I doubt any team would want to help Portland that way just for a 2nd rounder.... Anyways, we could give them Sergio.
Aren't we grooming Bayless? If we really are targeting Sessions, I see Bayless getting traded over the summer. Our we renounce Blake. Leaving portland in a very sticky situation.
The price range is a relative issue in this economy. I can't hammer this point home enough. If you thought it was a buyer's market now, just wait a few months or even a year.
haha I wish, but you can't combine players with TE's. I think a team would do it for cash, a 2nd round pick, and a TE (which they would be getting if they did a sign and trade for ours)
We are grooming Bayless. Sessions is more of a traditional point guard and is more ready to start right now. IMO, Sessions could go into next season as the starter with Bayless as his primary backup. Both Sessions and Bayless have a lot of potential. Whichever one turns out to be the best, Portland can hold onto and trade the other.
I would imagine that NYK would make at least some effort to retain his services. He's worth at least the MLE though, wouldn't you agree? Anyways, I don't think Lee would sign with Portland anyways if we would make him a bench player.
I don't want Lee. What I am saying is I don't think we'll see many bidding wars this summer for available FAs due to very tight payroll budgets. And based on what is out there, I think Portland scouts will be following Ramon Sessions very closely the rest of this season.
Here is a partial list of guys making $3m and less next year that do not expire next year - so there is some incentive for the team to move them to free some money: Atlanta: Acie Law, Maurice Evans Boston: Rondo Charlotte: DJ, Alexis Ajinca Chicago: Don't know anymore who is on this team - too many trades GSW : Wright, Randolph, Bellinelli Houston: Landry Indiana: Rush, Hibbert Ckips : Thornton, Mardy Collins Bucks: Alexander, Elson, Malik Allen Wolves: Brewer, Bassy NJ: Najera, Boone NOH: Armstrong, J-Wright Orlando: JJ Redick PHX: Tucker, Dudley, Lopez Sacramento: See Bulls Toronto: Humpris Wizards: Blatche The ones that stand out to me are: 1. from the Bucks - Elson/Alexander - since they are in financial problems - and this could be a way to do a pick swap + player for TE + money with them 2. Wizards - if they want to do the same 3. PHX - Always good for a pick for money / being cheap
I agree with you, I just don't think there are enough players in the 09 FA class that are worth pursuing. It seems like we had more options with RLEC than with this.
It's hard to say without really knowing. Clearly Portland rattled Rod Thorn; let's see what happens this summer or even next season. Meanwhile, I'm going to enjoy the ride this young team is taking me on right now.
I agree. LAC knows better than any other team in the league how to get production from cheap players on rookie deals and then dump them. They are not trading Al-T.
I guess that's a good comparison. My top 2 assets I'd like, and I've been growing to like this guy even more is Ramon Sessions and David Lee. Not sure how we get both, but if we could manage to sign one with FA money then the other in a S&T that would be really nice.
Can't we do a trade with a team over the cap and take on their extra salary? I thought that was going to be the main advantage of cap space this offseason. Clippers got Camby for free last offseason, we won't have quite that much space but still enough to provide another team substantial relief at the cost of value coming to PDX.
KP said the same thing on the Fan. I've been saying that because of either a trade or FA, the Blazers really had reason to force a trade today. On a side note, how unreal is it that the Blazers have cap space at all considering the Miles fiasco, yet are still 4th in the West?
