I like this better than the Tolliver signing. Now, we just need a vet PG to serve as Simon insurance. (Lin?)
I thought there was something about the PA picking up part of the tab for Vet minimum contracts in order to get a roster to 14.
Well, you don't know if those guys were willing to sign for the minimum or if they were if they would even consider coming to Portland when they likely have several teams offering minimum deals. Here's how I see it: Curry was really good last year but unless Dame and CJ are hurt you can't really play him much when both of those guys are in the game. Switching that role to a big like Tolliver fixes that problem. Hezonja they're definitely hoping pops in a different role on a good team. If he can provide a Turner type role at 1/10 of the cost it's a pretty good pick up. We needed a wing who can burden some of the ball handling load and we added two of those guys in Bazemore and Hezonja. Sure, he might just not be that good but I'm fine taking a chance on someone hoping for some untapped potential. Pau is just an insurance policy who will continue our good chemistry and locker room culture. If Nurk comes back healthy we don't really need someone like Faried, Monroe, or Dwight Howard and who knows if those guys would really even be happy in that role. Besides, what have they contributed to title pushes in their career other than Howard in what 2009?
I know it isn't exactly easy to measure defense with stats but every defensive metric shows he's actually been a decent defender the last few years. It's his offense that has slipped.
No, the NBA pays part of it so it only counts as whatever the normal vet minimum is (like $1.5-$1.8 million without looking it up).
What is wrong with Tolliver? He had a down year last year but he's basically playing the Seth Curry role at a different position. Curry's TS has hovered around 60% and Tolliver has posted 57%/66%/59% TS in the last three seasons. They're both low usage knockdown shooters that aren't going to crack 20 MPG. Is there someone else out there that would have filled the same type of role?
Completely agree. Tolliver is going to get Aminu type looks when he's playing with Dame and CJ and he's gonna knock down a high percentage.
We know SA is a mid range team with Aldridge and DeRozan as their top players. I think having shooters around Pau will improve his offensive numbers. Noah is a good passing big man too though.
My biggest gripe is how we still don't have any guys who can guard Bron/Kawhi/PG/Giannis/etc. Harkless was damn good in the playoffs vs PG. We haven't really replaced his size/athleticism.