Merged: |0fficial| Trade Deadline

Hopefully Noah is ready by then to assume his Al Horford role as our CotF

 

You may want to actually listen to the podcast before you comment. It's not about development, it's about potential trades, team needs and movable assets.

Woj was adamant that we absolutely needed to match the Crabbe offer and re-sign Meyers and Mo. He views the retention of those assets as Olshey's way of extending the summer of 2016 free agency into the summer of 2017. Since we didn't land a big name free agent last summer, and won't have cap space (due to maxing out C.J.) in the summer of 2017, the only way we can acquire the kind of players we need is through trade(s).

And, to make trades, you need assets. While the Crabbe and Leonard contracts may not have looked like bargains at the time, they wont look nearly so onerous in the summer of 2017 when the cap goes up even more. Many of the teams that will lose out on the big name free agents, will be left with holes in their rosters that need to be filled. Teams like BRK and PHI will still need a starting SG and Crabbe at $54 million for three years no longer looks ridiculously overpaid for a starting 2 guard that shoots above .400 from 3.

Same with Meyers. 3 years at $30 million won't look so ridiculous when other back up big men are getting 4 year $60 million contracts.

Of course it would be great if Meyers continues to develop, because that would only increase his trade value. Same with Crabbe. I've been labeled a Crabbe hater because I was all over his shit when he was playing terrible (I was also all over Ed Davis at the same time, but no one labeled be a Davis hater). I'm absolutely thrilled with Crabbe's shooting as of late. Getting his 3FG% above .400 is huge. It greatly increases his trade value. He's also getting close to getting his scoring average above 10 ppg. I think that would be another significant milestone that would help increase his trade value. When GMs starting looking to snag a starting SG from another team, a guy who averages in double figures coming off the bench while shooting above .400 3FG% starts to look like someone you can maybe pencil in as a starter. BRK saw a guy who averaged 10.3 ppg last season and signed him to that huge offer sheet in the hope he would be their starting SG. I hope he continues to play well enough that BRK and others will see him as exactly that moving forward.

Woj also talked about how, with the huge contracts free agents are getting, first round draft picks, even late first rounders, have become more valuable. With teams shelling out disproportionately large contracts to bench players, many find themselves over the cap and bumping up to the luxury tax line with additional roster spots to fill. That's where late first round picks become valuable. Unlike the salary cap, the rookie pay scale does not go up as a function of BRI. So, late first round picks are locked into the bottom end of an out of date rookie pay scale. Players drafted between 20 and 30 next summer will be locked into salaries starting at $1 to $1.3 million a year. With many bench players getting contracts starting at $10 million a year (or as much as $18 million a year). The good news for us is, we have three such picks over the next two years. Even though that CLE pick will probably be in the 28 - 30 range, it will be significantly more valuable that it was when we got it just 10 months ago.

Again, it's all about acquiring and retaining assets for future trades. And trades are the only way for a middle to bottom level playoff team that's capped out to address specific holes in their rosters. With no high lottery picks and no cap space to sign free agents, Olshey was wise to acquire and retain those assets (according to both me and Woj). Even if we did fall into the tail end of the lottery (as some "fans" on this board hope), we aren't getting a player with the 13th or 14th pick that will make an immediate impact. So again, those assets offer a much greater chance to improve our team than tanking to get into the lottery. Those assets hold much more value to a team that's rebuilding than to one just looking to add a final piece or two. Teams like PHI, BRK, DAL, PHO, etc. would all love to swap players who aren't part of their rebuilding process for young players that are signed for multiple years and draft picks, even late 1st rounders. If Neil doesn't make an in season trade, we'll still have those assets next summer to make something happen.

BNM

 

I think we can get both. Noel's value is currently deflated - meaning we can get him cheap. He's a great defender in today's NBA - a rim protector that is also a great pick and roll defender. Get him, start him and make him our COTF. And then look to add a wide body, brusing veteran, like Bogut, to give you 18 MPG as your back up. A two headed center rotation of Noel and Bogut would be perfect for this team. And, we wouldn't have to give up too much (i.e. C.J.) to land both.

BNM

 

Perhaps the only team more disappointing than us is the Timberwolves. With their talent and coach they should not be where they are. This video makes a good case that their problem is Rubio:



Given that they have Dunn and Jones waiting in the wings, they should probably just cut bait. But at the same time, I can't help thinking that Rubio would make a fucking awesome backup PG, and if he played with Meyers, then the pick'n'pop that the video says doesn't utilize KAT's skills would maximize Meyers'. I wonder if they'd go for something like this. It strikes me that Thibs might like Turner's defense and versatility.

 

Vonleh for a backup point guard what could go wrong

 

Kosta Koufos is on the trade block. Any interest there?

 

http://www.blazersedge.com/2016/12/...f-id-tell-you-why-blazers-are-losing-portland

Harkless seems to have an idea what is wrong but doesn't want to talk about it. I hope to hell that the coaches will find out and do something about it.

 

"We're a Kosta Koufos or Omar Asik away from contending." - Neil's subconscious

 

You mean a third string PF for the PG with the 5th best DRPM for his position?

 

Hey Fez: I haven't been following Osman but does this excite you?

 

I think his argument is with regard to Noah's potential. Rubio is what he is. Vonleh could be our future starting power forward.

 

I have been following him and he is very inconsistent. I don't think he can be more than a role player, but I'd be willing to tank if possible to get Doncic when he declares for draft That guy is no ordinary 17 year old guy. Doing things Europe has never seen by such a young player.

 

He'll never live down the Christmas Elf costume with the training bra his wife made him wear....first the hair, then this

 

Thanks! But I should warn you, knowledge of foreign leagues invites scorn in these forums. It's like basketball Trumpism.

I'm cautiously excited about Doncic, but then I remember that Rubio was playing in the ACB when he was 15, and he never became the star many thought he would. How athletic is Doncic?

 

Dear God - we're going to be better than THAT, surely!?

 

Considering Vonleh is barely 20 years old...he's one guy on our roster I hope we keep and develop..I think he could become a great PF over a year or so more

 

Vonleh has great physical attributes and could turn into a fine player one day - but probably not here, at least under the current tutelage he is receiving.
It's one of the things that makes you go 'WTF?" with this team. Multi-Millions invested in players on the court and no big man coach or defensive specialist. Don't understand why you wouldn't open the checkbook a little more for proper coaching when there is hundreds of millions already invested.

 

This might be the most important moves we can make overall without nailing a star player.
Seriously. Don't MOST teams either have an offensive specials, or a Defensive specialist(depending on the Head Coaches strength) or sometimes both???

Don't you almost always go find a big man specialist tutor for a potential future key player that is young and needs developing?

Why isn't Kaman more visible and a key to our coaching staff? Why haven't we brought Prz in to show these guys how to box out and set a pick?

Why haven't we stole some wiz defensive specialist from a great college or average NBA team?

This is a big flaw right now in my opinion and needs to be addressed to have any type of sustainable winning future no matter who is on the roster.

 

The difference is Doncic is shooting over 40% from 3 and he is really athletic. He will be elite.

 

So this Crabbe Noel trade is definitely happening on the 15th, right? I have to think Olshey has something ready to execute.

Btw going on a winning streak won't change anything. The hole was there going into the offseason, and besides, trading for a guy while you're winning is actually a good thing because the incoming player won't feel as pressured.