Yeah he's gone then. You could see him on the bench watching CJ realizing he had no chance of ever putting a game like that together. Why would you return to a team with an established starter clearly ahead of you and a young talented backup possibly overtaking your role.
His on court performance. He played like a guy who had lost interest. Other players had injuries as an excuse - RoLo just didn't show up.
"Fuck you Portland" mode? How the hell do you figure that? And the AA trade turned out badly because Wes got hurt, and then AA got hurt. It absolutely was a fantastic trade at the time it was made.
That's a good point about Afflalo not wanting to compete with Matthews and McCollum as he goes into free agency, so I don't think he would want to exercise his option. Alternatively he will have to find a team that will sign him for one year and a team that will give him a good opportunity to showcase. That situation might not be that easy to find.
I like Crabbe a lot but I think he will be used in a trade somehow. I'm pretty sure Olshey is getting ready to wheel and deal and the old guys on the roster are not going to get it done. That's why I think he might go the way of TRob and Will. He needs to play and the same goes for Gee and Freeland
Olshey gets all of his research material from Rip City 2...get with the program dude! We wanted Afflalo and bingo..we got Afflalo!
It's infuriating how myopic some posters get in terms of the AA trade. He was not traded to be a starter, he was traded to be a 6th man off the bench. But people have revisionist history syndrome to fit their flawed storylines, and aren't open minded enough to think logically. It's quite sad. I feel bad for those people
Being a mid season acquisition is not easy. Getting hurt after being thrown in the starting lineup is not easy. Afflalo is a talented two way player and given a training camp and a stable role, he's a good pickup for the Blazers. He was clearly not ready to play in the playoffs and his shoulder was gimpy but he wanted to try. This season is not a good example of what he brings to the bench
He was a GREAT pickup. And he will be a GREAT addition next year if he comes back. It's really that simple.
Lillard - Under contract (keep) Batum - Under contract (keep) McCollum - Under contract (keep) Leonard - Under contract (keep) Crabbe - Under contract (keep) - Kaman - Team Option (team picks up option) - Afflalo - Player Option (picks up player option - bigger money next summer) Blake - Player Option (picks up player option - last year of his career.) - Aldridge - Free Agent (resign - bird rights) Matthews - Free Agent (resign - bird rights) Lopez - Free Agent (resign - bird rights) Freeland - Free Agent (resign - bird rights. If not him, we're left with vet minimum.) Wright - Free Agent (gone) Gee - Free Agent (gone) Frazier - Team Option (gone) Add: - 1st Rnd Draft Pick (Delon Wright) - MLE (Small forward or point guard)
I'm curious to know if you guys feel that McCollum's future role on the team has changed based on his recent play? When he was picked, I thought it was kind of an odd pick but that he could be very useful as a combo guard off the bench. With his recent showing, I'd imagine everyone expects more from him now that they did a month ago or at the time of the draft but I still can't picture him as a starter on a good team. Great handles but I don't think he can be a full time PG, not that I'd get rid of Lillard even though it seems some here would like that to happen. I also think he's too small to be a SG. There may be a PG out there that he could be compatible with as a starter but Lillard isn't it and I don't know that he is worth changing how the team is built anyway. I see him as an Ellis type; could be the best player on a bad team or used most effectively as a 6th man on a good team. Anyway, what are your thoughts?
In the Memphis series, the only lineup that seemed effective was Lillard, LA, Meyers, CJ, and Batum. It decimated our bench though. I'd love to see Olshey build around these guys along with a re-signed Wes. I'd consider Kaman and Wright as part of the core you'd want to build around.
Afflalo is only set to make $7.5 million. I'd expect to see him give that up because there is a chance some team that is only missing a SG will give him a big multiyear deal and if not he will easily be able to get a similar $5-6 million one year contract so he is only losing maybe $2 million if free agency goes bad. But if the bidding goes well he has the chance to cash in on $40 million. Thats a smart gamble.
I think we should make some small moves if we decide to re-sign everyone. Getting a guy like Barea (as much as I despise his flopping.) and drafting a defense first wing/front court player could be huge.
