KP's interest in Milsap/Lee

With 14 min. or so available at backup PF and even less at Center, what exactly was KP envisioning with Milsap and Lee?

I know there was an article that said Milsap could see time at SF but that would be a disaster on defense. Lee's advanced numbers show he's at his best at Center. Both are strictly PF/C's.

This would have caused more chemistry problems, IMO. And Lord-Xenu knows we need more of that like we need a hole in the head.

 

I don't know what his interest was either. The free agents that he pursued makes some sense if they are immediately followed up with trades, but based on the way he decided to keep Steve around after signing Miller tells me that he really doesn't have a lot of inclination to balance this roster with players who fill clearly defined roles around his cornerstone pieces. I honestly think he just felt like he needed to cash that cap space in to a bankable asset, but what he intends to do with his glut of players remains to be seen.

 

I think it was impulse and desperation.

He's seriously a deer-in-the-headlights about roster moves if it's not during the draft.

 

Tin Foil Hat time:

I think the plan was: Sign a starting-quality PF like Lee or Milsap, and either (a) force LMA's asking price down ("well, we've got a guy willing to take your minutes today...") or (b) trade LMA for a major steal at PG, like Paul. Both moves are risky, but I think there was a big plan in motion that never really got all the way to fruition.

Paul, Roy, and Oden would win as many or more championships than Roy, LMA, and Oden, and you could sew up a starting PF for less than LMA was asking. With Paul's ability to make mediocre frontline players into All-Stars, you could take a guy like Milsap or Lee and really make hay with them.

 

A Millsap signing would have made a lot of sense if Pritchard then planned to make a deal involving Przybilla. A big man rotation of Oden, Aldridge and Millsap would have been incredible, and there are enough minutes for each player to get 30+ minutes each. Days when Oden's minutes were under 30, Aldridge and Millsap would get more minutes.

Ultimately, Millsap was too great a talent not to take a shot at. He's only slightly behind Aldridge as a talent...his defensive numbers are excellent, and he's been very productive on offense and rebounding. If you can pick up a talent of that quality for nothing but (non-exorbitant) money, you have to do it. Pritchard would then have had to make a deal to balance the roster...had he not done that, he could be blamed for that. But I don't think he can be blamed for trying to pick up such a good player.

 

By this logic, why not go for a similar talent and trade Przybilla as he's could very well bolt Portland this summer?

Consolidate talent (including Przy?) and go for that scoring/rebounding PF/SF. My favorite is Mike Beasley but I think I'm in the minority there.

 

I agree that a deal would have likely come for Pryz...or we would have dealt with the playing time log jam this year then let Joel go. As it stands now, every game I just keep thinking "how are we going to manage to keep Joel?" because at this point we need him.

 

So if Przy opts out after this season, will he be unrestricted? I wonder if we'd be able to extend him this season. Any cap gurus care to explain our (and Joel's) options?

 

That's exactly what I was saying would have made sense. Sign Millsap, trade Przybilla. That kind of opportunity won't exist again...next off-season, Portland won't be under the cap. They can still deal Przybilla, but not sign a talented big man. That's why I supported the Millsap attempted signing.

 

If he opts out, he'll be unrestricted. Portland can extend him using their Bird rights...it's a question of whether the Blazers want to match or exceed any other offer (assuming Przybilla wants to stay for the same money, but a reserve role).

 

I think either Minstrel or Blazer Caravan's ideas were the general direction KP was headed in. I know he covets Paul more then anyone short of maybe LeBron. I also think he wanted to shore up the big man situation prior to Przybilla's semi-inevitable departure. Perhaps it was to make a move similar to the one I outlined in the Free Chris Paul thread.