Hearing MB and Rice drooling over Goran was a bit weird, but I can totally see why we apparently will be after him this year. If we can't successfully land Deron/Rondo, Goran isn't a bad alternative. As a starter with Lowry hurt, he has put up: 18pts, 9asts, 4rebs, 52% FG, 44% from 3, 3turns in 37 mpg through 19 games. And if he continues to ball out in the playoffs, he's gonna warrant some big $$ this summer. But he is unrestricted, so getting him would not be impossible if we pay up. He talks about playing in PDX here: http://www.csnnw.com/pages/landingblazers?blockID=686112&feedID=5212 Some highlights: [video=youtube;a7fs64zIGCo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7fs64zIGCo[/video] [video=youtube;qmol7tEr_hs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmol7tEr_hs[/video]
In my thread I started on Goran I think adding D'Antoni would be key -- Dragic would flourish in that SSOL system.
Not a bad idea. He's only 26. LA will be 27, and Nic 23. Hickson will be 24. Add two more lotto picks like Lamb and Cody Zeller, and that is a nice core to work with. Especially with someone like MDA. Might not win that quickly, but would be very fun to watch.
I'd definitely go for Beal (check my sig) over Lamb. But I think building the roster around MDA is something NY didn't do. Beal and Zeller would be an awesome draft.
He had a game in the playoffs a couple years ago for the Suns where he had like 26 points in the last 13 minutes of a game against the Spurs. It was legendary. He was completely unstoppable.
If Dragic is the answer the Blazers are asking the wrong question. Portland does this shit all the time. They swing and miss at big time guys (not entirely their fault) and then settle for, and overpay some role player.
I like Dragic, but I'd stay far away from overpaying. The good thing is that the other teams with cap are already set at starting PG (Cavs, Rockets, Celtics, Pacers, Bucks). If the Suns don't keep Nash they could be in play as well. He's definitely a "plan b" type player if we miss out on DWill or a trade for a star PG.
He's had the starring lead role in Houston for a month now. Remind me of the last Blazer PG who has averaged anything in the area code of what Dragic has for the last month... feel free to include non-role players. A 17 game starting stretch is a good sample size and the 2 other games he started this year were solid performances too. He's quick, has good size, is a proven outside threat, can drive & finish, and runs the pick and roll well. He's almost 2 years younger then Darron Williams and should have a lot more tread left on the tires http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/dragigo01.html STOMP
I think Dragic is going to command a lot of money, so I'm not sure if it's a good idea or not. He would be a good get for $6M/yr or so, but I think he'll get more.
thanks for not answering my question, typical. Spot on analysis that I want to "overpay" him, because of course I want to overpay every player. I personally think you root against the Blazers, which is fine too STOMP
I didn't answer the question because it's apples to oranges. Different systems, different players, different eras even. As for rooting against them. I am not sure how anyone can say that with my constant ranting about the sub par coach they had for 6 seasons while most everyone else was blinded by mediocrity. The team does stupid things all the time. Absolutely disregarding medical records of Oden and Roy, then extending Roy. Bidding against themselves for Darius Miles. Turning this franchise into a running joke in the early 2000's. I have been here, like other fans the entire time. Watching every game both on Portland and now in Houston where I am constantly staying up until midnight to do so.
It's not whether Stomp wants to "overpay". He's not cutting the check. Question is what the going price will be and whether 1) Blazers will want to pay it or 2) if they have a better option. Also, whether he's a true "role player" or someone who learned off the bench (like Jeremy Lin and Deron Williams among others).
I never overpay. I'm a bargain shopper. For the right price, and unless we can get someone better, he'd be a huge upgrade (/captain obvious).
Oh, I agree. But that price tag is going to be high. Down here in Houston they are talking about 8-10 million a year to keep him
Like I said the the sister thread, I expect the Blazers probably will overpay for him if they can't get D-Will. We're the Blazers. It seems we have to overpay. Good thing we've (still) got Paul Allen. As far as bidding against ourselves, Paul and Whitsitt did so for years, thus making this a pretty desirable destination. He seems to have backed off from that strategy, and the new CBA makes it a lot tougher.
At 7 million-ish a year I'm fine with signing him, but if the bidding does get up into the 10 million dollar range then there's going to be some seriously diminishing returns on the investment ... Personally I hope the Blazers draft Kendall Marshall at 11 or 12th so they aren't backed into a corner when they get to free agency.
