OT Nic Batum quote on Charlotte: "First time I got to play like I want to in eight years in the NBA."

Yeah I can see that, but another thing to consider is that trades are going to be extremely easy to make this offseason. Basically no salary matching needed. Another option is trying to scour the league for undervalued players that teams would dump for cap space or a late first rounder. Tyson Chandler is unquestionably a bad contract, but I can totally see a situation where someone absorbs his contract and he elevates their defense.

 

I don't think he's as available as you suggest, but I'd happily trade McCollum for Butler. Young-prime two-way players who can create for themselves and others are exceedingly rare.

 

That's what I think Neil was going after when he got the 1st round pick in the Varejao trade. As long as LeBron is in Cleveland, that's going to be a late 1st round pick, probably not going to get a player that will make an immediate impact for us, but it could be an attractive piece for a team that's looking to rebuild that can afford to draft a guy that's a couple years away from being ready.

And, of course, we will be as far under the cap as anyone, so absorbing salary in a one sided trade won't be a problem.

BNM

 

He did have a a good playoff series, but every time I watched him in the regular season he looked "old".
Regardless I don't think he will leave Miami for just a reasonable contract, we would have to over pay to get him.

 

I still like Cole Aldrich because he's shown some offensive touch in addition to being a pretty good rim protector.

Maybe we can revive some life out of Roy Hibbert if everything else fails and he comes cheap.

 

Hibbert scares me. He's mentally weak and lacks motivation. Can he ever get that back? Don't know, but I'm not sure if I wasn't to be the team taking a chance to find out. Maybe as a plan K if plans A-J don't pan out.

I'd much rather go for Aldrich. He'd be more like a Plan C or D.

BNM

 

I would rather go after Marvin Williams than Batum for our currents needs.

Nic is not stupid though, he is saying the right things to get a big offer from Charlotte, but I guarantee if someone else offers him more he will take it. Didn't he say he loved the city of Portland........and Minneapolis?

 

Definitely plan K. But better than no plan at all.

 

This is going to be a very different and strange off-season, for several reasons.

This is a weak FA class, and teams have tons of money to compete.
This draft class gets very weak after the first couple of players.

So what is the plan?
Probably make a first day offer @ 12:01 AM to the targeted player, someone like Horford. Then hope for the best.
After that, concentrate on re-signing the FA Blazers we want to keep.
Then wait to see who falls to vet minimum type money, and fill in the holes.
Nothing sexy, just safe moves.

I believe the goal this off-season will be to stay away from bad contracts, while keeping our core together.

 

Thank god Durant is playing under Westbrick's shadow. I love stealth moves like this.

 

What's the plan?

It pains me to say this, but the best plan might be to just sit the summer of 2016 out. Preserve the cap space, rather than over-paying for mediocre talent. And yes, that includes guys like Leonard and Crabbe. If they want too much - let them walk.

When the summer of 2017 rolls around, there will be fewer teams with money to spend and having significant cap space could actually accomplish something.

The down side, is that the team is very likely to regress next season without some major upgrades.

 

Totally agreed; Neil won't get swept up in the hype of this season; our window is still two years away. Play to that goal.

 

I forgot until the other day that Crabbe was only 23. I think Neil should still take a flyer on both. I don't think either will be offered insane money, but you never know.

 

Just turned 24 a month ago. His statistical trajectory is similar to guys like Klay Thompson and Wesley Matthews. I'd like to see what he could do with an increased role and higher usage rate.

If we have the option to sign any one of our own FA's this offseason, I pray it be Crabbe.

 

I have no problem with Nic's statement. It is not a slam on Portland. It is impossible to make a team where everyone gets to play the way they want. If he enjoyed his year in Charlotte, great. Good luck in free agency but I hope we do not try signing him.

 

I agree that McCollum isn't enough, but I was responding to whether it's worth giving him up for Butler.

 

His per36 numbers are pretty much the same since the 12/13 season and has yet to break a 16 PER or better since his first contract year.

Plumlee is a much better facilitator. Batum is notorious for passing up wide open shots to pass. Plumlee is finding cutters with pinpoint accuracy.