Which 2012 lower tier FA's would you pursue

[PtldPlatypus]

Assumptions:

• ~$60M cap for 2012-2013
• 2012 roster holdovers: Aldridge, Wallace, Matthews, Babbitt, Williams, N. Smith, Thomas--total 12/13 salaries $36M
• 2012 FA's, hold released: Camby, Felton, Crawford, A. Johnson, C. Johnson, C. Smith
• 2012 FA's, hold reserved: Batum, Oden--total 2012 player cap holds $8M
• Adtl holds: Freeland, Claver, 2012 #1 pick--add 3M
• Total holds: $11M
• Total cap space: ~$13M

2012 FA list: http://www.hoopsworld.com/2012-nba-free-agents

Assuming we are not going to be able to draw a top-tier free agent to Portland (obviously Deron Williams would be ideal, but he's highly unlikely), which lower-tier free agents would you seek to target with the $13M I'm assuming we'd have available, and for how much?

 

[B-Roy]

Looking at that list, I did not realize Batum and Wallace will be the best two SF FAs available. Makes me feel a bit sick about not extending Batum.

 

[santeesioux]

Goran Dragic, Landry Fields, C.J. Miles, Derrick Brown, Omer Asik, and Daniel Orton. Basically young to younger guys that might have a little bit of potential.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Goran Dragic, Landry Fields, C.J. Miles, Derrick Brown, Omer Asik, and Daniel Orton. Basically young to younger guys that might have a little bit of potential.

I like Dragic, Fields, and Asik quite a bit. I was also thinking about Spencer Hawes, and I hadn't considered Orton, but that might be a good way to go too.

I agree with your line of thinking, and I also think that the Center position needs to be the top priority. Interesting though that they list Camby as a more desirable free agent than any of the young guys we've listed.

 

[PapaG]

Rebounding help is the biggest need to address via FA, IMO.


Kris Humphries (17.4 PER/18.2TRB)

Don't laugh, but Humphries is by far the best available rebounder with other skills in the FA class. He'll probably get more than the MLE, though.

Other than that, PG could be addressed, but I don't see a PGOTF there that is unrestricted.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Our entire team is filled with lower tier FA type players....sans Aldridge. I also think it's a poor assumption to think Crawford will opt out, I mean he could, but it's anything but a sure thing.

Portland needs to add "top tier" talent before it goes after the role players to help that talent succeed

 

[PapaG]

What does the asterisk mean? I can't find an explanation for it.

Jeremy Lin, New York Knicks – $0.8 million – Unrestricted*

 

[Mediocre Man]

Rebounding help is the biggest need to address via FA, IMO.


Kris Humphries (17.4 PER/18.2TRB)

Don't laugh, but Humphries is by far the best available rebounder with other skills in the FA class. He'll probably get more than the MLE, though.

Other than that, PG could be addressed, but I don't see a PGOTF there that is unrestricted.

Humphries was a guy I wanted to see them go after this year. I think he would be a great addition to the team

 

[Natebishop3]

I would make a push for Eric Gordon and Deron Williams. I think Williams would like to be paired with LMA.... but Nate needs to go. He's a point guard killer.

 

[Mediocre Man]

What does the asterisk mean? I can't find an explanation for it.

Jeremy Lin, New York Knicks – $0.8 million – Unrestricted*

I thought he was restricted for some reason?

 

[santeesioux]

Maybe they can do what the A's did in Moneyball, sign a bunch of losers and no-names for cheap and make it to the Western Conference Finals!

 

[PapaG]

I would make a push for Eric Gordon and Deron Williams. I think Williams would like to be paired with LMA.... but Nate needs to go. He's a point guard killer.

If the idea is to go for a home run, those would be great targets.

FYI - Miller had higher PERs under Nate than he's had under George Karl in two stints with Karl.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

What does the asterisk mean? I can't find an explanation for it.

Jeremy Lin, New York Knicks – $0.8 million – Unrestricted*

Tom Penn was on ESPN a few days ago and said that NY has Lin's "early Bird rights" and they could match any offer.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Tom Penn was on ESPN a few days ago and said that NY has Lin's "early Bird rights" and they could match any offer.

Nice. Nailed it

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I might think about Brandon Rush, he's somewhat versatile (SG/SF) and is leading the league in three point % after shooting 41% from there his last two years. I'd take Steve Nash if he could be got reasonable.

 

[e_blazer]

Tom Penn was on ESPN a few days ago and said that NY has Lin's "early Bird rights" and they could match any offer.

Where the Knicks luck out is the fact that both Lin and Fields, since they’re coming off their initial two-year contracts (while the Knicks did not gain Lin’s Early Bird Rights, they at least did inherit his original two-year contract), they are both restricted free agents this year. Not only that, but they are governed by the so-called “Gilbert Arenas Provision.” This limits the amount of money other teams can offer either Lin or Fields to a maximum starting salary of the average NBA salary (roughly $5 million).

http://knickerblogger.net/finally-a-definitive-answer-on-jeremy-lins-contract-status/

 

[Blazinaway]

LOU Williams if he opts out, he has a similar contract to Jamal. I would do this IF we think he could play PG for us. I would also consider trading Matthews and Jamal for Lou Williams and Evan turner.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I hope we have a different coach and they bring Bayless back. I still think that kid could have been a soild combo guard in the back court with the confidence of his coach. Given the chance to play big minutes, he produces numbers both in scoring and assists

 

[Natebishop3]

If the idea is to go for a home run, those would be great targets.

FYI - Miller had higher PERs under Nate than he's had under George Karl in two stints with Karl.

They butted heads the entire time and Miller basically said that he just started playing his way, Nate be damned.

 

[PapaG]

Tom Penn was on ESPN a few days ago and said that NY has Lin's "early Bird rights" and they could match any offer.

Thanks!

 

[PapaG]

They butted heads the entire time and Miller basically said that he just started playing his way, Nate be damned.

Well, whatever Nate did or didn't do, it worked better for Miller than it has with Karl.

 

[RR7]

I wanted Hawes this offseason. His play so far will likely make him a spendy target. Asik can only get the MLE, so Chicago will likely retain him at that price. But would spend that for him. Would go cheap on Robin Lopez. Jason Thompson. Anthony Randolph. Michael Beasley. OJ Mayo. Bayless.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think Eric Gordon is a good target. They don't have an owner yet and the other owners might be hesitant to drop a max contract on him with no ownership in place.

 

[RR7]

undersized 2 with an injury history kind of scares me at max money.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

undersized 2 with an injury history kind of scares me at max money.

Truly, I think with our history, the last thing we would want is any player who has ever had any kind of a lower body injury. Should be an instant deal-breaker. Oh, you rolled your ankle in 5th grade? Pass.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Brook lopez

 

[Nikolokolus]

Rebounding help is the biggest need to address via FA, IMO.


Kris Humphries (17.4 PER/18.2TRB)

Don't laugh, but Humphries is by far the best available rebounder with other skills in the FA class. He'll probably get more than the MLE, though.

Other than that, PG could be addressed, but I don't see a PGOTF there that is unrestricted.

If not Asik, I think Humphries would be a nice get. Whatever their plans in free agency, I really hope the Blazers draft some kind of forward-center prospect, even if he's something of a project. With Freeland almost certainly not coming over, Oden almost certainly gone and Camby somewhat likely to be 38 next year, some kind of succession plan has to be put in place.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Please not chris kaman

 

[PtldPlatypus]

With Freeland almost certainly not coming over, Oden almost certainly gone and Camby somewhat likely to be 38 next year

Amusing how you have Freeland/Oden's absences as more certain Camby's next birthday. Cute, really.

 

[B-Roy]

I would not be comfortable giving the Max to anyone not named Deron Williams or Dwight Howard. Id much rather see a bunch of small thoughtful moves than a big home run type move.