As usual, Kerry Eggers has written a really good column on the Blazers' draft night: http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=134095142307812600 A few noteworthy points:
I wonder if Gordon would be more available now that they took Rivers, or maybe they will play 2 combo guards?
I think the most we can offer him is 14ish mil per year. Before the league found an owner I would have thought Gordon was a great target because the league wouldn't want to max him out. Now that they have an owner, I'm not so sure. I don't think they want to lose their only real star (outside of Anthony Davis) and the centerpiece of the Chris Paul deal. We can try, it's only a 3-day wait, but I doubt we'll get him. Hibbert would be a nice try as well, simply because Indy already has Granger at a max deal, but I don't think they'll let their star center walk away.
The Blazers tend to keep more players on their roster than others. Why not shed a few, and use that money to over-pay Batum or Hickson if you have to. Also, sounds like no Steve Nash? Gordon would be a decent signing.....he's an offensive player a notch below Brandon Roy, but it would be like replacing Roy in a way. I'm sure we'd be back in the playoffs next year if we got him. This roster has a lot of scorers in the starting lineup, with two guards that can break their man down 1 on 1. Two big men that can hit the jump shot.....not bad. Lillard/Smith Gordon/Williams Batum/Matthews LA/Hickson Leonard/Freeland
How about a double sign & trade. NO takes Batum, Portland takes Gordon. Works better for both teams IMO.
I hadn't really thought about that. Pay Nic 11 instead of 9 million and save yourself the 1.1 million you'd be giving guys like Rhino and Chris Johnson? Not a bad idea maybe?
With every loss bringing us closer to a McAdoo Christmas Present, why not let the house take their cut and lose some games?
If Olshey doesn't sign a superstar this summer, he will save up for next summer. Only after getting a core, will he fill in the other starters. He was lying all along that he would wait till the draft was happening, and then follow the best player available strategy. Bullshit. Olshey thinks like a Clipper. He may yet destroy this team with his Made in Taiwan cheapness.
The only free agents I can think of that that would "move the needle" are Deron Williams, Steve Nash, and maybe Brook Lopez or Eric Gordon. And he's already said he's not going after an old vet.
Sometimes he says he's accumulating assets, to combine into trading for a big star. Now he says he won't sign $5-7M FAs, and will spend only on a big star. After several years of gathering a couple of giant stars to surround Aldridge, only then will he fill in the $5-7M starters around the Big 3. Just as Aldridge's decline begins due to age.
The thing that people are missing with Eric Gordon is that the Hornets have the option to match any contract offers for him, and they seem intent on doing so. New Orleans seems to want to build around a Davis-Gordon-Rivers core. The impetus of the whole Okafor/Ariza for Lewis trade was clearing up cap room to sign Gordon to an extension.
