WTF? Hawes to Clips for 4 yrs/23 mil?

[SlyPokerDog]

I bet Matthews has to rank at near the top of the best paid undrafted NBA players of all time. This next contract should put him over the top.

 

[riverman]

I bet Matthews has to rank at near the top of the best paid undrafted NBA players of all time. This next contract should put him over the top.

Interesting take, Wes just may be. I'm a big fan and I knew Sloan loved him which said a lot coming from a guy who didn't praise players much. To me Wes brings much more to the team than just his game. Wes is the voice of reason and that guy who keeps the team hungry. To me he's the people's champ.

 

[julius]

how many nba teams don't have to overpay for FA's? Maybe NY, Miami, San Antonio, LA?

 

[Natebishop3]

.

But isn't every pro athlete, entertainer, etc grossly overpaid? These guys get what the market dictates and sure, old guys at the end of their careers play for a fraction of there usual salaries to get a ring, doesn't always work. Given the market, Wes was a steal and turned out to be part of what I see as a success story in modern Blazer lore. Bottom line is and always has been, it's Paul Allen's money and he can spend it however he sees fit I'd say major markets have suffered more for overpaying...Knicks for example and they are not contenders

I'm not talking about his current contract on the current market.

I'm saying he was overpaid AT THE TIME, which strengthens that argument that we have to overpay to convince free agents to come to Portland. The fact that we were smart enough to give a contract to a guy that would eventually earn it, and did a great job predicting how he would grow as a player, has no bearing on the fact that we still gave him more than his market value at the time of his signing.

 

[riverman]

Somtimes you role the dice and get lucky. That's why I've never been a huge lottery fan. It's a crapshoot.

 

[tester551]

Ml

Alright, come on you assuming-that-neil failed people... what do you have to say now? Let shit play out before assuming.

#baiting

I still say the Kaman signing is terrible. The Hawes stuff had and still has nothing to do with how bad that Kaman deal is.

The one thing that I am glad to hear is that Niel was at least willing to do a multi year deal and eat into that precious "2015 cap sapce"

 

[Pinwheel1]

Ml
I still say the Kaman signing is terrible. The Hawes stuff had and still has nothing to do with how bad that Kaman deal is.

The one thing that I am glad to hear is that Niel was at least willing to do a multi year deal and eat into that precious "2015 cap sapce"

It's the 4th of July so I assume you have been partying.

 

[BBert]

But the word was that Hawes was "very interested" in Portland. What happened?

He was interested in the Blazers. Not committed. Turns out he was MORE interested in the opportunities presented to him in LA. He'll probably make more in endorsements for one thing. Maybe he also had a very fulfilling political meeting of the minds with the Clips owner as well.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

how many nba teams don't have to overpay for FA's? Maybe NY, Miami, San Antonio, LA?

I would throw a couple more teams in there. Gasol is thinking OKC, Chicago attracts some FAs

But the majority of teams, including the Blazers, have to be the highest bidder and hope one of the attractive teams don't make an offer. I was silly to think Blazers would attract players with their roster. Not that players don't want to play for the Blazers, but they are rarely, if ever, on a players top 5 list.

Likely Hawes was going to go the Phx because they could offer more money than MLE, until the Clippers jumped into the picture. Blazers weren't going to get Hawes because they only have the MLE to offer and if anyone should be pissed it should be the Suns.

 

[tester551]

It's the 4th of July so I assume you have been partying.

No. I just was going too fast..
I meant that I was glad that Neil was willing to offer a free agent (in this case Hawes) a deal that went beyond 2015. There have been so many saying that there is this cap space plan & we can't eat into it. The truth is Portland's FA will be some of the better ones on the market and Portland will not have space to sign new players after they resign their own.

 

[Strenuus]

Ml
I still say the Kaman signing is terrible. The Hawes stuff had and still has nothing to do with how bad that Kaman deal is.

The one thing that I am glad to hear is that Niel was at least willing to do a multi year deal and eat into that precious "2015 cap sapce"

Just admit it. Everything is there in black and white. Let it go, it will be okay.

 

[PDXFonz]

Some time during next season we will be talking about Rolo and kaman fighting for the starting position

 

[Mediocre Man]

But the word was that Hawes was "very interested" in Portland. What happened?

He chose a bigger market. Shocking, I know

 

[Mediocre Man]

Free agent. I'd call him a significant signing.

He turned out to be a good signing, but he was an undrafted FA for the Jazz (a smaller market BTW) who averaged 10 ppg in 25 mpg for the Jazz, and has a career PER UNDER the NBA average of 15.00. He is a nice player, but significant is overstating it

 

[Pinwheel1]

No. I just was going too fast..
I meant that I was glad that Neil was willing to offer a free agent (in this case Hawes) a deal that went beyond 2015. There have been so many saying that there is this cap space plan & we can't eat into it. The truth is Portland's FA will be some of the better ones on the market and Portland will not have space to sign new players after they resign their own.

Oh, I thought you meant you were glad he offered Kaman a multi year deal....never mind

 

[julius]

He chose a bigger market. Shocking, I know

He chose a team that finished with a better record, shocking I know.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

He chose a team that finished with a better record, shocking I know.

You guys are both right, probably the city and the team is what influenced him to take less money than what is sounds like both Phx and the Cavs were willing to offer.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

With all this Wes talk . . . had the Blazers stole some undrafted player with potential from another team with the MLE, I would be excited about that signing. I just don't get what they see in Kaman, but they are the professional and do this for a living and must see something in him. They were quick to move on Kamen after they knew they couldn't get Hawes, so it wasn't like Kaman was the only player left at the end of summer. Maybe all the lack of PT has allowed his body to recover (trying to see the bright side of that signing after a fun 4th of July)

 

[Hobbesarable]

(trying to see the bright side of that signing after a fun 4th of July)

Well, the second year of the contract is not fully guaranteed and he is an upgrade over Freeland and Leonard.

I expect TRob and Freeland to help fill at the 4/5 back-up spots while Leonard is still learning the game.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Well, the second year of the contract is not fully guaranteed and he is an upgrade over Freeland and Leonard.

I expect TRob and Freeland to help fill at the 4/5 back-up spots while Leonard is still learning the game.

The contract is basically a 2 yr contract with a team option after his first year (which is good) . . . I wonder if the Blazers can use an MLE next year worth about 4 million if they choose to buyout Kaman.

Also Rolo did log the most minutes of his career, don't know if you can count on that each year.

But Kaman for the MLE? . . . ok I'll stop.

 

[Hobbesarable]

The contract is basically a 2 yr contract with a team option after his first year (which is good) . . . I wonder if the Blazers can use an MLE next year worth about 4 million if they choose to buyout Kaman.

Also Rolo did log the most minutes of his career, don't know if you can count on that each year.

But Kaman for the MLE? . . . ok I'll stop.

I understand and feel the same way. I don't think Kaman was the BPA for the MLE as we need help everywhere on our bench.

 

[1eyejack]

I understand and feel the same way. I don't think Kaman was the BPA for the MLE as we need help everywhere on our bench.

I'm shocked people don't think back up center wasn't our biggest problem last year. We got killed defensively, rebounding and got zero offense in most games from our 2nd string center. While kaman isn't a good starter he's a huge improvement to our bench. Plus he will give you roughly 8-10 points a game as back up plus 6-8 rebounds. While i would rather have had Hawes at least we got a legitimate back up center!

Plus great job with contract allowing us flexibility for next year.

 

[magnifier661]

I'm shocked people don't think back up center wasn't our biggest problem last year. We got killed defensively, rebounding and got zero offense in most games from our 2nd string center. While kaman isn't a good starter he's a huge improvement to our bench. Plus he will give you roughly 8-10 points a game as back up plus 6-8 rebounds. While i would rather have had Hawes at least we got a legitimate back up center!

Plus great job with contract allowing us flexibility for next year.

You are 100% accurate bro. When freeland went down with an injury, we had a very tough time winning ball games. And freeland wasn't really a center.

 

[e_blazer]

I'm shocked people don't think back up center wasn't our biggest problem last year. We got killed defensively, rebounding and got zero offense in most games from our 2nd string center. While kaman isn't a good starter he's a huge improvement to our bench. Plus he will give you roughly 8-10 points a game as back up plus 6-8 rebounds. While i would rather have had Hawes at least we got a legitimate back up center!

Plus great job with contract allowing us flexibility for next year.

Nice use of logic here. You should post more.

 

[Hobbesarable]

You are 100% accurate bro. When freeland went down with an injury, we had a very tough time winning ball games. And freeland wasn't really a center.

He's a one year stop gap we are hoping will play more than 50% of his games while keeping Leonard on the bench. I'm cool with the latter part of that statement.

 

[BBert]

I understand and feel the same way. I don't think Kaman was the BPA for the MLE as we need help everywhere on our bench.

Kaman may have been the BPA for the MLE that was a "good fit" with all the variables the Blazers are looking at WHO WAS WILLING TO CHOOSE THE BLAZERS FOR THE MLE. It takes two to tango. The Blazers have certain criteria they are looking for in a player, and they have to formulate an overall strategy -- this season and into the future. The players have certain criteria they are looking for in a team (mostly money). And there are other teams looking at the same players we are. I have to think the Blazers talk to many teams, agents, and other team executives. Every move is a risk and should be part of a strategy. And yeah, the Blazers have always had to overpay.

 

[BBert]

You are 100% accurate bro. When freeland went down with an injury, we had a very tough time winning ball games. And freeland wasn't really a center.

I agree with you both. Backup center for this upcoming season was IMO our top priority. I joked while Freeland was injured he must be our MVP, because when he went down, so did we it seemed.

 

[1eyejack]

Nice use of logic here. You should post more.

Thank you, would love to post more but two kids in high school and I coach high school football and my daughters traveling basketball team. Life gets in the way lol

 

[magnifier661]

I agree with you both. Backup center for this upcoming season was IMO our top priority. I joked while Freeland was injured he must be our MVP, because when he went down, so did we it seemed.

I know bro. I didn't realize how thin we were until freeland went down.

 

[Sinobas]

Funny thing is, that at 32 years of age, Chris Kaman had one of his best seasons statistically last season. Small sample size at 39 games, but he's been putting up numbers per 36 that compare to guys making 10+ mil at center. Last year it was 20/11/3assists 2 blks per 36.