If Portland blows it up...

[elias808]

That's back to the player to fill the Nicolas Batum role in Portland. Interesting to see Nic play with
the Clippers for he signed a contract for $2.5 Million for one year and Portland spent their full MLE
on a guy (DJJ) who is not a shooter and a poor fit in the Stotts offense.

Olshay gonna do Olshay things

[trix17]

That's back to the player to fill the Nicolas Batum role in Portland. Interesting to see Nic play with
the Clippers for he signed a contract for $2.5 Million for one year and Portland spent their full MLE
on a guy (DJJ) who is not a shooter and a poor fit in the Stotts offense.

Olshay gonna do Olshay things

Also the clips are seen league wide as contenders. Contenders get good players for cheap. Just because Batum signed with LA for that price does not mean he would have done the same with Portland. Not defending Olshey, he sucks and needs to go. But it's not like he passed up Batum for 2.5m, haha

[Wizenheimer]

Portland couldn't have signed Batum without going over the tax line. They were barely under the line when signing RHJ of 245K. Blazers were determined to stay under the tax line so they wouldn't be paying repeater tax next season

[Norm2953]

Could they have signed Batum if they had not used their full MLE?

[Wizenheimer]

Could they have signed Batum if they had not used their full MLE?

yeah, but it's tricky

Batum signed for a vet minimum deal. He's a 10-year veteran so his scale was 2.56M. However, the NBA pays part of that salary over that of a 2 year veteran, and it's only the 2 year veteran scale that counts against a team's cap. That amount is 1.6M. Now, that's for a full season. Players signed during the season will have those scales adjusted downward based upon how much of the season has passed....or how much is remaining I guess. It used to be that teams could offer the full scale, even for a partial season, but the scale they were charged against their cap was pro-rated. Great deal for the player. The last CBA may have changed those rules, or at least adjusted the differential but I'm not sure

anyway, if Portland signed Batum with what was left of an MLE, they would not get that differential break that minimum contracts allow. They'd be assessed the simple value of the salary they gave Batum.

I think the odds are pretty high that Batum would have had little interest playing for Stotts again. But if Portland would have offered him 5-6M, he may have signed. Paying Batum 6M would have been much much better than paying Jones 9.3M

Olshey definitely blew the full-MLE this season. He gave max money to a guy that didn't fit the coach. Of course, that same guy didn't fit well on his last team either. Just another example of Olshey's poor performance.

[Wizenheimer]

Portland couldn't have signed Batum without going over the tax line. They were barely under the line when signing RHJ of 245K. Blazers were determined to stay under the tax line so they wouldn't be paying repeater tax next season

actually, I'm wrong there. Batum would have fit into Melo's slot and the cap impact would have been the same

[PDXKnight]

Portland couldn't have signed Batum without going over the tax line. They were barely under the line when signing RHJ of 245K. Blazers were determined to stay under the tax line so they wouldn't be paying repeater tax next season

actually, I'm wrong there. Batum would have fit into Melo's slot and the cap impact would have been the same

Can’t imagine nic returning here as it seems like it’s not his top location but man he would’ve been so much more useful than melo

[JasonStern]

As suggested by multiple social media posts and conversations, Batum still holds a grudge against the organization for blowing up the Lillard/Matthews/Batum/Aldridge/Lopez core despite Matthews' achilles injury, the fact all of the starters were due for extensions that would have put the Blazers well into the luxury tax, etc. The only way I could ever see him being a Blazer again is if another organization traded him without his approval.

The Batum for Vonleh+Henderson trade made some sense if the goal was never to retain Batum. But if your GM turns around and throws nearly $30M/season at Turner+Leonard, then that's pretty idiotic as Batum was still just 26 at the time - young enough to pair with Lillard - and the Blazers still haven't ever really filled the gap left by trading him.

Can’t imagine nic returning here as it seems like it’s not his top location but man he would’ve been so much more useful than melo

There's "Good Melo" and "Bad Melo". Good Melo can play the role of a spot-up shooter and put up high teens, making him a net positive off of the bench. Bad Melo can't make a jump shot and is a liability on defense. Ideally, Bad Melo would either defer to other players more often or simply give up his minutes to Little. Accept that you're getting old and the days of playing an 82 game season, or in this case a condensed season, are behind you. Play more of a Euro schedule with two games a week that you're well rested for. The problem is that Melo doesn't understand this. Still, "Bad Melo" really isn't any different than playing Hezonja, so at least there's a chance Melo can be productive on any given night.

[Norm2953]

All the more reason to fire Olshey and hire a new GM to oversee the team moving forward
after Dame/CJ. They wish to trust NO to oversee a rebuild after what he did after the team
was broken up after LA left?

[d-train]

As suggested by multiple social media posts and conversations, Batum still holds a grudge against the organization for blowing up the Lillard/Matthews/Batum/Aldridge/Lopez core despite Matthews' achilles injury, the fact all of the starters were due for extensions that would have put the Blazers well into the luxury tax, etc. The only way I could ever see him being a Blazer again is if another organization traded him without his approval.

The Batum for Vonleh+Henderson trade made some sense if the goal was never to retain Batum. But if your GM turns around and throws nearly $30M/season at Turner+Leonard, then that's pretty idiotic as Batum was still just 26 at the time - young enough to pair with Lillard - and the Blazers still haven't ever really filled the gap left by trading him.

That Batum trade was made to dump salary. The Batum salary dump positioned Blazers to have 2 max salary FA's, Lillard, CJ, and Matthews. Blazers didn't have a deal with Aldridge and having another max player was our best chance to keep him. Aldridge blew it up when he decided to go to Spurs. Aldridge's decision determined the Blazers direction, but Batum was gone either way.

Blazers didn't want to give Batum 1 max contract. Hornets gave him 2 max contracts. Why have a grudge against a team that traded you to a team that made you rich? Hornets are still paying Batum.

[d-train]

Blazers could have signed Batum to the same contract he signed with Clippers and not owed any luxury tax. Clippers are paying a prorated portion of veterans minimum. The Clippers are a more attractive team than Blazers. Why would Batum turn down Clippers? He might turn them down this summer when Hornets aren't paying his salary anymore.

[JasonStern]

That Batum trade was made to dump salary. The Batum salary dump positioned Blazers to have 2 max salary FA's, Lillard, CJ, and Matthews. Blazers didn't have a deal with Aldridge and having another max player was our best chance to keep him. Aldridge blew it up when he decided to go to Spurs. Aldridge's decision determined the Blazers direction, but Batum was gone either way.

Batum had one more year on his contract. He was moved because the Blazers weren't going to offer him the $92M contract the Hornets were willing to - one that was immediately was viewed as one of the worst contracts in the league and ultimately ended up being bought out. Rather than lose Batum for nothing, the Blazers got a prospect in Vonleh and a stop-gap player in Henderson.

That part is completely justifiable. The problem is that Olshey followed up the Batum trade by giving Turner and Leonard their contracts. An overpaid Batum would have been far more useful for the Blazers than an overpaid Turner and Leonard.

[Epicurus]

That Batum trade was made to dump salary. The Batum salary dump positioned Blazers to have 2 max salary FA's, Lillard, CJ, and Matthews. Blazers didn't have a deal with Aldridge and having another max player was our best chance to keep him. Aldridge blew it up when he decided to go to Spurs. Aldridge's decision determined the Blazers direction, but Batum was gone either way.

Batum had one more year on his contract. He was moved because the Blazers weren't going to offer him the $92M contract the Hornets were willing to - one that was immediately was viewed as one of the worst contracts in the league and ultimately ended up being bought out. Rather than lose Batum for nothing, the Blazers got a prospect in Vonleh and a stop-gap player in Henderson.

That part is completely justifiable. The problem is that Olshey followed up the Batum trade by giving Turner and Leonard their contracts. An overpaid Batum would have been far more useful for the Blazers than an overpaid Turner and Leonard.

At the tie of the gift to Leonard didn't Olshey say to paraphrase, "if Meyers believe in his talent like I do, he would be all-pro."

[Waynearchetype]

That Batum trade was made to dump salary. The Batum salary dump positioned Blazers to have 2 max salary FA's, Lillard, CJ, and Matthews. Blazers didn't have a deal with Aldridge and having another max player was our best chance to keep him. Aldridge blew it up when he decided to go to Spurs. Aldridge's decision determined the Blazers direction, but Batum was gone either way.

Blazers didn't want to give Batum 1 max contract. Hornets gave him 2 max contracts. Why have a grudge against a team that traded you to a team that made you rich? Hornets are still paying Batum.

Batum trade wasn't a salary dump. At the time of the Batum trade, CJ was absolutely nothing, it would have been silly to consider him in any future cap scenario. In 2012, the Blazers low balled Batum, and Batums agent let it be known Batum wanted out. During the free agency period, Minnesota was the one that submitted an accepted offer to Batum, and the Blazers matched. During that time, Batums agent did everything he could to try to stop the Blazers from matching (there was a lot of badmouthing). Given that history, if you believed Batum would resign as an FA then you are crazy. So they pivoted to a scenario where they wouldn't have to re-sign batum the next year.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/8168970/minnesota-timberwolves-submit-46m-offer-sheet-nicolas-batum

Ironically, there was similar bad blood between Aldridge and the Blazers FO due to floating his names in trades his 2nd and 3rd years. They probably should have done the same with him, but I guess you hope and pray an all-star will stay.

[HoopsFanAZ]

Plenty of athletes will say who they model their game after, BUT Batum was pretty emphatic he wanted to play like Scottie Pippen.

When put on a tough cover (1-4), Batum's energy was much better than when given a normal defensive assignment; no surprise there because it's that or get embarrassed. But Batum's D reflected his play at the other end. Too often, Batum didn't have a tough cover and could float at both ends. Hot and cold. The inconsistent play was maddening given his poison pill contract.

Involved Batum -- on the move, initiating plays, back cuts, screen rolls ... then he would disappear. I always contended it was a function of his defensive assignments -- the coaches blew it. That's just how he plays. His exhibited personality. When he sees his team needs him to do more, he does. It was the same on the French national team when, because of injuries, Tony Parker told him to take over and be more selfish because that's what they needed.

Batum can still play. I'd love to see him on the Blazers for the T-MLE. No brainer.

[BlazersBroncos]

I dont want to take this route, but if we do this is the type of deal I would look for in return for Dame:

Barrett
IQ
#32
2023 DAL FRP (Protected 1-10)
2024 NYK FRP (Unprotected)
2025 NYK FRP SWAP (Top-3 Protected)
2026 NYK FRP (Unprotected)
2027 NYK FRP SWAP (Top-10 Protected)
2028 NYK FRP (Top-3 Protected)

That would get me on the phone.

Aim for unprotected FRP's that convey when Dame is 34+ and Randle 32+. Pay Powell in the meantime and keep us interested by running the below as a 6-8 seed until they start getting those FRP's to add to RJ, Simons, IQ, Little and maybe Nurkic (Who will be around 30 when they start to convey).

G - McCollum / IQ
G - Powell / Simons
F - Barrett / Little
F - Covington / BAE
C - Nurkic / Collins

Could be a fun team and you keep a treasure chest for the future. I like staying competitive as a late seed while having the picks start rolling in 2024 when NYK starts to (presumably) decline. Its one of the only Dame-trade scenarios I find appealing.

[JasonStern]

Why blow it up? Just trade for Zion.
Oh, right. We're not the Lakers.

[GEE]

Though I think it's unlikely Olshey will "Blow it up", and even less likely Dame gets moved, neither are impossible to imagine. I admit, I have no idea what the roster will look like next year but all player contracts look movable, and with Olsheys' seat warming up (two more years with no mistakes is my guess), Collins and Nurkic's lack of reliability and the potential of offers for CJ finally getting consideration.... who knows????

Olshey may decide to focus solely on the coaching staff, and believe in seeing what a different coach can do with the talent he has put together... and that's only if he can convince the current players with options to return to the team. Not a given.

Or, Olshey and Jody may agree with a plan to go all in, making everyone but Dame available in trade, and give this roster a huge overhaul for a two year run. We'll just have to wait and see, because the players we get won't matter a bit, if Olshey screws up on the coaching hire.

[Waynearchetype]

If you blow it up you have to get rid of Olshey first. As long as they keep him, I don't see it happening. Ownership is probably content with putting out a slightly above average product that puts butts in seats, even if its clear they aren't winning any championships. Money is generally greater than risking it all for rings.

[HoopsFanAZ]

If you blow it up you have to get rid of Olshey first. As long as they keep him, I don't see it happening. Ownership is probably content with putting out a slightly above average product that puts butts in seats, even if its clear they aren't winning any championships. Money is generally greater than risking it all for rings.

Risking it all for rings is the only point of it [IMHO].
The Blazers are good enough as a team and with Lillard to go for it … however big “it” is to improve the team to actually contend.
Optimistic? Yes. Not making “that” trade(s) (if possible) is unacceptable. As constructed, the imbalance won’t get there.

Milwaukee beats Brooklyn. No trade of Middleton likely, now.