Big cap room and a gaping hole at center

There is a reason why the Blazer management haven't extended the players they could have (Batum, Wallace) and I think (well, I hope) they are angling to make a big offer to either of two centers -- both are RFA:

Roy Hibbert
Brook Lopez

It'll be tricky but if you were to choose which one would fit in the best with LMA -- which should be priority #1.

 

Kaman's available.

 

Hibbert imo. Good rebounder/shot blocker and is really durable. Lopez is the better offensive target but his rebounding and defense has me a little scared. I also think there is no way Indiana doesn't match whatever we give Hibbert and we would have to overpay for Lopez. Our best bet might be using our capspace to make lopsided trades to take on salaries to get a big. Somehow getting Dalembert/Al Jefferson/Gortat doesn't seem that unrealistic this off season if things go really bad for PHX/Hou/Utah. Gortat would be the longest shot but if we took back Fry/Childress I can seem them listening, Utah has talent they really want to develop in Jeffersons spot and Hou loves to stockpile talent so picks to them if they miss the playoffs and do a complete rebuild works. Teams would need some incentive but there not out of the question.

 

Every owner, president, GM, and coach in the NBA knows how few and far between centers are in this league. No one will let any talented center slip through their fingers because of a money issue. I don't think we'll be able to buy a restricted free agent center from anyone. But as long as we're dreaming, It's Hibbert

 

I doubt they wouldn't match any offer for Lopez. Hibbert... maybe

 

if they didn't would we want to pay that much?

 

Lopez is a pretty good player. I would say borderline All-Star at this point. Is he a superstar? Absolutely not, but who else is out there? There isn't much talent on that roster, and they will need to keep Lopez if they have ANY hope of keeping Deron. I have a feeling, however, that Deron won't be staying with the Nets very much longer.

 

The Norse god? Does he play center?

 

I'm not really optimistic about prising either one away from their respective team, but in terms of fit I'd probably go with Hibbert. Beyond that I'd really like to see the Blazers wrangle a top 15 pick via trade somehow ... I have no idea how that is accomplished with the assets we have to offer, but if they can get it done, two cracks at this year's draft class could theoretically yield some positive results in terms of bigs.

 

Would you trade Aldridge for a team's #1 pick this summer?

 

Is the #1 pick worth Aldridge? I am not convinced that it is....

 

I think we may be better off going after a PF/C like Jason Thompson, doubt Sac will match too high an offer, also isn't the CHI C Asik an RFA, with the big contracts they already have and Noah - how high can/will Chi go - not very IMO

 

That's an interesting question. My gut instinct tells me "no" mostly because Aldridge is playing like a top-ten-in-the-league guy right now. The trouble is we won't really know the answer to this question for another two or three years.

 

With big guys, you shouldn't just be asking what their current teams will offer, but what other teams will offer as well. There's a boatload of teams with capspace this offseason.

 

I like Asik and Thompson. Either one would be a pretty decent acquisition.

 

A run of the mill first rounder? Hell no. The overall number one pick? ... hmmm ... tempting, but I'd probably still say no -- even if the number one pick turns out to be a top ten level player then it'd be mostly a lateral move.

 

No, the #1 pick in this summer's draft. Whomever wins, we make the trade with.

 

I don't know what you're talking about. Whomever wins what?

 

What I mean is; once the draft lotto has a winner. Let's say it's NJ won the #1 pick in the draft lotto. Then you trade Aldridge to NJ for their #1 pick? Maybe get Lopez too?