Free Agency 2023 - Blazers and around the league.

[GEE]

I don't get it either. I guess it's because Cronin hasn't made some big sexy trade... yet, but we have so far had a good-great draft, retained the two main guys we wanted to in Grant and Thybulle, and the sexy part is still in waiting mode.

This I would say isn't Cronin's fault. I think the ball now, really is in Dame and Aaron's court, as both GMs are stuck in their stances. Now Cronin is currently faced with a choice of either taking crap whille appeasing Dame, or wait for Dame to add at least a couple more teams and bench him unil then. Two choices only, unless you do like Ainge did Mitchell, and just trade him regardless of Dame's pale threats. Point is, Balls in Dame's court now... not Cronin's and not Riley's (as much).

Guess I should try to just enjoy the SL play for now. F*** Dame.

[Norm2953]

I'd agree with that for Dame's one team stance is why there is stalemate.

This will end when Dame decides it should end. If he would say he's open to going to
let's say Utah and Milwaukee, the Heat will come to the table with their best offer
and it would be done.

[Goldbum]

Well Reed, Bamba, Grant Williams, PJ Washington, and the list goes on of guys we could have at least chased. At the minimum those guys would be taking up more cap space if we jumped in with a hot offer.

[PDXKnight]

I'd agree with that for Dame's one team stance is why there is stalemate.

This will end when Dame decides it should end. If he would say he's open to going to
let's say Utah and Milwaukee, the Heat will come to the table with their best offer
and it would be done.

Exactly maybe they have an offer for herro available that can land us a couple firsts and a prospect

[HoopsFanAZ]

The Lillard trade is holding up finishing free agency.
The Grant contract was expected, and I like him with the young guys. Matisse, too, as he has minutes to play at SF.

Hopefully, the pictures aren’t lying on skinny Nurk. We’ll see what he does with the youngsters. He needs to lead the other centers … whomever they will be. Badji has to grow as a player. Duop Reath is thick. It looks like they’re not after the skinny, athletic type.

[Norm2953]

Well Reed, Bamba, Grant Williams, PJ Washington, and the list goes on of guys we could have at least chased. At the minimum those guys would be taking up more cap space if we jumped in with a hot offer.

Portland according to Spot Trac, is sitting at $163 Million after apparently signing Jerami Grant and is
$1.7 million under the tax line. The still have a club option on Kevin Knox for $3 million to clear
some cap space

[Goldbum]

Once the Da.e trade happens...what do yall think of signing Wall to a vet minimum. He could be a great guy to help mentor Sc00t. I think I'd rather have Wall taking up that roster spot that say Keon.

[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.

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.

As Goldbum said...

Well Reed, Bamba, Grant Williams, PJ Washington, and the list goes on of guys we could have at least chased. At the minimum those guys would be taking up more cap space if we jumped in with a hot offer.

I'll add to that lesser guys like Bol Bol, or veterans that signed for cheap like Mason Plumlee who only signed for 1 year / 5 mil.

There were a TON of possible value-signing players the team could have made an offer for. They have an 8mil TPE gathering dust they could have been aggressively using to get a player a team wants to dump.

This is why Dame is so upset. The team HAS assets to use, they're CHOOSING not to use them. Whether that's Crolshey being incompetent, inexperienced, or directed by ownership doesn't really matter, the end result is the same. I don't see how there is any other read on that possible. Even if you make excuses for why no other FA (even very minor) moves have been made, there's no excuse for why the TPE couldn't have been used with some 2nd picks to get players that other teams are dumping.

[Pattycakes]

The Lillard trade is holding up finishing free agency.
The Grant contract was expected, and I like him with the young guys. Matisse, too, as he has minutes to play at SF.

Hopefully, the pictures aren’t lying on skinny Nurk. We’ll see what he does with the youngsters. He needs to lead the other centers … whomever they will be. Badji has to grow as a player. Duop Reath is thick. It looks like they’re not after the skinny, athletic type.

There is no way Nurk is staying without Dame.

[Norm2953]

Interesting discussions on the general board for the Miami posters keep saying Dame is going to Miami and we should be happy with what Miami deems is enough, since Portland is getting cap relief and they dont wish to bid against themselves.

I keep reminding them Dame is under contract to Portland and we dont have to accept their current offer.

[Tim Lehrbach]

Interesting discussions on the general board for the Miami posters keep saying Dame is going to Miami and we should be happy with what Miami deems is enough, since Portland is getting cap relief and they dont wish to bid against themselves.

I keep reminding them Dame is under contract to Portland and we dont have to accept their current offer.

I think you were right to call this a stalemate elsewhere, at least for the moment. Neither team is motivated to cave to the other immediately. The Blazers, especially, should let this play out over the coming weeks. Any number of things can happen.

[Pattycakes]

Am I the only one waiting for Jasquez to be tradeable next month? Lol

[GEE]

This agent of Dames sure is about to make a name for himself around the league if this drags out much longer. Other teams and players get affected by behavior like this, and I have a hard time believing Goodwin's rep is going to improve with this stunt, especially if Cronin sticks to his guns, which I think he should. Very important in the coming days will be the FULLEST support from Jody, for Cronin. She MUST NOT listen to Dame or his agent at this point.

This is what's holding things up IMO. Has anyone heard anything about JUSTICE? I just really like that guy, and have this hope he returns next season in the best shape of his life. I'd like to keep Knox too especially since Watford and Eubanks are gone, and I'm glad we let Cam is go. But unfortunately, this whole Dame Drama has put a big wrinkle in our ability to put the finishing touches on this roster, especially at PF and Center.

[Norm2953]

If Miami had wanted this to end quickly, they would not have signed Jacquez to his rookie
contract, ensuring he could not be traded for 30 days. It sure looks like they are playing
hardball, hoping to maneuver the young Portland GM into accepting a deal on their terms.

Good for Cronin for he's not going to accept Miami's low ball offers. Presumably this will
all end when Miami really needs Dame integrated into their system for there is nothing to
negotiate for both teams know what Miami can offer.

It'll be interesting to see just how how many guys end up in Portland. Guys like Rupert
and some of these new players might end up on Portland's new G league team.

[elias808]

Am I the only one waiting for Jasquez to be tradeable next month? Lol

Probably. JJJr is, at best, a roll player. A jack-of-all master of none kinda guy. A fine player to have. But they are a dime a dozen these days. I’d argue Watford was a better version; at least he had some height.

[Norm2953]

I see the Jerami Grant contract is finalized. Twitter has Grant/Ant in Vegas to see the rookies play

[Dangeruss]

Am I the only one waiting for Jasquez to be tradeable next month? Lol

Probably. JJJr is, at best, a roll player. A jack-of-all master of none kinda guy. A fine player to have. But they are a dime a dozen these days. I’d argue Watford was a better version; at least he had some height.

I don’t know if there’s ever been a take on this site I disagreed with more. I’m really interested to hear what analysis led you to this conclusion, because my eyes and study on him as a player has led me in the opposite direction.

Care to elaborate?

[PDXKnight]

Grant has a player option in the final year as a final middle finger. We already held our end of the offer promised and we go further and give him an option on top of money no one else in their right mind would pay. What a abysmal joke!

[Norm2953]

Spot Trac has Grant at $34 million in 26/27. If Dame was still a Blazer, He and Jerami would
be paid $97 million that season

[elias808]

Am I the only one waiting for Jasquez to be tradeable next month? Lol

Probably. JJJr is, at best, a roll player. A jack-of-all master of none kinda guy. A fine player to have. But they are a dime a dozen these days. I’d argue Watford was a better version; at least he had some height.

I don’t know if there’s ever been a take on this site I disagreed with more. I’m really interested to hear what analysis led you to this conclusion, because my eyes and study on him as a player has led me in the opposite direction.

Care to elaborate?

Sure can;

When I evaluate prospects I ask myself “does this player have an elite skill they can hang their hat on at an NBA lvl”.

JJJr is a career 33% three point shooter. In his final year he shot 32%. So we can’t say he started off terrible as a freshman and improved over his career. He is also a career 74% free throw shooter. That’s on 3.5 attempts per game, so he doesn’t get to the line ton.

So he’s not a “shooter”

Hand size is average at best. Height is average at best. Standing reach is below average. Height to WS is below average. His lane agility at the combine was 11.21 seconds. That was good for 34th. Drew Timme from Gonzaga ran a 10.93 second.

So he’s not an “athlete”

He isn’t athletic. He isn’t a shooter. He’s arguably a scorer (18 ppg on 15 shots per game). I’ll give you he’s a above average rebounder for his size.

So I guess the question id ask you is; if you disagree with my take soooo much please tell me what I’m not seeing in JJJr. Because, as stated above, he has roll player all over him.

Please explain how I am;
1. Incorrect in my assessment
AND
2. Why I’m so far off on it you’d call it one of, if not the most, disagreeable takes you’ve seen on RealGM.