Who earned a second look?

[Natebishop3]

Based on what you've seen, who would you try to keep from our free agents?

Flynn?

Hickson?

Thabeet?

Flynn had a really nice game against the Jazz, but the rest of his games were very "meh". Hickson was damn solid since we picked him up, and I'd like to see him on the team again next season, but I think it hinges a lot on cap space and whether we can sign a big name guy like Deron Williams.

Thabeet..... well..... what can I say? I think I would keep him if the price were right and he didn't mind being a project. I wouldn't pay him much, and my expectations would be low, but he's still young and who knows... maybe he'll develop?

I also think Babbitt has shown a pulse, which is nice, but I would try to get rid of Nolan Smith. I would rather have Flynn as a backup than Smith, if that was at all possible.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Hickson is a keeper.
Thabeet is worth a small contract for a 12th man. Maybe one day he can develop some game or motivation. or a big body to foul people.
Flynn...meh.

 

[Natebishop3]

Hickson is a keeper.
Thabeet is worth a small contract for a 12th man. Maybe one day he can develop some game or motivation. or a big body to foul people.
Flynn...meh.

That's kind of how I feel. Still, I might keep Flynn for the right price. He's still young.

 

[THE HCP]

Nate....... if you were a free agent, I would let you walk son.

 

[jlprk]

Hickson--better than Aldridge

Thabeet--keep him if cheap, needs a year of coaching to lose bad habits

Flynn--great dribbler, mediocre shooter, bad passer, goodbye

Nolan--PGs can't produce as rookies, give him another year

Batum, Kurt Thomas, Rhino--keep if cheap, but I expect them to leave for better team

Babbitt--best shooter in draft couldn't make 3 3s in last 3 games to get onto best 3 point shooter list, if he can't shoot under pressure he's worthless in playoffs, goodbye

 

[Drttimmy]

I'd keep them all for the right price. We'll likely whiff on the high priced free agents. Rather keep them then waiting for Nolan Smith to develop or retaining Thomas or Smith or even Joel at this point.

 

[Natebishop3]

Nate....... if you were a free agent, I would let you walk son.

You couldn't afford me home spigot.

 

[LameR]

My priorities list...
1. Hickson- I'd be willing to overpay a bit for him. With all of the terrible luck we've had with bigs, we had one fall into our laps. Keep him!
2. Batum- I wouldn't overpay for Batum, because I think it'll cost more than the difference is actually worth. I don't think he's going to become a dramatically different player than he is.
3. Flynn- I'm a homer, admittedly, but I think he has more tools to be useful than Nolan. Still has a ways to go obviously, and I'd still target a PG in FA/draft for sure! But I do believe he can be useful as a backup.
4. Thabeet- Not worth it.

Also think get rid of Nolan however possible. Don't care either way on Rhino and Kurt Thomas. I'd be cool with them sticking around understanding limited roles, but I know Kurt is probably looking to play on another team and Rhino I'm sure wants more minutes.

 

[Rhal]

Hickson- Keep if the price is right, would really like to keep him if we decide to keep our picks.
Batum- Willing to keep him even with overpaying him. Even with a huge contract he is still trade able because of his upside and age.
Flynn- Showed some flashes of ability that made him a 6th pick but overall he wasn't anything special. IF we could sign him to a min contract i'd do it but otherwise i'd let him walk
Thabeet- Didn't see him get a lot of minutes which I think speaks volumes about his work ethic and ability to play.
Craig Smith - Liked him if we didn't keep Hickson i'd resign him but I don't think he would resign with portland, feels quiet miffed with management
Kurt Thomas - Never dislike having a vet big on the team regardless if they get playing team or not. This is a big aspect that teams seem to miss nowadays. There locker room presence and ability to mentor young players is something stats can't show.

 

[mook]

Batum and Hickson.

Otherwise, nuke it from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

 

[Pinwheel1]

All of these depend of course on the price, but I liked what I saw from Hickson. I would match reasonable offers. (5-6 million/yr)

I like Flynn. He will get an offer for 2-3 million from someone. I would like to see him back.

Thabeet was worse than I expected. He would really have to be committed to improving to keep even as a potential 12th man.

Babbit I would definitely keep. As we know there are very few good outside shooters in the NBA.

Batum: Of course bring him back. I would not match 10 mil though.

Thomas: No

Craig Smith: Fine for the end of the bench.

 

[craigehlo]

Hickson for cheap (under 5 mil) and Batum for under 8 mil. Everyone else expiring needs to walk.

 

[Natebishop3]

Hickson for cheap (under 5 mil) and Batum for under 8 mil. Everyone else expiring needs to walk.

There's no chance in hell you get Hickson for under 5 mil. There just aren't enough quality bigs in this free agent class, and a ton of teams with decent cap space. We MIGHT be able to keep Hickson for 6 to7 million. If we had wanted to sign him for under 5, we would have had to stash him away for the rest of the season with zero playing time. As it is, the guy has easily played his way into a nice contract offer from someone, and I think we would be foolish not to match. The announcer said it best last night after that nasty dunk over Evans, (paraphrasing) "Why in the hell would Sacramento let this guy go?"

 

[Harry's Raincoat]

Like many of you, I'd match and keep Hickson and Batum. Try not to overpay, but get it done.

I'd also keep Flynn. He showed signs that he CAN STILL become a legitimate starting PG. So, I'd keep him too. Luke has a special talent, so you keep him. No brainer.

Nolan, Craig, Kurt, Shawne - are all trade bait IMO.

I don't expect Felton or Crawford to return.

 

[Eastoff]

I think the FA signing we may or may not have, and the drafts we can get are all important. I would assume Hickson and Batum prices will dictate these two things.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Hickson and Batum (each for less than 8 million), Flynn maybe at 2 million, but the rest goes in the burn barrel.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Based on what you've seen, who would you try to keep from our free agents?

Flynn?

Hickson?

Thabeet?

They all have. That doesn't mean we will keep them, but they have all earned a second look. Hickson is the most obvious. Flynn depending on who else we find for backup PG. And Thabeet for no other reason he's a 'big'.

My rationale is this... if we assume we're going to carry 15 players, then that means in theory we'd do well to carry 3 players at every position. Hickson is a first or second string for sure. Flynn a second or third string and Thabeet a third string (basically a victory cigar, but a 7'2 victory cigar). I have no problems seeing them at the end of the bench.

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

Hickson keeper.
Batum if possible but I think the market price on him will be too high.

All the rest, I don't really care. The rest are primarily bench fodder anyway and that is something we can pick up anywhere.

Gramps...

 

[craigehlo]

I don't think Hickson is going to get grazy paid by another team just because he had some nice production while the Blazers were in tank mode. I think he'll get a deal in the 5-6 mil range at best.

For the few teams that have a lot of cash to drop on a PF, there's better free agents to spend it on like KG, Duncan, Landry, Humpheries, Bass and Beasley.

 

[Natebishop3]

I don't think Hickson is going to get grazy paid by another team just because he had some nice production while the Blazers were in tank mode. I think he'll get a deal in the 5-6 mil range at best.

For the few teams that have a lot of cash to drop on a PF, there's better free agents to spend it on like KG, Duncan, Landry, Humpheries, Bass and Beasley.

KG and Duncan are a thousand years old. Duncan will most likely retire a Spur. Landry and Bass really aren't very good, and Beasley is a headcase. Humphries is the only other young power forward that would be worth an investment.

 

[HailBlazers]

Hickson definitely.

Don't know why anyone's talking Batum, obviously you try and keep him.

Yes to Thabeet, you can't teach big, and Portland just might be the right atmosphere for him to finally get it together.

Babbit, if there's room. Sure it took Kyle Korver some time to get his NBA-3 automatic, so it's worth a wait and see on Babbit.

 

[craigehlo]

Landry and Bass really aren't very good

I'd take either as the backup PF over Hickson, and I like Hickson. Both are bangers that can post and crash the boards.

 

[Natebishop3]

I'd take either as the backup PF over Hickson, and I like Hickson. Both are bangers that can post and crash the boards.

Landry has an injury history and he's quite a bit older than Hickson.

Landy will be 29 in september and Hickson is still only 23.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Hickson definitely.

Don't know why anyone's talking Batum, obviously you try and keep him.

Yes to Thabeet, you can't teach big, and Portland just might be the right atmosphere for him to finally get it together.

Babbit, if there's room. Sure it took Kyle Korver some time to get his NBA-3 automatic, so it's worth a wait and see on Babbit.

Thabeet might give a sloth a run for its money in the slowness department. He needs to get a new career as a light-bulb changer or something. Basketball aint his thing.

Babbitt is still under contract, so he's back no matter what ...

 

[B-Roy]

Hickson and Batum (each for less than 8 million), Flynn maybe at 2 million, but the rest goes in the burn barrel.

I'd go up 1 mill for each at most. Maybe 10 for Batum. What's one million per year in the grand scheme of things anyways? If you have to cap, might as well use it.

Otherwise, I'd agree.

 

[Eastoff]

So this is just people in contract negotiations? Because nobody mentioned E Will, but I thought we signed him when we signed Babbitt.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I think it's pretty clear that the team has made up their minds on Thabeet.

He barely played this past week. Even earned a DNP-CD during the last game of the season.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I think it's pretty clear that the team has made up their minds on Thabeet.

He barely played this past week. Even earned a DNP-CD during the last game of the season.

To be fair, I think they actually wanted to win last night...

 

[BBert]

First let me say, If either Felton or Crawford are on this team next season I may hang myself. Especially Crawford. I just don't think I could bear it.

Nolan Smith - I had a higher opinion of him at the beginning of the season than I do now. Unless he's trade filler he'll be back -- rookie contract and all. He's not terribly athletic but he's steady and has room to improve. Never more than bench fodder. Terrible (Nate?) pick.

Flynn - I had a higher opinion of him after his first few games than I do now. He's quick and fast and has good handles. I liked the way he delivered to the ball to teammates in the flow of the game, in the right place at the right time for them to do something with it in rhythm -- you know, like a point guard. OTOH: He's small and a defensive liability. He makes lots of mistakes (inexperience?). He will probably get better with a consistent role. Plays well with Hickson. I'd bring him back for cheap -- it's hard to give up anyone who MIGHT become a decent PG, especially such a high lottery pick.

Hickson - How can we not bring back Hickson? We'll match (he's RFA, right?).

Babbitt - He's tradeable, but otherwise he'll be here. He'll never be a starter, but as I've said for two years, he's more athletic than he gets credit for, he rebounds well (brains, technique and focus), and he is among the best in the NBA at a particularly important skill.

Thabeet - How can a No. 2 pick be a project? Yeesh. I'd bring him back for cheap. You can't teach 7'3". The last few games he played, he looked like he was putting out his best effort. Too bad he's always 3/4 of a step slow. If nothing else, he'd make a fine practice dummy. Eventually, he might be serviceable. Maybe I'm just desperate.

OTOH: I'd lose Thomas and Rhino without a second thought. Go figure.

 

[jlprk]

My evaluation of Babbitt went up, then down.

Last season: Most scouts around the league rated him the best shooter in the first round. He would have gone late 1st, but Nate told management to get him shooters, so we took him at 16. In practice he's a great shooter in a game of Horse (I saw one video), but in games he hasn't shown it yet. When he gets his confidence he will be another Kyle Korver, a great white shooting forward.

Late this season: He has gotten plenty of minutes and has been starting. He has surprised me in that he's not a Korver. Korver is 6-7, specializes in 3s, and like a guard, gets more assists and steals. Babbitt is 6-9 and like a forward, gets more rebounds. When he gets his confidence he will make a few 3s every game.

End of season: Get rid of him. Rice told him, with several games left, that to qualify for minimum shots on the list of best 3FG%, he needed to make something like 3 more, was it? He tried and tried over the last few games and completely flopped and was embarrassed. If he can't put out when motivated because everything's on the line, is starting and playing a lot of minutes, and has no excuse about confidence because the coach isn't pulling him out after every little mistake, then we cannot count on his shooting in the playoffs. This takes away his selling point, great shooting potential, and makes him no better than any 2nd round pick who has unreliable shooting. Dante Cunningham, reliable from 15 feet in, was a better forward.