It will be fun to see 1. What the vision is 2. If Olshey is able to sell Portland to a high end FA 3. What they do with the draft pick
I really hope Olshey changes things in Portland. After so many years of being an also ran/never ran, and the media and fans always saying how no one would play here, it became true. We're our own self fulfilling prophecy. I hope he can shake things up. I mean, he made the clippers relavent. Griffin wouldn't have done that on his own.
He got Chris Paul because Chris Paul wanted to play in LA. And no, we will not get a high end FA. There aren't even any "high end" centers available.
Our starting lineup and especially Lillard (being the most amazing rookie since Iverson) should be able to entice a "last piece" FA. Bench guys will come, too. It's too bad we won't have a draft pick next year, but whatevs.
What about this guy? He's probably the biggest name they could realistically get, but i'd be nervous about him having a Gerald Wallace type downswing at this point in his career. http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/226992/Iguodala-Likely-To-Opt-Out-Of-Contract-With-Nuggets
I don't know where Bynum falls on your list as a big name FA, but I think he could realistically come to Ptd because I he will probably sign with the team that offers him the most. I don't think or hope that it will be Ptd. In the old CBA, I would say PA should go for it. But it looks like these days, teams can't afford to have 4 or maybe even 3 high end/max type players (penalties are too high) If Olshey pays Bynum top dollar and he returns to all star form, he will be a genius. But if Bynum goes the route of hurt more than playing or playing mediocre, huge strike against Olshey . . . maybe his job.
For the right price, maybe. His #'s have never been out of this world crazy, but he's been consistent. His PER this year is bad, which seems odd considering how well the Nuggets are playing. And his FT%? Holy crap, what happened?! He's gone from an mid 70's to low 80's FT shooter, to 58% this year. Usually, players go from worse to better, not better to significantly worse. IF they get him, it wouldn't be bad. But I hope that they get a big man too.
Greg Oden is why Bynum would never realistically come to Portland. They've been bitten by the knee bug, and thats what is Bynums problem too. Unless he signs a MLE type contract, I think any team that signs him to a contract will regret it. Same with Oden. Any team that signs them to more than a 2 or 3 year deal with 4-6 million per, is idiotic. Neither one has shown the ability to maintain health.
I actually joked in a thread about a month ago that we should just sign them both. It was half joking but if one of the two actually worked out and you only paid them MLE money each then you still make out like winners. Of course once you signed one the other probably wouldn't want to come but you could do some interesting things with both those guys. Play 1 the first night of the back to back and the other the second night, play each only 20 minutes a game, etc. Would never happen but interesting to think about.
I know it won't happen, but damn, we'd instantly become contenders in the West if it did. Throw in our draft pick (please find a way to grab any of Oladipo, Porter, Smart, Muhammad, McLemore, or Burke) and that'd make for one helluva summer. Lillard / Maynor Oladipo / Matthews Howard / Leonard Batum / Claver Aldridge / Hickson Get it done, Olshey!
I will be surprised if D12 stays in LA. I could see him in Houston or maybe Dallas. I'm wondering if Neil could make a pitch though. We have one of the best young nuclei in the game with Dame, Aldridge, and Batum. Would people hate having D12 here?
If this year was any indication of his career trajectory he's not worth money he'd want. Plus, I don't think he'd be happy in Portland.
Probably not, but the NBA is based on big threes right now. Where could Howard realistically go where he'd find two young players with as much talent as LMA and Dame?
