I just don't think there was a good option in free agency. Deron Williams? No. Goran Dragic? We have Lillard. Eric Gordon? It's obvious NO is going to match even a max offer. Steve Nash? Extremely old. Hell, even Landry Fields got a stupid contract that I'm glad we didn't throw at him. I think Olshey is taking a swing at the best option on the table, and if he misses... oh well. Most of the good free agents were RFA this year so I think we'd be in this situation no matter what. But here's the rub that people aren't considering; if we don't end up with Hibbert, I think Olshey will start courting trades with his cap space. Either that, or sit on the space until next year. I'd let Batum go. Fuck em. He's not worth 12 million a year. Hell, I thought 8 million a year was pushing it for what he's actually done in his career.
I disagree a bit with the free agents. I understand there weren't a lot of options, but if that were the case, maybe Portland should have been a lot more active on draft night trying to acquire players with larger contracts, or helping teams in three ways? Just thinking it through from all angles. Next season has the potential to be one of, if not the worst season in franchise history
I'm good with that. We had one of our worst seasons ever right before drafting Roy and Aldridge. I'm fine with suffering through a shitty season to watch Lillard develop and hopefully get a shot at a difference maker in the next draft. I'd rather not waste cap space on a lesser player when we can sit on the cap space and maybe grab someone next year. I had being mediocre. I'd rather be shitty and have a shot at someone like Durant, rather than be a middle-of-the-road team and get bitch slapped in the first round.
The way I see it, the Blazers went all in on Hibbert. If Indy matches, I don't see Olshey being panicked into overpaying for Nic or adding Kaman. Instead, I think that the decision will be to protect the cap space at all costs, meaning that they let Nic walk and simply sign a few vets on one-year contracts. I think that the Blazers know that getting mediocre is not a viable target. Keeping the cap space so that a deal can be made prior to the trade deadline or so a UFA can be signed next summer will be a better option. So, basically, the Blazers' future for next season is in KP's hands. Seems a bit ironic, don't you think?
I was interested in Hawes for a reasonable multi-year deal but now that he's off the market there aren’t any free agents I'm too excited about. I expect Hibbert to be matched. Javalee Mcgee isn’t worth a max deal and Denver is probably matching anything reasonable. If Batum gets over $10mil/yr definitely let him walk, hell I'd be glad to resign Martell if he's finally healthy for a one year deal and also slide Matthews over to the SF spot. I'd consider blowing most of our cap space on a three year contract for Kaman with only a guaranteed first year. Grossly overpay him $10 million or whatever on the first year to get him to sign, if he returns to all-star form we can keep him for a few years while we develop Leonard or search for a better option. Have year 2 and 3 be declining value so they are much cheaper. Hell even pay $12million for the first year if that’s what it takes to close the deal, the cost for this season doesn’t matter much; it’s far more important to have the flexibility to cut the contract next off-season. If Kaman doesn't perform well we can trade him at the deadline or the draft as a valuable non-guaranteed contract, or just cut him next off-season if we want cap room. I don’t want us to tie up next years cap space in Batum or mediocre free agents like Carl Landry, Lou Williams. They can all be great roll players but they are not worth contracts that are approaching the max.
Nothing racist about it. American born white centers have been less than stellar in the league since Walton? Statistically based or not, it's a fact
But it's not dumb or unnecessary. It's why I don't think he will be good. It might be racist, but it's backed by years of other American white centers not being very good. Is it set in stone? No. but it's literally the reason I think he will not be very good.
mm, is your only reason for disliking leonard is that he is white and american? if so then yes, thats racist
I like him fine. I don't think he will be a good NBA player because of his ethnicity. Already said it might be racist, but years of basketball stats back me up
LOL, I'm done with this as it's really not a big deal to me but I can understand some folks sensibilities
is white american centers that suck as a percentage of white american centers higher than black american centers that suck as a percentage of black american centers? or are you just racist
a certain percentage of centers flop, regardless of skin tone, as evidenced by larry sanders, ekpe udoh and 10 more black centers failing every year
