highly unlikely Hickson will be granted a $4.4 million qualifying offer

The thing is, you have to consider who is actually available. We aren't getting Deron Williams, and throwing money at RFAs like Hibbert or Eric Gordon will probably be a waste of time. I would rather keep Batum and Hickson if that's the case.

 

A mix of young and old is a way to build a sustainable franchise, So maybe Olshey fills in spots with vets and saves cap money for next year? Could that work, or will be too close to the cap to matter?

 

I hate to critique your joke, but technically the phrase is "2-in-the bush" and would have been much funnier in reference to your punchline....

 

LoL -- yes much better!

 

I agree. I want Hickson back in a Blazer uni!

 

Wait, so Mrs HCP stopped shaving again?

 

Another reason we may not be interested in Hickson is lack of available roster spots. If we bring over Freeland and Claver then sign Barton we will have 13 players and only two open roster spots. We potentially have up to $17 million to spend in cap room followed by the $2.5 million room exception. With that cap space at the minimum you'd imagine we’d get 3 new players in free agency and amnesty waivers but it could be 4 or 5 new players. We may already need to cut Shawne Williams and Kurt Thomas just to get down to the 15 man roster so there is no point in paying a guy like Hickson when he would be our 5th big man on the depth charts.

???, Leonard
LMA, Freeland, Thomas
Batum, Babbitt, Claver, Shawne W
Matthews, Elliot, Barton
Lillard, Nolan

 

S. Williams will be stretched, so Portland must feel pretty damn good about both Freeland and Claver coming over, as well as retaining Batum. Because right now it looks like this

Leonard
Lillard
Barton (I think will make the team)
Aldridge
Thomas
Babbitt
Matthews
E Williams
N. Smith

 

http://www.csnnw.com/pages/landingb...d-on-the-draft-e=1&blockID=732642&feedID=5212

 

Yes we could stretch S. Williams but I think it only makes sense if theres a free agent that the extra $2million makes the difference in us acquiring. If we don't have a good use for that small bit of extra space then its better to keep the whole cap hit on this years cap. If we stretch Williams he will be stuck on our cap until 2015.

 

Bummer

 

Not signing hickson is fucking stupid.

 

For sure. Why the fuck did we even bring him here to begin with then?

I mean, he looked better here than I was anticipating. We weren't going to make the playoffs by adding him. So it just seems pointless to let a 23-year old big man walk for nothing.

 

He's like the perfect backup for the team. young, fits the window of players, great role. fuck the euros, seriously. hickson is ready now.

they're overvaluing the cap space again. what the fuck, unless they're pushing for Deron or something, then its a waste to be all stingy right now.

 

I hope they re-sign Hickson. He was such a stud last year. We've been wanting an athletic, hardnosed PF for years! He can start next to LA or play big minutes off the bench. LA doesn't like to bang, and we need someone who does the dirty work.

 

I'm just really not seeing anyone out there that we actually have a shot signing that's better than Hickson.

 

What?! We wouldn't resign him because of lack of a roster spot? We could waive Kurt Thomas or Shawn Williams. I hope we waive Nolan Smith while we're at it too.

 

Cap room, we needs it.

 

For what exactly?

 

I'm guessing something to do with this.

http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=134095142307812600