Both he and Faried are 6.8" PF. Both have similar salaries and length of contracts and both being shopped. The question is could either take us to a higher level. I think we are better off staying with Vonleh and his cheap contract until we find some one who can.
If Vonleh were 7 foot and had a double digit PER, I'd be reluctant to trade him. He's a tweener that has been given the opportunity to start and hasn't really shown flashes of much, particularly for his draft position.
Vonleh has 5" more on Thaddeus Young in terms of wing span. Isn't Young the tweener? I think we need an athletic PF who can cover both stretch 4's and post up 4's. It seems like Vonleh has the potential to fit that need.
Noah has no discernible post moves aside from put back dunks. We are far too reliant on the guards in the starting rotation if we want to be a legit playoff team. Young has pretty good handles and solid post moves. He's ranking #14 in FG % (.513%) in the NBA this season. Nobody is going to mistake him for Al Jefferson on the block, but that type of PF is a dying breed anyway. I terms of defense, Young is totally underrated. 12th in defense rebounds, 12th in total rebounds, 19th in offense boards, 18th in steals, 16th in rebounds per game.
Portland is definitely making a huge move. I think Portland brings in an elite, all-star level player that has no off court issues, and has the highest bbiq you've ever seen. This player will be top 5 in offense and defense, and can play positions 1-5. Portland will send out Legend and give up a 2050 and 2051 2nd round pick.
I think what the Blazers have positioned themselves to do and will do is be the 3rd party facilitator while other teams try to match-up salaries. I believe that many of us because of the cap jump this summer are overlooking the fact that most teams are still over the cap and have to match salaries (based on trade regulations) to make things work between now and June 30th or more specifically this Thursday at Noon PST. The beauty of it is this, teams may have to really entice us to help them out, that usually comes in the form of Draft Picks. That is what Boston and Philly have done to amass their picks. SO my prediction is we will be involved this way somehow. It's very much in Neil's playbook of acquiring Assets for very little.
One or two salary dump deals that net picks and or unproven players is my prediction. All for the low low price of one Myers non legend (at least I hope)
My Brave Predictions: Neil uses Biebs, Hendo, Kaman, cap space to bring in Tobias Harris and Terrance Jones. Now THAT would be an interesting team: Plums/Jones/Harris/CJ/Lillard
Yup. I'll take a draft pick but it'd be awesome if Olshey acquired a younger player who hasn't gotten a chance to play or just needs a change of scenery.
I want draft picks. Don't care if they're heavily protected future ones or whatever, but our stockpile of picks is minimal. Given the future cap landscape, these things are going to be so valuable (both now, and yrs from now).
I think Neil will try to move guys that he doesn't want to overpay for, namely Meyers Leonard, Gerald Henderson and Alan Crabbe. I think he'll go for a home run versus stockpiling draft picks too.
I think we are smoking Crack if we think Neil "wants" to move Leonard. He might get overpaid because that is the going rate for a 7'1" guy who can shoot from all over the court, rebounds pretty well and is turning into a good on the block defender... AKA he won't be overpaid. Now Would Neil trade Meyers? Yes if the player coming back made more sense for this team. Let's keep in mind that we have the 4th best bench in the league and Meyers is a significant part of that.
Fans will always find something to bitch about. First it was blazers lost everyone, have no talent they won't win more than 20 games. Now it's they have players that will be too expensive. Whatever. It's not my money. I'll let Allen worry about it. I'm glad were in this position.
Leonard is going to be poison pilled this summer. I can see the Lakers making a push for him, they definitely have the cap space and he'd kind of fit in there pretty nicely.
Yeah, but they overpaid for him. Some teams might just do it out of pure fuckery. I believe the Blazers will have other free agent targets this summer and don't want to tie up cap room. Maybe I'm wrong but I see any of the guys becoming RFAs as being on the block.
Sure but the only person that really has to worry about it is Paul Allen. If clayton Bennett went into luxury tax to pay Kanter I doubt Allen would have a problem doing the same if need be.
