Woj: Ask yourself this

[Strenuus]

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 15m
Strip away markets and ask yourself: Why wouldn't Aldridge-Lillard-Batum core be supremely attractive partnership for max free-agent star?

Discuss.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

We are a little biased of course but it has to be up there. We can't get a MAX one unless they take peanuts though. Is that what he is suggesting?

 

[Wheels]

it would be.. but unfortunately for us, Market cant be stripped away.

 

[illmatic99]

You don't usually see speculative tweets like this from Woj. Is he hinting at something?

Is there any way we can clear MAX cap room for this summer?

 

[santeesioux]

You don't usually see speculative tweets like this from Woj. Is he hinting at something?

Hold onto your shorts! (Sorry TBpup, had to do it.)

 

[Strenuus]

You don't usually see speculative tweets like this from Woj. Is he hinting at something?

I did find it really interesting, given who it was. I posted it on here because it wasn't from some Blazers person, but a nationally respected person when it comes to wheelings and dealings.

 

[blue9]

So who are the MAX Free Agent SGs and Cs this summer?

 

[illmatic99]

So who are the MAX Free Agent SGs and Cs this summer?

DWade could be a candidate if he opts out and MIA abandons him. Giving him a large $$ deal but for only 2-3 years is something I could get behind. Maybe.

But one guy I really have my eye on is Marc Gasol next summer. Would be a dream scenario of combining Lamarcgasoldridge.

 

[santeesioux]

Obviously this means Melo or Lebron to Portland. Maybe Bosh as the center, lol.

 

[illmatic99]

Dame/Nic/Melo/LA/Rolo could be the 2nd best team in the west. Isn't Melo the biggest Jordan brand guy out there today? Could play a role.

 

[Blazinaway]

DWade could be a candidate if he opts out and MIA abandons him. Giving him a large $$ deal but for only 2-3 years is something I could get behind. Maybe.

But one guy I really have my eye on is Marc Gasol next summer. Would be a dream scenario of combining Lamarcgasoldridge.

No friggin way! Not with those knees - NO WAY!

 

[santeesioux]

I'd take DWade as the sixth man for the MLE, lol.

 

[Wheels]

DWade could be a candidate if he opts out and MIA abandons him. Giving him a large $$ deal but for only 2-3 years is something I could get behind. Maybe.

But one guy I really have my eye on is Marc Gasol next summer. Would be a dream scenario of combining Lamarcgasoldridge.

repped for LMA and Gasol couples name!

 

[PDXFonz]

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 1m
Breaking news, lebron james announces decision to join Portland Trail Blazers.

 

[TBpup]

Hold onto your shorts! (Sorry TBpup, had to do it.)

No worries. There has been a ton of NeO discussion but I can't get a handle on what any of the particulars are. I've been assured that it is almost a certainty the Blazers make some type of move....most likely at least acquiring a pick in the Draft and then going from there.

 

[Boise Blazer]

Damn you Wojo for giving me hope when you werent implying hope at all and when there is no good reason to have hope.

 

[Scalma]

No idea if this would work but what if we traded aldridge for the first pick and signed lebron? How much could we offer him. I kno
It's less than Miami but Allen can buy him an island on the side lol. Imagine this: Lillard-batum-Parker-lebron-lopez

 

[Pinwheel1]

I think the market plays a part in some scenarios, but not all. If the FA can make his money and be part of a championship run, then I don't think a veteran player will let it be a deal breaker. Where it becomes an issue is when the small market team sucks, then the FA is less likely to come unless he is over paid and has no other options.

Playing with players you like and can win with is a neutralizer for a less than desirable market.

 

[PDXFonz]

No idea if this would work but what if we traded aldridge for the first pick and signed lebron? How much could we offer him. I kno
It's less than Miami but Allen can buy him an island on the side lol. Imagine this: Lillard-batum-Parker-lebron-lopez

Wouldn't we rather trade Batum/Wes for the first? Lillard- Parker-james-Aldridge-lopez

 

[TBpup]

No idea if this would work but what if we traded aldridge for the first pick and signed lebron? How much could we offer him. I kno
It's less than Miami but Allen can buy him an island on the side lol. Imagine this: Lillard-batum-Parker-lebron-lopez

D69 and I had a similar discussion just the other day. You can make the trade on Draft night but not execute it until July 1st. That way, Portland could make a deal with say the Cavs who would lose Deng, Spencer and Miles off their cap thereby being able to absorb Aldridge. Now Portland would have the cap space to go after someone like LeBron if for some fluky reason he wanted to come here and he would join Lillard, Nic, #1 pic, Lopez and likely other assets/picks acquired in the Aldridge deal.

Not that anything like that is going to happen....

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I think the market plays a part in some scenarios, but not all. If the FA can make his money and be part of a championship run, then I don't think a veteran player will let it be a deal breaker. Where it becomes an issue is when the small market team sucks, then the FA is less likely to come unless he is over paid and has no other options.

Playing with players you like and can win with is a neutralizer for a less than desirable market.

Can you imagine how many suicidal Clevelanders there would be if they dealt their #1 pick to a team who then signed Lebron using the cap space created by that very deal?

 

[BlazerWookee]

No idea if this would work but what if we traded aldridge for the first pick and signed lebron? How much could we offer him. I kno
It's less than Miami but Allen can buy him an island on the side lol. Imagine this: Lillard-batum-Parker-lebron-lopez

It would cost the Blazers a fan, namely me.

 

[Scalma]

D69 and I had a similar discussion just the other day. You can make the trade on Draft night but not execute it until July 1st. That way, Portland could make a deal with say the Cavs who would lose Deng, Spencer and Miles off their cap thereby being able to absorb Aldridge. Now Portland would have the cap space to go after someone like LeBron if for some fluky reason he wanted to come here and he would join Lillard, Nic, #1 pic, Lopez and likely other assets/picks acquired in the Aldridge deal.

Not that anything like that is going to happen....

I think olshey could sell lebron on it if he got the chance.

 

[illmatic99]

D69 and I had a similar discussion just the other day. You can make the trade on Draft night but not execute it until July 1st. That way, Portland could make a deal with say the Cavs who would lose Deng, Spencer and Miles off their cap thereby being able to absorb Aldridge. Now Portland would have the cap space to go after someone like LeBron if for some fluky reason he wanted to come here and he would join Lillard, Nic, #1 pic, Lopez and likely other assets/picks acquired in the Aldridge deal.

Not that anything like that is going to happen....

How about a S&T for Melo? Wessy/TRob/CJ (~13mil) for Melo (~18-20mil) could work

 

[Scalma]

It would cost the Blazers a fan, namely me.

Really? Getting lebron and the #1 pick for aldridge would lose you??

 

[BlazerWookee]

Really? Getting lebron and the #1 pick for aldridge would lose you??

The only time I'll ever not root against a team with Lebron James on it is if that team is playing a team with Kobe Bryant on it.

 

[PDXFonz]

The only time I'll ever not root against a team with Lebron James on it is if that team is playing a team with Kobe Bryant on it.

I'm not sure that logic makes sense to me...if you hate lebron teams shouldn't you hate Kobe lebron teams even more? Or do you like Kobe more than you like the blazers?

 

[TBpup]

The only time I'll ever not root against a team with Lebron James on it is if that team is playing a team with Kobe Bryant on it.

Wookee.....knowing you as a Blazer fan and I believe having met a couple times over the years, your dislike for LeBron if he was on the Blazers would last about as long as it took for him to posterize an opponent. Then you would be losing your Blazerfan mind.

 

[Reep]

I think olshey could sell lebron on it if he got the chance.

Olshey did get CP3 to sign with the Clippers. Big market, but not exactly the team everyone wanted to do to.

As to the original question, you have a core that should be able to peak for the next five or so years--same length as a long FA contract. But, I do agree that you cannot take the market out of it. Guys say they want to win, but they would take a chance with another playoff team in a bigger market.

 

[tester551]

No idea if this would work but what if we traded aldridge for the first pick and signed lebron? How much could we offer him. I kno
It's less than Miami but Allen can buy him an island on the side lol. Imagine this: Lillard-batum-Parker-lebron-lopez

I think soon as you trade LMA, you loose all the leverage of getting a FA to sign here.