Blazers called PHX about Shaq

Adding Shaq really depletes our resources, and this for a non-essential upgrade at starting center, IMO.

We would have to move Przybilla, Blake, and Outlaw, and still have to use about $1.3M of our cap space, and this would have to be done after July 1st or else we'd have to throw in even more salary. PHX would want more talent than this, so that ends this little trip down fantasy lane.

 

You're going to hear Portland's name thrown around in a lot of these trade rumors. KP is probably trying to sneak into a 3 team deal. And you know we have a history of buying picks from them as well. I'm taking this as a grain of salt.

 

you're right... I'll throw in a 2nd round pick + the rights to Nedzad

deal?

STOMP

 

I agree with this. I wouldn't mind losing Blake\Outlaw and Joel (as hard as it would be to see Joel go) for this. Also, if we could pick up Nash in the FA market, I am game.

Nash\Bayless
Roy\Rudy
Batum\Webster
LMA\Rookie or Vet FA
Oden\Shaq

How can you say no to that roster?

 

nah. I'd rather have another player than at this cost. Thanks for the Nedzad ref. Classic

 

Can't beleive POR would inquire about Shaq....

Nash? Certainly I could see that.....

Amare? Maybe...but more likely as part of a conduit to another team

Shaq? Just don't see it....unless they are helping to facilitate a deal....

 

And Phoenix is big-time???

 

The only reason I see the Blazers calling the Suns about Shaq is to complain that he takes gigantic turds that overload the plumbing in the visitor's locker room.

 

Shaq becomes the "Big Expiring" next season. If the Blazers are actually interested, then I think it would be primarily about deferring the cap space from this summer to next. Make the Suns a package of Sergio, Webster, Joel and, if the Suns want, Frye with a sign and trade. Keep Blake and Outlaw for next season and fill in the rest of the roster with cheap players and then, even with giving Roy and Aldridge new contracts, the Blazers would be in a position to have enough cap space to make a big splash in the 2010 summer FA bonanza.

Could happen, but you have to think that the Suns are thinking the same thing.

 

I don't think the Blazers can "defer" the cap space to next season. They have cap space right now while Aldridge and Roy are relatively inexpensive. By next off-season, both will have signed big extensions.

 

Actually I believe we could have some. We would have 10 players under contract, and even factoring in the large raises for our brightest (an assumption of $14M and $12M respectively), I think we'd have some cap space if we:

- renounced all of the exceptions
- added a 1 and a big this off season that was expiring
- added bit benchwarmers that would expire after this season too

I'm thinking like as much as $7M, especially if we trade away this year's first rounder and next. $5M if we didn't. $6M if we traded away just one of them.

 

Sure they could, if that's the direction that they want to go and if this rumor were true. Let's assume that's the plan and that they could get Shaq for a package of Webster, Sergio, Joel, Frye, and maybe a 2nd round pick. If they did that, the Blazers' salary situation could look something like:



Even allowing for a cap hold for next year's first round pick, the Blazers could have something like $16 million to play with in the summer of 2010. Obviously, there could be tweaks to replace Freeland and/or Koponen with 2nd round picks this summer, but you get the general idea.

 

Fair enough. Is $13.5 million the max contract for players of Roy's and Aldridge's experience level?

Though I think the main flaw in this scenario is that you're creating the most cap-friendly proposal for Portland...as well as the most talent-friendly proposal for Portland. Phoenix gets virtually nothing out of the deal except Przybilla, who is neither young nor better than Shaq. They'd have to really love Webster's talent, coming off a significant injury.

If Phoenix was willing to give Portland a huge expiring deal attached to a still-good player for essentially nothing, then yes, Portland can end up with significant cap space next season.

 

They also might be in the know of what Shaq's plans are post next season. If he's told them he's going to retire or go elsewhere as a UFA, then trading him for a starting 5 and other usable pieces could be a smart move for them. It's not like they are eyeballing a title next season... they might be looking to turn over their roster.

STOMP

 

Pretty close. It was $13,758,000 last season. The exact amount depends on where the salary cap is set.

First, this isn't a scenario that I'm proposing. I'm just saying that if the Blazers are calling about Shaq, my bet is that it would be to try to construct such a cap position next year. Doesn't mean that the Suns would bite.

Second, I don't agree that Joel, Webster, Sergio, Frye, and a pick is essentially nothing. It's a pretty good restocking of the Suns' talent pool. Further, depending upon how the deal was structured, because Portland can take back more salary this summer than it gives up, the Suns could stand to have a pretty healthy cash savings next season by making the trade. As we Blazer fans know, cash savings has been enough in the past for the Suns to give up some valuable draft picks and players. In these tough economic times, it might be really attractive given that the Suns aren't likely to make much noise again next season.

Last, please note that in my original post I said that I thought the most likely thing from a purely basketball standpoint is for the Suns to keep Shaq and be in a position to play the FA market in 2010 themselves.

 

Yeah, I just don't think any of those pieces are useful to a rebuilding team. Przybilla will be useful beyond next season, but is not a prime piece for a team starting a complete reconstruction. I don't think Rodriguez or Webster have much value, really (though, of course, there are people who disagree with me on that). Frye will be a UFA and his on-court production has become abysmal.

IMO, if what they want is to tear down and rebuild, they'd be better off letting Shaq walk and getting the salary space back. Unless they can trade Shaq for several good young players, which this deal doesn't offer.

 

Fair enough, I'm just not sure I see the analytic value in a hypothetical situation that the other team is extremely unlikely to go for.

The only player who's average or above average is Przybilla and he's going to be 30 next year. I wouldn't call that a restocking of their talent pool. I'd call that downgrading at center and taking on a bunch of roster flotsam and jetsam.

It's possible. I don't think they'd give up a useful player and big salary/cap relief next off-season for smaller savings today. But one never knows.

 

All I was trying to do was to provide some reasoning as to why KP might have called about Shaq. If I were him, looking at the talent pool available next summer, I'd think it was worth a call to find out how hungry the Suns might be to save some cash next year.

I think you're underestimating the value of Webster, but then what do either of us have to base our opinions on other than our own observations? Maybe the Blazers would have to throw in Bayless or Fernandez...in which case I'd be opposed.

You're right. One never knows, and that's why it would be worth a phone call...which is all that I was trying to say.

 

Hey they never said it was business. Maybe it was a prank call.

KP: Hello Steve?

Steve Kerr: Yea this is Steve.

KP: Is your refridgerator running?

Steve Kerr: Yes. Who is this?

KP: Well you better tell that fat pile of crap Shaq to quit chasing it.

 

Ah. I wasn't troubled by Pritchard putting in a call. I like the idea of him exploring all sorts of options, seeing the lay of the land. I was just not convinced that a Shaq deal will realistically lead to significant cap space next year. Yes, it is possible if Phoenix agreed to a certain deal, but it would likely have to be a deal that doesn't really help them (in my opinion) and thus is not very realistic.