You're in Neil's shoes...

If Wes is hurting us on offense, isn't that when you give CJ/Will a shot?

Disagree that he's one-dimensional. He can post up nicely and has a little Dirk Nowitzki-lite fallaway going now.

[video=youtube;hOZfjDSaaqk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOZfjDSaaqk[/video]

 

Another angle -- Nic is a FA when the TV contract kicks (2016), he's going to make an absurd amount of money. I think he's a virtual lock to get max'd out.

 

His post up game made big improvements last year.

 

Gross.

 

I don't think Nic will be on the Blazers after 2016 but I think we will have a hard time trading him next year since whatever team we will be trading him will have to be willing to pay him or just wants him as a rental. We won't trade Nic this year unless we get back an all-star caliber player thats an upgrade at some position which unless were moving other pieces would have to be at the SF position.
Nic could very well play with us until 2016 and we watch him leave in FA for nothing.

 

Lock Wes/Lopez up, look at Toronto and talk about a possible Batum/DeRozen swap.

Totally different players but DeRozen gets to the line as much as Harden. He does what Nic/Wes can't. IMO Batum/DeRozen are on the same talent tier. It's a fair deal.

 

DeRozen needs the ball in his hands to be effective though. He is more of an iso player and I rather have Dame as our iso guy when needed. DeRozen is fun to watch for sure though and he is the perfect fit in Toronto

 

Without a second playmaker, after Lillard, I think exploring possible trades for Batum is the best bet. We need a playmaker, that is able to breakdown the defense off of the dribble, in the worst way.
In looking at trading either Wes or Batum, both of whom can't dribble, I'd look to deal Batum. Wes is at least a guy who brings it every night and puts in max effort. Same can't be said for the ghost of Batum.

 

I'd trade Wes before I traded Batum.
Batum handles the ball almost as much as Lillard. He avg 4.8 assists last season for a reason. While he has trouble dribbling through traffic he ran our offense almost as much as lillard did last year. He is our second ball handler in the main lineup and if we deal him we need to get another playmaker/ball handler back in return and if its a SF your not going to be trading Batum for anyone that is an actual upgrade over him.

 

I guess it comes down to who the other teams wants in that trade that brings in that second play-maker. Not who we prefer to offer. I mean we are suggesting trading one of our guys for someone better. Not an easy thing to do unless the other team is desperate.

 

Because he turns down open shots. That number is inflated.

There's also no way he ran the offense as much as Lillard, and he's really not a good ball handler at all.

He's a nice little role player but that's it.

 

Sweet because with the new cap, he will be paid like a role player

 

Looking closer at his stats (the edge is bigger than I previously thought) I think Hibbert, if available, should be on Neil's radar. His defense is still on another level compared to Lopez.

He had a down year, while rumors that PG snagged and bagged his gf/fiancé, he still shut it down defensively:

98 DRtg | 5.0 DWS -- both absurdly good.

He stunk it up in the playoffs but his defense was still solid:

106 DRtg | 0.7 DWS

Lopez playoff defense:

112 DRtg | 0.2 DWS

Granted, Lopez went up against Dwight but his 82-game defensive numbers still don't come close to Hibbert.

They are only a year apart in age and soon won't be that far apart in salary.

To take that next step do you stand pat with the blue-collar solid starter in Lopez or do you roll the dice on an elite defensive center in Hibbert?

 

Most of the players I'd want for any of our starters are not really available.

 

*bump*

Neil has said numerous times that the core - the starters - are untouchable.

If they have a plan to lockup all of our FA I ponder what move would elevate this team into real contenders - what 6th man vaults this team?

Gerald Green? The way he's playing the price tag will be hefty.

Chase Budinger? I love his game but looking at stats after his contract year makes me wonder if he's really that good. He's looked, at best, aversge in Minny.

Iman Shumpert? He's a ball handler who can be en elite defensive player but Melo has rubbed off on him - loves to ISO all of a sudden. Can Stotts get him to buy into a specific role?

 

Rumors are already circling that Dragic will opt out this summer - HOU and LAL will be in hot pursuit.

They have two 6th man of the year candidates (Green/Thomas) getting a huge chunk of p/t at SG with Bledsoe playing 31 mpg at PG.

Keeping the core (starters together) Neil will have to really sell PHX on the young talent or find a third team.

Dragic is our Ginobili.

 

Dragic off the bench would be absurd but Phx already has too many talanted players to want more. They are more in the market to do a 3 for 1 then wanting to do a 1 for 3.
Not sure how we could afford Dragic this summer either, he is going to get PAID.

 

You let Wes walk reluctantly, and let CJ grow into that role. Cheaper yet essentially the same player.

 

Arron Afflalo would be a really nice 6th man for us, capable of playing the 2/3, knocking down open 3s and playing good defense.