Dr.Krapinsky wrote:The reality is, Portland is building the rigth way-- through the draft and acquiring assets. There is no need for them too change that strategy at this point. Moreover, there roster is not overcrowded since Jones will likley not be back with them (no need with Outlaw and Webster), Green is not needed (they already have three pgs), and Miles or Lafrentz will probably be bought out.
That's not the case at all. The Blazers Beat Writer for the Oregonian recently addressed the issue of Jones in his blog, here is what he had to say...
I wouldn't fret about the future of Trail Blazers forward and resident sage James Jones, who has the option to become a free agent after this season.
Even though I was chastised Friday by teammate Steve Blake for doing so, I probed Jones on where he stood regarding his $3.2 million player option, and Jones indicated he has every intention of staying in Portland.
However, that revelation didn't come before taking a little razing from Blake.
"Come on J-Quick, you can't be asking about contracts right now,'' Blake said passing by. "It's too early.''
It may be, but Jones took no offense, even though he called the question "premature''.
"For me, it has always been about just thinking in the near future,'' Jones said. "If an opportunity presents itself for me to opt out and stay here, cool. Or if it doesn't present itself - an opportunity for me to opt out _ and I stay here, that's fine too. But either way it goes, I want to stay here.''
Jones, who is leading the NBA in three-point percentage (52.7 percent), makes $2.9 million this season. Next season he has three options:
1. Exercise the option on his contract and play for $3.2 million next season.
2. Opt out of his contract and sign a free-agent contract with another team.
3. Opt out of his contract and negotiate a new deal with the Blazers, who would own his Bird Rights.
I think it's a safe bet the end result will be either option 1 or option 3. The Blazers love Jones _ "We don't win that (Miami) game without him" general manager Kevin Pritchard said _ and Jones loves this Portland team.
"I like it here,'' Jones said. "I won't say (that he is coming back) no matter what, but I like it here. This is a place for me. I've had a lot of success here. It's different going someplace and winning and actually going someplace and helping teams win. I'm about winning. Because at the end of the day, if you are not about winning, you can be bing-banged around from place to place.
"But if you are winning, you can pretty much find a home and be stable. Right now, I've been on three teams in five years and I'm kind of looking for a little stability.''
--Quick
In other words, it's pretty safe to assume that Jones will be back with Portland next season. Outside of some other team offering him a ludicrous contract, he'll be with the Blazers for the foreseeable future.
BTW, you said Portland doesn't need Jones because of Outlaw and Webster. That's wrong. People routinely mistake Outlaw as playing SF in Portland. He doesn't. He is our primary backup PF. So without Jones, the Blazers SF position gets very thin, very quick. Plus, he's a great lockerroom presence. It's no coincidence that the Blazers started getting hot once he came back from injury at the end of November. Also, Webster is really streaky. Some nights he'll be on fire and other nights, his shot will really be off. Jones brings a consistency that this young Blazer team needs.
Craig Smith for Frye isn't a terrible idea, but as someone brought out, we'll have the same problem of him not getting any minutes with our frontcourt rotation of Aldridge/Outlaw and Oden/Przybilla.
I'd also add that a more likely alternative for MIN financially would be a deal where part of it would be Walker + Doleac for Raef. If the POR plan is to buy out Raef's deal which would be an expiring this summer, buying out Walker's expiring would be cheaper.
While this is true, there has been nothing to suggest that the Blazers are planning on buying out Raef. If they were going too, they could have done it this summer when they bought out Francis. More likely than not, the Blazers will keep Raef and try to use him as trade bait for when his contract is expiring. If he's still on the roster next season and they can't find a trade that makes sense, then they might look to buy him out right after the trading deadline. That way they can open up a roster spot mid-season and maybe fill a need or bring up a D-Leaguer.
