil and $25mil if Crawford does not opt in and we renounce all our free agents including Batum.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I hope they don't renounce them....

You are not going to get 2 studs by renouncing thse guys...

Max contract offer to ONE stud is around $16mil...meaning a D-Will (doubt he will coem here)...Nash is going to be what $10-14?, meaning you have $5mil left to go after your 2nd stud? and to do so you had to let Hickson go, who I think is worth re-signing. Claver, I could care less, Freeland intrigues me at least worth looking at, but if they had to let him go, so be it. I could live with that...

and that doesn't even factor in if someone signs Batum to an offer sheet, which now PR only has THREE days to match....meaning they better have thier shit in order and offer who tey want and get a decision right away, b\c if some other team offers Batum right away and POR doesn't sign someone before then, then goodbye capspace...and POR mgmt should definitely expect that kind of gamesmanship to occur.

Make your pitch to D-Will and Nash, but have you offer ready to go for Dragic\Hawes whomever b\c I would be shocked if some other team doesn't have an offer to Batum and\or Hickson on Day 1 of Free Agency...

Going after a guy like Dragic or Aaaron Brooks BTW, allows POR to retain Hickson, Freeland (and of course Batum), get 2 quality players and then go after that 2nd\3rd stud woth thier 2 lottery picks....

That is probably the correct course to take.

Nash is not a stud anymore

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Nash is not a stud anymore

But is he our next Andre Miller?

 

[Nikolokolus]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I think the Blazers should think long and hard about drafting Kendall Marshall at 11 (or whatever). They absolutely should not enter free agency in the desperate situation of having Nolan Smith under contract as the team's only ersatz point guard.

Normally I would advise against drafting for need, but in this case they need some insurance and that's probably a decent intersection between need and value. Finding a quality point via free agency could end up as a really nasty game of musical chairs where the Blazers get left out when the music stops. There's plenty of holes to fill on this roster via free agency outside of point guard so I don't think it should be their only focus.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Both Chad and Storyteller have stated that the Blazers will have between $15mil and $20mil in cap space IF Crawford does not opt in.

Obviously, between $10mil and $15mil if he does.

And, between $20mil and $25mil if Crawford does not opt in and we renounce all our free agents including Batum.

However, Storyteller's BE post about our cap space was prior to us picking up Hickson. Prior to that, we were slated for ~$17M (including Williams, sans Crawford). With Hickson's hold, it's $11M (as I detailed above).

 

[Mediocre Man]

But is he our next Andre Miller?

You mean the next guy we spend money on that doesn't help us get out of the first round of the playoffs? Maybe?

 

[Mediocre Man]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I think the Blazers should think long and hard about drafting Kendall Marshall at 11 (or whatever). They absolutely should not enter free agency in the desperate situation of having Nolan Smith under contract as the team's only ersatz point guard.

Normally I would advise against drafting for need, but in this case they need some insurance and that's probably a decent intersection between need and value. Finding a quality point via free agency could end up as a really nasty game of musical chairs where the Blazers get left out when the music stops. There's plenty of holes to fill on this roster via free agency outside of point guard so I don't think it should be their only focus.

Speaking of our next Andre Miller.

 

[Blaze01]

Nash is not a stud anymore

Yet he made around $12 mil this year and he will be an UFA. I think is is highly optimistic to think that POR could sign him for $8-9 million....great and kudos to them if they can, but just not a reasonable expectation IMO...

 

[Harry's Raincoat]

1. Must be prepared to make offers on day 1
2. Must have help from Batum and Hickson agent/player to not accept/agree to contract until step 1 is complete.

First step for Blazers is drafting BPA at both picks. Second, is to sign DWill, Dragic, or go after a RFA like Lopez or Gordon with our money. Then, finally re-sign Batum, Hickson and maybe Flynn.
Hopefully, we have a little cash left to sign Freeland also.

 

[Mediocre Man]

1. Must be prepared to make offers on day 1
2. Must have help from Batum and Hickson agent/player to not accept/agree to contract until step 1 is complete.

First step for Blazers is drafting BPA at both picks. Second, is to sign DWill, Dragic, or go after a RFA like Lopez or Gordon with our money. Then, finally re-sign Batum, Hickson and maybe Flynn.
Hopefully, we have a little cash left to sign Freeland also.

Lopez and Gordon are both injury prone. Maybe Spencer Hawes instead?
I like the plan otherwise though

 

[SheedSoNasty]

I'd throw all our money at re-signing Greg Oden and pray for the best...

 

[magnifier661]

Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure your math is incorrect.

According to ShamSports, here are the salaries or cap holds that we have for this summer:

• Aldridge 14M
• Matthews 6.5M
• Babbitt 1.9M
• Thomas 1.35M
• Williams 1.44M
• Smith 1.37M
• Batum 5.4M (cap hold)
• Hickson 5.8M (cap hold)
• Claver 1.05M (cap hold)
• Freeland 850K (cap hold)

Factoring in our two picks (I estimated #6 & #10, totaling an additional 4.4M, based on the rookie scale), our total salaries/holds entering free agency total about $44M, which would give us a best-case scenario of about $14M in cap space (based on the presumed $58M cap). Add in Shawne Williams, and it's more like $11M.

We can renounce claver and freeland; which frees an additional 2 mil and I have a feeling that we will trade Wes Matthews and Thomas or Babbitt on draft night to fee up a bit more.

What I would like to see is us trying to go after igs on draft night; even giving up our later pick, Babbitt, Matthews and Thomas for igs. Then we would have around 10 mil to offer dragic. Then resign hickson and Batum. Get Flynn for 2.5 mil and hopefully get Drummond if he slides down.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

PG should be the priority over Batum and Hickson.

Go hard after Deron or Goran.

Find away to shed Wes, N.Smith.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Sign good players.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Speaking of our next Andre Miller.

Yeah that's a pretty good comp. Fuck it, I can live with a 20 year old Andre Miller ... assuming Marshall can get better at generating his own offense and can play even a modicum of defense. I don't know if Marshall will ever be in an all-star game, but he's got one elite skill that is damned difficult to find and I think he'd make LaMarcus' life easier and would probably make both Batum and Matthews better at their jobs.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

We can renounce claver and freeland; which frees an additional 2 mil and I have a feeling that we will trade Wes Matthews and Thomas or Babbitt on draft night to fee up a bit more.

What I would like to see is us trying to go after igs on draft night; even giving up our later pick, Babbitt, Matthews and Thomas for igs. Then we would have around 10 mil to offer dragic. Then resign hickson and Batum. Get Flynn for 2.5 mil and hopefully get Drummond if he slides down.

Also of note, the one value to Shawne Williams is that he can be included in a trade to help match salaries--but only one that is agreed to before 7/1 but not actually consummated until after. I wonder if there's any way to get him to officially pick up his option for next year such that he could actually be traded before the end of this league year.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Yeah that's a pretty good comp. Fuck it, I can live with a 20 year old Andre Miller ... assuming Marshall can get better at generating his own offense and can play even a modicum of defense. I don't know if Marshall will ever be in an all-star game, but he's got one elite skill that is damned difficult to find and I think he'd make LaMarcus' life easier and would probably make both Batum and Matthews better at their jobs.

My only real worry about him is his athleticism. In the right offense, however, it might not matter

 

[3RA1N1AC]

Also of note, the one value to Shawne Williams is that he can be included in a trade to help match salaries--but only one that is agreed to before 7/1 but not actually consummated until after. I wonder if there's any way to get him to officially pick up his option for next year such that he could actually be traded before the end of this league year.

he will pick it up for sure, no way he makes more than that

 

[PtldPlatypus]

he will pick it up for sure, no way he makes more than that

Of course he will, but until it's official, he's not tradeable until after July 1.

It would be great if he could file the papers like Dwight Howard did, so that we would have the option to include his salary in a draft day trade.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

Of course he will, but until it's official, he's not tradeable until after July 1.

It would be great if he could file the papers like Dwight Howard did, so that we would have the option to include his salary in a draft day trade.

no like he will probably pick it up early, especially if we ask him to for a trade