How about this: list the current roster in descending order (starting, presumably, with Lillard) with the following break lines. Start with the untouchables, then a line below which everyone is "preferably keep, but trade for a very good player" Then a line below which everyone is "Don't care" Then a line below which are players who "Must never besmirch a Blazers uni again!"
Here's the roster: Alexander, Cliff PF Aminu, Al-farouq SF Connaughton, Pat SG Crabbe, Allen SG Davis, Ed PF Harkless, Maurice SF Henderson, Gerald SG Kaman, Chris C Leonard, Meyers C Lillard, Damian PG Montero, Luis SG McCollum,C.J. SG Plumlee, Mason PF Roberts, Brian PG Vonleh, Noah PF
Here's mine: The Core: 1. Lillard, Damian PG Would Trade/not resign but happy to keep: 2. McCollum,C.J. SG 3. Plumlee, Mason PF 4. Aminu, Al-farouq SF 5. Davis, Ed PF 6. Harkless, Maurice SF Won't really miss them if they go: 7. Crabbe, Allen SG (he's borderline. Looked great in the Summer, and if he got back to that he'd be bumped up.) 8. Montero, Luis SG (probably never amount to jack but he intrigues me, especially if he can show PG skills and improved defense) 15= Alexander, Cliff PF (he can at least block shots and rebound) Leonard, Meyers C Vonleh, Noah PF Connaughton, Pat SG Henderson, Gerald SG Roberts, Brian PG Kaman, Chris C There's nobody I hate, even Meyers. The more I look at that roster, (a) the more respect I have for Stotts (b) the more I realize how much of a red flag it was for them that we played Golden State remotely close.
Untouchables: Damian Lillard (PG) CJ McCollum (SG) Ed Davis (PF/C) - when you get a Brian Grant on your team, you keep him Prefer to Keep: Mason Plumless (C) Maurice Harkless (SF) Al-Farouq Aminu (PF) Meyers Leonard (C) Allen Crabbe (SF) Neither Here Nor There: Noah Vonleh (PF) Brian Roberts (PG) Gerald Henderson (SG) Luis Montero (SG) Pat Connaughton (SG) Cliff Alexander (PF) Please Stop Playing For Us: Chris Kaman (C) - just become an assistant coach already, Chris
I just rated them straight down the line, with ones I rate about the same next to each other. Leonard and Vonleh are two that I just don't have a strong opinion about who they are or will be. Lillard, CJ Plumlee Aminu, Harkless Davis Crabbe Vonleh, Leonard Connaughton Montero Alexander Kaman, Henderson, Roberts: don't expect any of them to be on the team, so haven't rated them.
That pretty much works for me. My only minor quibble is I'd move Vonleh up into the "Prefer to Keep" group for at least another season. I think he's worth another summer and training camp of development to see if he can become a bigger contributor.
OK I'll play.... Untouchables: Lillard Keepers but willing to trade for the right return: All others. Hope to resign and keep: Harkless, Crabbe, Leonard(without breaking bank) Promising future: Harkless, Montero, Vonleh
Id say the same on BlazerCaravans post. Im feeling the same, except Id prefer to keep Vonleh and Henderson(If the price is right)
Keep: Dame CJ Harkless Hopefully Keep: Meyers Crabbe Open To Trades, But Not Gonna Give 'Em Away: Plumlee Davis Vonleh Montero Connaughton Hope We Trade: Aminu Alexander Roberts Probably Won't Be Here: Henderson Kaman
Untouchables: Damian Lillard* Hope to keep but open to trades: CJ McCollum Ed Davis Allen Crabbe Meyers Leanard Maurice Harkless Trade block and dead weight: Everyone else *Lillard is the only player on the team that should be considered untouchable. As of today he is the only player the Blazers have fully committed to being a core franchise price.
Cliff and Noah seem redundant. Similar size, same position, same age. We saw a LOT of Noah, but almost no Cliff during the regular season. It doesn't really make sense to keep two 20-year old project power forwards. I just hope Neil and company pick the right one (assuming one of them actually amounts to something). BNM
Untouchable: 1 - Lillard 2 - McCollum 3 - Harkless 4 - Davis Preferably Keep: 5 - Aminu 6 - Plumlee 7 - Crabbe Don't Care: 8 - Hendo 9 - Vonleh 10 - Montero 11 - Roberts 12 - Kaman 13 - Alexander 14 - Connaughton Must Go: 15 - Meyers
This. almost exactly... and being booed by BGD is a badge of honor. I'd split things up a bit more, though: Untouchables: Damian Lillard (PG) CJ McCollum (SG) (DL would be pissed if we traded CJ). Ed Davis (PF/C) - (value to us > value around league, need to be loyal to signed FAs) Strongly Prefer to Keep: Maurice Harkless (SF) (VERY encouraged by his play) Al-Farouq Aminu (PF) (value to us > value around league, need to be loyal to signed FAs) Prefer to Keep: Mason Plumless (C) (game has multiple holes, but he's still young and a hard worker) Allen Crabbe (SF) (wants to start somewhere. We may sign him and trade him later) Kinda Prefer to Keep: Meyers Leonard (C) (dude still makes horrible decisions and wants to get PAYED, but shooting is highly valued in Stotts offense) Brian Roberts (PG) (fits system perfected as a 3rd PG, can really shoot. However, for cap reasons he'll get cut. I'd be interested in re-signing him afterward, though). Luis Montero (SG) (has potential, and my guess is he has no value around the league, so I would prefer to keep him). Neither Here Nor There: Noah Vonleh (PF) (freakin' A, I wish this guy would have put it together. He still has value around the league). Gerald Henderson (SG) (cap reasons - he's gone. Wants to start.) Pat Connaughton (SG) (I like PC better than most, and I currently see him as meh.) Cliff Alexander (PF) (maybe he's a beast in practice? Showed nothing this year, didn't dominate DLeague). OK to keep as 15th man: Chris Kaman (C) (will get cut. We might resign him afterwards for peanuts, though)
