Who are top10 free agents you want my Blazers to pursue?

He is. He'd also likely sign for the vet minimum. He's an upgrade over Earl Watson for end of bench guy, at the very least.

 

I think we should add a pass-first PG, don't really have that kind of player.

 

There are 2 things that really don't exist in the NBA anymore... Pass 1st pgs and offensively dominant centers.

 

Ridnour I consider a pass-first PG. also Livingston, Sessions, Rubio, Andre Miller, Eric Maynor, Rondo... there are many.

 

I posted this in another thread, but it seems to apply here -

There are 9 teams that definitely need a starting PG or backup PG:
- Toronto
- Miami
- San Antonio
- Chicago
- Golden State
- Brooklyn
- Charlotte
- Memphis
- Portland

The top unrestricted free agent PGs:
- Kyle Lowry (17.9 ppg, 7.4 apg, 20.2 PER) - Toronto needs a starting PG. Since they are over the cap and have bird rights to Kyle Lowry, they will probably either re-sign him, or S&T. Kyle Lowery is essentially off the board unless the Blazers are willing to give up assets beyond the MLE or BAE.
- Mario Chalmers (9.8 ppg, 4.9 apg, 14.1 PER)- Miami needs a starting PG. Since they are over the cap and have bird rights to Mario Chalmers, they will probably either re-sign him, or S&T. Mario Chalmers is essentially off the board unless the Blazers are willing to give up assets beyond the MLE or BAE.
- Shaun Livingston (8.3 ppg, 3.2 apg, 14.5 PER) - Brooklyn needs a backup PG. They are over the tax, and can only offer Livingston their BAE ($2.1M), or tax-MLE ($3.3M).
- Patty Mills (10.2 ppg, 1.8 apg, 18.8 PER) - SA needs a backup PG. They will be near tax levels. They have Bird rights, so more than likely they will re-sign him, or offer their BAE ($2.1M) or MLE ($5.3M).
- DJ Augustin (13.1 ppg, 4.4 apg, 16.2 PER) - Chicago needs a backup PG. They will be over the CAP. They have non-Bird rights (sign up to 120% of last year's salary), so more than likely they will re-sign him, or offer their BAE ($2.1M) or MLE ($5.3M).
- Ramon Sessions (12.3 ppg, 4.1 apg, 16.0 PER) - Milwaukee doesn't need a backup PG. They have Knight & Wolters.
- Aaron Brooks (9.0 ppg, 3.2 apg, 12.5 PER) - Denver doesn't need a backup PG. They have Lawson & Robinson. They own non-bird rights to Brooks if they want to use it for potential S&T.
- Steve Blake (6.9 ppg, 5.6 apg, 11.1 PER) - GS needs a backup PG. They will be near the tax level. Since they are near the tax level and have bird rights to Blake, they will either re-sign him, or S&T. Blake is essentially off the board unless the Blazers are willing to give up assets beyond the MLE or BAE.
- Rodney Stuckey (13.9 ppg, 2.1 apg, 14.0 PER) - Detroit doesn't need a backup PG. They have Jennings & Bynum. Detroit is over the Cap. They have Bird rights for Stuckey.
- Jordan Farmar (10.1 ppg, 4.9 apg, 15.1 PER) – LAL don’t need a backup PG. They have Nash & Marshall. They have Cap room if they renounce some of their players like Gasol and Kaman. They have non-Bird rights to Farmar.
- Mo Williams (9.7 ppg, 4.3 apg, 11.9 PER) – Portland has non-Bird rights (120%).

That leave Charlotte (under Cap), Memphis (tax) and Portland (over Cap) looking to sign:
- Shaun Livingston
- Ramon Sessions
- Aaron Brooks
- Rodney Stuckey
- Jordan Farmar
If none of those work out, we’re looking at bringing Mo back.

Remember, last year we signed Mo for $2.6M, and Wright for $3.0M. A solid backup, 6th or 7th man will be looking to get $3M-$5M. Since Brooklyn has their tax-MLE available at $3.3M, and limited options being over the tax, I think Livingston will be offered at least that amount. I'd be good with offering Livingston $4M, with team options on years 2 and 3 in case of injury.

 

I question how many of those guys are actually pass first. Miller is maybe Rondo the rest not so sure about.

 

In comparing several of the PG listed, I think Augustin would be a good target. Given he is friends with LMA, that's a bonus.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&p1=augusdj01&y1=2014&p2=sessira01&y2=2014&p3=livinsh01&y3=2014&p4=millspa02&y4=2014&p5=ridnolu01&y5=2014&p6=stuckro01&y6=2014#per_minute::12

He has a high WS/48 of 0.154, a high TS% of 0.569, a high 3P% of 0.401, high FT%, averages 5.8 assists/36min.

He is a poor rebounder, below average at 2P%, and average on turnovers/36mins.

 

Why would we pursue 10 free agents?

I think we'll be content with 1 or 2.

 

You're not sure Ricky Rubio is a pass first PG? Really?

 

Bradley is really intriguing. I think he can fit real well both as a backup to Dame as well as play alongside him. I see he and Dame working a lot better than him and Rondo, and it doesn't seem like BOS is all that interested in keeping him.

 

Olshey is aggressive and if he thinks Bradley fits, he's gonna make a run at him. I think he fits perfectly. Not saying Lillard shouldn't focus on improving his defense (he really should) but Bradley can lock down almost any PG in the league. He would kind of be to Lillard what Lopez is to LA.

 

Interesting stats from - http://www.businessinsider.com/biggest-ball-hogs-in-nba-2013-11

here are the 10 most unselfish players in the league. They pass like crazy:

1. Pablo Prigioni (New York Knicks): 87.8% pass rate
2. Shaun Livingston (Brooklyn Nets): 86.2% pass rate
3. Josh McRoberts (Charlotte Bobcats): 85.1% pass rate
4. Jose Calderon (Dallas Mavericks): 84.8% pass rate
5. Shane Battier (Miami Heat): 84.3% pass rate
6. Greivis Vasquez (Sacramento Kings): 82.7% pass rate
7. Joakim Noah (Chicago Bulls): 82.6% pass rate
8. Deron Williams (Brooklyn Nets): 82.4% pass rate
9. John Henson (Milwaukee Bucks): 82.4% pass rate
10. John Lucas III (Utah Jazz): 81.5% pass rate

Pass rate = (Passes per game) / (Touches per game)
The average pass rate across the NBA is 70.1%

Shaun Livingston #2. That might be good for a starting point guard, but is that what we would need in our second unit? Or should the Blazers be looking for more of a scoring point guard or combo guard (Mo Williams, Patty Mills) for more instant offense off the bench?

 

I don't think stotts would ever say no to a player that likes to pass the ball. McCollum in theory could play next to Livingston and be that scorer

 

McBob has an 85.1% If I Shoot It I'm Gonna Get Pulled Rate.

 

Would a bradley, mike miller, jermaine oneal offseason interest anyone?

 

That would make us potentially better, but IMO, not good enough to get any further next year. Is that who you bring in to show Aldridge you are building a champion?

 

Yes?

 

Ok.