Portland - 2016 Offseason

[Mattya]

We slept on cole Aldrich for 7 mil for 3 years??! Wow Neil is in the hot seat. All the teams are getting better.

I agree, thats a really good deal for Aldrich and Minny, Olshey better have something good cooking or he's suckin eggs

He is from Minnesota, so it could be a slight hometown discount.

[Blazinaway]

this is startin to really piss me off, I gotta get out and take the dog and myself for a nice long walk or I will start drinkin and its way too early!

[Jsun947]

I feel like Portland has had the worst offseason so far. Is there even an argument for someone else?

[DusterBuster]

Aldrich in Minny likely means they're out of the Gasol race, so.... there's that?

I don't particularly care about Aldrich. He has some nice advanced stats, but those don't mean much if they guy only ever gets 15min a game.

[DusterBuster]

I feel like Portland has had the worst offseason so far. Is there even an argument for someone else?

Dallas?

[Wizenheimer]

I feel like Portland has had the worst offseason so far. Is there even an argument for someone else?

Dallas?

[Wizenheimer]

lol..great minds

[DeBlazerRiddem]

I don't know your guys cap situation. Are the odds high that you bring back all of Crabbe, Leonard, and Harkless after signing Turner?

Potential Other Suiters For Aldrich (And I use potential very loosely)
Brooklyn
Dallas
Houston
New Orleans
Phoenix

What does the cap space look like for these teams?

Wolves also have some interest in Aldrich.

Dang, you called it. I would have really liked to sign him to that contract.

I think there is a decent chance we don't see any better options using the rest of our capspace this summer and bring all 3 back - barring another teams insane overpay - just to avoid losing assets and keeping the pantry full. However I could see a big 15+ offer to Crabbe scaring us off. Harkless and Leonard I don't think will get a toxic offer like that, so are pretty likely to stick around.


I suppose Ezeli is still an option which would require us to renounce one of those 3 players. Maybe Sullinger too if we feel he is worth more than the 7.5 million we can offer without renouncing a FA, in which case Leonard is probably gone. I'm not a huge fan of Sullinger as an option though, his best fit is with Davis and that is a small front-court.

[Jsun947]

Sullinger sucks... He just isn't good at all and I don't think he would even be remotely close to an improvement over Harkless or Aminu at the 4. Especially on this team.

[Masterfully]

Aldrich in Minny likely means they're out of the Gasol race, so.... there's that?

I don't particularly care about Aldrich. He has some nice advanced stats, but those don't mean much if they guy only ever gets 15min a game.

They have 4 centers now (Towns, Aldrich, Pekovic, Dieng) so yeah.

Unless Durant goes to San Antonio (which I think is highly unlikely) then we should pencil Gasol in on the Spurs.
Same goes for Barnes and the Warriors. Which would hypothetically make Ezeli somewhat attainable, but it would take an overpay to prevent GS from matching.

Zaza is the least sexy, yet most productive player out there. If you bring back all the RFA's you could probably still get Zaza, just renounce rights to Henderson.

[Jsun947]

I guess Dallas from the perspective that they lost Parsons.

Granted right now they hardly have a roster but I'd imagine they are going to stick some RFA offers out there, and if they get matched they'll just sign some guys to big one year deals (Williams, Dirk, Gasol, etc), then head into next year with upwards of 85 million in cap space when its a much better free agent class.

That seems like a better offseason than getting capped out without making any significant improvements to a team that needed significant improvements.

[JasonStern]

Now I've heard everything! Let's set our expectations low so that we won't be disappointed! That way when we do around average or slightly above average we will think we are geniuses! Classic! This sounds just like the school system and youth sports philosophy today--"2+2=5.....no but that's ok, Johnny, we really like your effort!" Everyone gets a trophy and a smiley face!!!

the definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over again [in free agency] and expecting different results.

[Jsun947]

Aldrich in Minny likely means they're out of the Gasol race, so.... there's that?

I don't particularly care about Aldrich. He has some nice advanced stats, but those don't mean much if they guy only ever gets 15min a game.

They have 4 centers now (Towns, Aldrich, Pekovic, Dieng) so yeah.

Unless Durant goes to San Antonio (which I think is highly unlikely) then we should pencil Gasol in on the Spurs.
Same goes for Barnes and the Warriors. Which would hypothetically make Ezeli somewhat attainable, but it would take an overpay to prevent GS from matching.

Zaza is the least sexy, yet most productive player out there. If you bring back all the RFA's you could probably still get Zaza, just renounce rights to Henderson.

Whats the pointto bringing in Zaza though? Our players are arguably better and need the development that comes with playing time. Its not like Zaza is some type of good rim protector or defender? Hes a mediocre back up center on the wrong side of his prime.

[skoharry]

i really think if we are looking for a PF too that we should lok at j.sullinger. he can shoot the 3 & can make jump shots, he can rebound, has somewhat of a defensive game, & he fits into the age range we are going for. i think he would take 8-12mil/year[maybe less to come play with turner. saying they like eachother]. he still has not reached his ceiling & i believe playing in stotts system he could go back to averaging 13-15ppg & 8-10rpg like he did in the 13/14 and 14/15 season. so tell me what you guys think about this
sign sullinger for 3yrs @ 24mil with a TO for the 3rd yr
sign s.larkin for 3yrs @ 18mill
trade aminu & vonleh to MIN for dieng
resign harkless & crabbe
so our roster would be

PG - dame/larkin
SG - cj/crabbe
SF - turner/harkless
PF - sullinger/davis
C - dieng/plumlee
looks good to me

I like the Sullinger idea, heres an interesting article on him

http://www.golocalprov.com/sports/jared-sullinger-headlines-potential-bargains-in-nba-free-agency

but do you like the rest of it & would it work $ wise. i heard we can go over the cap with keeping our RFA's without affecting the cap to sign new guys.

also what does everyone think about this trade?
aminu, vonleh, & a pick for henson from MIL or chandler from PHO

i really think we should look at working a trade for WCS, noel, or dieng

[Wizenheimer]

I think there is a decent chance we don't see any better options using the rest of our capspace this summer and bring all 3 back - barring another teams insane overpay - just to avoid losing assets and keeping the pantry full. However I could see a big 15+ offer to Crabbe scaring us off. Harkless and Leonard I don't think will get a toxic offer like that, so are pretty likely to stick around.


I suppose Ezeli is still an option which would require us to renounce one of those 3 players. Maybe Sullinger too if we feel he is worth more than the 7.5 million we can offer without renouncing a FA, in which case Leonard is probably gone. I'm not a huge fan of Sullinger as an option though, his best fit is with Davis and that is a small front-court.

ok then, basically, it's arguable that Portland's situation will be worse next season then it was this season. They'll have their 1st round draft pick but they won't have any cap-space

so, as you keep pointing out, they need to start hitting the trade market and hit it hard

I'll say one thing, if the Blazers were willing to make an "aggressive" offer to 36 year old Pau Gasol, maybe they should be willing to make a bargain offer to Zaza Pachulia. He isn't the kind of player Gasol is, but he's a physical, hustle player that doesn't get re-directed by opposing size like Plumlee and Davis do

I actually think, given what this off-season is beginning to look like, that Portland should add another C because one thing this off-season has shown is that C's tend to get paid big-time. And Plumlee will be RFA when there's a 110 million salary cap. I can't see how Portland will be able to afford him. Blazers may be well served by trading him when there's still a full season and change between the trade and his rookie extension

[Masterfully]

Aldrich in Minny likely means they're out of the Gasol race, so.... there's that?

I don't particularly care about Aldrich. He has some nice advanced stats, but those don't mean much if they guy only ever gets 15min a game.

They have 4 centers now (Towns, Aldrich, Pekovic, Dieng) so yeah.

Unless Durant goes to San Antonio (which I think is highly unlikely) then we should pencil Gasol in on the Spurs.
Same goes for Barnes and the Warriors. Which would hypothetically make Ezeli somewhat attainable, but it would take an overpay to prevent GS from matching.

Zaza is the least sexy, yet most productive player out there. If you bring back all the RFA's you could probably still get Zaza, just renounce rights to Henderson.

Whats the pointto bringing in Zaza though? Our players are arguably better and need the development that comes with playing time. Its not like Zaza is some type of good rim protector or defender? Hes a mediocre back up center on the wrong side of his prime.

He's (porbably) cheap and productive.

Since the draft I have advocated for standing pat at center. Sticking with Plumlee and Davis (and Leonard if he is back.). Since this board is fixated on finding a center I threw Zaza out as an option.

I'd rather bring back Henderson and the RFAs and call it a day.

Also, Meyers seems a likely candidate to accept his QO and play out next year.

[Wizenheimer]

the definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over again and expecting different results.

oh yeah then why do you and I drink so much? Of course, for myself, I continue to be satisfied with the result, so the over-and-over-again thing doesn't matter....at least not that I can remember...

[JasonStern]

Aldrich 22m/3y to Twolves.

wow. we could have had three Cole Aldrichs for the price of Evan Turner and still had money to bring Blake back for an eventual center trade.

and if somehow, Turner replaces Henderson on the roster, Crabbe and Meyers re-sign, and Harkless leaves, this off-season will have been a big failure

don't forget the future 2nd for Layman.

also, after the Turner overpay, is it really in Portland's best interest to have Olshey hand out contracts?

I feel like Portland has had the worst offseason so far. Is there even an argument for someone else?

Lakers. acquired two past their prime free agents to play on a team that is still early/midway through a rebuild.

also what does everyone think about this trade?
aminu, vonleh, & a pick for henson from MIL or chandler from PHO

terrible for Portland.

[Downtown]

I'm beginnng to think that Olshey is waiting on Gasol's decision while some good bargains slip away. And if they don't get the player they've targeted I fear he'll just overpay and re-sign Crabbe, Harkless, and even Leonard and have Evan Turner as the only significant addition to last years roster.

I shouldn't be waiving the red flag, and do like the Turner signing, even if it was at an inflated price, but I was really hoping for that interior defender. I guess there's still time and when I see Aldrich sign a bargain contract there's hope of some of the similar level centers to take the same.

[Jsun947]

So lets say we don't do **** now that impacts next season at all.

Best case scenario is probably Crabbe around 10 mil per, Harkless around the same, and Leonard at his QO. Then next year we have McCollum & Plumlee's cap holds (a total of 13.8 mil) which puts our total team salary around 102 million with Leonard off the books. That leaves us with around 6 million in projected cap space which is enough to get absolutely nothing. And thats best case scenario... Technically it would be even less after you take out our first round pick.

And if that isn't gloomy enough we have no trade assets that are particularly valuable, and even if we did trade a bunch of parts for a better player we'd still have no cap space to add to the roster.

What a **** failure if that happens.