Joe Freeman @BlazerFreeman about 6 minutes ago The Blazers & @PlanetPat5 have delayed the deadline to guarantee his 17-18 contract from tomorrow to Aug. 31: oregonlive.com/blazers/index.…
Considering keeping Pat reportedly costs the team a total of $4.7 mil (his contract is only $1.4 mil of that total).....
This was expected. Not the least bit surprising. The big question is will he still be here come regular season?
Exactly. I posted an example of a trade a day or two ago that didn't work without Pat, but worked by including him. The team receiving him then has the option of cutting him to save money, or retaining him on his current min contract for another year a a cheap end of bench guy. Plus POR might be working on a trade that would open up a role for Pat - maybe trading Layman for a future 2nd round pick or maybe trading Crabbe to get under the tax threshold. They can keep extending this deadline, as long as both parties agree, right up until the day before the regular season starts (or whenever the date for opening day rosters is this year). Why limit your flexibility, if you don't have to? BNM
Worst case scenario they don't pick up his option and go with 14. Can't see him back in any scenario, unless they made some sort of crazy lopsided trade and needed him to fill a spot.
If this trade going down with Melo this week and if we are 3 team then I expect Pat will be a filler and properly to Houston.
HOU has already been accumulating non-guaranteed min contracts to send out to facilitate a trade like this. At last count, I believe they have six of them. They don't need another. If Patty Baseball is part of a trade, he is more likely to go to NYK or CLE. BNM