What’s your ideal, but realistic, roster for next season? In: Anthony Randolph (F/Real Madrid) Dzanan Musa (Draft) Marreese Speights (PF/Orlando) Hezonja is playing really well and might price himself out of our range. Randolph has an NBA out in his contract and should be in the league next season. Played great at Eurobasket this summer and has the versatility for the modern game. Could play alongside Collins, and form a really good defensive trio with Nurkic anchoring. Speights can probably be had for the vet minimum and gives us another shooter. I chose Musa as our draft pick because I honestly know him more than the other prospects that are projected to be within range. He might fall because his measurables aren’t great but he is a straight baller. Plays both ends and is a high IQ player. He will be ready to play from day one, don’t let the body fool you. Out: Aminu Layman Harkless might rebuild some of his value but still don’t see anyone taking on his contract with so many teams trying to dump money. Aminu is an expiring and should be a valuable trade chip. Collins will be ready for a bigger role next season, making Chief expendable. Layman doesn’t belong in the NBA. Re-sign: Nurkic Davis Napier Connaughton These are all pretty obvious. Don’t really care about Connaughton. If he asks for anything more than $2-3m let him bounce. Don’t know how much Napier will command but I wouldn’t go above $5m for a backup point. Roster: PG- Lillard, Napier, Baldwin SG- McCollum, Turner, Connaughton SF- Randolph, Harkless, Musa PF- Collins, Speights, Swanigan C- Nurkic, Davis, Leonard So nothing flashy but still better. I really like Randolph and think he will be a great signing for whoever gets him. The Randolph/Collins/Nurkic frontcourt would cause havoc defensively and really cover up and compliment our backcourt.
Pretty sure we compete for the title next year. I mean Dame CJ PG13 Lebron Nurk is a pretty good roster
Naw--I was soft-peddling intentionally. Didn't want to throw HCP directly under the bus. Plus, plenty of people still hate Calabro, and that absolutely fits into the "Blazer Broadcasting" complaint bucket.
Yeah ok time to revise. PG: Lillard, Napier, Baldwin SG: McCollum, Turner, Connaughton SF: Harkless, Chandler Hutchison, Wilcox PF: Collins, Aminu, Swanigan C: Nurkic, Davis, Leonard With Collins’ development and Moes resurgence I think we can afford to go into next season without making any significant changes. Winning also makes going into the luxury tax much more justifiable for Paul. This just looks like a really balanced team on paper. Hutchison is a Lillard endorsed wing who could contribute from day one off the bench as a four year college player (although he still has an upside) I’d also invite Papagiannis to camp. I’d rather have him as the emergency center than Leonard. Maybe we carry four, and keep Wilcox on another two way. Or just have papa g on a two way. Layman is an obvious cut. His contract isn’t guaranteed and has shown no development in two years. With so many teams in salary dump mode, the TPE could be in play. I just don’t see anyone worth paying luxury tax on that would be a significant upgrade.
Maybe, Maybe we replace him via draft. But i like him, that 3 guard line up is Fantastic and seems to Work every Time. I would be very dissapointed if Napier leaves
Let me start by saying he's a good player. I like him, he's a skilled ball handler/effective 3rd guard scoring wise which they needed since turner has been a dud mostly in that department.... But his play of late has been frustrating to watch. Call me crazy but I dont really want Napier back all that much.... (and definitely not for more that 5-6m per sorry bazzle but Lou Williams screwed you). He has become a MAJOR ball stopper in that second unit and although the three guard lineup with him has been effective at times, when he is the primary ball handler in that 2nd unit, he plays with blinders on, dribbles out the shot clock, and shoots a contested jumper. The smart move IMO would have been to ship him off for a protected first or something at the deadline this year but c'est la vie. I would go with Patty if I had to choose between the two of them cause his size defense and rebounding are more useful most of the time than the sometimes brilliant shot creation of Napier.
I will never understand this seemingly blind love for Pat Connaughton. Is Napier perfect? No. But is he better than Connaughton? Without a doubt. On both ends. Remember, Napier wasn’t even in the rotation at the beginning of the season. Pat was. Their roles have gone the opposite direction for a reason.
I like Pat, but don't see him on the team next year. I like Napier too, but I think he has played too well for us to afford him next year. I can't see him playing for less and a backup roll when he could get more and do more on another team.
I see Portland matching any offer Napier gets. They could always trade him down the road. I don’t think well have to worry about a Crabbe like offer.
Can he get a bigger role on another team though? Who's likely to be interested in Napier as a starting PG? I think there's a pretty decent chance of both Napier and Davis sticking around for reasonable figures. Perhaps it's just blind hope, but I'm gonna cling to it.
I would imagine the best chance of that happening would be because teams don't want to lock up money for Napier, just to have Blazers match. Agreed he isn't a starting PG, and maybe locking up an offer on him is too much for a backup.
I wouldnt say it's blind love... Napier is better than Pat, I have no problem admitting it. But he also plays a position and style that are easily replaced for cheap (its the one thing neil seems to be good at). Napier could score 20ppg on a season given the right opportunity Pat could not. But Pat plays within the structure of the offense and makes the extra pass where as Napier creates on the fly uses the PnR to create for himself. Napier can play like dame or cj and be a ball dominant guard (albeit a poor mans version) but Pat knows his role and doesnt try to do too much which is a better fit imo. If there was any cap space I would say bring them both back but there isnt any so you kinda gotta choose between size and spot up shooting or ball handling and individual shot creation.
