I don't think these are related at all. Murray has a guaranteed contract for the upcoming season. I suggested we decline the option last summer but its too late at this point. Hope we can send him to Sacramento for a late 2nd round pick or such.
I'd put Rupert #1 on that list. He didn't turn 21 until after the season. I'm not expecting much from him but want to see what he does next season. In theory he has upside nobody else in this group has. Banton is more of a vet scoring punch - no upside there so different type of player. Murray is totally worthless - wish we declined his option last summer. Walker I could see someone preferring over the others. It comes down to if you think his 3pt shooting was a fluke or not.
NAW defense is at a way higher level. Also the age would make you think NAW could have small improvements but DFS is much more likely to decline. DFS would be a good bench option if we moved on from Grant.
DFS didn't leave the Lakers to come here. NAW was more forced out of Minny. Although he, too, will have offers from better teams, and seems very unlikely.
Really like the Blazers directions of having defenders at every position. Also can legit hold the younger players accountable without it seeming meaningless when Ayton/Ant got a free pass. I'd like to get more shooting but it should be from above average defenders. Thats the real trick though - hard to get a player that can do both of those. Maybe a player that has 0 shot creation as well as older might be the type to do both those things at a reasonable cost to acquire.
DFS might even resign with the Lakers - he just wants more cash. However I doubt anyone gives him the full MLE for 4 years (60 million). Would we be willing to offer him that? I wouldnt go for that many years. But if we offer him more than any other NBA team at the least he will consider it.
Why do you think he'd "fit right in"? Seems to me he'd be the worst defender on the roster and that doesn't fit at all with the types of players we've acquired this summer.
Yes. This might be a better use of the MLE than signing a player. Another thing to watch for is sending out a player to another teams MLE. In particular Murray contract to the Kings. Thybulle deal fits into another team NTMLE. I think Timelords might as well.
We have to keep him cuz management claimed they drafted a lottery level talent, and they can't admit they were wrong.
I'm all for taking pot-shots at management but that one is off-base with the last Blazers transactions involving Simons, Nurkic, Payton, and Ayton, Cronin has owned up to his mistakes and at least corrected them. Yeah, the costs were kind of high but still....
I have the same question, although perhaps not for Hauser because the Celtics are desperate to keep him and have shed enough salary for now.
Portland has to spend $0. Portland can likely spend $14mil NTMLE. Last two questions are very speculative.
Given the lack of quality in the FA market -> I highly doubt Portland spends much (if any) on a FA. I think the more likely scenario is absorbing a player (ie - Hauser) from a team in the tax (ie - Boston) to lower their tax obligation.
