SG - What to do?

Seeing that Lillard is a capable passer and shooter, who would be the ideal fit next to him?

A scorer like Harden?

A defensive stopper like Avery Bradley?

We'll have close to the max, maybe even the max if we shed a few contracts, to throw at Harden this summer.

I like Wes but IMO he's clearly a 6th man type.

 

That looks like our best bet now. I don't see anything else in FA. Yes, I think we should clear some cap space and throw a max offer at Harden. We'll get another year to see how he plays in OKC.

 

Sign The Beard!

 

I like Harden. I'm not opposed to going after him, but tying our money up in an RFA sure didn't work out for us this last summer. I'm not convinced that OKC will let him just walk for nothing.

 

I'm all for going after Harden but i dont' think we would be able to get him. I'm liking the idea of going after Josh Smith and having him play the 3 and Batum the 2.

 

If Batum plays like he did last night, he would be more than capable of playing the two.

 

I don't understand all of the talk about James Harden on this board. Is a he a really good player? Sure. Is he a great player? Hell no.

If the goal is to build championship teams in a small market, don't throw great player money at a good player. Build through smart, frugal additions and good draft picks.

Let some other team overpay for the James Harden's of the world and have it be their problem. Harden will eventually disappoint for several years and then matriculate to a larger market that can absorb his ridiculously large contract in that team's desperate last ditch effort to be relevant (see: Joe Johnson).

 

Shabazz Muhammad

 

If we were to throw a max contract at Harden, would OKC want to match? Wouldn't they be way over the cap?

 

The only way to get Harden would be by trade. I'd say it's 90% likely he re-signs with OKC, but if he doesn't he's either going home to Phoenix or to Dallas.

I suggested trading Aldridge for Harden last season, but I think both sides are even less likely to want that now: OKC because it's invested big bucks in Ibaka and Portland because of how bad Harden looked in the finals.

It's funny how the fortunes of Tyreke Evans and James Harden have gone in opposite directions. I like Harden better, but Evans probably has more raw talent. He's been humbled: I wonder if he'll adapt or slowly drift out of the NBA.

In answer to your question, the player who start alongside Lillard - how about Batum? Put Claver at SF.

 

Should have drafted Waiters! :MARIS61:

 

Let it Bake.

 

A guy who is a solid defender who can hit the three at a good clip. Good basketball IQ would be nice too.

Oh wait . . .

 

Ya, I still think Wes is a decent enough SG to start if we have more talent at other positions. If Nic makes that leap from decent starter to fringe all star, and Dame is a top 5-10 PG early in his career, we should be good. Adding another player of that caliber would be gravy.

 

If Nic this season shows more of what we saw in the Utah game then we will then have the flexibility of going after a better player then Wes at either the PG or SF position as Nic could play either. We either use the draft or perhaps use capspace next summer for an FA or lopsided trade. I like Wes but would prefer him as a 6th man and having a better player ahead of him.

 

I agree with Rasta, the only way the Blazers get Harden is via trade ... and right now they don't appear to have the right assets to get it done.

 

I know he's a nut job, but I'd love Tyreke as our starting 2!

 

Im not a fan of Evans due to us having Lillard. Evans has to have the ball in his hands, that's his game. I don't think he can adapt to playing off the ball and I'd rather the ball is in lilards then Evans.

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