Wait, I thought once you went into luxury tax you were hardcapped? Wouldn't the Blazers have to wait to resign their players last, else they would be over the luxury tax line and not be allowed to use the mle or tpe? Im confused.
Yep. A local hero. Gave you some local love bro! Me too. Just wait. The smart ones around here will clear it all up if @PtldPlatypus was off and steered me into some manure.
No--the only things that hard-cap a team are activities that the CBA says are only available to teams below the apron (the ones I listed earlier)--taking a player in a sign-and-trade, using the non-taxpayer MLE, using the bi-annual exception. These are spelled out in CBA FAQ #20. As long as the Blazers don't do any of those things, they can go however far over the apron they want to use their TPE, use the tax MLE, and re-sign their FA's (within the bounds of those exceptions, of course).
Ok then. The Blazers can do that. It will bring them deep into the luxury tax. I wonder if Paul Allen is willing to open his wallet to that extent for a roster that will probably not be much better than last seasons. Especially if they have to let go of one of Nurk, Davis, or Napier.
I would start by approaching Detroit about Blake Griffin, find out if they'd like to save $100M (the approximate difference in what's owed to BG vs ET/AFA). I'd offer to include a lotto-protected 2019 #1 (with pick-swap contingency) if necessary. If they take it--great, that's my big move for the summer. I'd take a wing at 24, shop around with the TPE (Courtney Lee?), target a vet or two in FA with the tax MLE (Mario Chalmers? Jeff Green?), re-sign Nurk, and call it a summer. Dame/Baldwin/Chalmers CJ/Lee/Wilcox Harkless/Green/Hutchison Griffin/Collins/Swanigan Nurkic/Leonard/Papagiannis Salary ~150M If Detroit says no...that'll need to be another post...
We'll see but last time the Blazers went after Whiteside, the Blazers where high on his list of teams to play for. I just think they would rather have Whiteside rather than Nurkic.
Why? We could then make another move by trade deadline to try to offload meyers. It doesnt have to be the last move. Can still work out of the cap issue.
My serious answer, to this is I think my top priority would be a) move up in the draft. 2nd would be find some way to trade Evan turner and or Meyers. Let Shabazz go, try to keep Ed and Nurkic. Hire a big man coach.
For as much as I dislike Griffin, I actually like this idea. However I don't think Detroit blows it up until they start to struggle to stay at .500 next year. I think they'd play hardball for one of Portland's guards though... And if that's the case. They can enjoy paying that $$ for Griffin.
Not saying I think it’s a good idea but I don’t think this is that far fetched. Whiteside almost has to be traded at this point and with his contract he’s not going to get back a lot of value, so we can try and trade some of our bad deals in exchange. Olshey seems to like reclamation projects and he was interested in Whiteside before. If he’s feeling the pressure and that’s his chance to make some type of splash I bet he would do it.
I'd hire Rod Strickland and Sheed to work with players on the coaching staff...I'd spend Paul's money like water and figure out how to attract free agents to Portland....I'd get a minor league franchise and use it for development within the Blazers system
Whiteside is injury prone, and seems to be capped out talent wise. Nurk has WAYYYY more upside. Pass on that Whiteside thing.
