They are when we also have two power forwards on the first year of their rookie contracts. Plus, you're off by a year. Ed is in the final year of his contract, making $6.3 million this season. He will be a free agent next summer. A lot could change between now and next summer, but if we don't trade Ed, I doubt if we bring him back. After adding Nurk, Swanigan and Collins to Davis, Vonleh, Meyers and sometimes Aminu, we now have a glut up front and a shortage of wings. I don't think Neil will look to bring Ed back next summer, even if he comes cheaply. On the other hand, Ed does hold trade value as an expiring contract which is the main reason I think there's a greater than 50/50 chance he gets moved by the deadline. If Carmelo ever waives that damn no trade clause, a package centered around Harkless and Davis' expiring contract looks a LOT better than anything HOU can offer. BNM
It may not have been mentioned widely in the press, but, according to NBA.com, Davis originally injured the shoulder during the 2015-16 season and it progressively worsened until he had to have the surgery. http://www.nba.com/blazers/news/davis-undergo-shoulder-surgery
I've read that multiple times, but as I said, the original injury wasn't significant enough that Davis even remembered when or how it happened, it did not impact his play for the remainder of the 2015-16 season, or the playoffs and was not serious enough for him to consider off season surgery last summer. He re-injured it January 20 against PHI. Prior to that, there was no mention of Davis playing through pain, or any evidence of him favoring the shoulder. The word progressive is a but misleading. It's not like it just gradually got worse. There was a significant inflection point on January 20 that led to his season ending surgery. BNM
I agree that there was a point where it got significantly worse in January. I guess I think that these guys play with pain so often that it's hard to know how much their performance is impacted by it. Regardless, I'm certainly hoping that he shows up to fall camp healthy and hungry for a new contract...wherever that may be given.
I hope Ed comes back strong in a contract year, because, if he does, it means less Meyers, and/or greater trade value. Even if Ed returns to 2015-16 form, I think his days in POR are numbered. I think Swanigan gives us everything Ed does and more (like passing and 3-point shooting), with a much higher ceiling, and as the trade deadline approaches, I think Ed's expiring contract will be our most valuable trading chip. BNM