[ official ] 2016 summer moves

It lets us offer Horford the max without jumping through a bunch of hoops.

 

Or, any other vet with 7-9 years NBA experience.

Although, if we're going after a max guy, Horford would be my first choice. Whiteside would be my second choice, but he's in the 0-6 year category, so this change makes less of a difference in his case.

BNM

 

By my calcs (and they definitely could be wrong), I think we're a couple of million short of offering a tier 2 max of $26.4M.
http://www.sportstwo.com/posts/3921575/

If we waived the rights to Henderson, Kaman, and Roberts, that give us $24.8M of CAP space.

0-6 yr vet max: $22.0M (example: Whiteside)
7-9 yr vet max: $26.4M (example: Horford)
10+ yr vet max: $30.8M (example: Howard)

If we're going after Whiteside, we're good. If we're going after Horford or Howard, we're gonna have to clear off some more space.
Also, if we renounce the rights to another player, or trade a player, then the minimum roster hold kicks in and we'd have to reserve $0.5M.

Coincidentally, Plumlee ($2.3M) and Vonleh ($2.8M) make about the amount we'd have to clear up to be able to offer a tier 2 max. It'll be telling if they're involved in a draft day trade.

 

P.S. I'm a greedy fuck. I want Neil to pull of some kind of voodoo GM magic and land us TWO impact players (one solid, two-way big and a third reliable scorer). That likely means one FA signing (Horford, for example) and one unbalanced trade (Butler, for example - gives us a third scorer and a lock down perimeter defender with good size). Or, if the pair is good enough to make us contenders (like Horford and Durant, for example), renouncing all/most of our FAs and signing two max, or near max FAs. I like our guys, but none of them are on that level.

BNM

 

Excellent post, and many good points. Especially about any draft day deals involving Plumlee or Vonleh.

BNM

 

Surprised there has not been more activity. I also have no idea who these guys are.

 

Their names make them sound more like British actors than NBA players.

BNM

 

Step 7: Change team name to Portland Kevins

Step 8: Force every player to change their first name to Kevin

 

I still think we have to get two of those three (Horford, Durant, Whiteside) to convince any one of them to come. Need to clear bigger salaries than Plumlee; he is a keeper.

 

So under this layout, we could offer Horford $24mill and sell him on letting us use the balance on another impact player in Butler.

What would be needed to get butler? Could we offer Crabbe, Aminu, Clevelands future and cash or something?

Im really ignorant when it comes to contracts.

I just think that if we could end up with a linup of thisVVV we would be contenders next year!

Dame/CJ/Connaughton
CJ/Montero/Connaughton
Butler/Harkless
Leonard/Davis/Harkless
Horford/Plumlee/Davis


That would leave us very versatile on both ends of the court.
How, or is it even possible to make this happen?

 

I'd love to get Horford, but I'm pretty confident he will get the full max, $$26.4M.

Butler currently makes $17.6M with Chicago. I'm guessing Chicago could get some pretty nice offers for him. I'd love to say that Crabbe, Aminu, and the Cleveland fist would get it done, but I'm thinking that's gonna be way short.

My take is that we already have two impact players on the team. We just need the third to get us over the top.
+ Trade Vonley for a second round pick.
-- This also frees up about $2.5M, allowing the Blazers to go after Horford or Howard.
+ Sign one of: Horford, Whiteside, or Howard.
+ Re-sign Leonard, Harkless, and Crabbe.
-- These guys will more than likely sign for more than their cap hold, putting us over the cap.
-- Let Henderson, Kaman, and Roberts walk.
+ Fill out the remaining 2 roster spots with undrafted/minimum salary potential guys.

 

Montero, Connaughton, ALexander?

And in that scenario we are keeping AMinu, PLums and Davis as well?

So we would look like this:

Dame/CJ/Connaughton
CJ/Crabbe/Montero
Harkless/Aminu/Crabbe
Leonard/Davis/Aminu
Horford/Plums/Davis

With Alexander riding the end of bench as the 122 active player??


hmmm we would need more growth ( though that is very plausible) from Harkless, Crabbe, Leonard and Plums in order for that to be a contending team.

Thinking about it, that would be a great lineup to roll out next year. We retain our Cleveland pick for leverage over the next year in trade deadline, or even just use it.
See what pieces left need to be tweaked to make us a true contender.

I think Horford is the guy of the three though. I think he would fit the system the best.

 

I wouldn't mind Horford but he's a Power Forward

 

I agree that Horford is the best fit. But unfortunately I think he's the least likely to be signed by the Blazers.

Whiteside is my next choice simply due to age and cost. Again, I'm guessing very low chance of him coming to the Blazers.

Howard I'm the least excited about of the three. But it's also looking like he's the most attainable. Although there are red flags, I think he's got a lot left in the tank, and he'd be a huge upgrade to our front court.

As for the rest of the crew, I think you always need 3-4 young unproven guys that you're looking for that diamond in the rough. Montero and Alexander are on minimum contracts. Very low risk for the cost. If we somehow find an upgrade (perhaps thru some trade) and need a roster spot, they're easily cut.

 

I think Kyle Wiltjer might be a steal in the 2nd round. I've heard he's been killing it in workouts.

 

Over his 9 seasons, Horford has played center 86% of the time.


http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/horfoal01.html

And while playing Center, he was voted an all-star 4 times (2010, 11, 15, and 16).

 

Yep, he's played center his entire NBA career, but could also play the 4 in a big lineup scenario.

BNM

 

https://hardwoodhoudini.com/2016/06/16/boston-celtics-sign-al-horford/

Substitute the words Boston and Portland and the article is just as true for us.

Although I must admit if I am a veteran free agent who is looking to go deep into the playoffs, do I really want
to go west?

 

I want free agents who want to win it all; so it shouldn't make any difference to them whether they start out in the East or the West. I think the Cavaliers would have been better prepared for GS if they had played some tougher playoff opponents.

 

Yeah why not? Unless you're on Lebrons team you ain't getting to the finals out east. His reign is a lot longer than golden states. Either way, put me on the team with the best chance to beat either one. Right now the teams that are the closest are OKC and maybe SA. Teams that are a piece away include Boston and Portland. Portland just matches up well vs golden state and Boston has the perimeter defenders to lock them down as well. Both teams are a big away. Portland also has the bodies to throw at Lebron. Boston doesn't.