Didn’t see any thread on the first couple of pages so I just started a new one. Portland has at least one roster spot left and are seemingly thin up front and possibly even at PG. Who do you want?
Jabari Parker looks interesting, as does Dragan Bender. Young reclamation projects both with what was once considered high ceilings.
Looking specifically at UFA's, and sorting by age... I'd say Kosta Koufos is probably my favorite of the available options. Well, assuming Boogie isn't coming here on a min deal. I could also get down with Salah Mejri.
I’d probably rank the available centers like this (ignoring Cousins) 1. Joakim Noah (defense, rebounding, passing) 2. Greg Monroe (low post scoring, rebounding, passing) 3. Tyson Chandler (rebounding, defense) If Pau were healthy I’d put him first. He says he’ll be cleared in August but who knows at his age.
That list looks like there could be a lot of guys who will be surprised to be out of the league next year. I guess the league has prodigiously bifurcated into the haves and the have nots. If you are a star then you get all the money. If you aren't, or aren't at least a very good rotation player, then you are a minimum player or out.
Bender or Chriss are worth a spot, neither is over 22 year old and neither has been in a good situation in the nba.
Chriss was on Houston at the beginning of last season. I'm not saying that's a great situation culturally but if you're a big who can run the floor, catch lobs, and rebound then he should've got minutes on that team when he was there.
Yeah I’m just not sure 16 games at 6 minutes per game was a big enough sample size. At 22 I think he’s still got a chance.
At 22 I think he’s the kinda guy you bring in and develop, kinda like a Skal, he’d have a better chance at developing somewhere like Portland where there wasn’t immediate pressure to produce. I mean he played one year at UW then gets drafted to a franchise like the Kings(Suns). I doubt he’s had great structure around him to this point.
Toliver probably has no expectations of time, but can come in and hold the position if needed. Younger players would have an expectation of minutes and that could lead to a negative locker room. I think Blazers would want to avoid adding in any other players with an expectation to play. Projects like Bender and Chriss would work though.