Thanks. I forgot about that. But, in this scenario, wouldn't Portland be able to send out Steve Blake ($4M) for David Lee (valued at $4M to New York and valued at $7.6M to Portland). We'd have to use $3.6M of our $8M spending money, leaving $4.4M. We don't have to use up all of our salary cap space because Blake's outgoing salary is offsetting this, right?
No way if we get a sign and trade before the deadline then we should go for Sessions! Miller = absolute faith in Bayless. I am about 75 to 85% faith in Bayless depending on the day.
LMA is WAY better than Lee. Or trade Lee for a PG? And keep our boy LMA? You people who mention trading our guys makes me sick. I would rather let Joel walk next year (which I don't think he will) than trade him this year. Some of you guys have no loyalty. Why do you persist to think we are getting Harris? That's it. I am blocking you now. I can't take your posts anymore.
I think it's pretty interesting so many people feel Joel will walk, when that was the same thought last time and he stayed, and didn't cost much.
Last time he was pretty much assured a huge role on the team. This time, not so much. I don't know if Joel will walk or not. I do know that if things work out like I hope they do, Joel will only be playing about 12 minutes a game next season. If you can trade him for a guy that can backup both LA and Oden I would think it would be ideal.
Thank you! I thought the same thing but people seemed so sure. For the first time in his career Joel stayed healthy because he had some help at center. He chose to stay in Portland for less money last time his contract came up (when he could've signed with his home team) because he likes being here. I haven't heard any grumblings about minutes or money from him. He just doesn't seem to be all about the big pay day, why are people so sure he's going to leave?
Last time half the league didn't have cap space. Last time it was just Chicago and when they signed Ben Wallace Joel had no choice but to sign with us. This time it'll be much harder to retain Joel without giving him a serious payday. There will be SOOOOOOOO many teams with cap space and most of them don't have quality centers. We won't be able to depend on everyone else using their cap space on other players and being able to re-sign Joel on the cheap.
Okay. Think that if you want. The fact is, scoring isn't everything. Lee is a much, MUCH better rebounder than Aldridge. Rebounding is important. Lee is also a much more efficient scorer with a career fg% over 8% higher than Aldridge. That's a pretty amazing stat. Their PER is equal for their career. I'd say that if Aldridge is better, he's only SLIGHTLY better. Lee's career defensive rating is equal to Aldridge as well, so you can't play the 'defense card' either. You people who think our current players are the best in the league make me sick. So there. The reason it would be better to trade Aldridge is that we could do that right now, and we'd have to wait a while on David Lee. Plus, given the fact that they are very close to equal players, but Aldridge has a higher perceived value...I'd rather keep Lee. Think whatever you want. Not trading an asset and losing that asset for nothing would be colossally stupid. It's not a matter of loyalty. it's not like leaving your wife if you find out she's dying. It's a business. The GM should assemble the best team he possibly can. If some feelings get hurt...that's the way the ball bounces. Sorry. If you say that you wouldn't trade Aldridge for anything, which you haven't said overtly, but you have hinted at...then wouldn't Aldridge be worth somebody like Devin Harris? I mean...league-wide, I bet most GMs would trade Devin Harris for LaMarcus Aldridge. And are you honestly telling me that David Lee and Devin Harris is WORSE than LaMarcus Aldridge and Steve Blake? Because you'd be the only guy on the planet that thinks that.
I think trading Joel would stink - he showed amazing loyalty to this team, and while it is a business, players actually *care* if they think the management are honorable. Joel plays his heart out. He gets to play for a near-contending team, without getting totally worn out. Centers often have VERY long careers if they can stay healthy, and Joel in Portland could play easily until he is 35 or older. I'd like to see him remain a Blazer as long as he wants to be. If he is asked by KP whether he'd like to coexist with Lee, Oden and LMA, or be traded, and he said he'd prefer to go elsewhere, *then* I'd have no beef with trading him. But my strong suspicion is that he would not have that preference. Oden collects fouls, and Pryz gets a LOT of respect around the league as a Blazer. iWatas
Yeah, we weren't scared of being outbid.... we were scared of losing him to a contender when we had the worst record in the league. I remember the Spurs wanted him badly.
http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/60409/20090708/lee_seeking_$12m_per_season/ Lee wants $12M per season.
In ADP's eyes, that should be the real definition of "imaginary cap space". The Knicks thought they'd have space that they probably won't have now. Too bad. You don't build a team that way anyway.
This puts any team who wants David Lee or Nate Robinson in position to sign them to an offer-sheet that the Knicks probably wont match.
Next years cap number is the most significant one IMO. For it to go down roughly 5 million from this coming season is going to be brutal for a lot of teams. It also. most likely, means Joel won't opt out unless all of the big names stay put
