Free Agency 2023 - Blazers and around the league.

[DusterBuster]

How come people are so low on Simons? His numbers without Dame are pretty amazing and he is one of the best 3 point shooters in the league.

I think we are underestimating him greatly cause we wanted to trade him to get Dame that wing player. Now that Dame is gone could he not grow into a 25ppg+ type of guard? I think he takes a lot of pressure off of Scoot to score and shoot well. The only problem is starting them together would be just like Dame and CJ or Dame and Ant. I don’t think either player is a non starter so that makes it tough cause Ant is probably our best player next year by a large margin and Scoot needs to run the offence.

I agree that I think people are wayyyyy too down on Ant as the Dame replacement. I do think he can be a 25ppg player, maybe even next year. Most people seem to think Ant is done improving at 23, which is kind of silly imo, but we’ll see.

Biggest problem with Ant is the teams roster makeup. I just don’t see how you’re juggling him and Scoot. Even a bigger nightmare is what if the team is better than we expect and Scoot/Simons at 1/2 is good and we really are in for Dame/CJ 2.0 for the next 5 years.

[m0ng0]

Why don't we wait and see what he can do in this new look offense and team before we trade him for some 7 foot stiff?

[DusterBuster]

Why don't we wait and see what he can do in this new look offense and team before we trade him for some 7 foot stiff?

Huh?

[HoopsFanAZ]

Rookie PGs as good starters from Day One? A bit rare.

Ant has started at PG. Sharpe is best at SG and just in his 2nd season. If Scoot can actually handle 24 minutes a game, great! More? Even better. Sharpe playing 32 per game? Great. Ant at 32-34 per game is covered at both guard spots.
Any leftover at guard? Thybulle, Keon, Mays

Power forwards: Grant, Murray, Walker
Small forwards: Nas, Thybulle, Rupert

Center: Nurkic? Badji. ...

... and whatever the Lillard trade bring in.

BECAUSE FREE AGENCY IS LOOKING A BIT THIN ...

[Goldbum]

Vernon Carey Jr ? Any interest at the vet minimum?

[DusterBuster]

Vernon Carey Jr ? Any interest at the vet minimum?

Who?

[Blazinaway]

Vernon Carey Jr ? Any interest at the vet minimum?

Who?

Jazz just waived him, 22 yr old PF/C from Duke, Wash orig drafted him, hasn't sow much as far as I can tell, UTAH if they get Paul Reed has a LOT of bigs

[DusterBuster]

Vernon Carey Jr ? Any interest at the vet minimum?

Who?

Jazz just waived him, 22 yr old PF/C from Duke, Wash orig drafted him, hasn't sow much as far as I can tell, UTAH if they get Paul Reed has a LOT of bigs

Must be nice… I wonder what that’s like.

[zzaj]

Who?

Jazz just waived him, 22 yr old PF/C from Duke, Wash orig drafted him, hasn't sow much as far as I can tell, UTAH if they get Paul Reed has a LOT of bigs

Must be nice… I wonder what that’s like.

I've superstitiously held off talking about Reed because I REALLY wanted the Blazers to put in an offer sheet. I feel like he would be a perfect PF to put in the mix once Grant gets traded, or if Grant got slid to SF. When Reed has gotten minutes he's been a stud. He's going to have a breakout year next year.

[Blazinaway]

Jazz just waived him, 22 yr old PF/C from Duke, Wash orig drafted him, hasn't sow much as far as I can tell, UTAH if they get Paul Reed has a LOT of bigs

Must be nice… I wonder what that’s like.

I've superstitiously held off talking about Reed because I REALLY wanted the Blazers to put in an offer sheet. I feel like he would be a perfect PF to put in the mix once Grant gets traded, or if Grant got slid to SF. When Reed has gotten minutes he's been a stud. He's going to have a breakout year next year.

Is Ainge introducing the future of "toxic" offer sheets? Dallas tried some minor toxicity with Thybulle but Ainge's effort crushed that!

[DusterBuster]

Must be nice… I wonder what that’s like.

I've superstitiously held off talking about Reed because I REALLY wanted the Blazers to put in an offer sheet. I feel like he would be a perfect PF to put in the mix once Grant gets traded, or if Grant got slid to SF. When Reed has gotten minutes he's been a stud. He's going to have a breakout year next year.

Is Ainge introducing the future of "toxic" offer sheets? Dallas tried some minor toxicity with Thybulle but Ainge's effort crushed that!

What’s the Reed contract?

[DusterBuster]

I’m adding to my list… **** you too Chris Haynes. I know you’re just doing your job, but **** you.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Reed would have been a nice get but I do like the idea of building around a defensive identity at this point.

Billups was the wrong coach for Lillard who didn't lack for motivation or energy but needed very specific strategic use to maximize his strengths and minimize his weaknesses - Stotts was always underrated for his ability to do that here. However a young, hungry team with low expectations that wants to play hard 48 minutes and grind on defense, I think Billups could be a decent option to get the most out of that group. I don't think its going to carry us all the way to a championship but it might be right for setting a solid foundation for a team that eventually will.

I can see a point that Scoot - more than Dame, Ant or Shae - is the most like Billups as a player and that Billups might be the right guy to build a team offense around a guy who can both pass and score like that and a defense with someone with his frame, motor and commitment on that end.

[Norm2953]

I do wonder about Dame at this point of his career, buying into anyone's system for I wonder
how he'll react when Pat Riley talks to him about the Heat's culture. Will he be willing to do
what's best for Bam and Jimmy, instead of simply going into Dame time whenever he feels
like it.

With Dame gone, will Ant, Shaedon and Scoot just try to do what Chauncey wants, for I
continue to focus on what happened in 2022 when Dame finally went down and the team
actually played its best ball with Josh Hart and Justice Winslow helping Ant run the
offense.

I'd still love to add a veteran front court player to play the Batum role, with all of the
youth that will be on the team. Justice Winslow might be a decent guy to sign with
all the young players around.

[PDXKnight]

I do wonder about Dame at this point of his career, buying into anyone's system for I wonder
how he'll react when Pat Riley talks to him about the Heat's culture. Will he be willing to do
what's best for Bam and Jimmy, instead of simply going into Dame time whenever he feels
like it.

With Dame gone, will Ant, Shaedon and Scoot just try to do what Chauncey wants, for I
continue to focus on what happened in 2022 when Dame finally went down and the team
actually played its best ball with Josh Hart and Justice Winslow helping Ant run the
offense.

I'd still love to add a veteran front court player to play the Batum role, with all of the
youth that will be on the team. Justice Winslow might be a decent guy to sign with
all the young players around.

Yeah Dame never bought into Chauncey or at least got stuck in old ways. Maybe that's not his fault as it's hard to change old habits and Billups isn't very good of a coach but nonetheless there was definitely more buy in to a new coach with young players which gives me hope for when we get Billups's replacement in a year hopefully

[Goldbum]

That Reed deal pisses me the eff off. Seriously, we couldn't go a million a year more? I will say thank you to Ainge for putting the most creative toxic language in his contract I've ever seen. That's a fascinating model for us to replicate in the future. Making the incentive based on how far the team goes in the playoffs? Perfect. We're rebuilding, so snagging a player from a contender using that leverage is pure genius. Heck we could put in a 20% trade kicker that doesn't activate unless we make the second round. The uses for that language are nearly endless. Leave it to Danny to find the loophole. Ainge may have the world's most punchable face, but behind that tool bag facade lives the percolating mind of the NBA's Doctor Evil.

[DusterBuster]

That Reed deal pisses me the eff off. Seriously, we couldn't go a million a year more? I will say thank you to Ainge for putting the most creative toxic language in his contract I've ever seen. That's a fascinating model for us to replicate in the future. Making the incentive based on how far the team goes in the playoffs? Perfect. We're rebuilding, so snagging a player from a contender using that leverage is pure genius. Heck we could put in a 20% trade kicker that doesn't activate unless we make the second round. The uses for that language are nearly endless. Leave it to Danny to find the loophole. Ainge may have the world's most punchable face, but behind that tool bag facade lives the percolating mind of the NBA's Doctor Evil.

This FO seems completely incompetent at being able to do multiple things at once. It’s just so hard to look at how this summer has gone and come to any other conclusion. They’ve completely ignored free agency aside from Grant. They didn’t even bother with Thybulle aside from sending out an email that they’re matching the contract offer.

I have to wonder if they are really trying to keep this teams salary pretty clean for the most post in the case of any sale in the next couple years.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

I have to wonder if they are really trying to keep this teams salary pretty clean for the most post in the case of any sale in the next couple years.

Maybe but I fully expect Jody and Bert to milk this franchise as long as they can. Bert at least gets a cash out when the team sells but its a passion project for him and Jody can only collect checks as long as she "manages" the team but doesn't really get anything once the team is sold. I guess it works for a sale too but keeping the books clean equals money in the pocket.

What I think we lack is an ownership who will SPEND on the team to get it to the highest level. They are going to sell hopium to the fanbase with this rebuild and keep the books clean for a couple more years at least but color me surprised if they test the luxury tax anytime soon.

[DusterBuster]

I have to wonder if they are really trying to keep this teams salary pretty clean for the most post in the case of any sale in the next couple years.

Maybe but I fully expect Jody and Bert to milk this franchise as long as they can. Bert at least gets a cash out when the team sells but its a passion project for him and Jody can only collect checks as long as she "manages" the team but doesn't really get anything once the team is sold. I guess it works for a sale too but keeping the books clean equals money in the pocket.

What I think we lack is an ownership who will SPEND on the team to get it to the highest level. They are going to sell hopium to the fanbase with this rebuild and keep the books clean for a couple more years at least but color me surprised if they test the luxury tax anytime soon.

Yep, this is what I was trying to get at. Basically they will do whatever they can to not spend a penny more than absolutely necessary to run the team until they feel they can make the max profit on a sale. So the most cynical selfish way to operate a franchise.

Expect nothing but a poorly run trash product that will never spend or make a big trade until there are new owners. Only chance this team has to be good is the drafted players breaking out, in spite of the ownerships disinterest.

[Pattycakes]

That Reed deal pisses me the eff off. Seriously, we couldn't go a million a year more? I will say thank you to Ainge for putting the most creative toxic language in his contract I've ever seen. That's a fascinating model for us to replicate in the future. Making the incentive based on how far the team goes in the playoffs? Perfect. We're rebuilding, so snagging a player from a contender using that leverage is pure genius. Heck we could put in a 20% trade kicker that doesn't activate unless we make the second round. The uses for that language are nearly endless. Leave it to Danny to find the loophole. Ainge may have the world's most punchable face, but behind that tool bag facade lives the percolating mind of the NBA's Doctor Evil.

This FO seems completely incompetent at being able to do multiple things at once. It’s just so hard to look at how this summer has gone and come to any other conclusion. They’ve completely ignored free agency aside from Grant. They didn’t even bother with Thybulle aside from sending out an email that they’re matching the contract offer.

I have to wonder if they are really trying to keep this teams salary pretty clean for the most post in the case of any sale in the next couple years.

I’m sorry but who exactly in free agency did this team have a shot at and should have signed?

If we hadn’t had Matisse and Jerami already, we’d have a pretty unanimous A offseason.