After drafting Lillard and annoiting him PGOTF even before training camp, and with our GM having wooed and signed Billups to the Clippers, isn't this the easiest to guess off-season move? I love Billups game, seems a good fit for us. I am concerned about his health. Does anyone know if Billups has fully recovered or what?
Olshey kept on mentioning Billups, I think they have a really good relationship. I think if he retires he joins the coaching staff.
I have always liked Billups, but does he really want to play for a team that very well might be in the lottery again next season?
So this would be an MLE signing once the Blazers go over the cap with Hibbert and Batum (assuming they get Hibbert)? Can Portland acquire all three players? I, too, like the idea of acquiring Billups. Right a terrible wrong in the jettisoning of Andre Miller. (Though Billups fits even better.)
Maybe he waits to see what other moves take place. But at this point in his career, maybe he'd just enjoy the opportunity and the paycheck. He does have a ring, and he's had a solid career, so he may be okay with it.
With the 3 day matching period, they can technically sign Billups beforehand for about 3-4 million, or the difference between Hibbert's deal and our cap space.
If the Blazers acquired Hibbert, along with Billups and keeping Batum, I don't see them in the lottery. If Lillard and/or Leonard are contributors, the Blazers might even contend for 5-6 seed.
Ah, I didn't realize that the Blazers had $3-4 million cap space over and above the offer to Hibbert. Thanks.
I think the initial estimate was roughly 16.5 Could possibly be more if Shawne is stretch waived. Hibbert's first year would be 12.9. So we would be best served to use up that 3.6 before matching or signing Batum, since after signing him, all we would have left is 2.5 MLE and league minimum.
Blazers don't have the MLE, they will get the new room exemption for teams under the cap. It will only be $2.5 million. Billups has talked a lot about how much he likes the Clippers now and likes playing with Paul. It will be interesting if Olshey can convince him to come here. I will say now if Olshey can get Hibbert and Billups and retain Batum along with the draft picks that is about as good an offseason as Portland could realisticly expect for both short and long term success. Still lots of "ifs" in there but he will have done some real work in his first month on the job.
Teams with cap space larger than the MLE, don't get an MLE to use that year. Not sure what we can pay Billups and I am sure that will be a big issue. Unless we can pay Billups reasonably big money, I would assume he would go ring chasing with Miami, OKC, etc.
Yeah, I was aware that the exception that teams with cap space got, once they spent up over the line, was smaller than those that began free agency without cap space. I just wasn't sure what it was called.
Billups / Lillard / Nolan Williams / Wes Batum / Babbitt LaMarcus / Hibbert / Leonard OR Lillard / Nolan Williams / Wes Babbitt LaMarcus / Leonard One is better than the other
