It looks as if Olshey has already found out that Durant has no interest in Portland (six teams that either Durant has interest in or that have interest in him, do not include Portland); so I don't think will waste any time there. I see the Miami paper is saying Miami wants to find out if they have a chance for Durant before dealing with Whiteside; I don't think that is going to go over well with Whiteside. I believe he will be Portland's first and main target, and I think they have a very good chance of getting him.
Hey Kev, it's me 'SheyShey... Just checking in on you stud! Don't forget about us now! Alright, call anytime booboo!
I think the obvious answer is to make Whiteside the number 1 call at midnight July 1 but the more I think about it I might go after Biyombo... He has a 7'6" wing span, just turned 24 and is just now starting to tap into his potential... But what I like most about him is the leadership qualities I saw in the playoffs and that is somethingthat can't be taught. Whiteside didn't become the player he is today til age 26 and there is no reason to think Biyombo can't put up similar numbers but with a better attitude/leadership.
I'll be doing a piece on this probably Monday or Tuesday after what looks like will be a very informative discussion with someone who has a pretty good pulse on these things. They have had solid information in the past or sometimes just a good feel for how these things play out.
Olshey is free to talk to players agents, both the players and their agents know who is interested in them and have gotten back to GMs to tell them if they should call or if it would be a waste of time. Some of you act like it's a girl waiting around at home for someone to ask her to the prom. "I wonder who is going to call me? Am I pretty and popular enough?"
Biyombo is a tough one for me. Whiteside is really long with a 7'7" wing and 9'5" standing reach, but Biyombo measures out only 1 " less and seems to be more athletic. His verticals were not measured during the pre-draft, but he seems to be a good leaper. I can't help but wonder if he is emerging now because he now understands the game better after coming out of the Congo. This from 2011....."On the plus side, Biyombo's body looked great and he's still an athletic freak. His combination of length, strength agility and explosiveness is almost unheard of, causing many to marvel at his physical gifts despite the low-skill level he displayed." I can see both arguments for this guy. But I lean towards the side that says what we saw in the playoffs is what he can bring on most nights. Is he really only 24? (In august) If he is....I think we should OVER pay to get him unless Neil feels we have a really good chance of someone better. But if we went all out for him at 12:01 and over payed.......I think we get him. He does not solve all our needs, but he does fill some. I think he gets 15 mil easy, so would you all pay him 17 mil per?
And yet... GMs STILL make an effort to fly out and wine and dine and court their main target. My point is, who should Olshey target? You can't wine and dine multiple dudes at the same time. Aldridge had... what.... four teams that were trying to convince him to sign? I imagine Durant is going to be the Aldridge of this offseason. Must be a Texas thing.
The best place in the order of pitches to free agents is immediately after the Lakers. Sounds like the Lakers were giant cluster fuck last year and I doubt they've done anything to improve.
Went completely over your head, but youre a dog so it doesnt surprise me. I know they already talk to these people and know if they are interested or not. Ive alluded to that multiple times. It was more of an analogy for some of these dudes to get, seeing as how theu actually think we have a chance to get durant or horford. In the realm of the usa, portland is not that cool in the general consensus nba free agents as evidenced by our track record in kenny anderson being our best free agent signing.
It really depends on what a player wants. Have we seen a player work so closely with a shoe company like Lillard has? Multiple designs and editions, Lillard has taken player input/shoe manufacturing to an entirely new level. By the time Lillard is done he will have his own Air Jordan like division in Adidas. That can eventually lead to Lillard owning a NBA team. See MJ's Bobcats for example. A smart player can make more over a longer period of time with a shoe company. Because of what Lillard has done in just a few years the Blazers can make a pitch to Durant that is unlike other NBA teams.
Might be someone we're not even thinking about. Last year it was Aminu, and although there were some that thought he would be a target, he wasnt very discussed
I don't think so. I think Neil is going to swing for the fences. This is our one big chance to sign a marquee guy.
Yeah it appears he will only be meeting with the clippers, thunder, warriors, spurs, celtics and Heat. Cue the vince mcmahon music.....
Yeah. I didn't that Durant was going to give us thd time of day. Wonder if he still has a chip on his shoulder abour the number two......
It's bittersweet.... on the one hand I'm glad we're not wasting time on someone that clearly wouldn't be interested. On the other hand, it sucks that we're not considered a viable place. Who the hell would want to live in Boston?
