As for the Travis Knight situation, it still occurs in the current CBA. Unsigned first-round picks are thought of much the same way that an unrestricted free agent's cap hold is: it's there until you renounce it. Normally, UFA's are renounced almost immediately (though they are usually carried into the FA period and then renounced right before you want to sign someone) and first round picks are almost always kept (their cap hold is actually 100% of the rookie scale, but you can pay a rookie 120% of rookie scale, which most do. However, for teams with cap space that want to scrape every penny, they might keep them unsigned through summer league (or until they sign their FA target) and then sign them for the 120%. Long story short, you CAN just renounce a 1st round pick, and you don't carry his salary cap hold and he becomes a UFA. It just doesn't usually happen.
Greg Oden Joel Przybilla Marcus Camby LaMarcus Aldridge Jeff Pendergraph Dante Cunningham Nicolas Batum Rudy Fernandez Jerryd Bayless Brandon Roy Andre Miller Ryan Gomes (expected to be waived) Thats 12, which leaves 3 roster spots for the rookies. Why wouldn't they make the team? Or do you expect us to sign free agents instead?
It's Sunday, and I'm still happy . . . This team is loaded, once again, and we're bursting with young talent, experienced veterans, and a great, great player in Brandon Roy. If Oden can stay healthy, we will be contending for a championship next season. GO BLAZERS!!!!
I'm happy because we got rid of the Oregonian's main infiltrator in the team! Now they have to go back to using their other paid informers in the bureaucracy to run the team by pouring hatred into the paper. As for your point no. 2, the rookies aren't ready to play. Nevada isn't in a top conference and their competition wasn't the best. And their draft positions weren't very high either. They will all need a full season before helping much, especially with McMillan as coach.
I was clearly drunk ... Honestly I don't see them doing that (Miller, Joel, Claver, Rudy for TP) either, San Antonio is going to want quite a bit more for a player of Parker's caliber, but the one glimmer of hope is that I think the writing is on the wall that Pop sees George Hill as their 1 guard of the future. It's also no secret that Parker has clashed with him for years. Really the only way I see Parker ending up in a Blazers jersey is if he demands a trade and makes it clear that Portland is his preferred destination ... even then he won't come cheaply.
We really need a nice trade here. I'd still love either Aaron Brooks or George Hill. That would totally make this off season worth it for me. I don't think we really need bigs, honestly. And I think we are alright at SF also. I think Bayless can back up the PG and SG for us. Which leaves us like Rudy, JPEC and Miller to trade for a nice piece (IMO). I think that could get us a lot. New PG | Bayless | Williams Roy | Bayless Batum | Babbitt Aldridge | Pendergraph/Cunningham Oden | Camby Though a backup PF would be really nice. Would love to try and trade SA for Hill and Blair!
Unfortunately Trout is a free agent, Portland has money and Nate loves the kid. Don't be surprised if he and Blake are the big free agent signings in the off season. Feel free to be disgusted but don't be surprised.
