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[Fez Hammersticks]

"Dreaming big" is how Larry Miller said this summer is going to be. "Instant contenders" next season.

So, let's say we use our cap space on Deron Williams; build this roster with the right pieces around LMA and DWill.

*2012 NJ lotto pick
*2012 POR lotto pick
*Free Agents: Batum, Hickson, Crawford, Felton, Thomas, C.Smith, Thabee, Flynn, Przybilla.
*Euros: Freeland, Claver, Diebler.
*Young assets: Matthews, Babbitt, Smith, E.Williams.

PG: Deron Williams
SG:
SF:
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge
C:


Go!

 

[THE HCP]

Priority is signing Nic........ and hope we land 2 studs from this draft!

 

[magnifier661]

Priority is signing Nic........ and hope we land 2 studs from this draft!

Priority is first landing all the free agent talent we can, then resign nic and hickson. If we are over cap, we can still match any offer. Hopefully hickson and Batum gets the memo and waits until our big moves. They have a chance to be on something very exciting.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Priority is signing Nic........ and hope we land 2 studs from this draft!

Priority should be signing a PG.

 

[THE HCP]

have a chance to be on something very exciting.

Told your girl this exact thing last night FAMS!

 

[THE HCP]

Priority should be signing a PG.

But you just said we had landed DWILL!!!!!!!

 

[magnifier661]

Told your girl this exact thing last night FAMS!

Yeah she told me about that night. She was all wet and bothered then came home upset. She said the moment she grabbed your greasy wetback cock, you shot out like 4th of July. You said it was a fluke, so she tried again. She was pissed cause she had to carpool u to the hospital. That beer bottle got stuck in your ass again.

 

[THE HCP]

Yeah she told me about that night. She was all wet and bothered then came home upset. She said the moment she grabbed your greasy wetback cock, you shot out like 4th of July. You said it was a fluke, so she tried again. She was pissed cause she had to carpool u to the hospital. That beer bottle got stuck in your ass again.

OOOOO......KKKKKK....... has somebody been drinking again?

 

[magnifier661]

OOOOO......KKKKKK....... has somebody been drinking again?

BURP!

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

But you just said we had landed DWILL!!!!!!!

This is an interesting conundrum:

Portland almost certainly will retain restricted free agent Nicolas Batum, but if not, their cap room would balloon to $25.9 million without his cap hold.

To land DWill we're going to have to throw serious money at him. Losing Nic may be something that will have to happen if we were able to convince Deron.

 

[THE HCP]

If we land DWILL....... they will match whatever is thrown at Nic...... he would be amazing running the wing with Williams handling the rock!

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

If we land DWILL....... they will match whatever is thrown at Nic...... he would be amazing running the wing with Williams handling the rock!

Depending on what we have left I'd make a run at Lopez or Hibbert.

SF is the easiest position to fill.

 

[Sinobas]

"Dreaming big" is how Larry Miller said this summer is going to be. "Instant contenders" next season.

So, let's say we use our cap space on Deron Williams; build this roster with the right pieces around LMA and DWill.

*2012 NJ lotto pick
*2012 POR lotto pick
*Free Agents: Batum, Hickson, Crawford, Felton, Thomas, C.Smith, Thabee, Flynn, Przybilla.
*Euros: Freeland, Claver, Diebler.
*Young assets: Matthews, Babbitt, Smith, E.Williams.

PG: Deron Williams
SG:
SF:
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge
C:


Go!

If Williams gets 17 million a year, that would put our cap figure at 43 million, with him, LA, Matthews, Williams, Babbit, Smith, Thomas and Nolan Smith still under contract. We'd need about 6 million for our rookies, leaving us with about 10 million to spend. (This is assuming that Crawful does not opt in)

If we can sign Batum to 6.5 and Hickson at 3.5 our lineup would be: Hopefully we'd have some rookies in there instead of Nolan and Thomas.

Williams/Smith
Matthews/Williams
Batum/Babbit
LA/Thomas
Hickson


I'd like to resign Hickson, Batum, and Flynn, but I'm not sure we could afford them unless Deron signs for less. Perhaps they could make a move to clear up space, like deal Matthews to the Hornets for a 2nd rounder.

 

[THE HCP]

That ain't happenin' son. There are at least 20 teams that would throw more at Nic then 6M.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I think they have to be creative and also bring in a center. I like Hickson in the third-big role and he's been really effective in this role.

You also have to factor in signing two high-lotto picks. I'd look to package the picks to move up for Drummond. Improve the current roster with an eye on the future. He's at least 3-4 years away but he's the first legit C prospect since Oden.

 

[Mediocre Man]

This is an interesting conundrum:



To land DWill we're going to have to throw serious money at him. Losing Nic may be something that will have to happen if we were able to convince Deron.

Portland's cap room isn't as much as that according to StoryTellers site. With cap holds for Nic and Hickson, and with the two lottery holds it lowers it quite a bit

 

[Mediocre Man]

If somehow we sign Williams, Crawford opts out, and no one offers Nic or Hickson before we have a chance to land Williams, then maybe this. Not sure if money would work, but I would also go after Erson Elyasova.

Williams (Which won't happen)
Lamb
Batum
Hickson
Aldridge

Drummond
Elyasova
Babbitt
Matthews
Smith
Thomas
Freeland

 

[Rhal]

If somehow we sign Williams, Crawford opts out, and no one offers Nic or Hickson before we have a chance to land Williams, then maybe this. Not sure if money would work, but I would also go after Erson Elyasova.

Williams (Which won't happen)
Lamb
Batum
Hickson
Aldridge

Drummond
Elyasova
Babbitt
Matthews
Smith
Thomas
Freeland

even if we draft Lamb he wont start over mathews and would have to beat out elliot to back him up.

 

[Mediocre Man]

even if we draft Lamb he wont start over mathews and would have to beat out elliot to back him up.

I forgot about Elliott. I think Portland deals Matthews this off season. Elliott in, Lamb to the bench

 

[Mediocre Man]

Wait, let's think really big.

Sign Williams.
Renounce Hickson
S&T Batum, along with Elliott Williams, Wes Matthews the rights to Freeland and both lottery picks to Orlando for Dwight Howard
Buy a pick in the late teens and draft Terrence Ross. In the second round draft Rodney Williams
Sign vets of need for the minimum

Williams/Smith
Ross/Vet
Babbitt/Williams
Aldridge/C. Smith type
Howard/Thomas/Joel type

 

[Blaze01]

If they could sign a guy like D-Will, which I think is a longshot at best or Nash, ever so lightly less of a longshot...then they could use thier 2 draft picks to fill holes...

Upgrade the SG thru the draft...either Beal or Lamb

Go after a big man....Sullinger, Henson, Zeller....I like Sullinger b\c I think his style of inside post play could mesh well with Aldridge....Re-sign Hickson (if you can)...and bring over Freeland....

Take a flyer on BPA guys in 2nd round (I think there wil be NBA claiber players available when POR picks 40/41...guys like Jae Crowder, Will Barton, Scot Machado, Hollis Thompson, Kris Joseph or CJ Leslie), I like Barton\Crowder to fill one of thse 2 remaining spots and then fill last spot with FA, preferably a PG, maybe a guy like Hinrich (preferably) or keep Flynn...

That would be best case scenario IMO...

PG Williams or Nash, Hinrich N.Smith
SG Matthews (will likely start but is better coming off the bench, could play some SF too), Beal or Lamb, E-Will
SF Batum, Babbitt, Barton or Crowder
PF Aldridge, Hickson, Freeland (He might be able to play some center as well in b\u role (behind Sullinger))
C Sullinger, Przybilla, K.Thomas

You have K.Thomas for 1 year, sign another veteran PG like Hinrich or keep Flynn

 

[magnifier661]

This is an interesting conundrum:



To land DWill we're going to have to throw serious money at him. Losing Nic may be something that will have to happen if we were able to convince Deron.

Not if u sign Batum after you get Williams. Batum's cap hold is around 5-6 mil; which still gives the blazers around 19 mil to toss at a free agent. Max is only 17 mil. Once you sign the free agent, and over cap, you can max Batum and hickson offers; even if you are over cap.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Not if u sign Batum after you get Williams. Batum's cap hold is around 5-6 mil; which still gives the blazers around 19 mil to toss at a free agent. Max is only 17 mil. Once you sign the free agent, and over cap, you can max Batum and hickson offers; even if you are over cap.

The issue is going to be whether someone offers Batum and Hickson a contract before Williams is offered. And that dollar figure is wrong

 

[magnifier661]

The issue is going to be whether someone offers Batum and Hickson a contract before Williams is offered. And that dollar figure is wrong

What dollar figure? Max is 30% of cap. Cap is 58 mil. 30% of 58 mil is around 17 mil. That is the max you can offer. Batum's cap hold is 1.5 times his QO, his qual is 3.8 mil; which is around 5-8 mil.

 

[Mediocre Man]

What dollar figure? Max is 30% of cap. Cap is 58 mil. 30% of 58 mil is around 17 mil. That is the max you can offer. Batum's cap hold is 1.5 times his QO, his qual is 3.8 mil; which is around 5-8 mil.

Portland won't have that much. You are forgetting two lottery pick holds, Freeland hold, Hickson hold. Read StoryTellers article on Blazers Edge

 

[magnifier661]

Portland won't have that much. You are forgetting two lottery pick holds, Freeland hold, Hickson hold. Read StoryTellers article on Blazers Edge

No I agree with you. I thought you were disagreeing about Batum hold and max amount.

 

[Masbee]

Portland won't have that much. You are forgetting two lottery pick holds, Freeland hold, Hickson hold. Read StoryTellers article on Blazers Edge

It says we can have cap space in a range between $15mil and $20mil, and that includes Batum's cap hold.

If (obviously a very big if, and extremely unlikley) Deron Williams is handed a MAX offer on midnight by the Blazers and he signs within 72 hours, then we can keep Batum even if another team offers Batum a big deal on midnight (which I think is unlikely).

Because Deron is a legit MAX player and will get the $17mil from us or someone else, and because the $5mil cap hold for Batum is less than his current market value, we can make the most of our cap space this summer by the above.

If we renounce Batum to clear more cap space, then we are at $20 to $25mil.

Give $17mil to Deron and we have $3 to $8 left. Anything under $7mil in cap space and we wont be able to sign anyone interesting to go with LaMarcus and Deron (ie, no Ilyasova).

Maybe we could do Deron AND Batum.
I don't see Deron and Ilyasova as possible.

We would be better off trying for the Deron/Batum double slam, and then if happened, do a trade of Wes, lotto picks, euros, kitchen sink, etc. for a servicable big.

 

[magnifier661]

It says we can have cap space in a range between $15mil and $20mil, and that includes Batum's cap hold.

If (obviously a very big if, and extremely unlikley) Deron Williams is handed a MAX offer on midnight by the Blazers and he signs within 72 hours, then we can keep Batum even if another team offers Batum a big deal on midnight (which I think is unlikely).

Because Deron is a legit MAX player and will get the $17mil from us or someone else, and because the $5mil cap hold for Batum is less than his current market value, we can make the most of our cap space this summer by the above.

If we renounce Batum to clear more cap space, then we are at $20 to $25mil.

Give $17mil to Deron and we have $3 to $8 left. Anything under $7mil in cap space and we wont be able to sign anyone interesting to go with LaMarcus and Deron (ie, no Ilyasova).

Maybe we could do Deron AND Batum.
I don't see Deron and Ilyasova as possible.

We would be better off trying for the Deron/Batum double slam, and then if happened, do a trade of Wes, lotto picks, euros, kitchen sink, etc. for a servicable big.

If we can hurry and sign Deron right when he's available; it won't matter about Batum or Hickson. We can sign them to anything, even if we are over cap. The trick is to make a plan immediately. Hopefully Aldridge talks with Williams and has him agree to take our offer immediately. If that happens, then we are home free. Williams, Batum, Aldridge, Hickson and Matthews is a solid starting line-up. We would still have a bench of Babbitt, Nolan Smith, E Will, Rhino, and Thomas. I would hope Blazers try and resign Flynn to a 2.5 mil per contract. Hopefully he takes it because I think he's a better back-up than Smith, IMO.

We would have two draft picks and hopefully one would be Drummond. Then I would try and package NJ's pick, Rhino, Thomas and Nolan Smith for a center.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Get/Keep:

D.Williams
L.Aldridge
N.Batum
E.Williams
J.Pryzbilla
J.Freeland
JJ.Hickson

Trading the two lottery picks will get us another HUGE piece to contend next year.

 

[Masbee]

Priority is first landing all the free agent talent we can, then resign nic and hickson. If we are over cap, we can still match any offer. Hopefully hickson and Batum gets the memo and waits until our big moves. They have a chance to be on something very exciting.

Isn't this what I said?

Only thing I didn't mention was Hickson. Why do you think Hickson and cap space doesn't matter? How do we have his bird rights?