Your guess for who will be our starting center next year

[yenniedn]

Too soon...

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I'm intrigued by a Brook Lopez opportunity but Whiteside makes a ton of sense for our needs. It means Meyers needs to step up and give up some ranged shooting off the bench. It may also make Plums a trade chip, which is ok if we legitimately improve our center position.

 

[Sinobas]

Defense and rebounding are so much more important for a center than passing.

Yes, and passing skill is much more important itself if you are also a threat offensively. You don't have to guard Plumlee like you do other great passing centers.

 

[Sinobas]

If Aminu, Harkless And Crabbe continue to improve their shooting, we don't need a Center who scores, we need ones who sets quality picks and become our paint protector.

You at least want your center to be able to convert 70+% of their attempts from 0-3. Mason shot 52% from that range in the playoffs, which is horrendous for a big man.

 

[oldfisherman]

You guys are selling me on Whiteside.

Aside from his stats, he is a quirky person. He will need a lot of personal coaching like he has had in Miami. Spolstra took Whiteside under his wing and helped him develop into the player he is today.

My hunch.
If Whiteside signs here, it will not be for the money. He wants to win more than he wants the money. He will sign with the team that offers him the best chance to be a winner.
He is the type of team player we want.

 

[42N8Bounce]

In order of preference:
~ A Horford (age 29) - He'd be a nice fit, but I don't think we have a good chance of getting him.
~ H Whiteside (age 26) - His age fits our window, and at the lower max of $21.5M he wouldn't kill our cap space. Has he matured enough to not be a distraction?
~ D Howard (age 30) - Older, injury prone, and potential chemistry problem ('touches'). May come at a higher max, $30M. Some team will be desperate and pay him max. Healthy, at the right price (~$25M) and with the right mind set, he could be a game changer.
~ B Biyombo (age 23) - Young with plenty of upside, but limited offensive skills. Not sure if he's a significant upgrade over Plumlee, but at 23 and the right price he'd be worth the gamble.
~ F Ezeli (age 26) - Although he's restricted, there's a good change GSW let him walk if the offer is high enough. Only a slightly better rebounder, rim protector and scorer than Plumlee and one year older than Plumlee.
~ I Mahinmi (age 29) - Limited upside considering his age, but showed a good uptick in productivity when given the opportunity to start this past year. His rebounding, blocks and scoring are all right around Plumlee's current rate.

 

[PDXFonz]

In order of preference:
~ A Horford (age 29) - He'd be a nice fit, but I don't think we have a good chance of getting him.
~ H Whiteside (age 26) - His age fits our window, and at the lower max of $21.5M he wouldn't kill our cap space. Has he matured enough to not be a distraction?
~ D Howard (age 30) - Older, injury prone, and potential chemistry problem ('touches'). May come at a higher max, $30M. Some team will be desperate and pay him max. Healthy, at the right price (~$25M) and with the right mind set, he could be a game changer.
~ B Biyombo (age 23) - Young with plenty of upside, but limited offensive skills. Not sure if he's a significant upgrade over Plumlee, but at 23 and the right price he'd be worth the gamble.
~ F Ezeli (age 26) - Although he's restricted, there's a good change GSW let him walk if the offer is high enough. Only a slightly better rebounder, rim protector and scorer than Plumlee and one year older than Plumlee.
~ I Mahinmi (age 29) - Limited potential upside considering his age, but showed a good uptick in productivity when given the opportunity to start this past year. His rebounding, blocks and scoring are all right around Plumlee's current rate.

View attachment 9161

Agree on the first 3 100%

Horford would be the best fit, safest bet. But I'd like to see him at PF, and C for a small lineup.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Mahimni from the pacer can hit 15 foot shot and above average pnr player. It wouldn't cost us arm and leg to get him.

and even though he is not a great shot blocker, his overall defense is excellent.

 

[Minstrel]

I suspect a lot of people are voting on who they want, rather than trying to predict who will actually be the center. Otherwise, it would be surprising to me that so many people think that both Olshey will target Whiteside and that Whiteside will choose to sign with Portland.

Whiteside would be a great add, as would Horford. I don't think either player is highly likely to end up in Portland, though.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

Seriously, nobody is a little suspicious that he pulled his head out his ass just long enough to sign an enormous contract?

He's got all the talent in the world though, so I can understand the infatuation.

 

[PDXFonz]

Seriously, nobody is a little suspicious that he pulled his head out his ass just long enough to sign an enormous contract?

He's got all the talent in the world though, so I can understand the infatuation.

I trust that Dame and Olshey will properly vet him.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

OK, here is my REALLY ideal frontcourt situation: Whiteside at center, Horford at PF. Wouldn't it make each more likely to sign if he knew the other guy was coming too? Is it possible? It would require renouncing Kaman, Henderson, Roberts, Leonard and at least one of our $800,000 guys. It would also require renouncing Harkless. And trading Ed Davis for a draft pick. I think that would give about 48 million of cap space. I think the max on those two guys is 21 million and 27 million? The only one that would really bother me as far as losing would be Harkless. Trading out Vonleh for a draft pick and getting rid of all three of the $800,000 guys instead of Harkless would provide about 45 million space, so maybe they could talk Whiteside and Horford into taking a little less.

 

[mook]

I suspect a lot of people are voting on who they want, rather than trying to predict who will actually be the center. Otherwise, it would be surprising to me that so many people think that both Olshey will target Whiteside and that Whiteside will choose to sign with Portland.

Whiteside would be a great add, as would Horford. I don't think either player is highly likely to end up in Portland, though.

I agree that there's a lot of wishful thinking in here. If people had to wager real money on my question, I suspect we'd see much different answers.

I agree that I'd much rather us sign Whiteside or Horford than Biyombo. I just don't think it's as likely.

 

[Stevenson]

Meyers Leonard will return stronger and better after the surgery. In my opinion, with improvement on both offense and defense that we saw from Meyers in January and February and until his injury in early March, Meyers can be the additional force that the Blazers need to make it to the WCF or better.

In a lineup with Mason, Chief, CJ, and Dame, Meyers can develop, just as Mason did in the playoffs, to provide the energy, chemistry, and talent that can take the Blazers further, perhaps to the NBA Championship. With the repair of the shoulder, Meyers will return better than ever.

Given the coaching, center assignments, clever use of talents of the Leonard-Plumlee-Aminu frontcourt, the Blazers can be victorious over the Warriors. The semi-finals showed how close Blazers were, winning most of the quarters with the Warriors. Next year, giving Meyers the role that he was ramping up to in early 2016, can be the year for the Blazers!

Sorry, but I think that is fantasyland.

 

[PDXFonz]

Meyers Leonard will return stronger and better after the surgery. In my opinion, with improvement on both offense and defense that we saw from Meyers in January and February and until his injury in early March, Meyers can be the additional force that the Blazers need to make it to the WCF or better.

In a lineup with Mason, Chief, CJ, and Dame, Meyers can develop, just as Mason did in the playoffs, to provide the energy, chemistry, and talent that can take the Blazers further, perhaps to the NBA Championship. With the repair of the shoulder, Meyers will return better than ever.

Given the coaching, center assignments, clever use of talents of the Leonard-Plumlee-Aminu frontcourt, the Blazers can be victorious over the Warriors. The semi-finals showed how close Blazers were, winning most of the quarters with the Warriors. Next year, giving Meyers the role that he was ramping up to in early 2016, can be the year for the Blazers!

I will say that after going back and watching games earlier in the season on league pass I can tell how much easier it is for Dame when Meyers is out there. When Dame and Meyers run the PnR they never double Dame which often leads to him beating his man 1 on 1 or kicking it to Meyers.

 

[Pinwheel1]

You could make a case for either with those stats. Biyombo is better at defense and rebounding. Mason is better at passing and playmaking. They are about equal in other areas. Apples and oranges.

This is why we need a center by committee. We need both for different match ups.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Defense and rebounding are so much more important for a center than passing.

That depends on who is playing along side of the center. Take Duckworth for example, defense and rebounding was not as important as scoring (and setting a screen) when you had Buck and Jerome starting next to you. Having a passing center like Plumlee would be important next two say Harkless (SF) and a defensive minded PF who could also score. But I think for our current team you are probably right.

Although if we somehow get Whiteside or Biyombo I would want still want to keep Plumlee. I think Ed Davis would end up being the trade bait. (Unless you do a sign and trade for Meyers)

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I suspect a lot of people are voting on who they want, rather than trying to predict who will actually be the center. Otherwise, it would be surprising to me that so many people think that both Olshey will target Whiteside and that Whiteside will choose to sign with Portland.

Whiteside would be a great add, as would Horford. I don't think either player is highly likely to end up in Portland, though.

Gotta think big! I know Olshey does. He has said this year will be JUST as active as last when we made three trades, two free agent signings and two more offers.

 

[B-Roy]

I'm still fully aboard the Cole Aldrich train if the can't get Horford Whiteside or Howard. Biyombi looked pretty impressive moving his feet o the perimeter but he's too limited offensively to be anything more than a backup.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Turnabout is fair play:

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Or maybe...

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Remember when everyone thought it would be...

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I think Biyombo has priced himself out of our reach.

 

[PDXFonz]

I think Biyombo has priced himself out of our reach.

Nobody is priced out of our reach...

 

[PDXFonz]

I suspect a lot of people are voting on who they want, rather than trying to predict who will actually be the center. Otherwise, it would be surprising to me that so many people think that both Olshey will target Whiteside and that Whiteside will choose to sign with Portland.

Whiteside would be a great add, as would Horford. I don't think either player is highly likely to end up in Portland, though.

I actually think Whiteside will be Olsheys top priority FA who was not on the roster last season.

 

[BlayZa]

Meyers Leonard will return stronger and better after the surgery. In my opinion, with improvement on both offense and defense that we saw from Meyers in January and February and until his injury in early March, Meyers can be the additional force that the Blazers need to make it to the WCF or better.

In a lineup with Mason, Chief, CJ, and Dame, Meyers can develop, just as Mason did in the playoffs, to provide the energy, chemistry, and talent that can take the Blazers further, perhaps to the NBA Championship. With the repair of the shoulder, Meyers will return better than ever.

Given the coaching, center assignments, clever use of talents of the Leonard-Plumlee-Aminu frontcourt, the Blazers can be victorious over the Warriors. The semi-finals showed how close Blazers were, winning most of the quarters with the Warriors. Next year, giving Meyers the role that he was ramping up to in early 2016, can be the year for the Blazers!

meyers is betting on himself, the main thing that that means is he backed himself to get a better contract than what we offered him.

i doubt we are going to waste a chunk of FA money on this guy initially, nor come close to matching whatever stupid offers get thrown at him.

meyers is a known commodity, and considering everything i know of that commodity, i'm happy to see him shooting swish3s and getting lost on D and sets in Charlotte or wherever offers him the most coin.

 

[oldfisherman]

Who would I like to have as our starting center next season? But the odds are very long of it happening.
Horford
Whiteside

I do not believe these centers on the OP’s list, are on Olshey’s want list.
Howard (too many issues)
Biyombo (too short, we need a bigger body)
Ezeli (just a gut feeling, I could be wrong)

Who do I think will be our starting center next season?
Greg Monroe
I believe the Bucks are finally ready to let Monroe go for very cheap, just to gain cap space. Not sure what Olshey offered last Feb for Monroe? But, the Bucks maybe ready to pull the trigger on that trade.


We need help at Center. When you consider Monroe is making $17 million next season, why spend $12 million or more to re-sign Leonard? Monroe is only 25 years old, he fits with the age group of our core. He gives us our 3rd scoring option, in the paint to take pressure off of Dame & CJ.

 

[BonesJones]

We need help at Center. When you consider Monroe is making $17 million next season, why spend $12 million or more to re-sign Leonard?

Because Meyers makes things a lot easier for others by spacing the floor and hasn't peaked like Monroe yet..

 

[Pinwheel1]

We need help at Center. When you consider Monroe is making $17 million next season, why spend $12 million or more to re-sign Leonard? Monroe is only 25 years old, he fits with the age group of our core. He gives us our 3rd scoring option, in the paint to take pressure off of Dame & CJ.

I do think Milwaukee could use Meyers. They have a lot of good athletes, but not enough outside shooting IMO. Can you still do a sign and trade? I think you can if it is just a 1 for 1. They would still save cap room and Leonard and Plumlee (Miles) would be a nice center combo for them. And we get the inside scoring that we need.

If it was a sign and trade we would still have enough to get a rim protector. Although it might be harder to convince someone like Mozgov to sign....with the the limited playing time available. We would have to go less ecperienced...maybe Marjanovic?

 

[Hobbesarable]

I'd like to see our team sign Horford as the starting center and Mahinmi as the defensive back up.

However, I doubt it'll happen, but it's what I'm hoping for.