I'm sure this has been posted, but I can't find the discussion for it anywhere on the forum. Outside of eliminating any chance of Frye staying here next season, BRoy brings up a thought that we've been thinking for a while now. Any ideas on whom we pursue? There are quite a few blue collar prospects who could possibly fit the mold (DeJuan Blair or Patrick Patterson). Also, guys like Paul Millsap (RFA), and David Lee (S&T possibility) could be available. But a guy we usually give little consideration to is Joel Freeland. Check his stats for this season in Europe, where he's finally getting an opportunity to play: Code: Year League GP Min Pts FG FGA FG% 2Pt 2PtA 2P% 3Pt 3PtA 3P% FTM FTA FT% Off Def TOT Asts Stls Blks TOs PFs 2008/09 EUROCUP 4 20.3 12.5 5.3 8.0 65.6 5.3 8.0 65.6 0.0 0.0 2.0 2.3 88.9 2.0 4.0 6.0 1.0 1.0 0.8 1.5 2.5 2008/09 ACB 27 17.0 9.8 4.0 6.8 59.0 4.0 6.8 59.0 0.0 0.0 1.7 2.7 62.5 2.0 2.5 4.5 0.6 0.4 0.8 1.3 2.0 Also, some blurbs from Draftexpress.: In late February: In November:
Freeland sounds intereting, but it seems his offensive game is pretty limited. I think we need a banger AND a scorer on the front line.
i think we bring freeland over but he might be like shlivak in that he doesnt get to play much especially if we get blair, patterson ect. just depends on what happens i for one am excited bout draft day because KP is a freaking monster! what day is that again anyways?
I'm all for bringing Freeland over to fill the 12th man role that Shavlik and Ruffin occupied and let him develop in the D-league, but this team needs a proven commodity as a backup 4, not more draft picks -- proven commodity to me means a guy like Antonio McDyess, Brandon Bass, Kurt Thomas, Drew Gooden, Chris Wilcox, et al. Not necessarily a star, but somebody who will rebound, defend a little and not be afraid to get in the trenches and knock people around ... or at least give you some productive hustle type play in short minutes.
Oooh. I forgot this guy: Brandon Bass is a UFA this summer. He's pretty much Patterson + three years experience.
I don't blame Roy for not "calling out" any other positions... while I'm sure he has his opinions, I don't really think that they're very significant. KP's the one whose opinion matters. Roy's probably better served to keep supporting his current teammates as he waits for the roster to improve. Ed O.
I'm not so sure he's right. Let's assume Oden starts next season and let's further assume Webster is our starting SF as well. Our second team looks like this: Joel Sergio (or Bayless) Outlaw (or Batum) Rudy rookie "banger" PF with no offense or he'd get drafted a lot higher To me, that's not enough offense for a second unit and we'll have 2 players who probably don't run the floor. I'm thinking we either keep Fry or have another scorer out there.
my guess is that this Roy quote was made because he was naming the one position where there isn't a clear projected current teammate to offend. Frye is gonzo so... STOMP
How about less? God love Travis and his 'never met a shot he didn't like' mentality, but I'd really like to see a little more points in the paint oriented game at that position, just to add some balance to LMA's mostly mid-range game.
My realistic summer: Cut - Ruffin Frye Outlaw Blake Sign - Andre Miller 8 million a year Anderson Varejao Lineup - Miller/Bayless/Sergio Roy/Rudy Batum/Webster Aldridge/Varejao Oden/Przybilla
How about this: A) Find a better PG B) Leave Batum in the starting 5. That leaves Blake/Bayless/Rudy to come off the bench at guard; Joel; and Outlaw/Webster/rebounder-defender at forward. Mix and match, based on the opposition. Offense is NOT the problem.
Count me in the sign a vet Mcdyess/KThomas, and develop Freeland camp. We don't need to rely on another young guy in that second unit, and having a legit defensively 4 will do wonders for the development of our guards in the second unit.
It's obvious that when Frye came in we went down hill. I'm not bashing Frye, much, he plays well when he gets starter mins, but not off the bench in limited mins. What Roy says just makes sense. I'd added we need a better PG, but it doesn't jump out at you as much as backup PF.
I went to 82games.com and looked at the win% of our team when our first/2nd unit were in. Some interesting finding: PG: Blake 65%, Sergio 38% SG: Roy 69%, Rudy 55% SF: Nicolas 50%, Travis 55% PF: LMA 65%, C-Frye 30% C: Joel 48%, Greg 60% Several things are clear - our backup PF is our worst position - as Roy noticed. Our backup PG is 2nd worst. Interesting to notice that we lost more than we won with Joel on the court (I would not have guessed it) - and that we win so much more when Greg is on the court... It is also interesting to notice how under-appreciate Blake is - based on win% when he is on the floor - he was actually our 3rd best player...
We'd look pretty stupid cutting our starting PG and 6th man who are both on decent contracts, if we didn't sign at players like you mentioned above. If we can't end up getting the top tier players (I don't think we could ever land AV for near the MLE), then we just created more problems than anything. Steve Blake would be a great backup PG. We know he loves Portland because he came back to play here for less money, so I can't imagine he wouldn't be willing to finish his career out here at a decent contract.
