A sign-and-trade is simply not a realistic option for the Blazers this summer. 1) Sign-and-trades are commonly thrown around in forums but how often do they actually happen? 2) Doing a sign-and-trade triggers a hard cap (rough estimate of $125 million this summer). The Blazers will be sitting at about $112 million including their draft pick this summer. Lets just say for the sake of discussion that the Nuggets really wanted Meyers Leonard so Barton agreed to a 4 year, $40 million contract and we traded Leonard for him straight up. Seems like an awesome trade right? You'd have $13 million to spend left with absolutely no ability to spend more than that. You'd only have 9 guys on the roster so you'd have to fill 5 spots with that $13 million. That roster doesn't include Nurkic, Davis, Napier, Connaughton, Layman, Baldwin, and Papagiannis. So Nurkic is for sure gone because even if they signed him to an extremely friendly team deal of $10 million per year they wouldn't be able to fill out the remaining roster spots. Lets say they kept Baldwin, Layman, and Papagiannis since they are all pretty cheap. That would mean they'd only have $8.5 million to sign 2 other guys with Nurk, Davis, Napier, and Connaughton not on the team. They couldn't use the MLE and would lose both trade exceptions as well. So basically you would be trading Nurk, Leonard, and Davis for Barton with no other way to add much talent to the roster short of a miracle trade elsewhere.
Most of those teams- Mavs, Lakers, Suns, Nyets, Hawks are exactly the kind of teams he needs to go to if he wants to showcase his talents. That is pretty much what he says he wants. Doesn't even really sound like the guy cares about winning. Just looking good and getting his. I have always felt Barton was a complete bonehead. He shows it most every time i see the guy play. Makes stupid decisions on the court and while he is very talented he just does not seem to have that element that makes me want him back here. He just doesn't come across as a team player on the court. Now here is my disclaimer. I don't know the guy at all. He might be all about team. Maybe giving this article at this point of the season when his team is still in the hunt for a playoff spot is his way of saying "Give me the ball". He also could very well be the perfect fit here as the Blazers do indeed need the type of player he can be. But again..... Why give an interview like that right now at this point of the season when Denver is still in the hunt? "“I think the biggest things I’m looking for is respect, honesty and a team that’s going to be real aggressive and show that they really want me,” Barton said. “I want to be where I can be able to showcase my entire game on a regular basis, somewhere they really believe in me and are ready for me to have a bigger role.” So while he says he is happy there and wants to stay there he gives the not so subtle message that he isn't really happy there and wants a bigger role. Then there is that word "HONESTY". Is he saying Denver has not been honest with him? Obviously this guy didn't think before he opened his mouth.
Some of those teams may be a good place for Barton to showcase his talents, but are they going to burn their cap space in a guy like him? My bet would be that they’re aiming higher for FA acquisitions.
Good point. I could see the Mavs getting a better player for sure. Seems like Cuban can set sights pretty high.
and now Blake and Paul are gone. Winder how Jordan feels about that, lol. It makes it a little easier seeing as how the Mavs suck worse.
When it comes to Barton....nice guy but I'll stick with Baldwin moving forward...Will doesn't want to come off the bench
Still did not land him. They have historically struck out, overpaying for marginal players like Finley, Parsons, Mathews, and Barnes. Nash also blew up after he left. They should just stick to trades and the draft .
Barton had plenty of chances to blow up here too though. The year he got traded we had a historically bad bench and yet he wasn't providing much when he got minutes.
My thought as well. I know the champ is a fan favorite, but for our needs going forward, Baldwin > Barton. And he's cheaper which is kind of important at the moment.
