On a veteran minimum contact ... maybe. Problem is BroLo is due ~$33m through the 2015-16 season. So, not for 2 years, at least.
I like T-Rob coming in for spot minutes when the team needs energy. He adds bit of toughness and chaos to the game. As far as getting him for salary cap space, Houston used that space to get Howard. So the deal was a win/win for both sides.
http://www.mercurynews.com/sports/ci_24901720/robin-lopez-fits-well-trail-blazers-weird-portland In case someone wants to read it . . .
I hope Olshey finds a way to sign Jordan Hill and Paul Pierce while finding a way to move Leonard in the draft for a pick (possible replacement for Mo?).
#1 on the Dime is how unusually this team was built. http://espn.go.com/nba/dailydime/_/page/dime-140427/another-wild-finish-blazers-steady
I think I'd like to see us add a vet big this summer. I wish we'd been able to add Jermaine O'Neal because I think he would have been perfect. Jermaine or maybe Scola.
Defense is everything in the playoffs and we have our two go-to guys in Lillard and Aldridge. This summer I think it's pretty clear what Neil has to do: Improve the defense! With this core I think this would be a perfect spot and a risk well worth taking: LARRY SANDERS The tricky thing would be making it work financially as I think he could be had relatively cheaply due to the constant behavioral issues. This year he was paid $3m but his contract really kicks in next year at $11m/per for four years. Aldridge/Thomas Lopez/Sanders The other issue with that second unit would be a legit scorer -- is Mo really the long-term answer? PJ Tucker is another guy I'd look at.
I've got a better suggestion: Roy Hibbert. Indy is on the cusp of elimination. Something is going to change there. I don't think firing their coach is going to make a difference. That team has bad chemistry. I would love to take Hibbert off their hands, but what would we do with Rolo? Bring him off the bench? I think Sanders has a real problem. Hibbert looks like he has lost his will to work with his egotistical teammates.
I agree on Hibbert. I think he can be 'rehabilitated' in the right environment, and probably grateful to be in a team oriented situation like Portland. Sanders, perhaps he's hopeless, IDK. The problem is, Hibbert is so danged expensive.
It's not THAT bad, but it would be hard to match up the salaries. The bigger problem would be whether you could bring Rolo off the bench. I'm not sure I would want to bench rolo and I don't see Hibbert coming off the bench.
I love it. A lot of portlanders are nerdy in exactly the same way Robin is. He's just such a good fit. Now if Neil can pry Channing Frye from Phoenix as our backup PF, we'd be both better and weirder!
Sanders is making a ton of money, which is why I don't think it's worth the gamble. Hibbert is making a lot of money too, but he has a much better overall resume.
Salary-wise we're already screwed - adding salary via trade isn't going to hamper us in any real way, other than getting the "mini" MLE rather than the full MLE.
That's not my point. In order to acquire Sanders (or Hibbert) we will have to send out a lot of salary. That means giving up assets. That means taking a risk. I would rather take a risk on Hibbert, who has a much better track record, rather than someone like Sanders who has been acting like a fucking moron for the last year.
I'm curious why any of you would even consider sanders or hibbert right now, knowing we would need to send out 3 good players to make up salary. This has summer of 2000 written all over it.
Comes down to what sort of person you think you can mold better, a guy who is a jackass, or a guy who is seemingly very mentally weak.
I dont' know if I believe that Hibbert is mentally weak. I think he's surrounded by a bunch of gunners and he checked out.
I have faith that Freeland and T. Rob will be fine back ups for us. If we are really looking for bench production, I would rather have a vet back-up pg. Maybe a defensive specialist that can still initiate offense.
