The "Making Playoffs Means Mediocrity" Myth

Hindsight. If we hadn't offered Hibbert that contract, someone else would have. Plus, I firmly believe that if he was playing alongside LaMarcus and Damien, he'd be putting up much better numbers.

 

So happy the Pacers matched.

At no point did I ever think he was worth the money.

 

Chance by definition means not a sure thing

 

The draft is no sure thing either. ASk Greg oden.

 

There are no sure things. Chances are better with some things though

 

Well I do agree that the 8th spot looks bleak. I agree the Lakers will get one and so will Denver. The Nuggets have played very few games at home so far so they will make up some games. And as you have said Dallas will come on.

Houston will drop out. Without adding another player we are looking at 10-12. Is there much of a difference in talent this year in the draft between #10 and #15? There wasn't last year. So I am not sure it makes a difference if we make it or not in terms of "assets".

 

I think the Mavs get one too when Dirk is back

10-12 equals same talent for the Blazers

13-15 equals same talent for the Bobcats

 

Yeah I keep forgetting that. So 13 for sure goes to Charlotte, or does it start at 14?

 

Does a 10-12 give as much talent as the free agent we could get proving we could make the playoffs? Because if we make the playoffs, we have a better chance of landing vets.

 

Absolutely false. Portland is a small market, and players and agents know we are rebuilding. Money will make players come here. Hibbert signed an offer sheet last season, for example. Did we even have a coach at the time?

 

Okay so will a vet player sign for max mle, if every other offer around is around the same asking price?

 

Maybe a RFA in order to "get paid" by their current team, but no UFA worth max money will sign here regardless

 

We signed Andre miller as an unrestricted. We also got Crawford for much less than sac offered.

 

Is Pekovic in Minny a max contract player? Or even a 11-12 million/yr player?

I think Blazers could lure him over here

 

I thought we were talking about max guys

 

I think he is close to it. Not worth it, but will get it. Is that a position we need to go after in your opinion?

I'd realistically like to see the Blazers target a real back up PG, a 2-3 wing, and a couple of defensive specialists

My realistic wish list

Billups, Devin Harris or someone like that
Evans
Re-sign Hickson and Babbitt
Draft Poythress, Porter or Gobert

Lillard/Billups
Evans/Matthews/Barton
Batum/Porter/Claver
Aldridge/Babbitt/Freeland
Hickson/Leonard

I would make several more moves, but that off season gets us going in the right direction anyway

 

No I am talking about "Max MLE guys". I just don't think a "Max guy" will even come here, so why stress on freeing up "Max Money" for this type of player? A Max MLE guy (Vet preferably" could be the missing piece for this ball club. We need some leadership coming off the bench; and hopefully it's a player that can score.

But if I could just choose on a specific type of player; I am hoping for a combo guard that can play defense and hit the occasional shot. If there is anything else; then a good wing player that is capable of posting up.

 

I think if you're re-signing Hickson and Baabbitt, you're not getting hardly anyone else. Hickson's cap jhold will be close to 8, I believe, Babbitt's will eat up another big chunk of our space. Evans would likely take 8 or so a year, so he's out. Most any worthwhile additions are out while retaining those two. It' why I've mentioned previously, I think we need to try to trade for a target this season, which would eat up our cap space, and then use the MLE for the other. I don't think we'd be able to land Evans in trade, with the space we'd have available, or with a MLE.

 

Mo Evans?