It's not like Portland has to spend their money this offseason

Jefferson would be fine

Howard would be fine

Bynum would be fine

Really just Pekovic

 

Jefferson I don't mind depending on price. The next two have no chance either due to money or injury history. Pekovic is a waste of time when they match imo.

 

I was simply referring to playing style when talking about Howard and Bynum . It would have to be a really good deal for me to be happy with signing Bynum, and that won't happen because some team will overpay to get him

 

As long as his knee doesn't need MF surgery I'd totally support Neil going after Bynum.

If/when healthy, Bynum was 1b with 1a Howard as the best center in the League. He's also only 3 years older than Lillard.

 

No link, but Jfizzleraider was with me at the season ticketholder meeting Sunday before the game when Olshey spoke. Said first priority was starting center then spending whatever is left for bench help. If JJ was the best option then he would be back. Was pretty clear waiting was not an option and he likes our current 1-4.

 

Also he joked that he wished as many GM's had asked.him about JJ as season ticket holders did.

 

I'm not. Healthy, young, talented players don't last forever. We've got a nice confluence of starters at 1-4, and a lack of a 5 and a bench is killing us. Another season and one of the 1-4 may have an injury, off-court problem, whatever. So then you are trying to plug 3 holes (bench, 5 and new problem). Besides, we're most flexible now while we have Lillard on his rookie deal. Once we have to pay him market value (and we have to renew Batum/LMA/Wes) things will get a lot tighter.

 

Sounds like Houston are making Bynum their priority this summer.

I feel bad for Philly. They gave up two great prospects and Bynum could easily bolt this summer.

 

Thanks for the info. repped.

 

I said postpone for a summer if the free agent and trade market dry up, not postpone indefinitely.

 

We could do something along these lines. You don't account for the minimum 1 yr contracts you'd be required to ink. But we could PUNT on this offseason.

The downside to this is it makes the hope of Aldridge playing a part of your rebuild fall apart. He'd be too old for this nucleus of players to learn and go deep in the postseason - unless the 2014 Cap space got you the one missing piece. Otherwise, we'll probably end up dealing him for other young pieces or picks to try filling in those missing pieces.

 

Isn't the minimum salary requirement in the new CBA a lot higher than the old CBA?

 

Do they plan to move Asik or bring him off the bench?

He'd be an expensive insurance policy.

 

I want Bynum. If healthy, he's the best center in the league. He's a dick but he can play. He would instantly make us matter.

 

Can he play though? All I've seen this year is a lot of sitting on the bench trying out hairdos.

 

Maybe a good way of looking at it is Paul Allen is the old Donald Sterling and Donald Sterling is the old Paul Allen?:MARIS61:

 

a mid tier center and a few bench players isn't going to propel this team anywhere.....

 

You need to get some original material:

http://sportstwo.com/threads/227489...Offseason-Plan/page2?highlight=lopsided trade

 

Ya, but you were foolish enough to think keeping Hickson is a good idea

 

I understand. It's only one year. (Or rather actually 4 years--LMA, Lillard, Wes and Batum should sacrifice another year each of their careers missing the playoffs so we can try to do something in the summer of 2014.) But it's a slippery slope.

The problem is there are significant opportunity costs in waiting. One of those guys could get injured, putting us in a worse place a year from now. Every year that passes brings us closer to having to re-up our vets, and pay full market price for Lillard. There's also the culture of losing that can set in when you continue to lower expectations.

I'll be really disappointed if Portland opts to not make a big splash this summer in hopes of doing something the following year. Last summer was a complete failure (other than the draft, obviously). I liked the attempt at Hibbert, and I'm hoping for a similar kind of acquisition this summer to succeed.