all our players should be healthy, except perhaps Joel, who may never fully recover. this is where we stand. Players under contract for next season: (11) Joel Przybilla Andre Miller LaMarcus Aldridge Greg Oden Martell Webster Brandon Roy Jerryd Bayless Rudy Fernandez Nicolas Batum Dante Cunningham Jeff Pendergraph Players who's contracts end: (4) Steve Blake Travis Outlaw Juwan Howard Patty Mills Euro Players that could be brought over: (3) Victor Claver Petteri Koponen Joel Freeland Draft picks: (2) first rounder, likely around #20 second rounder from bulls Over the cap so only MLE money. My take. Center - I think unless we are relatively certain that Joel and Oden are fully healthy, and perhaps even if we are sure, we should bring in another C/PF. That might be Freeland if KP really thinks he is ready, otherwise a trade may need to happen. PF - I am thrilled with LMA and believe that for the most part DC and J-Pen can handle the bu here. It would be nice to have a larger bu pf, but that is not truely needed if LMA is healthy. SF- I am starting to come around on Webster and I think that Batum will be excellent. I would not be opposed to an upgrade here, but I don't think it is really needed if both Batum and Webster are healthy. Especially since spot minutes can be made up by Dante, Roy, and Rudy. SG - Roy and Rudy/Bayless - perfect. PG- I really like Bayless but I am not convinced at all that he will ever be a good option as a starting PG with this blazer squad. I think he is an excellent 6th man, but I am not sold on him starting. Miller can play and is solid enough, and with a year under his belt playing under Nate, hopefully he will mesh in the system a little better. But I really think this is the one area that the Blazers still need to find the future starter. We may need to trade Bayless, Rudy, Miller, or S&T Blake or Outlaw to find a good PG, but this is really the one area the Blazers need to focus on. All picks are also useable in an attempt to upgrade. Those are my thoughts, what are yours?
As loathe as I am to add more youngsters to this roster, I wouldn't mind seeing a decent center prospect like Epke Udoh, Solomon Alabi, or Dexter Pittman added to the roster (I'd include Cole Aldrich in this list but there's little chance we get into the top five). That is unless a legitimate big man can be traded for -- but if he was legitimate why would anybody be looking to trade him? -- Anyway, KP's got some real decisions facing him between now and next September.
I think Joel will recover. I completely tore my patellar tendon when I was in high school and I made it back. It's a long rehab, but you can make it back to full strength. I would be surprised if Joel is completely healthy by training camp, but he should be close by the season opener.
Mills is only under contract for one year? Where/when did that happen? I never saw the details of his deal.
Miller is in the section of players under contract next year, he never said anything about a one year deal.
i was surprised about that too. But I looked it up in three sources, storytellerscontracts.com, the s2 contract info, and ESPN trademachine. All have him for this season only. Not even a team option is shown.
PG - i think it will be Miller and Bayless... mills maybe SG - Roy/Rudy (strongest spot on team) SF - need a scorer here and batum can back up. Webster gets traded IMO. Too streaky. However should KP not make a move.... then i think its Batum/Webster PF - La/Cunningham or Pendy (outlaw gone hopefully with blake in trade) C - Oden/ we sign a big man that can play bang at both center and PF with mid level. Just for teh fact that joel wont be ready and oden playing 82 games is like thinking the twolves have a chance at an nba title soon.
How do people feel about Pendergraph being our 3rd string center? Or, I guess maybe second string until Joel gets back.
I don't see any reason to doubt Joel can recover. After all, he wasn't exactly a gazelle before. Good catch! barfo
That is good. When I saw that the first time (before barfo re-pointed it out) I did not know what you were referring to. kudos on keen observation skills and a good sense of humor.
im stupid. i thought he was talking about Mills. that is what confused me earlier and so i just made a logic leap that he would have the same thought as I. OOPS. I had it right in my original post. I just got stupid later.
I'm thinking the Blazers should trade Rudy over the summer....unless Nate leaves the team. We have to remember his contract is up. So his departure may affect the choices the team makes about its roster this summer. If Nate returns as coach I think its reasonable to assume Rudys role and playing time will remain about the same. He has never been happy with his playing time here. He gave up a lot of money to come over here and play and he hasn't been fully utilized. Unless things change, he will probably go back to Spain when he has the chance to...at the end of next season. May as well move him for something, instead of letting him go for nothing.
kp couldn't trade to save his life. hes a complete joke unless hes in the lottery. hes a scared little bitch when it comes to dealing.
To be fair though, he was sort of playing with house money so to speak. It wasn't like there was much risk involved (in terms of making the team demonstrably worse).
his contract isn't "up" after this year... the Blazers have a team option. If the Blazers want him back on the cheap for 3.3M total over the following 2 years (and I don't know why they wouldn't), then the only place Rudy can play professionally in the world is in Portland. In the 2012 offseason Portland and Rudy will be at the Qualifying Option crossroads. http://www.sportstwo.com/NBASalaries.php? STOMP
