Around the NBA - July 2017 Edition

I mean, a smart, crowder, brown or tatum and picks package is really attractive for anyone that wants to reset after they get off to a bad start. Probably closer to the trade deadline when a team severely underperforms.

 

Turner could have been signed for a shorter contract or even a 1-year. No one else was offering near as much and even Turner admitted he was surprised at how much the offer was.

The Draft happens every year regardless of the Cap so that doesn't really apply to what I was referring to. Sure, they could have let Crabbe walk. There were numerous players for 1/4 of what Crabbe got that produced more than he did. Completely one-dimensional and not aggressive at the one thing he is good at. HUGE overpay.

 

Ouch. Zach lowe wrote this in his new free agency piece...

Loser: The priced-out Blazers
Standing still in the West is like pulling your hamstring in a road race and watching everyone whiz by you. The Blazers are coming off a .500 season, and at least two teams below them -- the Wolves and Nuggets -- are primed for a leap. Utah and the Clippers should hang in the playoff race. Portland could have more than $130 million, and perhaps much more, committed in each of the next three seasons.

Reminder: The Blazers were in a use-it-or-lose-it situation with their cap space a year ago. They bet big on Evan Turner, and matched even bigger on Allen Crabbe. They wagered both would be movable in a league starved for wings.

Nope. Portland would need to sweeten the pot with a first-round pick to flip either of those guys right now. In hindsight -- and you know what they say about hindsight -- they probably should have picked one. Maurice Harkless and Al-Farouq Aminu have trade value, but only because they are on good contracts Portland would rather keep. The Blazers have upside. Their best players are young, and they went 14-5 with Jusuf Nurkic in the starting lineup before he broke his leg. But the landscape has changed.

 

Riverman, I love your optimism, but can you tell me what tasty tuna fish are available for 50% MLE or for trade of our bloated contracts?

 

The Blazers are more like seagulls in this scenario, waiting on the beach for a half-eaten carcass to wash up, so they can peck at its rotten flesh.

Yummy!

 

We won't shed those contracts....we could however shore up the bench with minor trades involving Harkless or Leonard....Turner to me is good value...they've invested enough in Crabbe to see if he makes the leap this season...if not...at least boost his trade value by the deadline....we're not getting another Nurk this summer or anyone of his caliber...I get the sense that they are not giving up on developing players under contract unless it's Meyers, Mo, Ed, PC, or Layman..in my view we haven't seen this roster after a full training camp and playing together healthy....I like most of our players with the exception of Leonard and he's not on a huge deal....the art of moving Leonard is probably a tricky task

 

Mine was a pre breakfast post.....!

 

Making financial wiggle-room in-case ATL doesn't match on Hardaway.

 

That's what he shoulda done last year instead of going all in on the whale itself like he did with ET's contract. Thank God Parsons spurned us.

 

Neil said he was never really looking to sign Parsons...just due diligence...I like Turner...we needed a defender and ball handler...Turner got a good deal but I think long term he'll earn it.

 

Who wouldn't say that about parsons? Better yet who would admit to wanting him at this point. Gotta save face where he can.

 

70 mil for Turner on day 1 of free agency when he literally had no other offers is most definitely not a good deal.

He even mentioned he was shocked at the number. That's never a good sign.

 

He signed Turner.....all Turner's teammates miss him....he's got skills and I think he's a solid piece....I've never regretted signing Turner...I have regretted Crabbe's deal...I would have never matched the Nets on that one....

 

We can't wait around to sign guys in Portland...snooze you lose around here in free agency...it comes down to whether you like Turner or not....I like the guy. I totally understand why Neil wanted to bring him in....he's not popular around here though it seems.

 

we didn't go after Felton last year, did we?

 

If we did, I selectively blocked it from my memory.

 

Your rotten flesh just washed up!

 

Turner is fine as a 4yr/ 50 mil contract for what he brings-- I like him in the bench role if Stotts can figure him out. But 4/70 was and still is nuts. When you have to attach assets to rid yourselves of a contract, it's never good.

We spent every last penny we could before the luxury tax threshold on guys who are not difference makers (ET/AC/Leonard/Ezeli). And we misjudged the cap situation moving forward. It's too bad KD made his decision to leave to GS on July 4. I have an inkling that we wouldn't have splurged on ET on July 1/2 if we knew that was going to happen. It's 100% hindsight, but Neil gets a big fat F for last summer-- it sets us back years in our development.