More Blazers/Wolves speculation: Blazers may make run at Pek

[DusterBuster]

According to Darren Wolfson....

One team official scoffed at the notion that center Nikola Pekovic, who is a restricted free agent this summer, could command $12 million/year on the open market.

I do, too, but big men are constantly in demand, and the Blazers, in desperate need of one, will have cap space.

If Pekovic doesn't get $12 million a year, the hunch is he'll come close. That makes me wonder, if Kahn can find the right replacement, whether he'll pull the trigger.

http://www.blazersedge.com/2013/1/4/383 ... ic-in-2013

[Sabzi]

*Yawn* Pek is a nice piece and has kept them afloat with AK during Love's nightmare season. At that price though that's nothing but purgatory for the next 5 years.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

I think he will get a pretty good offer.

People always need centers, and the FA crop next year is pretty terrible. Besides Howard, I would rather throw big money at Pek than at Jefferson, Bynum, Kaman, Okafor or Dalembert.

Whether he gets $10 or $12 million will depend on the market, but I wouldn't be surprised if he gets the second largest contract out of those centers. Ok, maybe third largest because Philly has found themselves backed into a corner, but god I feel sorry for them.

[GreenRiddler]

I say do it, if we can get a good draft pick this year and Freeland,Barton,Claver And Leonard improve add a 7-11 pick and we got a bench with a formidable starting five of;

Lillard
We$
Nic
LMA
Pek

Sorry Sabzi we can't all have a Lebron James, or Carmelo.

[Norm2953]

Minnesota is going to match any offer for Pek.

[Brandon-Clyde]

I just do not see Pekovic as what the Blazers need from the center position. We need a strong interior defender/shotblocker/rebounder and Pekovic is very weak as an interior defender/shotblocker and only an average rebounder
Depending on who we got in the draft I would sign Dalembert to mle money,resign Hickson and use the rest to add depth. Of course if we got Lens or Noels in the draft(both shotblockers) that would all change

[DusterBuster]

The only way the Blazers have any shot of getting Pek would be for them to use ever penny of cap space they have, and even then it's likely the Wolves match. In all likelihood, this is going to be Hibbert 2.0. While I'd love to stick it to the Wolves as much as the next Blazer fan, it's not the most logical use of the cap space since it will tie up all the money while other UFA's make deals.

[ebott]

I'm really looking forward to seeing Pek and JJ go at it tonight. With his play this season JJ has made himself just as much of a free agent target as Pek. The Blazers might be better off signing JJ to a long term deal than going after a guy like Pek.

[DaVoiceMaster]

I wouldn't mind resigning JJ, but I would hope he's the energy guy coming off the bench instead starting at center.

[Wizenheimer]

I'm really looking forward to seeing Pek and JJ go at it tonight. With his play this season JJ has made himself just as much of a free agent target as Pek. The Blazers might be better off signing JJ to a long term deal than going after a guy like Pek.

that will be tomorrow night

Blazers play memphis tonight

[BlazersRizing]

seen this movie before and we know how it ends.

"toxic" offer that gets matched.

[The Sebastian Express]

Not really interested in Pekovic. But if all other notable free agents are gone, I'm all for giving him a toxic offer that Minnesota will likely match as Kahn panics over potential Love whining.

[PDXKnight]

I have no doubt Minnesota would match but if it wouldn't prevent us from pursuin other options I wouldn't have any problem with offering Pek a decent sized contract knowing that they'll match.

[Mr Odd]

Really good FAs wont sign in Portland, they just dont.
So if youre holding out for a better player then youre
going to be waiting for a looooong, looooong time.. .

Take the best player you can in FA, hopefully its a C.

Blazers best bet for getting a really good C is in the
draft, but next draft there isnt many good Cs.. .

[PDXKnight]

Really good FAs wont sign in Portland, they just dont.
So if youre holding out for a better player then youre
going to be waiting for a looooong, looooong time.. .

Take the best player you can in FA, hopefully its a C.

Blazers best bet for getting a really good C is in the
draft, but next draft there isnt many good Cs.. .

RFA's sign with teams for the best possible deal all of the time, espcially when they know they will be retained by their original team. If there isn't a more pressing matter there would be some logic in making an agressive offer to potenially load a division rival's cap space up.

[T-Blazin1995]

I'm sure that they would match BUT be nice to get a little payback after the whole batum thing

[Norm2953]

I'm not into payback for it serves no purpose. I'd rather we went after a solid free agent
that would make the team better for its likely whatever mid-lat lottery we may get will
be another project like Meyers Leonard.

[JasonStern]

I'm torn. it's a star/talent driven league, but having seen the blazers bench play, I cannot wonder if they may be better off using the cap space to acquire multiple mid-tier players than one more starting caliber player.

[Norm2953]

It is indeed a star driven league but unless we get decidedly lucky, our first round
pick is not going to be anything but a bench guy who will develop

I could see Portland settling for someone like JJ Redick who would at least give us a
shooter off of our bench along with trying to sign Hickson.

[Shem]

Really good FAs wont sign in Portland, they just dont.
So if youre holding out for a better player then youre
going to be waiting for a looooong, looooong time.. .

The only way to realistically do it is to have the cap space to make that signing and the other major markets don't have the cap space to do it.