We can still work out a S/T before 7/10 with a team over the cap that wants him. Might be a good idea as we could probably poach a few seconds in the deal to replenish Neil's neverending stock.
Kobe's achilles is going to be a major problem for the Lakers this year. Even if he had a superhuman recovery timetable he wouldn't be able to play (effectively) until probably January at the absolute earliest.
That's what's delaying interest from other teams. That deflates his value. For all we know, Olshey has received calls but is playing hardball.
Isn't Jeff Teague in a similar situation? I'm surprised he's also not a hotter commodity at this point in free agency.
Well the Dwight saga has finished and there are teams with a lot of cap space still around. The dominoes should start falling soon but for someone like Teague I don't' see him getting a great offer and will probably stick around at 5/40 with Atlanta. He is a good point guard but he isn't star level.
Teague is like the others on this list--a large number of talented, unsigned players. All we've heard about so far have been the glamorous diamonds. Many solid players like Hickson remain. http://www.nba.com/freeagents/2013/
The Clippers really are killing it... Retained: Matt Barnes, Ryan Hollins Let Go: Grant Hill, Chauncey Billups (likely) Traded for: J.J. Redick, Jared Dudley Traded out: Eric Bledsoe, Caron Butler Signed: Darren Collison PG - Chris Paul/Darren Collison SG - J.J. Redick/Jamal Crawford/Willie Green SF - Matt Barnes/Jared Dudley/Reggie Bullock PF - Blake Griffin C - DeAndre Jordan/Ryan Hollins I'm sure I'm forgetting some players, but that's still an improved core versus what they had last season...
In that link I gave, I just counted the players with a blank in the right-most column. 94. That's an enormous amount of experienced talent not yet spoken for. Teague, Hickson...FA decisions have only begun.
No way Hickson is worth that much. I still think Hickson's game was some what masked the guy is not a top PF. He's just a stats guy. If he was all that then why aren't the Blazers fighting to keep him around and why don't you hear rumors of other teams wanting him?
He is not saying that Hickson is worth that much. He is saying that CLE has that much money left to spend.
Seems to me the Blazers have space for one more big, and that could be JJ Hickson, if no one offers him more than what the Blazers have left. But that's really doubtful. I think Hickson knows, looking at the roster, that he'd be fighting two young guys for backup minutes - Leonard at center and Robinson at power forward - and why should he accept less money and a much diminished role? Only if he has to, and like others on here, I doubt he'll have to. His stats last year were certainly inflated, but he can score and rebound, and isn't a bad defender. Someone (other than the Blazers) are bound to pick him up. I'd love to have him on the team to be that competitive force, to push the young guys - Robinson, especially - to develop. No better motivator than an experienced guy breathing down your neck for playing time.
The new CBA had really changed the NBA. Most teams are being very careful how much they spend on FA's. also lots of trades with decent players being traded to unload their contracts. Neil's done great job of taking advantage of this.
I feel like I said this in another thread, but I don't see Hickson taking the money that we have left, and he obviously will want to start, which I don't think we can offer either. Doing a sign and trade is the best option at this point, if it's available.
I would rather go with Tyler Hansbrough, Kenyon Martin or I think Lamar Odom could really help this team. I say Kenyon Martin because I think this team could use a nasty player.
So they're going to sink a huge chunk of their space into a guy who plays the same position as their #1 pick and a guy who they drafted 4th overall in 2011?
