I was just playing around on a trade machine and looking at our contracts and a great feeling came over me that we really dodged a bullet when Hedo escaped. I know this has been talked about, but whoever wanted Hedo enough to offer him the moon was crazy (Allen? KP? Miller" all the above?). Right now, we really don't have any really bad contracts. LMA is a little steep, and probably overpaid, but not by a ton, and he is still a good player even if he is paid a tad too much. Camby and Miller, both who get decent paydays, are on short contracts and actually are worth their scratch. And the only other big contract at the moment is our star Roy. Even though we don't have tons of caproom, we also don't have Hedo or other crappy contracts. Every single player the Blazers have is on a decent enough contract to be added into trades. This gives the Blazers a lot of flexibility and freedom in trying to round out the team. Hopefully the Blazers make some good trades. It was just nice that Hedo ended up fucking Toronto and not Portland.
What Hedo did the most was help protect KP's image among fans. Think how many less threads we would have right now if KP had succeeded in getting his number 1 option. Instead, he got his number 5 or 6 option.
IMO given the overpaying going on right in the NBA now LMA is at least fair value and probably good value given his contract
Hedo made little sense to me at the time at ANY price. The guy's PER was below-average in his final year with Orlando and I would have been surprised to see it go back up at age 30. Of all the moves and non-moves KP made as GM, Hedo was definitely the worst IMO. I don't mind the Millsap offer being a mistake; if he were our backup 4 right now I'd be pretty darn pleased and I bet we would have won more games last year (assuming we could have procured Miller, especially). Ed O.
I think we need to see what David Lee gets to have a good point of comparison. Right now, LMA seems overpaid to me... and I simply didn't think we had to pay him that much. If Lee gets more than Aldridge, I will gladly admit I've been wrong this time. If he gets less... then it's a good bit of evidence that LMA is overpaid. Ed O.
The pursuit of Hedo made me scratch my head from a basketball perspective; I kind of talked myself into it because of his ability to run the side pick and roll with D-12 in Orlando and I figured he could maybe make Greg better ... but it was KP's "amateur hour" method of wooing him (Jay Jensen and the airport sign, blasting Turkish Techno on the ride over to the PF, making it a media event before he was signed and sealed) that had me cringing and really questioning what KP's master plan was for this organization -- all that build up and talk about making a splash in 2010 free agency, was Hedo the guy we were planning on all along? That's fucking depressing.
While I was dead set againat Turk, I did like the idea of Millsap. I've often thought that we need a banger off the bench...and I thought Millsap would offer this. I was not a huge fan of the Miller signing, but today feel he's a great PG. Not a top 5, but he's worthy. And his contract is to our benefit. Too bad it took so long for Miller and Roy to get acclimated - then Roy goes and gets hurt. Today, I'd do anything possible to land Bosh. He'd be our Laker-killer. I like his intensity, his hustle, and he can score and rebound. Not sure he plays the best defense - but with a healthy Oden, Bosh would be awesome. I just can't say these things about LMA. I still think we rushed to extend LMA. Had we not, we would have an easier time moving him now (as an expiring 2011 contract). In fact, I think his value would be double what it is to the team right now....because we'd be moving him with Rudy for something better!
I don't think we would have been able to get Miller if we had signed Millsap. It was an either/or situation I believe. Even so, I would have been thrilled with Millsap. Backup PF is out biggest need.
There would have been no Miller if we signed Hedo. I think the Blazers would have missed the playoffs as well if we had Blake & Hedo in the starting lineup. While Andre was totally exposed in the playoffs, he was one of our most clutch players in the regular season.
Sign and trade. Blake and Outlaw for Miller. With Millsap on board we don't look to make the Camby trade.
No one can predict what would have happened had Hedo signed on with the Blazers. However, with Batum's injury, he would have had a walk-in spot waiting for him. I actually think under Nate's system, Hedo would have played under more control; it might have been a good fit - who knows. Blake, Hedo, and Roy would seem like a pretty darn good group to me. I still believe that team would have had better chemistry (vs Miller) and would still make the playoffs. Obviously, the Miller deal doomed Blake's future with the team, regardless of any injuries. Even if our centers stayed healthy, Blake probably would have left after the past season anyway. Miller is a great PG, but I still think some of the players on the roster would rather he be elsewhere.
David Lee offers little D. Opposing 4's get theirs and slashers are encouraged knowing who is guarding the hoop. He is a solid rebounder and has some skills on offense, but his weak spot isn't trivial to winning hoops. I see his game as pretty similar to Zach's. While I agree (now and at the time he was signed) that LA is overpaid, why Lee's contract is a reasonable gauge for his value doesn't compute for me. I'd rather have LA because I think his skills are better for winning hoops. Sure his blocks were down last year to Lee's levels, but I recall him playing through what was described as two badly twisted ankles that he'd surely have had time off to recover from if most of the front line wasn't already out... expect him to be back to being a defensive shotblocking presence given health next season. I really appreciate his ability to reasonably slide on D between multiple positions. Lee would have to be signed to a significantly cheaper contract then what LA inked at before I'd be intrigued in what the money saved might fetch. Had LA not been resigned last year and not suffered the ankle setbacks to his play, I wonder if these two would be driving each others pay rate up. btw... agreed on the OP. I don't know how KP or the organization thought that was a good idea STOMP
Lee got more then Aldridge. 6 years 80M vs 5 years for 60M. So because of a really stupid franchise you have to admit it (gladly no less), you were wrong! I don't have to admit anything of the sort, I think both are overpaid... Lee ridiculously more-so STOMP
Hedo is a 6-9 guard, a point-forward. He dribbles and shoots with range as well as the best SGs. If healthy, he would have taken the Raptors to the heights. Now Phoenix has a major weapon again. Who lost Hedo? Who prevented Pritchard from offering more money so he wouldn't lose him? Allen? Miller? It was probably Larry Miller, with Allen chirping from the sideline, jealous that Pritchard gets all the praise, but the blame is shared when things go wrong. It was Larry Miller.
If injured, like last year. But if healthy, we might have won all our games. There's still a chance. If he's worth Barbosa, we could offer Phoenix Bayless. Then we could go for Beasley, who went for a no. 2, and I'm not talking about the outhouse. We could rebuild our front line cheaply and easily with Beasley.
This. I am convinced that Andre Miller was going to be a Blazer last year regardless of who we signed as a free agent. And you hit the proposed deal exactly right.
What's most distressing to me about Hedo is that he signed the contract and immediately seemed to take it easy. Some players sign big deals and step up and some players become Theo Ratliff. How does one say "The Rattler" in Turkish? Hedo seems to have the same complex as does Rudy; everything has to be set to go his way or he pouts. Toronto should be thrilled to have rid themselves of this albatross.
