Whether we keep Aldridge or trade him, I've got a feeling Wes might be gone before the season starts. Obviously I could be wrong, but we've been adding quite a few guards, so I'm curious: What value do you think Wes has around the league? What do you realistically think we could get back for him? I would like to expand this and also ask what you think Nic could bring back, but only if you have time
I think Matthews can be combined with Leonard for tremendous value. I'm wondering if batum, matthews and Leonard could net us melo?
Melo is on the last year of his deal isn't he? No way he stays in Portland after his contract is up, his wife was the one who wanted them to go to New York. Mathews probably has decent value, not a ball handling two guard but shoots a high % from 3 and is a tenacious defender who gives it his all on most every play. Any team looking at the playoffs or above he would have value to, wouldn't have much value to a rebuilding team.
I thought he signed a 3 year extension when he got to NY and I believe he has been there for two full seasons. I'll double check real quick. Edit - yep http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nba/news/story?id=6145912 Signed a 3 year extension and 2 of those years are already up so he is on the final year of the deal.
Melo would definitely be a "swing for the fences" deal that I suggested a while back. If we really want to keep Aldridge, he could be the kind of player that might convince him to stay. Would he stay though? Maybe.... if we're winning.
Hes easily the most overvalued player on this board. You could realistically get back another solid role player on a similar deal, or maybe some low level prospects or late picks. No ones going to give up any kind of prospect with potential for him, let alone an established needle moving player. Even if you throw in Leonard with him. If Matthews for Gortat was possible I'd jump at it.
Too much for a player that could walk in a year. It's funny because, as good as Melo is, the guy isn't good enough to propel a team to a championship. He's a good second fiddle. Unfortunately, he isn't the second fiddle in New York.
The Knicks have been mopping up on a pathetic (I can't stress the word pathetic enough) eastern conference lately and people are REALLY high on him right now. They wouldn't even be close to being considered a contender if they played in the west. The hype train wasn't derailed too much by their loss to the Pacers in the post season, but I think it illustrated that Melo and the Knicks aren't as good as advertised.
I agree 100%. The guy is quite possibly the best pure scorer in the league, but that's all he is. He would be a great second fiddle. If you put Melo on the Clips with CP3 and Griffin, I think they would be a legit contender. I just don't put him on the same tier as a LeBron, or a Duncan (in his prime), or even a CP3. It's funny because I kind of put Durant on the same level as Melo. Amazing scorer, but is he good enough to win it all? I guess we'll see.
Matthews, + Freeland + Cap Space for Iggy in a sign and trade with Denver. Denver wasn't a good perimeter team and having Matthews able to knock em down could be a good thing. Plus he's pretty good on D too!
I think it might require Batum. Nic + Freeland is about 13 million. We could still sign Wright and maybe look for a backup point guard.
They don't do that but my god... if we got that deal I'd shit my pants. We would be a real threat next season. Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2
I'm sure it's better than nothing for Denver, but like I said, I think Nic/Freeland guarantees it gets done.
Matthews is most valuable as our most intense player and, more often than not, +/- leader last year. As he has represented the Blazers in an official capacity (at the lottery, I think?) very recently, I don't see him being moved.
They're not identical, obviously, but I think they're both at about the same talent level. The fact that OKC went to shit after Westbrook went down diminishes Durant a bit in my eyes.
