What I realy want to see is a trade of spare-parts for Hedo, but since we're talking MLE - of the bolded names I liked Steve Blake, Kyle Korver, Raja Bell and Udonis Haslem. Also, Mike Miller could serve as a poor-man's hedo but I'm not sure I want a poor-man's Hedo.
Why not Ray Allen? Portland needed a guy to spread the floor against the Suns. Who better to do that then the best 3 point shooter in NBA history. The big question would be if Ray would be willing to come off the bench. That isn't a given. Then again, given the injuries this year it is quite possible that Ray would start a good portion of the games this season. As for Blake and Outlaw, haven't we already seen where those two guys are going help the team get to. You only grab those two dudes if you want to fool your fan base into thinking you are building a winner instead of actually building to win.
Ray Allen will likely get more than the MLE this summer. Not too much more, but a Dre-esque contract probably.
Would lvoe adding Ray Allen. Also am wondering whether he'd take the MLE, probably not, but agree that a Miller level contract would work. Maybe a Rudy and Joel S&T for Allen? Boston adds some guard youth to the team in Rudy. If healthy, Oden would give them another solid defensive presence in the middle, and if not, they don't pay much to have him around, or could look to trade him elsewhere. If not, I'd look to go after Mike Miller for the same. Still leaves you with the MLE to use. I'm actualy intrigued by the possibility of adding Livingston. As a tall PG, he'd play the 1 on offense, 2 on D, with the reverse being the case for Bayless. I'd offer him a portion of the MLE to backup here. 3 year, 9 million? With a similar offer being extended to Kyle Lowry, possibly. Although he'd fit in less with Bayless. I'm sure he'll get much more, but I'd make a half-assed run at Jermaine O'Neal as well, as an insurance big. With teams having cap space, and everyone with the MLE, I'm sure someone will go overboard for him, but I'd offer him 5 years, almost 17 million, last two team options. A salary a little over 3 a year. Similar, a 3 year, 9 ish million dollar deal. Again, I doubt he'd take it, and am sure he can possibly get more elsewhere. But I'd offer and see what happens. Miller/Livingston/Koppo Roy/Bayless/Allen Batum/Allen/Webster Aldridge/Camby/Cunningham Oden/J.O'Neal/Pendergraph/Freeland Bring over Koppo and Freeland. Hope that with limited level of minutes, Oden, O'Neal and Camby can all stay realtively healthy. Freeland, Pendy and Koppo can all spend time in the D-League. Of course, none of this will happen. Contracts might be unlikely, and I think we'd actually need to use the MLE to bring Freeland over at this point. Oh well.
If Rudy is going to be traded, which he probably will then I think POR should go after a guy like Anthony Morrow.. http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/1433/anthony_morrow/ 1) I doubt Golden State will spend a full MLE or even most of it to sign the guy...He is a restricted FA I believe....and The Warriors have a lot of swing\SG to find minutes for. 2) He is a guy who can light it up offensively, posting a career 46% 3pt FG% I mean if POR is going to insist on continuing with thier predictable offense, then they might as well get some of the best shooters around Roy that they can.
Totally agree. If Nate's the coach nest season, let's make a run at some consistent outside shooters like Morrow that don't have any "confidence" issues. Morrow is a long distance assassin and won't complain about his role on the team either. It's sad this team need to adjust the roster to the deficiencies of the coach.
Ok Here goes: Assuming that POR makes rather minimal changes, which IMO is a mistake, and that thier thinking is that thier offense doesn't need a massive overhaul (like it certainly does)...then I see only minimal changes being made....meaning no Aldridge or Oden being dealt.... Rudy will likely be dealt, unfortunate since his value has taken a hit, but I think he will be dealt this offseason, to hold onto him and risk him continuing to spiral into a funk b\c of Nate's offense and the way he is misused would be stupid IMO, deal him now, preferably at the draft...use him with your pick and either go after a young big guy like Greg Monroe, Ekpe Udoh or Cole Aldrich to serve as that 3rd big man and replacement for Camby\insurance for Oden.... OR go after a nice young backup SG, particularly a James Anderson or Xavier Henry slips, given that Roy is likely IMO to miss games due to injuries as we progress further into his career, having a talented guy backing him up is essential IMO... OR you really take a chance and try and go after another hybrid PG, a guy like Eric Bledsoe (who I think will shoot up the boards), Willie Warren or Avery Bradley....I like Bledsoe and Warren (in particular) a lot... In the 2nd round go after a guy like Jarvis Varnado, Craig Brackins or Gani Lawal (although I wouldn't be surprised to see POR nab Greivis Vasquez whom they have brought into to workout before, twice?)... I'd let Patty Mills walk, same with Diener.... Does Howard have anything left in the tank? If there is a 15th roster spot to be had, then I am all for giving it to him, but not having to rely on him as extensively as POR did last year...Perhaps Nate will give Pendergraph, or Cunningham or a rookie? those backup minutes and relegate Howard to 3rd string\insurance or asst coach? Przybilla will need a portion of the year to rehab, and then when he is ready to come back, get him in there, show terams he is healthy and deal him and his expiring contract for a vet to help with the playoff push Be it through the draft, or likely free agency, another PG will be needed. Petteri Koponen could\should be considered...he played well in europe, his game is more suited to half court style IMO and he is a good shooter...kind of the opposite of Bayless...If Nate is the coach though? He stays overseas...same goes for Freeland and Claver already said he was staying... PG: Miller, Ridnour (FA), Bayless, Greivis Vasquez (2nd round pick) SG: Roy, Morrow (FA) SF: Batum, Webster, Cunningham PF: Aldridge, Pendergraph C: Camby, Oden, Greg Monroe (1st round, trade up using pick & Fernandez), Przybilla (on roster for trade deadline deal) The 15th spot going to a vet PG like an Earl Watson, Luke Ridnour or Shaun Livingston. I'll say Ridnour maybe wanting to come back to the west coast and play for Nate, familiarity for both. Although I like Watson, and he could be had possibly for cheap...
Livingston was a sub-14 PER player pre-inury, and he was a sub-13 PER player this year post-injury. Plus, he is not an outside threat, and he doesn't get to the FT line. No thanks.
Ray Allen would be a nice fit. Don't know if he would come here. I think John Salmons would fit nicely here. Other guys who I would be a good fit: Quentin Richardson provided he is in good shape. Jerry Stackhouse still has some gas in the tank and would stablize the 2nd unit.
I don't know why I feel this way but I somehow get the feeling that this team is not going to be very active in the free agency market with their MLE Frome Brian T. Smith's twitter feed: Maybe that's not the worst thing? Though I would certainly hope they are being flexible and thinking long and hard about a trade or two.
Yeah but major player doesn't mean they couldn't use thier MLE to sign a mid level FA.... They obviously aren't going to me a major player in FA unless some S&T fell into thier lap....
Yep. Considering how loaded this year's market is, I would hope that we do consider someone with the MLE, as they might be available for cheap.
Nah, I realize he was taking about major free agents, but I just have a totally unsubstantiated feeling that we're going to be very quiet in free agency period ... trades on the other hand seem quite likely.
Try to keep in mind that there is going to be more money than free agents this summer, meaning eventually some of the teams that loaded up on cap-space are going to be left at the altar with a big bag of money and not much to spend it on, so they'll probably end up overpaying some of these guys that would be MLE level players in a normal off-season.
All these new guys will soon look like the old guys after learning McMillan's restrictions. Inside guys will move farther out, and outside shooters will lose their touch.
