According to Shaun Powell https://twitter.com/Powell2daPeople/status/210516554415218689 I sounds like it might take a little more but that seems like a deal Portland should jump on. The Blazers need help down low and the only 2 bigs in free agency Kaman and Hawes and they will both be going for around 10 per. I think you could work something out like this. NO Okafor #10 Por S. Williams K. Thomas Smith 2 second rounders $3 million NO gets out of Okafor's contract and gets a young PG in Smith as well as a veteran in Thomas who could help Davis. Also $3 Million. Por - Gets help in the front court, gets the #10 pick. Still has cap room to sign Dragic to up to $10 million starting contract. Add an 11 for 14 and 16 swap with Houston. 16 and 6 for 2 with Charlotte Draft 2 - Robinson 11 - Lillard 14 - Rivers PG Dragic, Lillard SG Mathews, Rivers, Williams SF Batum, Babbitt PF Aldridge, Robinson C Okafor, Freeland, Przybilla With a lot of Aldridge and Robinson running together.
I think it will take a whole lot more than pooh to get the 10.... I think you'd have to give something up of value... either matthews or E. Will and some of the others that you mentioned to balance out the salaries... Maybe this would work... NO Okafor #10 POR Matthews Nolan 2 Second rounders $3 mil but then again i don't know why they'd do that if they think they are getting gordon back... sign and trade for hickson?
I dont think I'd take on Okafors deal for 10..... I'd try for Okafor if he was amnestied and we could get him for 5-6 million per year as our starting center. I'd probably do Ariza and 10 for Shawne Williams, Nolan Smith, 40, 41 and $3 million (to pay them for Shawnes contract) if they really want to unload one of them. It would make sense if we decided Batum was going to get 10 million or so per year and we didn't want to match that.
They must really like Waiters (or whomever) to take on Emeka. He's overpaid and has been on a steady decline since his second year.
Who do people think will be the starting center next year? Here are the free agent centers Chris Kaman, New Orleans Hornets – $12.7 million – Unrestricted Marcus Camby, Houston Rockets – $12.9 million – Unrestricted Spencer Hawes, Philadelphia 76ers – $4.1 million – Unrestricted Kwame Brown, Milwaukee Bucks – $6.8 million – Unrestricted Aaron Gray, Toronto Raptors – $2.5 million – Unrestricted Jermaine O’Neal, Boston Celtics – $6.2 million – Unrestricted Nazr Mohammed, Oklahoma City Thunder – $3.8 million – Unrestricted Omer Asik, Chicago Bulls – $1.9 million – Unrestricted* The only 2 on there that interest me would be Omer Asik, but he's not ready to step into a starting role. Kaman is the same age as Okafor but will probably require a longer contract and is no where near the defensive presence that Okafor is. Hawes will get around $9-$10 mil (not interested) So that leaves Aldridge as the starting center. If you are counting on Aldridge to be the long term cornerstone then he shouldn't be logging most of his minutes bangin down low on defense. Although none of his injuries have been serious he has had some issues and guarding the other teams best player will not help Aldridge's longevity.
I don't think he can take that long term. Portland needs to get a big body to help alleviate some of the defensive pressure during the regular season. Aldridge can't be the #1 option on offense and expend tons of energy on defense. He needs to have something left at playoff time. He is not that guy who is going to be a guy patrolling the paint like Camby did. He's not gonna make up for other players mistakes.
PF: Robinson C: Aldridge I think this would work -- LaMarcus can continue to play at the elbow while opening up the paint for Robinson to do his thing. Perfect combo going forward.
I totally agree but how you gonna get Robinson? I think after his measurements he will be #2. If not by Charlotte then by someone else that trades up to that spot. You gonna trade 11 and 6 to get up there? I still think they will need another defensive minded, big body because neither Aldridge nor Robinson are great defensive players.
It's not a bad move, but it kills cap room. You could move #6 and #10 for #2 and get Robinson, then pick BPA at #11 (Rivers)?
Gotcha. I know a couple of mocks have him at #2, but I think that would be a mistake. I think MKG will go #2 and deservedly so.
Uh, no, don't... He is owed $7.5 mil or so for each of the next 2 years, assuming POR has $13mil in cap space, if they could send out a young scrub (N.Smith or Babbitt) back in the deal...use the minim-amnesty to get out from S.Williams deal and get back a little cap space...they could have $7-8mil left after this deal to sign a FA.... and have #6, #10 & #11.... Those are the kinds of deal that you should look for IMO....Ariza can still play a little, he'll have trade value next year as an expiring and if not you cut him loose...no big deal...I would rather have Okafor b\c of the need at center but you can kiss all cap space goodbye with that move.... Of course, CHA is now saying they expect more than just a salary dump...I wish them luck with that, getting back Babbitt and\or Smith (or Claver) is about the best they can hope for...or should hope for from POR...
