Haynes full of shit (no Nic 4 years, 46.5 Million) (confirmed)

You are the one that brought up Battier....... Of the 30 teams in the NBA, how many do you think would rather have Shane as their starting SF next season over Nic?

 

I'd actually go Battier for last years playoffs, he is one cool cat under pressure.

 

How about Harden at a max level deal next year?


Josh Smith is a UFA next year....

 

No reply, "Blaze?" Oh, let me guess, HCP's post kind of, you know, actually started to put things in perspective for you a bit!? Can we please get another one of your anti-Lillard rants, for future reference?

 

Yeah, and it's not like thay wouldn't be matched by Oklahoma City--just like Hibbert's contract and Indiana--right!?

LOL!

/smirk

 

I asked for an "attainable" option right now. Harden or Smith would be an upgrade, but what would be the chance of acquiring their services and at what cost would they come. You seem to be undervaluing Nic's talent and overestimating the chance at future options.

 

I'm not sold on Harden anymore, I have a lot of questions about what happens when he is the focus of the best defender on the opposing team. At the moment i'd offer him a Max contract in a heartbeat (every other team that can offer him a max will so there is no guarantee he would even choose us) but I can't say i'll have the same feeling after the playoffs next year.
Love Josh Smith, if LA wanted to play the 5 he would be awesome and i'd much rather have Lillard/Wes/Claver/Smith/LMA then Lillard/Wes/Batum/LMA/Freeland. I bet he demands a max and someone pays him it.

 

So now we are going to play the "If all things were equal" game?

You know, not accounting for salaries...other players on the team...roles etc?

Would MIA rather have Batum than Battier? That is a tough one ...at Battier's salary? Yeah I think they would, you see b\c they already have thier big 3 players...and Batum could be that 4th or 5th wheel and at $3million, well, Batum is a heck of a deal...I think they would do that

Now if we don't want to play that game and instead say, Would MIA want Batum over Battier at his $11.5mil\year salary...and by doing that, probably having to say goodbye to one of Bosh or Wade, b\c they cannot afford all 4 at that type of money now can they? Well...I think they would probably say no, don't you? Battier even at his lowly 49th rank in PER, can suffice at that position....and they just proved that to be true...

and that is the crux of the issue here, because at $11.5\year you are paying him to be one of your 3 best players...and you are counting on those 3 players who you pay most of that money too, to be better than other teams best players....

 

No, not really...

 

I agree in part about Harden, but my point was I think that he has shown more to be worthy of a big deal than Batum has to date, and he is younger too, right? To pry him away from OKC is probably going to take a max deal, I agree there....

 

LOL, sooooo predictable... easier than a freshman girl on prom night!

 

I get it now.

 

You asked for an attainable option, I gave you 2...and now you want to preface it by saying this year...Maybe they stop gap it this year to bridge to next, they are rebuilding, right? Maybe they get MIN to come to thier senses and trade D-Will for Batum and put him there...Maybe they use that space not taken by Batum and take a player on a larger contract at midseason...Lots of options...

I am not undervaluing him, I think if Roy & Oden had remained healthy he was perfectly set up as that 4th-5th guy...Had all things gone according to plan and Roy and Oden were here and healthy and POR had to pay that money to keep Batum and likely pay luxury tax etc, I would have said match it...b\c you are in a win now mode...but rebuilding, I would rather see POR go after a another big time FA next year like a Harden or J.Smith or use that cap space to absorb a player via trade, than lock themselves into a guy who has not shown play worthy of that type of money...

 

So either you are in high school or an older guy who likes to prey on young girls...


good to know...

3 max contracts by OKC? Under the new CBA? I am sure you know how much that could potentially cost them, right?

 

OKC is going to be in a bind.

The market has been set for Ibaka and he'll easily get a max deal from someone, same with Harden.

 

One of their beatwriters chimes in:

Jerry Zgoda ‏@JerryZgoda
@RF_1000 there is no position for rec gordon. All Phoenix did was negotiate for the Hornets

Wowie ‏@RF_1000
@JerryZgoda is that what the #Wolves did for Portland?

Jerry Zgoda ‏@JerryZgoda
@RF_1000 yes, pretty much

 

He did. But Lillard costs less. And he'll be better. From Day one? No, but this kid has it. I honestly believe he's a B-Roy, but of PG's. I haven't been this excited about a Blazers rook in years.

 

Nice straw man argument. And by the way, we are talking about this year. Running any company on ifs, ands or buts is a sure way to find yourself going backwards. The market is what it is and it has to be dealt with accordingly. The odds of the Blazers attaining the service of Harden or Smith are about as good as Minny attaining the services of Nic. The question is what will the cost be and would it be worth the price. Cap space is always imaginary for a small market team until you find a player that believes in the operation and financial benefits it provides. If, and it's a big IF, next year paints that kind of picture for a potential free agent, I would hope that player would be of a larger presence than Harden or Smith.

 

OKC wont let Harden go into FA, same with illblockya, they can get nuts value for trading them before.

 

Cool idea.

But, what makes you think Josh Smith would choose Portland? What selling points. He's a natural 4, do you think he wants to backup Aldridge?