You're in Neil's shoes...

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Blazinaway said:
I love Lopez, but if you have to pay him 10-12 mil are you perhaps better off offering the Clips center (Olshey connection?) or Indiana center (Hibbert) 12-15 mil? Is Gasol available as well?
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Gasol will make 16 million this year. How much will he get in his next contract? How many other teams will we be competing with?
D. Jordon: The only way we get him is if Doc does not want him. And if he doesn't, would we want him?
Hibbert: Will he decline his player option after the end of the year? If he does he will want to replace it with another 15 million/yr deal.

I would take the bird in the hand approach. If Lopez likes it here, resign him. Unless he regresses this year. But centers are hard to come by.
 
If they played like last year, and the team has similar success, Olshey needs to do whatever it takes to keep the starting 5 intact.
 
Fez Hammersticks said:
I think locking up Wes will prove to be tougher than we think.

This past summer teams went apeshit for capable SG/SF's and Wes is certainly above average and just now entering his prime.

I think he'll get a contract worth something close to $10m/per. Gortat set Lopez's market.
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I think unfortuantely you may be spot on with this. Someone is going overpay for Wes (good for Wes btw) and we will have a hard time justifying that. This is also why this is a big year for Barton and CJ as they be in position to affect (effect sp? always mix those up) that decision.
 
yuyuza1 said:
If they played like last year, and the team has similar success, Olshey needs to do whatever it takes to keep the starting 5 intact.
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I think so too. He has a year to evaluate the team as a whole.

Some questions that will need to be answered are does Wes and Dame continue to mesh well in the back court. And does Robin and LMA continue to mesh well in the front court?

Does CJ make a giant leap to warrant starting in the back court? I can't see that happening but if he did, how much do you pay Wes to come off the bench? Certainly not 10 million per. But i would pay him 8...
 
Boise Blazer said:
I think unfortuantely you may be spot on with this. Someone is going overpay for Wes (good for Wes btw) and we will have a hard time justifying that. This is also why this is a big year for Barton and CJ as they be in position to affect (effect sp? always mix those up) that decision.
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I think you're actually undervaluing Wes. Compare his numbers to Chandler Parsons'; they're basically the same guy. Factor in the expected jump in the salary cap when the new CBA comes in, and I wouldn't be shocked to see Wes get $14M/year if he replicates or improves upon last year.
 
PtldPlatypus said:
I think you're actually undervaluing Wes. Compare his numbers to Chandler Parsons'; they're basically the same guy. Factor in the expected jump in the salary cap when the new CBA comes in, and I wouldn't be shocked to see Wes get $14M/year if he replicates or improves upon last year.
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There is no way that I could undervalue Wes, I love that guy. I agree that he really is at this point a top SG in this league. Im just not sure how much the Blazers will tolerate money wise with him know that every started would be paid over $10 mil a year.
 
Boise Blazer said:
There is no way that I could undervalue Wes, I love that guy. I agree that he really is at this point a top SG in this league. Im just not sure how much the Blazers will tolerate money wise with him know that every started would be paid over $10 mil a year.
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OK--I guess Fez, estimating that Wes will get something close to $10M, was undervaluing him.

I think you're right about the limitations on the starters' money, and I think it's likely that he's gone after this year. I guess it's possible that he takes a discount to stick around, but I think that the offers he'll get next summer will be too big to pass up. In fact, if CJ and Will both prove to be legit players over the first few months (to get back to the OP topic), it would be hard not to consider a legit offer for Wes.
 
PtldPlatypus said:
I think you're actually undervaluing Wes. Compare his numbers to Chandler Parsons'; they're basically the same guy. Factor in the expected jump in the salary cap when the new CBA comes in, and I wouldn't be shocked to see Wes get $14M/year if he replicates or improves upon last year.
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If he improves upon last year then that will be exciting for this team. 14 million a year seems crazy at this point, but I guess you never know. I hope he earns it but I think the 10 a year is more likely as well.
 
No to D Jordan. Tight games are often won at the free throw line. Keep Lopez. Never undervalue intangibles, fit, and chemistry. Pay the man.

Edit: And brains. And leadership. Fropez is smart and a competitor. He's perfect for this team.
 
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Fez Hammersticks said:
You have two guaranteed contracts on the books after this season - Lillard and Batum.

You'll have a ton of wiggle room to make moves.

Aldridge already has the max offer on the table and waiting.

The market for Lopez is set - he'll get at least $10-12m/per

Matthews has played himself into a contract that nearly doubles his current contract.

Do you look at make that power move at the deadline to bring in that player who vaults Portland into a real title contender?
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I've always wondered why we need to bring in that power player you mentioned in order to contend. I mean we made it past the first round with Houston having 2 of these type of power players and lost the next round to the champs; which ironically steam rolled through other teams with power players on them (Miami with wade, bosh and LBJ and OKC with Durant and Westbrook).

I think the key to our losses came from a shit bench. If we can build on that, then I would argue we are a contender already. What we have in Kaman and Blake, with the addition to our existing youngs getting better, maybe just enough already.
 
BBert said:
No to D Jordan. Tight games are often won at the free throw line. Keep Lopez. Never undervalue intangibles, fit, and chemistry. Pay the man.

Edit: And brains. And leadership. Fropez is smart and a competitor. He's perfect for this team.
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100% this! Lopez's ability to hit free throws is such a benefit, especially in the 4th.
 
If I'm in Neil's shoes, I'm in evaluation mode up until the first of the year. Any thought of an in-season trade before the deadline is premature before you see how the current pieces fit and what kind of success they're achieving. If it's clear that there's a problem, then I'd be putting out feelers to other teams in January. Otherwise, if things are working as well as I hope they will, I sit back and enjoy the adulation I'm receiving for the two genius moves of the summer in acquiring Blake and Kaman. Any real thought about contracts for next year can wait.
 
I would keep the same roster, I'm very optimistic about our chances to internally improve. I agree it depends on how the season unfolds.
 
If I'm Neil, you pretty much have to let it ride and count on internal improvement and hope that whatever chemistry and formula you struck upon last year repeats itself.

As for making impact, mid-season trades, the team is not exactly bursting at the seams with surplus, cheap, young talent and there isn't much wiggle room in terms of the cap (if any; I haven't really been paying attention this summer). I suspect that we won't see any major trades, unless they are one of the "unpleasant" variety - a result of an under-performing squad where an unhappy LaMarcus gets moved somewhere because they end up convinced he won't resign here (as an example).

EDIT:
Oh yeah. Haiguyz
 
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Nikolokolus said:
If I'm Neil, you pretty much have to let it ride and count on internal improvement and hope that whatever chemistry and formula you struck upon last year repeats itself.

As for making impact, mid-season trades, the team is not exactly bursting at the seams with surplus, cheap, young talent and there isn't much wiggle room in terms of the cap (if any; I haven't really been paying attention this summer). I suspect that we won't see any major trades, unless they are one of the "unpleasant" variety - a result of an under-performing squad where an unhappy LaMarcus gets moved somewhere because they end up convinced he won't resign here (as an example).

EDIT:
Oh yeah. Haiguyz
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Hey nik! Came back just in time!
 
Nikolokolus said:
If I'm Neil, you pretty much have to let it ride and count on internal improvement and hope that whatever chemistry and formula you struck upon last year repeats itself.

As for making impact, mid-season trades, the team is not exactly bursting at the seams with surplus, cheap, young talent and there isn't much wiggle room in terms of the cap (if any; I haven't really been paying attention this summer). I suspect that we won't see any major trades, unless they are one of the "unpleasant" variety - a result of an under-performing squad where an unhappy LaMarcus gets moved somewhere because they end up convinced he won't resign here (as an example).

EDIT:
Oh yeah. Haiguyz
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Hey Nik! I take it you finally got parole! Nice!
 
SlyPokerDog said:
Hibbert got 0 rebounds in a playoff game. Lopez may not be as talented but he is a warrior and would never pout like that.
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Hibbert has a higher ceiling. It's a high risk, high reward move. Rolo is the safe pick. He's a good player, but not a great player. He might get one All-Star game in his career. Hibbert already has a couple All-Star games.
 
Natebishop3 said:
Hibbert has a higher ceiling. It's a high risk, high reward move. Rolo is the safe pick. He's a good player, but not a great player. He might get one All-Star game in his career. Hibbert already has a couple All-Star games.
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Chemistry matters.
Attitude matters.
Heart and determination matters.

Hibbert has shown to be lacking in all of those.
 
If I'm Neil I get them all to accept pay cuts to stay together and if that doesn't work, I get out the checkbook. He's already stated this core is untouchable. Couple of years from now it might get tweaked but most of this hangs on how deep the team goes in the playoffs. Everybody wants to become the Spurs now.
 
We dodged a bullet with Hibbert getting matched. We got Rolo and Kaman for less money combined
 
Another angle to look at it is that Batum and Wes are the same type of player -- heavy intangibles with an outside shot, but neither can create his shot that well.

A guy that you can isolate/create his own shot alongside Dame/LMA is what would vault this team IMO.
 
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