This just makes too much sense....

[mojomarc]

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So who are you going to give up just to get Miles off the team?

Jack?

[Wizenheimer]

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My point was that we're going to have to dump players no matter what.

As far as PetKo, for some reason I was thinking he was a second rounder.

you should have added "if we want cap-space" to the end of that sentence.

Portland will have to dump players for sure this summer. Green and McRoberts are obvious candidates, but it may also happen in a multi-player trade. And obviously Lafrentz's contract expiring after next season opens up a roster spot.

But creating any significant cap-space will require some of the current rotation players to be 'dumped'. In that calculation I made, I assumed Jack was gone. And personally, I think portland will have a difficult time trying to keep both webster and Jones in the rotation once Oden and Rudy join it. Webster is younger and has a higher ceiling, but Jones is better right now, or at least more consistent. I think Jones could be re-signed for 2 or 3 million less a year, which would be significant as far as cap space.

And while I think a little better of Frye then most here, he also is a somewhat obvious dumpee for the sake of cap-space. He's doing a decent job right now, good shooter although a bit inconsistent, and he can play either C/PF. He also obviously fits into the culture/chemistry equation and may be ok with a limited role. But he'll want to get paid enough that his impact on cap-space may outweigh his positives.

So if portland dumps the end of the bench players, kaponen & freeland, jack & frye, and one of jones/webster they could have 8-12 million in cap space. Dumping Jones, Frye, and Jack, and then signing Ben Gordon and Brandon Bass may be a good 'trade-off', to offer one hypothetical.

I just don't think they'll be that successful in an off-season that could see several teams substantially under the cap.

[AZ BLAZER]

^^^Kaponen doesn't count against the cap unless we bring him over, which is quite unlikely. I think he gets stashed in Europe for another 2 year or so. Also, I don't think you can count Outlaw or Blake against the cap unless we resign them--I believe they will be unrestricted free agents, which means they count as nothing against the cap.

Outlaw and Blake are both in the first year of three year deals. The first two years are guaranteed, while the Blazers hold team options for a third year for both players. If Outlaw continues to improve, he will be a steal for an additional year at $4 mil. The Blazers would certainly exercize his final year. If they did not he would;

1. Become an unrestricted free agent.

2. Would have a cap hold of 200% of his $4 mil salary if Portland did not exercize his third year option. This means Portland will pick up Outlaw's option as soon as they can because his cap hold would be twice his actual salary would be and his actual salary at this point looks to be a steal.

Blake is in the same boat as Outlaw above, except he most likely will not be viewed as a steal. I could see Portland possibly not picking up his option and then signing him for less while still retaining his Bird Rights. Of course they could pick up his option and have him for one more year at his currents salary or just let him walk if Portland somehow gets a stud pg. I think his option will be picked up, but I fully expect that Blake will work with KP to "get his" some how while helping the team as well.

In summary, I do not see enough cap room to sign a star type player. Keeping Outlaw, Webster, Jones and Blake will eat it up. If Portland were able to dump Miles along with players such as Jack, Frye, Raef, McBob, Green, Euro players, cash and picks then space can be created.

Do I want to dump Miles like this? Yes! Portland needs to thin the roster beyond the active roster. KP aquires the talent to be able to move it to help the team. Moving Miles would get the cap space to get the star player as well as thin out the roster.

[Fitz303]

If we're going to seriously give up assets to try and get rid of him (which I dont necessarily agree with), I seriously hope we give them Sergio. That would be the only piece I would really care to send away in a package for Miles. Other than that, its not worth it

[Gibbs]

If you dump Miles, I think a deal similar to this would be interesting:

Miles
LaFrentz
Jack
Rights to Koponen

for

Marbury (waived)
Rose (Replaces LaFrentz as third string center)

Fundamentally the same as most other deals but also takes away Koponen's one million or so cap hit, with only really giving up Jack. Rights to Freeland, McRoberts, Green or 2nd's could also be added but I agree that no firsts should be added unless its a Miles and a 1st for Rose type of deal made at next years deadline.