Best Free Agents we've ever signed: Rod Strickland, Brian Grant, Kenny Anderson, Wes Matthews (at the time of signings). Our roster is incomplete. We need to add help to Lillard and McCollum. Personally, I believe Aminu and Plumlee are better suited in being off the bench players. We have many spots that should be improved in our rotation. Whiteside? Horford? Barnes? DeRozen? A signing is critical this offseason.
If they could swing a deal for Durant - provided he can forgive Portland for not picking him first. I know the whole world will go for him but the Blazers do have a lot to offer a young start, starting with all star point guard to feed him the ball. I don't think it's a pipe dream. Supposedly the Warriors are interested but he would not be the No. 1 option at GSW.
I think PDX will have to settle for 2nd tier free agents, but that's OK. Ryan Anderson, Noah, Bazemore, Biyombo and Courney Lee seem realistic (and a little boring honestly) if we strike out on Whiteside/Horford/Howard.
Cool, Make sure you let loose in the toilet and not all over your shirt. I just think that all the guys overachieved, and proved them selves as very hard workers. I think that has earned them another year to try to improve and get better before giving up and trying to replace them. Too much upside on too many of our player still for two reasons. Age and lack of experience in the nba and playing together. Give them another year to see how much more the improve and then replace those who are not.
Next year we wont have nearly the cap space we do this offseason. Cjs max deal is likely going to lock in next offseason. If they sign him to an extension this offseason. Same with plums if we get him on an extension. That would hamstring us in terms of flexibility.
And thats not taking into consideration the money crabbe and harkless will likely get from.us this offseason too.
Marvin Williams needs to be added to this list. I don't understand why he's not getting any attention; he's one of the best UFA PF options out there this summer.
It will be very difficult for the Blazers to get better this off-season. Every player suggested in this thread that would be an upgrade will also be receiving interest from 20 other teams, or more. The hard truth is, we may lose several of our 5 FA young guns. We may start next season with less depth than we have now. We have no draft picks to reload with projects on rookie contracts. Denver cashes in our first and the Bulls own our second round pick. Olshey will need to pull a rabbit out of his hat this summer to improve this roster.
I like Marvin Williams as well. But he is only a PF in the same sense that Al-Farouq Aminu is a PF. In that they really aren't they just play one on TV. Stotts would like him though as he loves stretch 4's. I would take Marvin as a backup plan but I would prefer a true bruiser PF personally. We might not be able to be picky this off-season though so still a good suggestion!
Marvin Williams is 6'9" 240. He may not be Zach Randolph, but he's MUCH more of a PF than Aminu. The main thing is that he's a much more effective offensive player than Aminu, IMO.
Whoa, you're definitely a glass half empty guy. In fact, you may be a full-blown that glass is as dry as dust so I may as well smash it kind of guy. This narrative that Portland is the doormat of NBA free agency is really tired. Olshey has assembled a bunch of young guys who love playing here. They've achieved unexpected success and the league has noticed. There are going to be plenty of free agents who are looking for what Olshey will be selling this summer.
If I'm a free agent, I'm looking at Portland and thinking "I can help that team." Anyone looking in from the outside can see that we're a young team with a couple of star caliber players, but some holes in the starting lineup. If I'm Horford or even Durant, I'm thinking I can win with that team.
any NBA player that has been in the Moda Center for a game knows what we have to offer...best fans in the league..roster filled with guys who like the coach and each other..team captain with a global brand and a chance to play...what's not to like?
I haven't seen enough Marvin Williams to have a solid opinion on him. But from what I have seen, I'd take him at SF - not PF, but SF. I suspect that he will get reasonable contract offers, and not something outrageous, which is another reason why he's the only realistic Free Agent I'm interested in pursuing. Although, a non-traditional Free Agent I also hope we explore is Larry Sanders. If we could get both Williams and Sanders on good contracts that would be the best I could hope for this summer. Then lock in Crabbe and Meyers on team-friendly contracts and call it a day as far as signings go. We should look to trade for a PF. Vonleh for Taj Gibson is what I'm pitching. PG: Dame/CJ/Montero SG: CJ/Crabbe SF: Williams/Aminu/Pat PF: Gibson/Davis/Alexander C: Plumlee/Sanders/Meyers If we're able to get the above roster then Olshey starts working the final tinker-trade(s), utilizing some combo of Aminu/Davis/Crabbe/Plumlee/Meyers as the primary bait.
I think Vonleh is a keeper...at his age the sky is the limit..his defensive skillset is ahead of the curve already but I like the idea of taking a chance on an affordable Larry Sanders..he's got a boatload of talent and won't get big bucks in a return to the league
I said I would take a look at him. He is a good suggestion. But Aminu is also 6 foot 9. Sure Marvin has 20 pounds on him but Williams also didn't play any PF until last season (as in 14-15 I mean) so it isn't like teams thought he would be a PF all along.
