Based on what you've seen, who would you try to keep from our free agents? Flynn? Hickson? Thabeet? Flynn had a really nice game against the Jazz, but the rest of his games were very "meh". Hickson was damn solid since we picked him up, and I'd like to see him on the team again next season, but I think it hinges a lot on cap space and whether we can sign a big name guy like Deron Williams. Thabeet..... well..... what can I say? I think I would keep him if the price were right and he didn't mind being a project. I wouldn't pay him much, and my expectations would be low, but he's still young and who knows... maybe he'll develop? I also think Babbitt has shown a pulse, which is nice, but I would try to get rid of Nolan Smith. I would rather have Flynn as a backup than Smith, if that was at all possible.
Hickson is a keeper. Thabeet is worth a small contract for a 12th man. Maybe one day he can develop some game or motivation. or a big body to foul people. Flynn...meh.
Hickson--better than Aldridge Thabeet--keep him if cheap, needs a year of coaching to lose bad habits Flynn--great dribbler, mediocre shooter, bad passer, goodbye Nolan--PGs can't produce as rookies, give him another year Batum, Kurt Thomas, Rhino--keep if cheap, but I expect them to leave for better team Babbitt--best shooter in draft couldn't make 3 3s in last 3 games to get onto best 3 point shooter list, if he can't shoot under pressure he's worthless in playoffs, goodbye
I'd keep them all for the right price. We'll likely whiff on the high priced free agents. Rather keep them then waiting for Nolan Smith to develop or retaining Thomas or Smith or even Joel at this point.
My priorities list... 1. Hickson- I'd be willing to overpay a bit for him. With all of the terrible luck we've had with bigs, we had one fall into our laps. Keep him! 2. Batum- I wouldn't overpay for Batum, because I think it'll cost more than the difference is actually worth. I don't think he's going to become a dramatically different player than he is. 3. Flynn- I'm a homer, admittedly, but I think he has more tools to be useful than Nolan. Still has a ways to go obviously, and I'd still target a PG in FA/draft for sure! But I do believe he can be useful as a backup. 4. Thabeet- Not worth it. Also think get rid of Nolan however possible. Don't care either way on Rhino and Kurt Thomas. I'd be cool with them sticking around understanding limited roles, but I know Kurt is probably looking to play on another team and Rhino I'm sure wants more minutes.
Hickson- Keep if the price is right, would really like to keep him if we decide to keep our picks. Batum- Willing to keep him even with overpaying him. Even with a huge contract he is still trade able because of his upside and age. Flynn- Showed some flashes of ability that made him a 6th pick but overall he wasn't anything special. IF we could sign him to a min contract i'd do it but otherwise i'd let him walk Thabeet- Didn't see him get a lot of minutes which I think speaks volumes about his work ethic and ability to play. Craig Smith - Liked him if we didn't keep Hickson i'd resign him but I don't think he would resign with portland, feels quiet miffed with management Kurt Thomas - Never dislike having a vet big on the team regardless if they get playing team or not. This is a big aspect that teams seem to miss nowadays. There locker room presence and ability to mentor young players is something stats can't show.
All of these depend of course on the price, but I liked what I saw from Hickson. I would match reasonable offers. (5-6 million/yr) I like Flynn. He will get an offer for 2-3 million from someone. I would like to see him back. Thabeet was worse than I expected. He would really have to be committed to improving to keep even as a potential 12th man. Babbit I would definitely keep. As we know there are very few good outside shooters in the NBA. Batum: Of course bring him back. I would not match 10 mil though. Thomas: No Craig Smith: Fine for the end of the bench.
There's no chance in hell you get Hickson for under 5 mil. There just aren't enough quality bigs in this free agent class, and a ton of teams with decent cap space. We MIGHT be able to keep Hickson for 6 to7 million. If we had wanted to sign him for under 5, we would have had to stash him away for the rest of the season with zero playing time. As it is, the guy has easily played his way into a nice contract offer from someone, and I think we would be foolish not to match. The announcer said it best last night after that nasty dunk over Evans, (paraphrasing) "Why in the hell would Sacramento let this guy go?"
Like many of you, I'd match and keep Hickson and Batum. Try not to overpay, but get it done. I'd also keep Flynn. He showed signs that he CAN STILL become a legitimate starting PG. So, I'd keep him too. Luke has a special talent, so you keep him. No brainer. Nolan, Craig, Kurt, Shawne - are all trade bait IMO. I don't expect Felton or Crawford to return.
I think the FA signing we may or may not have, and the drafts we can get are all important. I would assume Hickson and Batum prices will dictate these two things.
Hickson and Batum (each for less than 8 million), Flynn maybe at 2 million, but the rest goes in the burn barrel.
They all have. That doesn't mean we will keep them, but they have all earned a second look. Hickson is the most obvious. Flynn depending on who else we find for backup PG. And Thabeet for no other reason he's a 'big'. My rationale is this... if we assume we're going to carry 15 players, then that means in theory we'd do well to carry 3 players at every position. Hickson is a first or second string for sure. Flynn a second or third string and Thabeet a third string (basically a victory cigar, but a 7'2 victory cigar). I have no problems seeing them at the end of the bench.
Hickson keeper. Batum if possible but I think the market price on him will be too high. All the rest, I don't really care. The rest are primarily bench fodder anyway and that is something we can pick up anywhere. Gramps...
I don't think Hickson is going to get grazy paid by another team just because he had some nice production while the Blazers were in tank mode. I think he'll get a deal in the 5-6 mil range at best. For the few teams that have a lot of cash to drop on a PF, there's better free agents to spend it on like KG, Duncan, Landry, Humpheries, Bass and Beasley.
KG and Duncan are a thousand years old. Duncan will most likely retire a Spur. Landry and Bass really aren't very good, and Beasley is a headcase. Humphries is the only other young power forward that would be worth an investment.
