Wojbomb: Layman given qualifying offer, becomes RFA

[CupWizier]

That's a wojbomb? Not sure it even qualifies for a grenade

or a firecracker.

 

[CupWizier]

I can't believe Woj is tweeting about this. How connected is he to Neil?

It's NBA news and that's what Wojo does.

 

[riverman]

I’m sure Jake wants to get this handled soon. Getting married soon.

You should throw him a bachelor party at your house! ….oh wait...….

 

[hoopsjock]

I sure wouldn't go as high as hoopsjock at 7M, but I'm not as impressed with Layman as most are.

what I saw was Layman had a good stretch of BB; then he was scouted. Teams started taking away his back cuts and stopped leaving him wide open on the perimeter. And he regressed...a lot. I suppose you could argue that Stotts jerked him around and that may have had an impact on his production and confidence. Still, his inconsistency is a concern. Of course that's the case for just about every role player

I guess 5M on a 2 or 3 year deal with a team option. Prefer the 2 year deal because of next year's cap situation

a lot of this summer's moves hinge on how much tax Jody Allen is willing to pay. I have no clue. Right now, Portland is only 1 or 2 million below the tax line with 11 players. Using the full tax-MLE and re-signing Layman for 7M, then using a couple of vet minimum deals could yield 25-30M in tax. That seems high but if there was year to pay that tax, next season may be it with the injuries to Golden State and the dissension in Houston. I imagine Olshey can assure JA Portland would be under the tax line next season. Signing Layman would make that more difficult

I'd also look at guys who might sign for minimums this summer: Tervor Ariza; Wilson Chandler, Jeff Green, James Ennis, Mike Scott, Jonas Jerbko. Having one of those guys for 3-5M less could be a better option

the other side of that could be having Layman on a small, team-friendly contract could be a decent trade piece

I did mention that $7 million as a short term contract. If Jody is willing to pay it might make sense to kind of hedge our bet with Layman. Offer him in the range of $5-7 million this year with a team option for the same amount the next year like you said. If he continues to be inconsistent we let him walk at the end of next year or his contract would basically be an expiring to be used in other deals. If he becomes a full time rotational player then that amount might be a bargain for him the following year or once again he becomes a trade asset at the draft.

 

[hoopsjock]

If we're in the luxury tax that $5-7 million will cost Jody Allen over $20 million next season! I'd rather use that money when it's a more certain benefit, so no let Layman walk in that case. I don't want the team to have to drastically cut salary and give up assets because we are way over the tax.

All indications are that Jody has been willing to be a tax team. Unless they do something really big (or stupid) we probably won't be in the tax the following season anyway.

 

[GhostOfPGA]

After the big names are signed, there will be teams with money to spend.

Yeah but I can’t imagine Layman getting more than a 3/13 on the open market.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I can't believe Woj is tweeting about this. How connected is he to Neil?

They both have a love of valet parking.

 

[riverman]

They both have a love of valet parking.

It's limo Uber time...nobody needs to park anymore..

 

[Natebishop3]

That's a wojbomb? Not sure it even qualifies for a grenade

 

[Strenuus]

I like Jake. But i want a consistent Jake. And i dont know if thats the fault of Stotts or Jake that he cant be. Id like to see what he can do with a season of rotation minutes.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

He showed big flashes until Stotts started jerking him around after some games of not shooting that well. In general, I thought we had too many players in our rotation last season. The same could be said for Seth Curry and Rodney Hood. If you give him a consistent role with a consistent number of shots every game, I think he will produce well. I'd be surprised if he gets more than 3 or 4 mil a season.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I like Jake. But i want a consistent Jake. And i dont know if thats the fault of Stotts or Jake that he cant be. Id like to see what he can do with a season of rotation minutes.

How many bench players have we ever had that were consistent? Not many. I assume this is true for most teams. Jake had some huge games last year so we know the potential is there. Terry always shortens his rotation in the playoffs. But Jake had a good season

https://www.espn.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/id/2982268/jake-layman

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Can we sign and trade Jake for ET?

 

[hoopsjock]

I think Layman would be so much better in a more up-tempo offense. I still don't get why Stotts doesn't have the 2nd unit run more.

Simons, Layman, Collins, Skal, and Leonard all have games that would be better suited for a faster pace. Harkless does too of the starters from last year. Now we have Bazemore and Little who fit in this category too. Getting a point guard known for pushing the ball up the court quickly to lead the bench might help all of those guys succeed quicker.

Most of the other guys on the team are fine at any pace.

 

[HailBlazers]

I think Layman would be so much better in a more up-tempo offense. I still don't get why Stotts doesn't have the 2nd unit run more.

Simons, Layman, Collins, Skal, and Leonard all have games that would be better suited for a faster pace. Harkless does too of the starters from last year. Now we have Bazemore and Little who fit in this category too. Getting a point guard known for pushing the ball up the court quickly to lead the bench might help all of those guys succeed quicker.

Most of the other guys on the team are fine at any pace.

x1000 - couldn't agree more. Loved what the Warriors do pressing hard even after a made basket by the opposition.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Now if a team offers him a deal we evaluate matching it at that time.

To me the more relevant question is what if there are no offers; do we let him take the qualifying offer or offer a longer contract?

I like the idea of $1.9 million and we make a much more informed decision next summer. He would also have a low cap hold, so in theory we could use cap space first then resign him after.

But if you are really high on Jake would you rather try to lock him up for multiple years at a reasonable rate? I'd probably pass at any price. I expect some posters prefer to lock him up as they have an irrational fear of him becoming a Jermaine Oneal situation.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I think Layman would be so much better in a more up-tempo offense. I still don't get why Stotts doesn't have the 2nd unit run more.

Simons, Layman, Collins, Skal, and Leonard all have games that would be better suited for a faster pace. Harkless does too of the starters from last year. Now we have Bazemore and Little who fit in this category too. Getting a point guard known for pushing the ball up the court quickly to lead the bench might help all of those guys succeed quicker.

Most of the other guys on the team are fine at any pace.

I feel like we hear this idea every year since 2004.

Not that I'm opposed to it, I'd love a 10 man rotation and scale back Dame/CJ minutes and try to run opponents off the court as the Kings/Nuggets did last year.

I'm just to the point where I totally ignore the thought, same as player X has gained 15 pounds of muscle.

 

[hoopsjock]

Now if a team offers him a deal we evaluate matching it at that time.

To me the more relevant question is what if there are no offers; do we let him take the qualifying offer or offer a longer contract?

I like the idea of $1.9 million and we make a much more informed decision next summer. He would also have a low cap hold, so in theory we could use cap space first then resign him after.

But if you are really high on Jake would you rather try to lock him up for multiple years at a reasonable rate? I'd probably pass at any price. I expect some posters prefer to lock him up as they have an irrational fear of him becoming a Jermaine Oneal situation.

The only problem with the QO is like Hood this year Layman would then be an unrestricted free agent next summer. He'd have the right to refuse trades because he'd lose Bird Rights which also means the team trading for him would not give up as much to get him. This is why I kind of like the idea of slightly overpaying him for this season but having a 2nd year team option. I also think a 3 year deal for about $10 million total wouldn't be too crazy both in terms of compensation for Layman and maintaining cap flexibility next summer.

 

[hoopsjock]

I feel like we hear this idea every year since 2004.

Not that I'm opposed to it, I'd love a 10 man rotation and scale back Dame/CJ minutes and try to run opponents off the court as the Kings/Nuggets did last year.

I'm just to the point where I totally ignore the thought, same as player X has gained 15 pounds of muscle.

We hear this idea because since at least the beginning of the McMillan era the Blazers have mostly been a slow it down half court type team.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Here is our rank in pace;

2019 18th
2018 19th
2017 14th
2016 13th
2015 12th
2014 12th
2013 18th Stotts first year
2012 15th McMillian last part year
2011 30th
2010 30th
2009 30th
2008 29th
2007 29th
2006 28th McMillian first year

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Layman sucks. I wouldn't match any offer. Not a problem, he won't get any.

I wish he didn't suck, but catching occasional alley-oops does not compensate for his inability to consistently hit the 3 or his overall poor game.

He's only getting another shot from Neil because Neil drafted him.

I haven't lost all hope for him, it's POSSIBLE that he improves his 32.6 3fg%, but I wouldn't bank on it.

There will be better players available for vet. min.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Layman sucks. I wouldn't match any offer. Not a problem, he won't get any.

I wish he didn't suck, but catching occasional alley-oops does not compensate for his inability to consistently hit the 3 or his overall poor game.

He's only getting another shot from Neil because Neil drafted him.

I haven't lost all hope for him, it's POSSIBLE that he improves his 32.6 3fg%, but I wouldn't bank on it.

There will be better players available for vet. min.

I think this is more likely than he becomes a starter.

Thats why I prefer he accept the 1 year offer; if he becomes a quality role player fine we give him a raise.

I don't like the downside risk of him on a multi year deal; then we realize we are now stuck with him hurting our team as with Meyers/Crabbe. Yes the dollar mistake would be much lower, but conceptually its the identical situation.

 

[Blazinaway]

5M a year would be my ceiling. But he may be offered more.

over pay, say thx Jake, good luck and good bye

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

You sound surprised????

Not.

At.

All.

 

[BBert]

That's a wojbomb? Not sure it even qualifies for a grenade

More like one of those little popper things kids throw on the ground on the 4th

 

[TBpup]

Jake is more of a rhythm player than an instant offense from '3' shooter. In games with 5 shots or more, he shot .522 from the field and that included a couple of 0-5 and 0-6 games. In games with 4 shots or less, he shot 46%. He often needed a few touches to get going but if he made one early, could get hot very quickly. It was the first year he has got significant regular minutes at all over a longer period and he seemed to do quite well when given opportunities and touches.

Certainly has room for improvement but given that before this season he had averaged less than 6 mpg, he was quite efficient in the minutes he got...especially if he got more than just the random shot now and then. For the production per contract, he did quite well.

 

[BBert]

I’m sure Jake wants to get this handled soon. Getting married soon.

Your avatar is creeping me out man!

 

[twobullz]

I would not go above the 1.9M and I think they could find a better option for the money. He is not reliable on offense and a complete liability on defense. Once teams took away his back door cut, he lost the ability to earn minutes. In the last game of the regular season he was at best the 4th best Blazer starter.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Yup, there is basically no reason not to unless they wouldn't want him on the team for the QO amount of $1.9 million. My guess is they'd be happy with him taking that.

This