We need one for each time Lee and the Blazers are mentioned in the same paragraph, or even semi mentioned on the audible airwaves!
If it's new information, I think it deserves a new thread. It's not like ESPN merges every story about Steve McNair into one McNair article. If there's a new point of view, it should be front and center. I pretty much go to this board for the latest information because it generally gets the info as quickly as it's breaking, but if everything is merged into the same articles, it's not as easy to follow the latest news.
We're far enough under the cap to make it happen, though. For example, we can take in $10MM and send back $5MM and have it work under the CBA.
So basically, we can do a S/T, but not only will we lose two assets (Blake/Outlaw), we'll also lose our capspace? Might as well give him a huge offer. (Though I really don't want him) Wait, I may be wrong on that. Now I'm confused.
I know a lot of folks don't dig it, but I still am a proponent of the large lineup, and I think that is what might come out of left field during this off season. Roy at PG, Rudy at SG. Bayless/Webster backing them up. What I want to know is, why are you people worried about where he would fit when all we got to hear about last year was how Frye stunk it up and never rebounded, and Travis Outlaw was a tweener who got thrown around like a rag doll in a tornado when trying to keep bigger PF out of the inside. Then when we get a chance to get somebody the complete opposite of Frye (A guy about garbage buckets and hustle) all everybody does is wonder how it would work and what would it give us. The role of Lee would be backup PF/C. The reason we would be picking him up, is to alleviate the weakness exposed last year with Frye and Outlaw. I could personally give a shit if he starts or not, that is his problem. If you sign the contract, then you play to the terms. He knows what he is getting into coming here. If he makes a decision to sign and is told nothing but he will back up Aldridge, then he lives with the decision. That is a risk he takes by being a RFA, and signing an offer sheet somewhere else.
Well, for me, ideally we'd send Przybilla to Detroit for Prince. Then, use the remaining money left to sign Nate Robinson or Andre Miller to a contract or move Rudy Fernandez to either Chicago or Milwaukee for Kirk Hinrich or Ramon Sessions and absorb their salaries (the latter in a sign and trade).
I like the idea of having a backup bigman who can score. I'm tired of watching Joel and Frye fail at putting the ball in the bucket.
Hmm... I don't think that trading Joel for Prince would be a good idea for Portland. Prince is coming off of a lousy year and is on a big BIG contract. Oden hasn't demonstrated that he can stay healthy, and so Joel is very important. Prince doesn't provide enough of a boost to cover the downside of losing Joel in my opinion. Ed O.
But the trade is still doable, isn't it? For instance, Lee is re-signed to a starting salary of $7M per season. Because he's a BYC player now, NY can only take back $3.5M in salary. So, Portland would only send Travis Outlaw. We can receive the $7M because we're under the cap. We'd have to use up $3.5M of our cap space though. New York would receive a $3.5M traded-player exception though, and they could in turn deal for Blake with that, no?
David Lee is going to leave New York to be a backup in Portland? That makes no sense. If Lee were a veteran on the downslope of his career, he might consider a move like this, but he's a young guy with his best days ahead of him. Why would he accept a demotion at this stage of his career?
At the same time, we all know those players in Detroit weren't that bad, but the situation within the organization, was, and probably effected all their play. That whole AI/Billups deal, while being financially motivated for the future, really fucked that team up chemistry wise.
Would he "back up" in Portland for $10 million per, while still getting 32-35 minutes per game? Also contending every year for at least the playoffs? Maybe even winning 6th man of the year? Does David Lee want to be a starter, or does David Lee want starters minutes and money?
There's risk involved with Prince. If your scouts do their homework though, that risk may be manageable, especially if there were circumstances in Detroit that wouldn't be in Portland. Prince's stats tailed off so dramatically. I wonder if it were mainly because the clusterfuck of a team he was left with and the role he was given. After Wallace, Prince and Deng are next in line for me. The other attractive feature with Prince is his ability to play-make. Something that McMillan I think wants and would come in handy if Portland were to pair Roy up with Hinrich, Robinson, or Bayless. BTW, I thought Prince was under contract for just two more seasons at around $10M and then $11M. If last season was an aberration and he returns to form, that's a reasonable amount I think.
Yeah, I suppose. I guess I wouldn't trust him as much backing up Oden as I would Joel in case of another major injury to Oden. Of course, Lee would be a much better fit for Aldridge in case of a major injury to LaMarcus. Ed O.
