Lying in bed, I thought it through. If we succeed (win at least 2 rounds in playoffs) with Afflalo, it will make sense to re-sign Afflalo. Other teams need Wes and will be willing to take a huge gamble on him. It wouldn't be prudent for us to give a large contract to an injured guy playing a position that is well taken care of especially if CJ blossoms. It's sad but maybe he'll come back later in his career. The only other thing I can think of is if Afflalo opts in, then we'd be more willing to give Wes money. I don't know. It's killing me.
I think he comes back regardless. Either way, I can't wait for the reception he's gonna get the first time he's back at the Rose Garden!
There is absolutely no way Wes is leaving... I just don't see it happening. I think it (the injury) only means we'll pay less.
I say he spends his entire career with the Blazers and he'll have a long career. This injury is challenging and disappointing but not career ending yet. Nobody thought Paul George would be playing full court this spring in practice...Wes will be back.
I could see other teams offering something like a near max 2 year deal with team option on the second year, but seems unlikely Wes will be offered guaranteed 4-5 year deal at 10m+ elsewhere like he would have been. PA on the other hand might have sort of a gamble-on-the-future-because-of-contributions-in-the-past thing going on, and will probably be willing to blow away any remotely conservative offers from other teams.
I do not see a team throwing huge money at him now. Most likely scenario I see is us signing him to a one year deal, possibly after he is ready to play. then rewarding him next offseason with the salary cap jumping.
I have no inside information, but I expect him to be back. And I usually am not that optimistic. Just that my gut leads me that way and I think the injury might make a return even more likely for a couple of reasons.
I think he comes back but like Sly's other thread is pointing out he has a very tough road getting healthy and playing anywhere near the same level. That is as close to a career ending injury as you get without it actually being called one. His claim to fame has been defense and that is where he is going to take a hit. Now he is going to become a spot up shooter and that means he will become a bench rotation guy at best.
I just can't see a team paying him lots of money factoring in his injury. He hasn't proven to be a first or second option on a team, he's a swing-third plus he has an achillies injury. A GM would be a real idiot to take a gamble on a big contract, its what made the knicks the knicks they are right now.
I wouldn't if I were NO - too much risk. I would sign him to a 1- or 2-year deal to see how he's recovered from the Achilles injury. If he can demonstrate that there are no ill effects from the injury then resign him to a larger $ contract.
No IOW What everyone else said. Don't worry about it KS. Wes will be back on the court off the Blazers bench this December. Bank on it.
Are there suicidal GMs with mad cap room who want to spend it on a shooting guard who is in the middle of rehabbing a ruptured Achilles? That seems extremely unlikely.
Depends on what you call"Stupidly high"? What do you base it on? Where would your cutoff be? Is a guy dealing with what most call a career ending injury worth anything more than a 1-2 year contract? Do they pay him plenty just to see if he comes back strong? When does this become a business decision?
