Don't get me wrong, I think he'll re-sign with us even for the minimum. Partly because I think he really wants to play for Blazers and partly because I don't know who's going to pay him more than that (though it Is possible someone would). But there's a problem here, because by waiving him, we lost his early-bird rights (or at least to my knowledge) and can't offer him up to the league-average after two years like we can do with other 2nd rounders. So either we get screwed and Jeff signs with another team (maybe a team with cap-room? maybe someone gives him part of the MLE?) or Jeff gets screwed and is forced to sign with us for the minimum which I think is lower than we had payed if he didn't get hurt. Also, Jeff's rights are hurt by him not being eligible for full-fird-rights after next year but only in 2014. I think that's wrong even as far as employment-rules go.
A mediocre player who just came off of a bad knee injury will be lucky to get a decent contract next year. Outside of a GM that is a big idiot, he probably won't get a contract more than 1 to 2 million a year. Now watch, he gets a 3 million per year contract from Portland.
This is why we are always mediocre. He's not good and we can do so much better. Move on. Cunningam is bad enough. Don't need a lesser version.
Now that we know what he can do (be an average early 2nd rounder), I'd rather try Claver or Freeland in his roster spot (to find whether they're better).
Assuming the CBA stays the same, we could use the bi-annual exception to sign him if we really wanted him back at more than the minimum salary. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_salary_cap#Bi-annual_exception As for him not having Bird rights until later in his career: he's a fringe player. I don't think that Bird rights will ever be a consideration. Ed O.
if he only had some bung knees he could be looking at the max..... seriously though, i think for a cheap investment he's a great team/hustle/enthusiasm guy - his skills might be somewhat limited etc but he is what he is - i like him.
As a back up PF he does OK- at best. I wouldn't be opposed to having him, but he doesn't add much to the team.
I'm trying to lose weight but this friend I'm going to be seeing next week is a huge Cheetos fan. Dude always has a bag of them sitting next to his coach. Will I break the diet and eat a couple Cheetos that night? Or will I stand firm? I think I'll devote more energy to solving The Cheetos dilemma than I will the Jeff Pendergraph dilemma. Next up: The Crest or Colgate dilemma.
I think the team realizes one of their top concerns is finding young bigs who will be top of the rotation guys, playing big minutes. they need to find a guy like that before they worry about filling the last couple spots on the roster.
JP is a good locker room guy and a great hustle player but thats all he is. A sparkplug off the bench that will play his heart out but fouls like there is no tomorrow. Don't get me wrong I like the guy and think he could be a good person to have at the PF for 10m and center for 5. I'd be intrigued to see him get more time then he did last year and see what he does with it but as someone else already posted i'd rather see his roster spot go to freeland.
And now we have Chris Johnson. Thinner than Pendergraph, more of a scorer, but leaps higher. Pendergraph will sign elsewhere this summer.
