From the initial reaction, it would seem most Blazer fans are somewhat to quite happy with the additions made so far although it feels like there is still a 4/5 type big coming. Last season was bereft of wings who could make a play or were an offensive threat. The most explosive wing on the roster was Jake Layman because he 'could' possibly go off where Aminu/Harkless/Turner just didn't have that ability. Fast forward to this morning and how the roster has changed: Curry out - Simons in: Curry was lethal from '3' but didn't take/get many attempts and while a solid defender, didn't add much else. Simons has the ability to be much more explosive and to impact the game especially from the offensive end. Desperately in need of experience but on the 2nd unit, will be surrounded with guys who are for the most part much more veteran in nature. (Advantage: Simons....eventually) Turner out - Hezonja in: Of course it was Bazemore that was traded for Turner but Mario is much more similar in size and skill set and will bring some PF skills to the 2nd unit. In the last 3 games of last season, Fizdale game him the reins at point-forward and he logged games of 29/9/5, 16/16/11, and 30/6/5. I don't recall Turner having a stretch like that in his entire time here in Portland. He is a career 32% 3-pt shooter which is not good but LIGHT YEARS ahead of Turner and I can't imagine he doesn't get better looks here. (Advantage: Hezonja....addition by subtraction) Aminu out - Bazemore in: They play different positions but their value is largely on the defensive end albeit at different spots. Baze can guard 1-3 with maybe an occasional stint on a stretch '4' and is the much better 3-pt shooter although his overall shooting leaves much to be desired. Aminu was better against 3/4's and occasionally a small ball '5' but his shooting often left the Blazers playing 4-on-5. Hard to imagine Baze isn't the better ball-handler.....just because. (Advantage: Bazemore/needed change of scenery) Hood back: Not sure many truly believed Rodney would come back for the TMLE. It provides a sense of continuity and it feels like a great deal for the Blazers. (Advantage: Better than losing yet another player for nothing) What is next? We likely assume that the PF spot is now Zach's for the taking. However, who is going to back him up 5 minutes into the game when he has picked up his 2nd foul? Is Meyers/Skal/Collins the answer at the 4/5 till Nurk gets back? Not likely. Of course Stotts likes to go small and I can see Hezonja/Layman getting some spot minutes at the '4' but it seems like there is one more minimum salary big yet to join the party and one too many wings (Hood, Bazemore, Hezonja, Harkless, Layman, Trent) currently on the roster. Remaining UFA (Power) Forwards Marcus Morris - UFA Markieff Morris - UFA Centers DeMarcus Cousins - UFA Kevon Looney - UFA Enes Kanter - UFA JaVale McGee - UFA Boban Marjanovic - UFA Who would you like to be the 15th player on the roster? (until Harkless is traded)
I'd really like to see us sign Javale McGee--even over Kanter. I like his length and athleticism, and that he doesn't take bad shots. He may be an idiot, but I think he can be a nice guy to have coming off then bench when Nurk returns. I think Kanter is going to command too much money for us to afford.
we have no money to add a free agent. Our best option is trading for a big, but one aspect nobody seems to be thinking about is where Nurk is on his rehab. Maybe he is ahead of schedule and not expected to miss much time as the video of him working out looked encouraging and the fact there was no ligament damage bodes well for a good recovery.
I want Boban. Just because. Loved him in John Wick. Cousins would be great because he can roll and pass. And he would be nice for a rental.
Thanks for the tidbit on Herzonjia's final three games. I saw in some highlights that he can run the pick and roll. I think I would like a power forward over a center at this point as long as we are keeping Leonard. Doesn't seem we have a real PF on the roster.
Not necessarily who I would like so much as who I think is likely (based on the question as posed in the poll). I think Marcus Morris would be a great addition at PF, but I'm sure he'll get more elsewhere than the minimum deal we can offer. I haven't heard anything about Wilson Chandler, but I think he'd be a pretty good min-vet stopgap PF for a year or two. Jamychal Green, perhaps, although I'm sure he'll get a mini-MLE-type offer. But honestly, I think it's more likely that we trade Harkless (& Trent?) for a PF/C before we sign another big for more depth
I think spacing is clearly a focus, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Kaminsky was targeted, assuming he can be had cheap. I’m not sure they’re 100% in on Collins as a full time PF yet.
My hope it's Kanter for continuity's sake. Looney would be my second choice. He's a gamer with high BBIQ.
Current salary allocations (counting Little, excluding Layman's cap hold) are about 138M--about 1.5M under the apron. If a team were willing to take Harkless/pick back in exchange, we could conceivably get one of these available FA bigs in sign/trade. I wonder if the FO is willing to risk missing out on a potential "marquee trade" later in the season (due to being hard-capped) to make another mid-level signing now.
I keep hearing Love talk. Is it possible that all these new acquisitions are being assembled/bandied to somehow acquire him (or??) in a trade (most likely, also involving CJ)? https://923thefan.radio.com/article...ve-would-be-phenomenal-portland-trail-blazers
You honestly think this Hezonja is going to help us more than ET? He will never even play in my opinion.
There were a lot of nights Turner shouldn't have even played....and did. Who knows what Stotts will do.
