The fact that Olshey has eyed him for several years (and the player knows that) makes me feel good about the acquisition - it wasn't a move made out of desperation, but clearly a calculated one.
Kevin Pelton says based on his DRPM and real plus minus. .. "Have Al-Farouq Aminu's value projected at $34M over next 3 years (farthest out I project players). So Blazers $30M deal could be good value." Considering over the next four years we got him for less than his 3 year value... That's good, right?
We still have about $35 million in cap space available. If he returns to his averages of two seasons ago I suspect Nic will get a max contract next summer so this will actually be a third of the price. Over 20 teams will have cap space for a max contract next summer! We can still go after Carroll even if we resign Aldridge. If you see a good deal better to snatch it up before another buyer can come along and get it. The rumors are Hibbert would be going to a third team; not Golden State. Yes they are $2 million higher. With Monroe earning $5million less per season and being 5 years younger, at an age players normally improve while Aldridge is expected to decline there is definitely a very real chance we would be better off with Greg. Who the allstars are in the NBA usually changes much faster than most of us expect. I'd very much like us to get Monroe. But if we lose out on both of them I'm not sure what we'll do.
Aminu was a solid acquisition. On the up-swing, good D, young. This makes sense with our recent deals.
I wonder if this means Neil expects us to play significantly minutes with Meyers on the court next season? Aminu's lack of outside shooting won't be much of a problem if we have a big man out there shooting 50/40/90.
When LA signs elsewhere, there will be a Blazers fan saying LA is the next Hakeem. #ithappens. #letitgo
I'm happy to be adding Aminu, but I watched that video over and over just in awe of what passes for backcourt defense in Houston if you aren't Patrick Beverly.
I've been saying we'd get him. Its really a second thought. Olshey knew he was going to get him....getting it out of the way...tagged and bagged. Not a bad get. More of a bench guy, but we could potentially start him.
It was very much an Olshey move and why I thought he would be one of the first FA's reach out to by Neil. He fills a need, is young, athletic and with the new salary cap, will actually be inexpensive towards the end of the contract. Another 25 and under player that is on his way up as his PER shows. I think Blazer fans will be frustrated by his lack of shooting but will like a lot of other parts of his game. Next step...
Haven't read this thread. I copied the name Aminu Al-Farouq from the Woj tweet into Basketball-Reference to see his stats, and it had not heard of this player. I suspected the names were reversed, and yes, this site says so. So is his name Aminu Al-Farouq or Al-Farouq Aminu? http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/aminual01.html Okay, I see his PER jumped from 13.2 to 14.4 by moving from New Orleans to Dallas, which has a similar system to that of its former assistant coach Stotts. So Farouq fits in here. 8th pick in the draft. 7 years experience, same as Batum. He's a SF an inch taller than Batum and is known for defense. I always thought Batum was easily replaceable by many equals in the league, though many Blazer posters think that Batum's a big star. I predict that we will improve at SF next year. For half the price. Hmm. Below average in assists. Above average in rebounds, blocks, steals, win shares because of defense, value over replacement player (gave Mavs 4 extra wins), box plus/minus because of defense not offense. No more point-forward nonsense. Lillard needs more shots so he can return to rookie form, carrying the team in the clutch. We need fewer points from forwards...unless we sign a true big inside scorer, not an inefficient shooter-only like Aldridge. Batum's covered. Now cover Matthews (easy, get a defender) and Aldridge (get a basket attacker). Unless there are major injuries, I see another 50-win season in Stotts' system.
Man, Love would fit in seamlessly now with this roster. Get Love and s &t for Danny Green and you have a far better roster than last year bball fit wise. Dame/Green/Aminu/Love/Plums The spacing, the defensive fit, the rebounding... just sick. Come on, Kevin. Prove to the world you are the best PF again. Get outta Lebrons shadow
I checked him out. We need a spark and he is high energy, always in overdrive. The Aminu can worm into space and slam dunk from the rafters.