Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency So.... Just out of curiosity... Besides possibly signing Batum, does anyone here really expect Portland to acquire a high-impact FA under the age of 30 (hell, or even a legit, undisputed starter)?
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency I think its more likely we go into the season with a lot of 1 year deals and deal them in lopsided trades at the deadline. Might even do some lopsided trades off the get go, but the capspace I dont' think will be used on long term signings.
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency So Batum is supposed to sign an offer sheet for considerably less money just so the Blazers can spend more money on someone else? I'd fire my agent immediately if he gave me that sort of crappy advice. The agent's job is to get "me" my market value, not to negotiate with a team so a chunk of my truemarket value can be given to another player. Maybe, mayyyybbbeee, when a player is nearing the end of the career, has made shitloads of money, and wants a title, do you see them give up a large chunk of market value to help the team their signing with. That's a rare exception, though, and usually those players are not counted on to be part of a franchise's future. What if Batum is convinced to sign a MLE deal with, say, San Antonio, instead of a $12m/year deal with Toronto, and the Blazers blow that extra money on another FA who is an absolute disaster. LMA starts demanding a trade, and Batum is sitting there wondering he gave up $35m to play for a terrible team, when he could have been paid his market value to be on a terrible team.
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency I honestly think we will acquire a player via trade rather than sign a big-name FA. That is, if we end up using our cap space. Like others have said, I'm leaning more towards thinking Olshey will keep the space for next season, and sign some veterans to help fill hole's this next season and mentor some of our younger players. I think Lillard is a starter right off the bat, or at least needs to be thrown into the fire. PG's develop much quicker this way, but I think it will be important for the Blazers to sign a Vet PG that is fine with coming off the bench and mentoring Lillard. A Kirk Hinrich-caliber player comes to mind.
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency Also, did anyone else hear Olshey say in the post-draft conference that POR views Nolan Smith as a combo-guard? In other words, they viewed him as a nice player coming off the bench, but it seemed as though they were regulating him to the bench for sure. Definitely the right call there.
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency Toxic offer Gordon. He's one of the few FA's I would max out. A nucleus of LA, Lillard, Gordon, Batum. A surprise out of Leonard. A coming out party for Elliot Williams. Whoever else we might be able to add this offseason. Led by one of the greatest coaches in NBA history, Jerry Sloan. We are good enough to pull a Dallas Mavericks.
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency Losing Hickson would just mean we need to find someone else. I say Keep him and Batum and try to get even two good players in the back-court, maybe Lou Williams or Eric Maynor or Landry Fields. I don't see any big star coming and someone like Eric Gordon, even if he agrees to come, might not be worth giving up on Hickson and maybe two other 2nd-tier players like the ones listed above.
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency I like Eric Gordon as much as the next guy, but people need to understand this: he will not sign with POR. He hates Olshey. And to be honest, with Lillard as our PGOTF, I'm not sure he is the best fit next to him. Lillard is a big-time slasher and we need to surround him and LA with shooters. While EG is a great scorer, I think putting an absolute sniper next to Lillard, Batum, and LA will make us very hard to guard.
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency Yes, Yes, Yes. But how funny, money and maybe even a toxic has a way of changing someones feelings.
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency Ha yeah that confused the hell out of me to. Was it an inside joke? Or the ramblings of a drunk senile old man.
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency I just don't see any chance NO let's Gordon walk. Same with Hibbert. Maybe we follow a Hibbert offer with a big George Hill offer thinking Indy won't pay big for both.
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency EG's comments are pretty strong IMO. If we make a play, I suspect any interest he'd have in us would be to drive up his price, and that's it. I'd still expect NO to match, too. Are there any 2/3's available that can shoot, and occasionally slash, and fairly young? Someone to be a key piece in a 3-guard rotation with Lillard and Wes? Or can fill the 3 and shift Batum to the 2, at times?
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency Jeff Green or Lou Williams are both UFA. There just isn't much. Can 6'4 Dragic or 6'3 Lillard play big minutes at the 2 if they were on the same roster? The NBA seems to be moving towards a more skilled small ball league.
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency Marc Stein @ESPNSteinLine RT @NBAonESPN: Source: Deron Williams to meet with Nets and Mavs on Monday - Marc Stein @ESPNSteinLine RT @MazzESPN: Also Bucher reports Kidd will pick whatever team D-Will picks and back him up ... Nets or Mavs
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency That's such a self-inflicted gunshot wound. WTF is Danny Ainge thinking?
