This may have already been discussed, but if we don't pick up the option on Babbitt by October 31st he'll be an unrestricted free agent next summer. Now, after 2 lack luster seasons we have to determine if he'll have a sort of breakout year (OK, OK, stop laughing) that may make him a valuable bench player. Myself, I'd like to see us pick up the option. I mean, with a 15 player roster we can always bury him at the end of the bench next year if he sucks and then cut him loose.
2.9 million option for next season. No you don't pick it up. If he proves he is worth it, we'll still have his bird rights, so no concern there. The possibility of max cap space or close is worth far more than hanging on to Babbitt.
That's the thing. There's no way he's worth it. Trade him for as high a draft pick as you can get and relinquish his salary. It will be part of the 16+ Mil we will have in cap room next season. Say goodbye to Elliot Williams too. Poor kid gotsta go!
Here's the panel from the Oregonian for the 2011-2012 season recap. Source: http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2012/05/you-be-gm-luke-babbitt-panel.html People you have also forgot this stat too.
Yeah, let the only guy on the team who can shoot the 3 go, yet pay the Boston guy who sucks a similar salary. Pavolich? Havlocich? What the hell is the name of the dud that the Blazers picked up from Boston on a non-guaranteed deal? Babbitt isn't going anywhere unless he is traded, and the insane hatred on this board for a guy that has one elite NBA skill that another team may value in a trade diminishes the NBA knowledge on this board, IMO. Yeah, let a guy who shoots 44% from three when given minutes go for nothing, or without trying to shop him a package at the 2013 deadline or next summer. His salary actually could help in a trade if he continues to develop as a the 3-point shooter.
Agreed. no reason to let a player on a rookie contract go when he shows an actual NBA skill. Who cares if it was a fluke or not. Just don't pick up his option, so we have enough for a max contract, hold his bird rights and give him minutes next year to see if he is worth keeping or not.
Newsflash, we aren't paying Pav's salary. Boston is. It only counts against our cap. It also isn't guaranteed so he will be off of our books next season. Babbitt is garbage and your point is moot.
The discussion isn't just cutting Babbitt now, and keeping Pavlovic. It's about picking up his option for the 13-14 season.
The biggest problem with Babbit: He is a stretch 4 and NOT a 3. Our best player is a 4. Our 2nd best (not counting Lillard) is a 3. Babbitt cannot (and will not ever be able to) play the 3. Babbitt is not as athletic as Claver (who has shown he can play Defense in the 2nd best league in the world) and has zero defense. He is a poor, poor, poor, poor man's Ryan Anderson on crack.
You cannot hold his bird rights if we don't pick up his option. If we don't pick up the option (and we shouldn't) he becomes an unrestricted FA. Sooo.... trade him for as high a draft pick as possible or you don't get anything for him (like you could really get anything for Babbitt....)
We'd still be able to sign him under bird rights for up to the amount we declined his option of, so 2.9 million. And we'd have cap space, if we really needed or wanted to go higher than that. But I don't think it makes sense personally to pick up his or Elliot's options.
So again, he should be traded for as high a draft pick as possible. If we aren't going to retain him (especially at that price) we might as well get something for him. Ammo does the same thing as he does for the minimum.
Morrison has never shot over 34% on 3s in his career. Unless you meant "does the same thing" in terms of being a white dude off the bench, of course.
Who is he going to play in place of? Freeland? Hickson? Leonard? Claver? It's gonna be hard to find time for him.
Babbitt and Adam Morrison seem to be the exact same sort of player, filling the same exact role. Can't see them both on the team, sadly for The 'Stash
