Portland - 2016 Offseason

[Village Idiot]

How much is the versatility of our roster worth and how much does it contribute to us winning? We do have the ability to match up and create a lot of different types of units.

I know this is over simplistic but whatever

C
Pick & Roll & Facilitator Plumlee
Spacing Leonard
Offensive Rebounding, Energy, Scoring Davis

PF
Athletic Small Ball Defender - Aminu
Athletic Offensive Small Ball - Harkless
Spacing - Vonleh
Offensive Rebounding, Energy, Scoring Davis

SF
Athletic Defender - Aminu
Spacing - Crabbe
Athletic Offensive - Harkless & Henderson

Good view of the players styles. Additionally, I saw on bball breakdown that Crabbe and Davis were a top 10 pick and roll combo in terns of efficiency and effectiveness. Ideally you want guys at each position who are better at multiple things. It will be interesting to see if success will end as opponents use more time scouting us and not just assuming W's and looking forward to more challenging games.

[Case2012]

I think if we can add Barnes and Whiteside, while cutting Hendo (would love to keep him if he was into his role), Leonard and get something for Vonleh like a future pick, our best and most versatile roster would look like

Dame/Roberts? (anyone really, Dame and CJ are going to play PG)
CJ/Crabbe
Aminu/Harkless
Barnes/Davis
Whiteside/Plumlee

I think if you keep that core together for a few years, we're right there with GS, SA, and CLE.

A player who i am still very interested in is Upshaw. He was putting up the best defensive numbers in College a few years ago, and he could easily be the next whiteside with his skill set and body type. I know he's older and there was a lot of questions abut his substance abuse, but who cares.. we're talking about weed. We legalized it here, i dont think people are going to be screaming jail blazers all over again if we signed a guy that smoked weed. As long as he passes his tests and plays well idgaf.

[Manbacon]

why on earth would be want harrison barnes? ew

[Fitz303]

why on earth would be want harrison barnes? ew

I would absolutely take Harrison Barnes, but not as a full time PF. He's a great fit exactly where Aminu is. Starting SF, and can slide over to play small ball PF at times. Barnes is FAR more efficient than Aminu, and a better defender (though Aminu isn't bad). Not quite the rebounder, but that's about the only thing he gives up to Aminu. I'd be thrilled if we got Barnes with our cap space (assuming Durant isn't interested )

[PDXKnight]

I think if we can add Barnes and Whiteside, while cutting Hendo (would love to keep him if he was into his role), Leonard and get something for Vonleh like a future pick, our best and most versatile roster would look like

Dame/Roberts? (anyone really, Dame and CJ are going to play PG)
CJ/Crabbe
Aminu/Harkless
Barnes/Davis
Whiteside/Plumlee

I think if you keep that core together for a few years, we're right there with GS, SA, and CLE.

A player who i am still very interested in is Upshaw. He was putting up the best defensive numbers in College a few years ago, and he could easily be the next whiteside with his skill set and body type. I know he's older and there was a lot of questions abut his substance abuse, but who cares.. we're talking about weed. We legalized it here, i dont think people are going to be screaming jail blazers all over again if we signed a guy that smoked weed. As long as he passes his tests and plays well idgaf.

Whiteside and barnes are very wishful thinking.

[Blazinaway]

why on earth would be want harrison barnes? ew

I would absolutely take Harrison Barnes, but not as a full time PF. He's a great fit exactly where Aminu is. Starting SF, and can slide over to play small ball PF at times. Barnes is FAR more efficient than Aminu, and a better defender (though Aminu isn't bad). Not quite the rebounder, but that's about the only thing he gives up to Aminu. I'd be thrilled if we got Barnes with our cap space (assuming Durant isn't interested )

he was invisible in the recent GS game (5 pts, 3 rebs in 29 min), our guys Aminu and Hark just shut him down - forget him and his upcoming max!

[Fitz303]

why on earth would be want harrison barnes? ew

I would absolutely take Harrison Barnes, but not as a full time PF. He's a great fit exactly where Aminu is. Starting SF, and can slide over to play small ball PF at times. Barnes is FAR more efficient than Aminu, and a better defender (though Aminu isn't bad). Not quite the rebounder, but that's about the only thing he gives up to Aminu. I'd be thrilled if we got Barnes with our cap space (assuming Durant isn't interested )

he was invisible in the recent GS game (5 pts, 3 rebs in 29 min), our guys Aminu and Hark just shut him down - forget him and his upcoming max!

You're taking one game and assuming a players worth? Did you look at Aminu's stats that game? Have you watched much of Harrison Barnes? He's one of the better defenders on that team, and a great spot up shooter. Barnes is a better player than Aminu. No debate

[Blazinaway]

I would absolutely take Harrison Barnes, but not as a full time PF. He's a great fit exactly where Aminu is. Starting SF, and can slide over to play small ball PF at times. Barnes is FAR more efficient than Aminu, and a better defender (though Aminu isn't bad). Not quite the rebounder, but that's about the only thing he gives up to Aminu. I'd be thrilled if we got Barnes with our cap space (assuming Durant isn't interested )

he was invisible in the recent GS game (5 pts, 3 rebs in 29 min), our guys Aminu and Hark just shut him down - forget him and his upcoming max!

You're taking one game and assuming a players worth? Did you look at Aminu's stats that game? Have you watched much of Harrison Barnes? He's one of the better defenders on that team, and a great spot up shooter. Barnes is a better player than Aminu. No debate

never said he wasn't the better individual player overall, however a tandem of Harkless AND Aminu at a price easily less then the something like 18 mil per max he likely will get makes it a no brainer for me that I'd take Hark and Aminu COMBINED for probably 4-6 mil LESS per yr than Barnes, that's my take

[Fitz303]

he was invisible in the recent GS game (5 pts, 3 rebs in 29 min), our guys Aminu and Hark just shut him down - forget him and his upcoming max!

You're taking one game and assuming a players worth? Did you look at Aminu's stats that game? Have you watched much of Harrison Barnes? He's one of the better defenders on that team, and a great spot up shooter. Barnes is a better player than Aminu. No debate

never said he wasn't the better individual player overall, however a tandem of Harkless AND Aminu at a price easily less then the something like 18 mil per max he likely will get makes it a no brainer for me that I'd take Hark and Aminu COMBINED for probably 4-6 mil LESS per yr than Barnes, that's my take

I agree that I wouldn't want to just give up Aminu and Harkless. However, I would love to have all 3 of them. OR Trade Aminu for a solid backup SG/SF (similar to Henderson's role)

Lillard/ Roberts
McCollum/ Crabbe
Barnes/ Aminu
Vonleh/ Harkless
Plumlee/ Davis

I'd rather have Barnes/Aminu/Harkless, than Aminu/Harkless/Henderson. Salaries be damned. We have more than enough space, and his upcoming salary is going to be a norm shortly. I don't see who we would get with all of that cap space, that would be a better option

[Blazinaway]

You're taking one game and assuming a players worth? Did you look at Aminu's stats that game? Have you watched much of Harrison Barnes? He's one of the better defenders on that team, and a great spot up shooter. Barnes is a better player than Aminu. No debate

never said he wasn't the better individual player overall, however a tandem of Harkless AND Aminu at a price easily less then the something like 18 mil per max he likely will get makes it a no brainer for me that I'd take Hark and Aminu COMBINED for probably 4-6 mil LESS per yr than Barnes, that's my take

I agree that I wouldn't want to just give up Aminu and Harkless. However, I would love to have all 3 of them. OR Trade Aminu for a solid backup SG/SF (similar to Henderson's role)

Lillard/ Roberts
McCollum/ Crabbe
Barnes/ Aminu
Vonleh/ Harkless
Plumlee/ Davis

I'd rather have Barnes/Aminu/Harkless, than Aminu/Harkless/Henderson. Salaries be damned. We have more than enough space, and his upcoming salary is going to be a norm shortly. I don't see who we would get with all of that cap space, that would be a better option

I just don't think Barnes is that good, and I was wrong about his Max - it starts at 22 mil per if someone offers him that this summer as an RFA. He's got really good shooting stats but how much of that is wide open looks due to his great team mates? Frankly his overall stats do not impress me and I think Aminu and perhaps Harkless as well are as good defenders. Like I said I will pass, he's just going to cost too much

[Norm2953]

Coach Stotts is an offensive minded coach and would like a sharpshooting wing with
size which might make the Blazers like the 1991 GSW but the team needs a rim
protector if Dame and CJ are going to be our guards.

[Case2012]

you almost have to offer him that, if only to force GS to lose some talent or pay a ton of money in luxury tax, unless they let him go thinking they can actually get KD.

Lillard/ Roberts
McCollum/ Crabbe
Barnes/ Aminu
Vonleh/ Harkless
Plumlee/ Davis

That's one of the most versatile rosters in the league, with the exception of a true rim protector.

Lillard/CJ/Barnes would be a big 3 for years. Think about how much they would compliment each other. CJ and Dame are splash bros 2.0 so why wouldn't barnes mesh well with them??

In fact, based on Olshey's tendency to force teams to overpay to keep their RFA's, my official prediction is that Olshey is going to go after Barnes with a big contract, and most likely Whiteside too, although i don't think we'll have any luck because Portland...

You can all freak out about spending 60-75 million on those 3 players, but i think it's worth it.

[acidfrehley]

I just don't think that we're gonna be the frontrunners to get Barnes. He is going to receive a lot of max offers this offseason.

Has anyone think about keeping this years strategy? Use our cap space to make good contracts with young role players that can develop to be as good as CJ, Crabbe, Harkless.... ?

Maybe, and I said maybe, this would be a better shot at improving than entering a gruesome battle with other teams for Barnes, Whiteside...

[Dame Lizard]

Bismack Biyombo is a free agent this season, if he chooses not to opt into his team option (I don't see why he would opt in when there should be a significantly bigger market for him, in terms of salary and years.

Also a trade for a player like Jeff Withey could be an option as well.

[Jsun947]

I'm not a Barnes fan. I've never been really impressed watching him play. I think he's a championship teams 4th best guy best case scenario.

I'd let someone else offer the max

[acidfrehley]

Question:

We all are debating about signing a starter C on the offseason. But aren't you guys satisfied of how Plumlee have been playing? Specially his chemistry with Lillard? Do we really need another C?

edit: I actually think we need. But not a starter one.

[Downtown]

Bismack Biyombo is a free agent this season, if he chooses not to opt into his team option (I don't see why he would opt in when there should be a significantly bigger market for him, in terms of salary and years.

Also a trade for a player like Jeff Withey could be an option as well.

I've mentioned those two before and agree that a smaller free agent signing for a defensive minded centre is more likely than a big splash, especially given that Olshey will(should) be concentrating on which of his own free agents to sign. Whithey I haven't followed that much but Biyumbo I have watched a lot. He would be a great fit with the Blazers, not only for how he plays, but in any interview he's always about putting the team first. He has character.

I also wouldn't put Jokim Noah out of the running either. Or at least do the homework on him as far as his health and how much he would like to be paid. We know that he can play defence, is good passer, knows the pick and roll game, and might be able to add that experience factor. I would at least keep him in the conversation for a short term deal with a reasonable price.

[Blazinaway]

Bismack Biyombo is a free agent this season, if he chooses not to opt into his team option (I don't see why he would opt in when there should be a significantly bigger market for him, in terms of salary and years.

Also a trade for a player like Jeff Withey could be an option as well.

I've mentioned those two before and agree that a smaller free agent signing for a defensive minded centre is more likely than a big splash, especially given that Olshey will(should) be concentrating on which of his own free agents to sign. Whithey I haven't followed that much but Biyumbo I have watched a lot. He would be a great fit with the Blazers, not only for how he plays, but in any interview he's always about putting the team first. He has character.

I also wouldn't put Jokim Noah out of the running either. Or at least do the homework on him as far as his health and how much he would like to be paid. We know that he can play defence, is good passer, knows the pick and roll game, and might be able to add that experience factor. I would at least keep him in the conversation for a short term deal with a reasonable price.

Yeah, I think it will be interesting what we do at C and PF, I tend to think if Hark can continue to play well the rest of the year that he, Aminu and Vonleh give us a lot of flexibility as "small ball" PF. I think Center could be interesting, do we look to target a rim protector/defensive type like Mahimni/Bismack or someone else or a more 2-way C? Or do we stick with Plumlee and Davis and likely jettison Meyers and pick up one more solid/adequate C like Mahimni/Bismack - I am actually wondering if Vonleh can fill a Bismack role? Lots of interesting possibilities especially given how fast this team has developed and how well "small ball" is working with the players we have.

[blazersj]

No one seem to talk about this guy Marjanovic from the Spurs.

I'd love for the Blazers to throw big money at him this off season.

[Jsun947]

I'd be ok with swapping Leonard for Leuer basically and bringing the band back together.

Leuer starting at 9.4
Crabbe projected to start around 11?
Harkless around 7?
Leaves us about 15 million a small fraction of which we need for a vet PG & big man that will hardly ever play unless there are injuries

Lillard/Vet PG
McCollum/Crabbe/Connaughton
Aminu/Harkless/Montero
Leuer/Vonleh/Alexander
Plumlee/Davis/Vet C

Maintains all the same line-up flexibility and we would have lots of tradable rotation players on good contracts.