I'm curious? With Blake and Outlaw gone, Miles finally off the books - does anyone know where the Blazers will sit heading into the Summer Free Agency sweepstakes? Will we have cap space? How much? Any thoughts of who we might pursue?
Wow that is a dilemna. Oden has the choice to sign a longer term deal as income insurance for less, or forgoing it and hoping he finally has a good year so he can get a solid extension. Tough choice there. The Blazers should be over the cap I believe just due to Brandon's and Aldridge extensions kicking in. But I haven't done all the math yet. Of course why should I, there are probably websites out there who have already done it.
I don't think we need a whole lot other than fewer injuries. If we had one of Joel/Oden right now and assurance Roy was good for the remainder of the year, I think we would be doing very well.
I am actually hopeful Camby will work out and come back as part of a deeper, more defensive front line for next year.
Zero cap space. Extensions kick in for Roy and Aldridge. We have the MLE and the Veterans Minimum available IIRC. We also have 12 players under contract into next season. Only Mills and Camby become FA's in summer. Joel has a Player Option and can become one this summer, but this is unlikely. We can also begin negotiations with GO on his extension.
I'd change it to 8 mill a year for 5 years, and put some really heavy bonuses about if he plays X games he gets X mill for each year.
I don't think we need to rush into negotiations with Oden. Perhaps mid-season of next year - once we see if he's playing. Let's not do another "Lamarcus Aldridge" with Greg! [it is my belief that LA might have played this season with a much higher degree of aggression had we waited until this summer to extend him!] Can we "buy out" Pryzbilla? In other words, can we pay him to opt out? Just a thought...as this would free up some money to add to the MLE, etc. [this would only be applicable if Camby were to re-sign with us, of course] Maybe re-sign Camby and trade Joel for Igoudala? shoring up our SF position? Then, by the trade deadline of 2010/2011 season, and depending upon the financial status of New Orleans - we go hard after CP3....using Miller, one of our youngsters, picks and cash? Hmmmm. It will be interesting this summer - even if we don't have huge cap space!
I'm having a hard time figuring out most of the trades - much of them seemingly lopsided. Today, it appears it is mostly about cap space/luxury tax - a team's financial status - expiring contracts, etc. I'm only saying that next year, Joel is our "expiring" contract at the end of 2011...and couple his expiring contract with a youngster, picks, cash, etc....and one never knows who might be had? I love Iggy! And with Batum, we'd have two of the league's top SF's.
It's all due to LeBron being a free agent this summer. Next summer the big potential free agent is Carmello Anthony. He's damn good but he is no LeBron. Teams won't be trying as hard to clear cap space again anytime soon.
