http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/47188/portlands-two-pronged-approach I posted this in the plan B thread, but I think it deserves it's own thread. Thank me now, rep me later
Good article. Pretty much the way I see it. If the Pacers don't match on Hibbert, then the Blazers should go ahead and match on Batum. If we lose out on Hibbert, hello rebuild. In KP we trust?
If Indy matches Hibbert like we expect, I would match for Batum. I think he is a better asset to have than any cap space. Thc chance of trading him next year is better than picking up a SF in the draft that won't be ready for 2-3 years. If he works out at all.
It is indeed a very well written article and I think it hits the nail squarely. If Indy matches our offer (and I think they will) we destroy our cap space by resigning Batum. If I were a gambling man, I'd assume we're not getting Hibbert, pass on Batum, look forward to a top 5 pick next year in the draft and use our cap space then to try and pick off a nice free agent. Meanwhile, let the kids get some playing time and experience. BTW, posting the link is worthy of a rep- but do I really have to rep MM? OK, OK, just kidding.'
Good point. With the demise of Base Year Compensation provisions with the current CBA, I think Nic would become tradeable right away.
Tradeable to Minnesota? Who else is going to want him at 12/per? Know that I'm half kidding here, I know some idiot GM would take him on for potential but just not sure how many will be willing to at that price.
This really wouldn't make any sense. Batum would be way over payed, and the only team that was interested in paying him that much is the only team we couldn't trade him to.
So no team who needs a good SF would be interested? Maybe a sign and trade? Maybe even 2 years from now? Three years from now. He would still be an asset this way. As far as Minnesota, how long is the time frame? I thought it was one year. Can we not trade for Millsap?
He can't be traded to the team that offered the contract for the length of that contract, so in Minnesota's case, 4 years. I'm not sure if that means from us, or from anyone. Nic can't be traded until Dec sometime, and that would only be with his permission, which lasts a full year As for him being an asset, only 1 team was interested in offering him that much money. Nic is a role player that has horrible on/off court stats. Just my opinion, but I wouldn't be interested in that
I think other teams were interested in Nic, but he or his agent chose Minnesota early on and had no desire to talk to anyone else. I think Toronto showed interest, and New Orleans. Besides I am not talking about right now. I am talking about Nic as an asset down the road. We may not want to move him, but in a few years I would rather have him as an option to trade as opposed to not having him at all. At that point he would only have a year or two left on his contract and the cap could be higher and the perception of his 11-12 million contract may not seem as high. I do see your point and it is valid. I just would lean towards keeping him over keeping the cap space.
