Free agency

[Pattycakes]

Dumping Josh would be brain dead and counter productive. He’s gonna be probably the most consistently reliable guy on this team over the whole season next to Dame.

[Pattycakes]

Dumping Josh would be brain dead and counter productive. He’s gonna be probably the most consistently reliable guy on this team over the whole season next to Dame.

[Norm2953]

I'd agree but who else could they trade if they wanted to dump salary?

Ant and Nurk just re-signed and can't be moved this summer and Dame's extension makes it
unlikely any other team would trade for him. They could trade Jerami Grant but all the other guys
on the team don't make enough money to really matter for why trade Winslow for a top 55 protected
pick just to sign a vet minimum player?

[m0ng0]

It's going to be a lot of small ball this year If Walker continues to improve we could be ok

[Wizenheimer]

Portland is hard-capped. Wouldn't be a legal trade

So even if we cut players there is no relief, even if we trade players for equal or lesser value salary wise we can't make anymore moves this off season? There is nothing we can do to un hard cap ourselves?

wut?

that's not what I said. The Blazers are hard-capped and that won't change this season. The trade I was talking about had Portland taking on 5M more in salary than they send out and that would bust on the hard-cap line

of course there are things the Blazers can do to make the hard-cap less onerous. They already made a move in that direction when they waived Bledsoe and stretched his guarantee. That dropped his cap-hit by 2.6M and gave them more margin between their payroll and the hard-cap. I believe that are about 500K above the tax threshold right now. So I'd imagine a priority, assuming no great trade comes along, would be to get under the tax line this year

that would probably be easy to do close to the trade deadline. Pay some team a 2nd round pick to take Louzada than sign a pro-rated minimum player for the rest of the season. Or just waive Louzada and stretch him, then sign that minimum player

just cutting/waiving a player doesn't get his salary off the books

[Wizenheimer]

I'd agree but who else could they trade if they wanted to dump salary?

why does Portland have to dump a big salary? I don't see the need

they are only 500K over the tax-line and it's an easy fix from there to get under the tax line at the trade deadline

[Jsun947]

Portland is hard-capped. Wouldn't be a legal trade

So even if we cut players there is no relief, even if we trade players for equal or lesser value salary wise we can't make anymore moves this off season? There is nothing we can do to un hard cap ourselves?

wut?

that's not what I said. The Blazers are hard-capped and that won't change this season. The trade I was talking about had Portland taking on 5M more in salary than they send out and that would bust on the hard-cap line

of course there are things the Blazers can do to make the hard-cap less onerous. They already made a move in that direction when they waived Bledsoe and stretched his guarantee. That dropped his cap-hit by 2.6M and gave them more margin between their payroll and the hard-cap. I believe that are about 500K above the tax threshold right now. So I'd imagine a priority, assuming no great trade comes along, would be to get under the tax line this year

that would probably be easy to do close to the trade deadline. Pay some team a 2nd round pick to take Louzada than sign a pro-rated minimum player for the rest of the season. Or just waive Louzada and stretch him, then sign that minimum player

just cutting/waiving a player doesn't get his salary off the books

With Bledsoe being stretched, we’re projected to be 6.1 mil under the hardcap with 14 players. We could trade Winslow for Kleber and still be under by roughly 1.1 mil, enough to sign Jabari Walker as the 15th man.

Problem is after that we’re totally stuck unless we later trade players to get rid of salary like the Rockets did years ago.

[BlazersBroncos]

I dont think DAL would be interested in Winslow for Kleber.

Kleber can defend and shoot, Winslow can just defend.

I think the roster we have now is what we bring into the season. I think Walker isnt a 2-way guy, we are going to roster him IMO.

Didi is not a NBA player, I wouldnt have any issue if we stretched him. Takes 1.876M and spreads it over 3 years, meaning we get a bit more wiggle as he would only count 625K against the cap this season.

[Wizenheimer]

So even if we cut players there is no relief, even if we trade players for equal or lesser value salary wise we can't make anymore moves this off season? There is nothing we can do to un hard cap ourselves?

wut?

that's not what I said. The Blazers are hard-capped and that won't change this season. The trade I was talking about had Portland taking on 5M more in salary than they send out and that would bust on the hard-cap line

of course there are things the Blazers can do to make the hard-cap less onerous. They already made a move in that direction when they waived Bledsoe and stretched his guarantee. That dropped his cap-hit by 2.6M and gave them more margin between their payroll and the hard-cap. I believe that are about 500K above the tax threshold right now. So I'd imagine a priority, assuming no great trade comes along, would be to get under the tax line this year

that would probably be easy to do close to the trade deadline. Pay some team a 2nd round pick to take Louzada than sign a pro-rated minimum player for the rest of the season. Or just waive Louzada and stretch him, then sign that minimum player

just cutting/waiving a player doesn't get his salary off the books

With Bledsoe being stretched, we’re projected to be 6.1 mil under the hardcap with 14 players. We could trade Winslow for Kleber and still be under by roughly 1.1 mil, enough to sign Jabari Walker as the 15th man.

Problem is after that we’re totally stuck unless we later trade players to get rid of salary like the Rockets did years ago.

actually, Winslow's salary is 4.1M so the most returning salary Portland could trade him for is 5.2M. Kleber makes 9M. So, not a legal trade

[Jsun947]

wut?

that's not what I said. The Blazers are hard-capped and that won't change this season. The trade I was talking about had Portland taking on 5M more in salary than they send out and that would bust on the hard-cap line

of course there are things the Blazers can do to make the hard-cap less onerous. They already made a move in that direction when they waived Bledsoe and stretched his guarantee. That dropped his cap-hit by 2.6M and gave them more margin between their payroll and the hard-cap. I believe that are about 500K above the tax threshold right now. So I'd imagine a priority, assuming no great trade comes along, would be to get under the tax line this year

that would probably be easy to do close to the trade deadline. Pay some team a 2nd round pick to take Louzada than sign a pro-rated minimum player for the rest of the season. Or just waive Louzada and stretch him, then sign that minimum player

just cutting/waiving a player doesn't get his salary off the books

With Bledsoe being stretched, we’re projected to be 6.1 mil under the hardcap with 14 players. We could trade Winslow for Kleber and still be under by roughly 1.1 mil, enough to sign Jabari Walker as the 15th man.

Problem is after that we’re totally stuck unless we later trade players to get rid of salary like the Rockets did years ago.

actually, Winslow's salary is 4.1M so the most returning salary Portland could trade him for is 5.2M. Kleber makes 9M. So, not a legal trade

I don’t understand what you’re talking about. We can’t go over the apron. We’re 6.1 million under it right this second. What am I missing?

[m0ng0]

Walker needs a contract RIGHT NOW !!!!

[Norm2953]

I'd agree but who else could they trade if they wanted to dump salary?

why does Portland have to dump a big salary? I don't see the need

they are only 500K over the tax-line and it's an easy fix from there to get under the tax line at the trade deadline

From a BB POV, the team is one Nurkic injury from the lottery unless you're really sold on Eubanks/Watford.

[Wizenheimer]

I don’t understand what you’re talking about. We can’t go over the apron. We’re 6.1 million under it right this second. What am I missing?

how does Portland get Kleber? They don't have a TPE big enough to absorb him. And just trading Winslow for Kleber is not a legal trade

[Wizenheimer]

I'd agree but who else could they trade if they wanted to dump salary?

why does Portland have to dump a big salary? I don't see the need

they are only 500K over the tax-line and it's an easy fix from there to get under the tax line at the trade deadline

From a BB POV, the team is one Nurkic injury from the lottery unless you're really sold on Eubanks/Watford.

trading away a Hart to add a Whiteside could put them in the lottery too. Hart will be integral to the rotation. He might be the starting SF. It would be really dumb to trade him away for salary relief

now, I didn't really like the Eubanks signing, at least not just by itself. I would like the Blazers to have a mobile PF-C like Dwight Powell as a 3rd big. Somebody who can defend on the perimeter, unlike Nurk and Eubanks. But it is what it is (maybe they picture Watford as that guy)

personally, as I said, I think the Blazers overpaid all three of Nurk, Simons, and Payton. Not egregiously, but still an overpaid trio...by at least 10M/year. But apparently that's a very Blazer thing to do. They should have never hard-capped themselves just to add Payton

[Wizenheimer]

Walker needs a contract RIGHT NOW !!!!

I suspect he probably is signed to some kind of provisional deal. What would make some sense is Portland wanting to take a look at him in SL, then decide on the type of contract they give him

the standard 2nd round contract is a 2 year deal with the player becoming RFA after his 2nd season and the team only having early-Bird rights. However, a team can give a 3rd guaranteed season if they use an exception. Then they have full-Bird rights when the player becomes RFA. And Portland has enough of the MLE left after signing Payton to do that

[Dame Lizard]

why does Portland have to dump a big salary? I don't see the need

they are only 500K over the tax-line and it's an easy fix from there to get under the tax line at the trade deadline

From a BB POV, the team is one Nurkic injury from the lottery unless you're really sold on Eubanks/Watford.

trading away a Hart to add a Whiteside could put them in the lottery too. Hart will be integral to the rotation. He might be the starting SF. It would be really dumb to trade him away for salary relief

now, I didn't really like the Eubanks signing, at least not just by itself. I would like the Blazers to have a mobile PF-C like Dwight Powell as a 3rd big. Somebody who can defend on the perimeter, unlike Nurk and Eubanks. But it is what it is (maybe they picture Watford as that guy)

personally, as I said, I think the Blazers overpaid all three of Nurk, Simons, and Payton. Not egregiously, but still an overpaid trio...by at least 10M/year. But apparently that's a very Blazer thing to do. They should have never hard-capped themselves just to add Payton

I think we overpaid Nurk by a few million per year, overpaid Lillard by ~$10m per year and got GP2 at market value.

As for Simons, while it's more than what i wished we could sign him for, I still think he's been signed at attractive value considering his talent (I'm super bullish on him). However, I see him functioning best when he's the primary guard. I'm sure he'll be staggered with Dame, so he should get approx half his gametime (likely just under) playing the lead guard role (assuming Dame plays 32 mpg.

[BlazersBroncos]

Walker needs a contract RIGHT NOW !!!!

I suspect he probably is signed to some kind of provisional deal. What would make some sense is Portland wanting to take a look at him in SL, then decide on the type of contract they give him

the standard 2nd round contract is a 2 year deal with the player becoming RFA after his 2nd season and the team only having early-Bird rights. However, a team can give a 3rd guaranteed season if they use an exception. Then they have full-Bird rights when the player becomes RFA. And Portland has enough of the MLE left after signing Payton to do that

I hope we use that MLE surplus on Walker. He looks really nice. Not just a ball of clay like Brown (Who looks like he has made zero progress building a BBall skillset since we drafted him). Walker has plus athleticism but knows how to play the game, plays bigger than his size/frame, good motor, knows how to rebound, works on defense.

Think he can be a nice role player moving forward, and could see him snagging some minutes this year at PF and even small ball C. Wouldnt be surprised if he contributed more this year than Sharpe, Brown and even Keon (Keon mostly b/c our G rotation is crowded)

[Goldbum]

Walker absolutely needs to be locked up on a 3+1 deal. He could be our low minute starter next to Grant. I could see him given th Vonleh treatment, starting but only playing about 20 minutes. Alternatively we know he compliments Watford so maybe start Winslow at the other forward spot, putting another playmaker, defender, rebounder next to Dame/Ant.

[BlazersBroncos]

Walker absolutely needs to be locked up on a 3+1 deal. He could be our low minute starter next to Grant. I could see him given th Vonleh treatment, starting but only playing about 20 minutes. Alternatively we know he compliments Watford so maybe start Winslow at the other forward spot, putting another playmaker, defender, rebounder next to Dame/Ant.

I really think the GP2 signing showed our hand, Josh Hart is the starting SF on this team. Just dont see GP2 getting less than 20mpg, and if that is the case how do you fit a rotation w/o Hart ending up at SF?

G - Damian Lillard (34) / Anfernee Simons (14)
G - Anfernee Simons (18) / Gary Payton II (20) / Josh Hart (10)
F - Josh Hart (20) / Nas Little (20) / Jabari Walker JR or Shadeon Sharpe or Greg Brown (8)
F - Jerami Grant (32) / Justice Winslow (16)
C - Jusuf Nurkic (28) / Drew Eubanks (20)

Think it shakes out like the above assuming full health (Which never happens)

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Walker absolutely needs to be locked up on a 3+1 deal. He could be our low minute starter next to Grant. I could see him given th Vonleh treatment, starting but only playing about 20 minutes. Alternatively we know he compliments Watford so maybe start Winslow at the other forward spot, putting another playmaker, defender, rebounder next to Dame/Ant.

I really think the GP2 signing showed our hand, Josh Hart is the starting SF on this team. Just dont see GP2 getting less than 20mpg, and if that is the case how do you fit a rotation w/o Hart ending up at SF?

G - Damian Lillard (34) / Anfernee Simons (14)
G - Anfernee Simons (18) / Gary Payton II (20) / Josh Hart (10)
F - Josh Hart (20) / Nas Little (20) / Jabari Walker JR or Shadeon Sharpe or Greg Brown (8)
F - Jerami Grant (32) / Justice Winslow (16)
C - Jusuf Nurkic (28) / Drew Eubanks (20)

Think it shakes out like the above assuming full health (Which never happens)

Agreed. You forgot Keon on that chart (we have way too many SGs as usual) so I wouldn't be surprised if Hart just spent all 30 at SF.