Arbitrator sides with NBPA, grants early-Bird rights

The Knicks are one of the teams that would might be willing to go over the cap a little...Portland doesn't seem to be one of those teams anymore. We already have a ton of cap space, so this won't help us much. If anything it would hurt, in that it takes Jeremy Lin off the market.

 

Robinson moves LA over to C, but JJ and Freeland wouldn't?

Robinson is a whole different story. If he's available, you take him and never think twice. But if it's Drummond and Lillard, it's 50/50 for me as it is. But if you're bringing in Freeland and interested in retaining JJ, then that sways me to Lillard.

 

Over the cap? Yes. Over the luxury tax threshold? That would be stupid given the penalties of the current CBA.

 

I know on paper it doesn't make much sense, but Hickson has already shown he can and will play center next to Aldridge. Freeland is bigger than Robinson, and already plays F/C in Europe. Robinson is a PF at hearts and struggles on both ends of the court when playing bigger and longer guys. I'm not sure why that is the case, and he may overcome it, but right now that's the way it is. I don't see him progressing well coming into the NBA and playing C.

 

This all could be very tricky as it is easy to say "sign them and go over the cap" but this team isn't ready to contend yet. Do you really want to lock up your flexibility for the next five years by signing up two players who have not shown that they can be a top three player on a championship caliber team?

I don't like this idea, but I can see how it makes sense to let both Batum and Hickson go and keep the salary flexibility for guys who can be a top three player on a great team.

 

I think Hickson might be able to get signed in the 6-7mil range. If he could be our starting center at say, 8mil I would be okay with that. Batum... I'm not attached to for more than 9mil

 

That was me being sarcastic, when you had just said that neither Freeland or Hickson were centers. But then you were talking about drafting Robinson and moving LA to C. Regardless, someone will be kinda playing out of position and forced into the C role.

I don't see T-Rob sliding (though I hope he does). In the event he doesn't, or we don't move up to get him.... the addition of Freeland and keeping JJ makes me favor Lillard over Drummond. I've been saying for some time now that LMA, JJ, and Freeland, plus a vet like Joel, would be a solid mix at 4/5. I would be comfortable with that mix. That's why I go for Lillard over Drummond.

 

Great news for Portland.....sort of.

It lowers our cap space by 1.5 million.

 

Oh no... we might miss out on Deron!

 

I have chosen my favorite player for 2012-13. J. J. Hickson, take a bow.

He is a Juwan Howard. If we sign Hickson, you'll see his name a lot in my posts.

If not, even more.

 

LeBron is riding Wade's coattails... it's coattails all the way down.