State of the Roster

MaxRider · Post #921 » by **MaxRider** » Tue Apr 9, 2013 11:12 pm

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/more/s ... dex.2.html
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/more/s ... dex.3.html
2008 melo has 9.5 millions
2009 melo has 5 millions
2010 melo has 6 millions
so his thug image may lost some in 2009 but he gain that back when going to NY
i don't think he will get 10 millions now if he's still in denver
dwight number is not accurate cause he didn't get traded to LA until August and he made himself into a fool so he's not really likeable in LA
funny thing i see is durant, 21.6 millions in 2008 when he was in seattle
didn't make the top 50 (which mean less than 10 millions in endorsement) in 2009
man okc really has nothing

Zubby · Post #922 » by **Zubby** » Tue Apr 9, 2013 11:49 pm

wtf he lost 5 million for being stupid!
lol

moral of the story... don't be stupid.

OKC really the only thing I know/remember about that city is the bombing when I was a kid.

texasholdem · Post #923 » by **texasholdem** » Wed Apr 10, 2013 7:21 pm

From the wiretap: Blazers Likely To Part Ways With Hickson

What do you guys think of JJ as a power forward free agent signee?

Has had a good season avg. 12.9 ppg and 10.6 rpg in only 29.3 mpg.
He is shooting a career high 56.7% from the field. Only .67 blocks per game though.

Yeah we have Jones, Motiejunas, Robinson and Smith all capable of playing PF
but Hickson is a proven double double guy now.

He is only 24 (will turn 25 in Sept). so he is the right age to go with Harden-Parsons-Lin core.
Smith and Howard are both 28.

Some nice dunks by JJ
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGyqgBnwVFE[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBIt-y1zn_0[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-Og5RgOOig[/youtube]

some nice blocks by JJ
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rlmRBW79Lc[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UmskkFn5oY[/youtube]

MaxRider · Post #924 » by **MaxRider** » Wed Apr 10, 2013 7:24 pm

how much is hickson better than smith?
is it worth to sign him to a contract > mle?

Post #925 » by **TMACFORMVP** » Wed Apr 10, 2013 10:07 pm

Doesn't he BARELY impact the Blazers actual rebounding? In the sense that they:

a.) blow as a rebounding team
b.) don't rebound any better when he's on the floor

I'm not sure that's true, but I remember seeing that statistic somewhere. And I also think his efficiency this season has been an outlier (kinda worrisome in a contract year). And he's not a particularly good defender, either. I'm pretty "meh" on him. He's OK, but I don't think our plan with the cap-space is to get a guy like Hickson when we still have a lot of PF's that should hopefully develop into solid rotational guys with similar impact as a guy like Hickson..for next season (G.Smith, TJones, DMo).

spolgar · Post #926 » by **spolgar** » Thu Apr 11, 2013 12:14 am

TMACFORMVP wrote:Doesn't he BARELY impact the Blazers actual rebounding? In the sense that they:

a.) blow as a rebounding team
b.) don't rebound any better when he's on the floor

I'm not sure that's true, but I remember seeing that statistic somewhere. And I also think his efficiency this season has been an outlier (kinda worrisome in a contract year). And he's not a particularly good defender, either. I'm pretty "meh" on him. He's OK, but I don't think our plan with the cap-space is to get a guy like Hickson when we still have a lot of PF's that should hopefully develop into solid rotational guys with similar impact as a guy like Hickson..for next season (G.Smith, TJones, DMo).

I'm thinking and doing research as I type, so don't mind me rambling:

The problem with Hickson's defense is that he is undersized and has to guard the 5 when he's a natural 4. It's possible he has to put forth a lot more effort than most to play good post defense, especially in his division. It also means that he's suppose to be the weak side help on rim protection, which frankly he's not remotely equiped to do properly. Offensively, unfortunately for Hickson, Alridge gets the bulk of the touches down low. For Portland, ideally Hickson is at best a backup to Alridge as someone first off the bench if Meyers Leonard develops into a usable 5. It's kind of a waste of Hickson really, since he could be a better Udonis Haslem. He's better off not playing in Portland. If the Lakers flip Gasol for youth, he'd be a good piece for them to get.

There is an awesome post of Hickson's highlights dropping 25 and 16 on the Suns on youtube. And the immediate notes for the post is a short story about Blazer fans coercing him to admit that he puts up empty numbers. While I am not sure if that is fair or not, it is funny as hell.

He's got a smooth jumper for a 4, some handles and could space the paint. He doesn't have a three though. He cuts well, has good hands but I can't find a good display of him using back to the basket moves on youtube.

We should just renegotiate Greg Smith's contract to have performance incentives pertaining to jumpers out to 15 feet. Right now Greg Smith and TJones are way out in front on the power forward rotation, followed by DMo and TRob. None of these guys are as productive numerically as Hickson night in night out, but between those 4 on any given night we'll find one or two guys that can be combined to be as good.

I think we wait on pieces like Hickson until we figure out the person we want to spend the max contract on, then get complementary pieces afterwards. Hickson is at best a complementary piece that will might take a discount to play with a team with championship prospects.

LarsV8 · Post #927 » by **LarsV8** » Thu Apr 11, 2013 1:53 am

You don't spend cap space on guys like JJ Hickson, imo.

I bet Jones gives similar production with the same playing time and he is on a rookie scale.

moofs · Post #928 » by **moofs** » Sun Apr 14, 2013 9:04 pm

I'm kinda thinking Greg Smith might end up being better than Hickson overall anyway.

Especially if he can work out ANY kind of a jump/hook shot.

Viatical · Post #929 » by **Viatical** » Sun Apr 14, 2013 9:37 pm

LarsV8 wrote:You don't spend cap space on guys like JJ Hickson, imo.

I bet Jones gives similar production with the same playing time and he is on a rookie scale.

This is exactly right. Guys like Hickson are who you end up with by default as a plan D or plan E, after you pursue but fail to acquire much, much better free agents.

A big man like Hickson on a 2-3 year deal is a consolation prize for missing out on the Howard, Josh Smith, Millsap, and Jefferson sweepstakes.

I like the kid, but the ridiculous minutes load and free-flowing system in Portland has his free agency value way out of whack. Ask any Blazers fan about Hickson's true value, defensively, offensively, and when he's doing anything more than grabbing rebounds Aldridge is too lazy to board himself.

They would give up three Hicksons for one Asik any day, I promise you.

moofs wrote:I'm kinda thinking Greg Smith might end up being better than Hickson overall anyway.

Especially if he can work out ANY kind of a jump/hook shot.

Greg Smith already has the better physical tools. Things like those catcher's mitt paws of his are a major asset that often goes overlooked.

spolgar · Post #930 » by **spolgar** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 1:59 am

After from what I've been seeing from TJones lately, there's no need to acquire Hickson.

Smith and Jones have been entertainingly lately, to say the least.

CKRT · Post #931 » by **CKRT** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 2:14 am

Zubby wrote:OKC really the only thing I know/remember about that city is the bombing when I was a kid.

OKC is a great city, and I'm proud to call it my home. It's definitely not a city where you're going to be piling up endorsements like LA though. Durant is doing great with endorsements however. I'd like to see his new estimates, because I think they'd be up in the low/mid 20s by now.

With Kobe going out, I think that definitely hurts Dwight's chances of resigning with LA especially if Howard shows up in the playoffs and they still get swept. I think there's still a high chance he resigns though.

texasholdem · Post #932 » by **texasholdem** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 1:30 pm

spolgar wrote:After from what I've been seeing from TJones lately, there's no need to acquire Hickson.

Smith and Jones have been entertainingly lately, to say the least.

Post #933 » by **TMU** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 1:56 pm

texasholdem wrote:
spolgar wrote:After from what I've been seeing from TJones lately, there's no need to acquire Hickson.

Smith and Jones have been entertainingly lately, to say the least.

This is brilliant! :bowdown:

moofs · Post #934 » by **moofs** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 2:01 pm

Wiiiiiiin.

spolgar · Post #935 » by **spolgar** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 2:23 pm

Moofs' dedication, especially when applied to make slight of foul persons, is infectious.

What the heck, Royce White actually deserves it.

moofs · Post #936 » by **moofs** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 4:18 pm

Fantastic articles on Bev and Smith.

Captain
http://www.thedreamshake.com/2013/4/13/ ... ing-report
Godzilla
http://www.thedreamshake.com/2013/4/15/ ... greg-smith

MaxRider · Post #937 » by **MaxRider** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 4:35 pm

texasholdem wrote:
spolgar wrote:After from what I've been seeing from TJones lately, there's no need to acquire Hickson.

Smith and Jones have been entertainingly lately, to say the least.

Post #938 » by **jwise44** » Thu Apr 18, 2013 6:11 am

Lin/bev/brooks (not sure how much we have after signing al Jeff and trading extra pfs)
Harden/Garcia
Parsons/delfino
Al Jefferson/t-jones/motie (jones or motie traded for cap space)
Asik/smith

Maybe withey, glen rob 3 (keep one of delfino or Garcia [in this case Garcia more likely]), hardaway jr. (Keep one of delfino or Garcia), and there are other quality players that could fall

Trade Robinson and one of motie or jones (motie preferably) for cap room and try to pawn Royce off on someone literally anyone....I'd trade him for a 2nd in star date 63516937

Post #939 » by **jwise44** » Thu Apr 18, 2013 6:17 am

Also that team is > than

Lin/Beverly (could we keep him?)
Harden/vet min or 2nd
Parsons/vet min or 2nd
Jones/motie (may have to trade one or the other for cap space)
Dwight/smith

Asik traded for future picks and Royce bought out

moofs · Post #940 » by **moofs** » Thu Apr 18, 2013 3:12 pm

You know, I'm aware I disagreed with it at the first of the year, but at this point I think our clearest upgrade possibilities are at PG.
After that, I'm not sure I don't want Asik to be a backup.
And please, Chandler/Harden/Jones, someone from the three of you please please please learn some midrange shooting to lessen our predictability. We don't need a ton of it, but we need someone who can be some degree of a threat there.