Blazers eyeing Jeremy Lin?

Dave from B-Edge pretty much sums up the chances of landing Lin (or Hibbert):

 

Canzano says there may be a rumor that the Oriental Mafia has made Allen a contingent offer he possibly can't refuse. Canzano says this will make Canzano happy so he wrote an article to tell us it would make Canzano happy.

 

Yeah POR really can't afford to go after a RFA with the whole Batum situation hanging over there heads....or only as a last resort (meaning thier UFA targets have all said no)...That is, if they want to resign Batum AND add some key free agents....

I really think this is looking like a Dragic or bust free agency....b\c after that the next guys on the list are RFA guys....

These are targets that I think POR should have some level of interest in.

PG
UFA - G.Dragic, J.Lin (NY is going to match), S.Nash, J.Nelson (if he opts out), K.Hinrich, D.West
RFA - G.Hill (I think Indy has to choose b\t Hill and Hibbert), A.Brooks (Does PHX let him go? depends on if they resign Nash?), Augustin (they might let him go), Bayless (go after big FA at expense of thier own?)

SG
UFA - N.Young, L.Williams (ETO) - Niether I think are worth pursuing heavily
RFA - E.Gordon (not sure they let him go, will take his time to sign IMO), OJ Mayo (I doubt MEM resign him with contracts they have on the books),

SF
UFA - CJ Miles (Underated, UTA may not match big contract, is he worth it though?)

PF
UFA - E.Ilyasova (too similiar to LA IMO (more shooter than banger)), J.Evans (same as Miles, not sure UTA matches for him), K.Humphries, J.Hill (I doubt Lakers match a big deal for him), I.Mahinmi
RFA - JJ Hickson (does POR offer him a QFO? Maybe they should), J.Thompson (I think SAC would overpay to resign him). M.Speights (Don't think MEM matches a big deal), R.Anderson (Who knows with ORL, depends on Howard situation I would think)

C
UFA - S.Hawes (Philly will resign him unless deal is absurd), C.Kaman (stock is low, value is good, should be a POR target IMO), O.Asik (another good option)
RFA - R.Hibbert (will be matched), B.Lopez (will be matched), J.McGee (will be matched), R.Lopez (I'd rather go with Kaman\Asik than opverpay for him)

So b\c of Batum's situation, and there apparent desire to resign him, there are not a lot of options for POR...

Dragic option #1, G.Hill option #2 (with big offer to dissuade INDY from matching) - 2nd part would be going after some UFA big guys like Kaman, Asik, J.Evans, J.Hill, K.Humphries, I.Mahinimi or if they have QFO to Hickson resign him...

I might offer the QFO to Hickson, go after Dragic (or Hill) then look to get one of those big guys and then resign Batum.....

So you keep Batum, Hickson (both signed last) get a PG like Dragic or Hill and another big guy like Kaman\Asik at center (1st option) or some decent PF types like J.Evans, J.Hill or Humphries...Best POR can hope for outside of D-Will miracle....

Then use BOTH of your picks to go after BPA with best upside in the draft...Unless some team offers a trade for an established young player that has star potential (ie a trade to good to pass up)....Otherwise keep both picks....

Use free agency to add depth\talent to this team...the draft t go after that #1-#3 type of star player to add to LA....