I don't know why more Blazers fans don't fancy Demar Derozen? The guy may not be the franchise guy that the Raptors were hoping for but we've already got that that guy in Damion Lillard. I think either Barnes or Derozen would fit on this team very nice!
Next summer is a big one for free agency. I see Neil doing the RoLo thing again. We'll take a very good player another team is dumping in the hopes of signing a bigger fish. So, it's really too early unless Neil actually gets the moon.
Because... he's not as good as you think he is. He's not a bad player but the kind of $ or what you'd have to give up/what they would demand to get him, he's not worth it.
You pretty much nailed with the five words in bold. He's NOT a franchise player, but wants to be paid like one. A couple snippets from that article: "Rumours began flying last week that DeRozan will decline his player option at the end of the 2015-16 season and seek a max deal of around $25 million with the new salary cap. The truth of the matter is DeRozan is a volume jump shooter who does not have a reliable three-point stroke. Most of his shot attempts come from the statistically dreadful midrange area, which will likely keep him in the low-to-mid 40 percent region." I thought we were going in a different direction. Do we really want to replace LaMarcus Aldridge's midrange game with Demar Derozan's - at a starting salary of $25 million/year? BNM
Actually... I think they would give him up (this is also a contract yr. for him & I don't believe they want/will pay him so... they will try to get the most value for him in a trade because it's obvious to us & the rest of the league, guy's got talent); they just signed a guy named Monroe & he's gonna play center for them (mostly) not Henson. Henson's a pf/c, he & Monroe together won't play well together; Miles Plumlee (the brother from the same mother) actually is much better suited to play next to Monroe @ pf, that would leave Henson as a backup 5 & 4 (they like J. O'Bryant over there so Henson would be fighting for minutes @ the 4 w/ him & as backup 5 to Monroe, he won't see much time, they can get anyone to fill in @ the backup 5 & be fine); the farther away from the basket Henson (which he would be IF he played along side Monroe, which won't happen) is, the worse he is. I've mentioned Henson several times before on Blazers websites (I've mentioned him before here in ripcitytwo also) past & present; I've always been a fan of his, he's not a world beater but guy's got talent (has some weaknesses too but he's definitely a dual position player worth having on you roster especially for rim protection). Also, Henson will get a raise in his next contract but he won't be crazy expensive; I think he's reached his potential (any improvements will be marginal) & everyone knows it.
Wes Mathews wanted to be paid like one too and if not for his injury the Blazers probably would have.
DeRozan is not > than Klay Thompson, and it's not even close. Thompson shoots better from 3-point range than DeRozan does from 2-point range. Here are their shooting percentages: DeRozan: 2FG% = .426 3FG% = .284 FG% = .413 eFG% = .426 Thompson: 2FG% = .481 3FG% = .439 FG% = .463 eFG% = .555 Thompson wins by a landslide - and he's a better defender, too. Oh, and he already got paid - and it's a LOT less than DeRozan is seeking. Thompson signed a four year extension prior to the start of last season. It was a $70 million contract that starts this year at $15,501,000 and tops out at $18,988,725 in 2018-19. DeRozan is seeking a max deal starting at about $25 million a season (depending on what the new cap is). Matthews did get overpaid, which is why we didn't try to keep him. Like Thompson, Matthews signed a 4-year $70 million deal with Dallas. Initially, it was $57 - he took less so they could sign DeAndre Jordan, but it was bumped up to $70 million when Jordan changed his mind and went back to the Clippers. Again, Wes is a MUCH better shooter and more efficient scorer than DeRozan. Matthews: 2FG% = .534 3FG% = .389 FG% = .448 eFG% = .563 DeRozan is a better rebounder, ballheandler and passer, but Wes is a better defender - at least he was pre-injury. I love Wesley Matthews, but I agree with Portland's decision to not attempt to resign him. You just never know how a player will come back after a ruptured achilles. Most are never the same player they were pre-injury. It just wasn't worth the risk, but as overpaid as I think Matthews is, he got far less than DeRozan is seeking. BNM
Link please. I don't recall ANYONE in the Blazers organization saying they were ever going to offer Wesley Matthews a max. contract. BNM
Can't wait until C.J. or Mereys asking for a max deal on an extension. It's a norm for borderline players these days.
The only players on the list I like are Gibson & Barnes. I doubt Barnes is a trade option. At some point Gibson maybe traded. The problem with Gibson as a Blazer would be the same problem he has with the Bulls, minutes and starting vs backup. This next part is out of the box thinking and very debatable. I am starting to believe that the offseason moves Olshey made were to build a team around Meyers being the starting PF, or at least to complement his skills. Using Meyer’s to spread the floor will create space for the slashers, bangers and rebounders. Gibson would collapse the floor spacing if he was our starting PF. Just do not see a trade in the future that makes any sense yet.
