2025 Off-Season Strategy - What will Cronin do?

[Wizenheimer]

SA is going to be interesting - I think with Fox, Harper & Castle - Vassell becomes expendable.

Grant for Vassell wouldn't be a "bad" trade.

Obviously, if SA can trade with Milwaukee for Giannis - well, never mind.

Grant + 11 for Vassell? I doubt the Spurs would do it. I'd be OK with it if for no other reason, Vassell's being a guard and his contract would likely push Simons out the door

but for sure, the Spurs could aggregate a very competitive package for Giannis. Vassell + Barnes (expiring for Buck's cap-relief + a couple of young prospects like Champagnie and Bassey + a passel of 1st round picks, and the Spurs have those.

[Wizenheimer]

I will never understand the hate most people have for most of the players on this roster.
Simons is still a 19ppg/5apg undersized combo guard that, at 25, can still fill a role on a rebuilding team.
Now, if you stipulated that he gets resigned at $20M+, then I can see the concern.
But crying about having a 25 year old 19ppg/5apg player on the roster instead of prime Dame isn't going to bring prime Dame back. It just means you have a competent role player on the roster.
Giving all of Simons minutes to Murray and boasting how we cut the salary level down isn't really going to excite me as a fan.
And if retaining a competent role player on a reasonable contract is enough to make you consider drinking bleach, seek help. It's just a game.

Personally, I don't think Simons or Ayton get offered extensions until next season due to the team being up for sale. Just use pick #11. Shop Thybulle/Timelord for money saving reasons. Then roll out another lottery bound team next season until our future overlords take over.

Has anyone said the Blazers should get rid of Simon's and give his minutes to Murray? I've not seen it. I want Simon's gone, not because he's not Lillard, but because he's like Lillard. I'm tired of short tweeter guards who don't play defense. He's a chucker and I am ready to move on from that. The team played better without him. He has some value so cash in before he becomes another Grant.

He’s not anywhere close to Lillard, he’s not even anywhere close to CJ, in fact he’s budget CJ, and the issue with him has always been too much iso ball, he provides nothing else if he’s not scoring and will always be hunted on defense, cannot win anything meaningful with that kind of player, especially when you’re paying him $25+ million a year & expecting him to be the “alpha”

We will find out how much a homer for his own guys Cronin is this off-season, because if he resigns Simons you can bet it won’t be for less than he’s making now, so all this talk of him on a affordable contract are ridiculous, because that is never going to happen. Name me one contract Cronin has signed a player to that was.

Grant?
Nurkic?
Little?
Simons (the 1st one)?

Let’s review shall we?

Grant - One of the worst contracts in the league

Nurkic - So bad, that PHX sent a 1st round pick just to get off his contract

Little - PHX ate\stretched several years of his deal just to be rid of him

Simons - Just last off-season, other teams signed better/comparable players to better deals than the one Cronin gave to Simons 3 years ago

Yeah, I’m sure if he resigns any of the vets, they will not be on “team friendly”deals, wishful thinking

I'd bet that when GM's sit down with player agents to discuss new contracts, the gauges/terms are very often a percentage of the salary cap that season. There will be dozens and dozens of precedents making that percentage an easy baseline starting point in negotiations

when Nurkic signed his contract his annual salary was about 14.5% of the cap
When Simons signed his deal, his annual salary was about 20% of the cap
when Grant signed his contract, his annual salary was about 24% of the cap

when Ayton signed the offer sheet with Indiana, it was a max contract with annual salary nearly 27% of the cap

when Simons and Ayton become free agents, the salary cap is projected to be around 170M. For Simons and Ayton, just getting 20% of the cap would put their annual salaries at 35M/year, each

For Simons his last deal was 20% of the cap. If he were to get 20M/year, he'd be getting less than 12% of the cap. Even if he's matched with his current 25M/year, it would only be 15% of the cap. And, that would require him to drop from a 27.7M salary to about 22.3M the next season. A 5.4M demotion, unless it's a front-loaded contract. Simons would not be happy with that, but it probably doesn't matter because it's very doubtful that Cronin has the gumption to hardball Simons and his agent

for Ayton? well, some of the loopy projections people are making to try and justify keeping him are MLE-level deals. Around 15M/year. Right...he'll be happy dropping from over 35M year to 15M year. And Cronin has the stones to draw that line....HA!

[dckingsfan]

SA is going to be interesting - I think with Fox, Harper & Castle - Vassell becomes expendable.

Grant for Vassell wouldn't be a "bad" trade.

Obviously, if SA can trade with Milwaukee for Giannis - well, never mind.

Grant + 11 for Vassell? I doubt the Spurs would do it. I'd be OK with it if for no other reason, Vassell's being a guard and his contract would likely push Simons out the door

but for sure, the Spurs could aggregate a very competitive package for Giannis. Vassell + Barnes (expiring for Buck's cap-relief + a couple of young prospects like Champagnie and Bassey + a passel of 1st round picks, and the Spurs have those.

No - Grant for Vassell straight up.

If and only if SA decides to keep Castle, Fox & Harper. They can then use Grant. Vassell will be of no use.

Vassell's contract actually goes a year longer than Grant's. It makes both teams better. It also allows Portland not to resign Sharpe. Damn, I would hope they wouldn't resign Simons.

[Wizenheimer]

SA is going to be interesting - I think with Fox, Harper & Castle - Vassell becomes expendable.

Grant for Vassell wouldn't be a "bad" trade.

Obviously, if SA can trade with Milwaukee for Giannis - well, never mind.

Grant + 11 for Vassell? I doubt the Spurs would do it. I'd be OK with it if for no other reason, Vassell's being a guard and his contract would likely push Simons out the door

but for sure, the Spurs could aggregate a very competitive package for Giannis. Vassell + Barnes (expiring for Buck's cap-relief + a couple of young prospects like Champagnie and Bassey + a passel of 1st round picks, and the Spurs have those.

No - Grant for Vassell straight up.

If and only if SA decides to keep Castle, Fox & Harper. They can then use Grant. Vassell will be of no use.

Vassell's contract actually goes a year longer than Grant's. It makes both teams better. It also allows Portland not to resign Sharpe. Damn, I would hope they wouldn't resign Simons.

if the Spurs decide to trade Vassell, their market would be substantially more than just Grant

[dckingsfan]

Grant + 11 for Vassell? I doubt the Spurs would do it. I'd be OK with it if for no other reason, Vassell's being a guard and his contract would likely push Simons out the door

but for sure, the Spurs could aggregate a very competitive package for Giannis. Vassell + Barnes (expiring for Buck's cap-relief + a couple of young prospects like Champagnie and Bassey + a passel of 1st round picks, and the Spurs have those.

No - Grant for Vassell straight up.

If and only if SA decides to keep Castle, Fox & Harper. They can then use Grant. Vassell will be of no use.

Vassell's contract actually goes a year longer than Grant's. It makes both teams better. It also allows Portland not to resign Sharpe. Damn, I would hope they wouldn't resign Simons.

if the Spurs decide to trade Vassell, their market would be substantially more than just Grant

Three things - will it get done, would it be a good trade for both teams and would there be better offers...

[Walton1one]

Has anyone said the Blazers should get rid of Simon's and give his minutes to Murray? I've not seen it. I want Simon's gone, not because he's not Lillard, but because he's like Lillard. I'm tired of short tweeter guards who don't play defense. He's a chucker and I am ready to move on from that. The team played better without him. He has some value so cash in before he becomes another Grant.

He’s not anywhere close to Lillard, he’s not even anywhere close to CJ, in fact he’s budget CJ, and the issue with him has always been too much iso ball, he provides nothing else if he’s not scoring and will always be hunted on defense, cannot win anything meaningful with that kind of player, especially when you’re paying him $25+ million a year & expecting him to be the “alpha”

We will find out how much a homer for his own guys Cronin is this off-season, because if he resigns Simons you can bet it won’t be for less than he’s making now, so all this talk of him on a affordable contract are ridiculous, because that is never going to happen. Name me one contract Cronin has signed a player to that was.

Grant?
Nurkic?
Little?
Simons (the 1st one)?

Let’s review shall we?

Grant - One of the worst contracts in the league

Nurkic - So bad, that PHX sent a 1st round pick just to get off his contract

Little - PHX ate\stretched several years of his deal just to be rid of him

Simons - Just last off-season, other teams signed better/comparable players to better deals than the one Cronin gave to Simons 3 years ago

Yeah, I’m sure if he resigns any of the vets, they will not be on “team friendly”deals, wishful thinking

I'd bet that when GM's sit down with player agents to discuss new contracts, the gauges/terms are very often a percentage of the salary cap that season. There will be dozens and dozens of precedents making that percentage an easy baseline starting point in negotiations

when Nurkic signed his contract his annual salary was about 14.5% of the cap
When Simons signed his deal, his annual salary was about 20% of the cap
when Grant signed his contract, his annual salary was about 24% of the cap

when Ayton signed the offer sheet with Indiana, it was a max contract with annual salary nearly 27% of the cap

when Simons and Ayton become free agents, the salary cap is projected to be around 170M. For Simons and Ayton, just getting 20% of the cap would put their annual salaries at 35M/year, each

For Simons his last deal was 20% of the cap. If he were to get 20M/year, he'd be getting less than 12% of the cap. Even if he's matched with his current 25M/year, it would only be 15% of the cap. And, that would require him to drop from a 27.7M salary to about 22.3M the next season. A 5.4M demotion, unless it's a front-loaded contract. Simons would not be happy with that, but it probably doesn't matter because it's very doubtful that Cronin has the gumption to hardball Simons and his agent

for Ayton? well, some of the loopy projections people are making to try and justify keeping him are MLE-level deals. Around 15M/year. Right...he'll be happy dropping from over 35M year to 15M year. And Cronin has the stones to draw that line....HA!

You bring up an interesting point, if Simons’ & his agent want at minimum the same deal he signed before, debatable, @ 20% if the cap & Sharpe would be similar, would he not? He has shown as much\more than Simons has, then he would be at 20% minimum as well, right?

40% for two shooting guards? Neither of whom are you two best players, who BTW both have contracts coming up,

That cannot work, you cannot have 40% of your cap tied up into two players who play the same position, and what makes it worse that neither one of them are your best players

[Wizenheimer]

You bring up an interesting point, if Simons’ & his agent want at minimum the same deal he signed before, debatable, @ 20% if the cap & Sharpe would be similar, would he not? He has shown as much\more than Simons has, then he would be at 20% minimum as well, right?

40% for two shooting guards? Neither of whom are you two best players, who BTW both have contracts coming up,

That cannot work, you cannot have 40% of your cap tied up into two players who play the same position, and what makes it worse that neither one of them are your best players

Cronin's tendency to punt tough decisions down the road is running out of road. I've been harping on that for a while now. In a 2 year period, Simons, Ayton, Sharpe, Timelord, Thybulle, Camara, Scoot, Avdija, and Clingan will all be getting new contracts. That's not sustainable

what worries me is that Simons and Ayton are first in line for new deals

[Walton1one]

I can only imagine a new owner coming in and both Simons & Ayton are signed to new deals and Grant is still here b/c no team met Joe’s “price” and the team still needs to extend Camara & Deni and field a roster w/o going over the tax

[DaVoiceMaster]

I will never understand the hate most people have for most of the players on this roster.
Simons is still a 19ppg/5apg undersized combo guard that, at 25, can still fill a role on a rebuilding team.
Now, if you stipulated that he gets resigned at $20M+, then I can see the concern.
But crying about having a 25 year old 19ppg/5apg player on the roster instead of prime Dame isn't going to bring prime Dame back. It just means you have a competent role player on the roster.
Giving all of Simons minutes to Murray and boasting how we cut the salary level down isn't really going to excite me as a fan.
And if retaining a competent role player on a reasonable contract is enough to make you consider drinking bleach, seek help. It's just a game.

Personally, I don't think Simons or Ayton get offered extensions until next season due to the team being up for sale. Just use pick #11. Shop Thybulle/Timelord for money saving reasons. Then roll out another lottery bound team next season until our future overlords take over.

Has anyone said the Blazers should get rid of Simon's and give his minutes to Murray? I've not seen it. I want Simon's gone, not because he's not Lillard, but because he's like Lillard. I'm tired of short tweeter guards who don't play defense. He's a chucker and I am ready to move on from that. The team played better without him. He has some value so cash in before he becomes another Grant.

He’s not anywhere close to Lillard, he’s not even anywhere close to CJ, in fact he’s budget CJ, and the issue with him has always been too much iso ball, he provides nothing else if he’s not scoring and will always be hunted on defense, cannot win anything meaningful with that kind of player, especially when you’re paying him $25+ million a year & expecting him to be the “alpha”

We will find out how much a homer for his own guys Cronin is this off-season, because if he resigns Simons you can bet it won’t be for less than he’s making now, so all this talk of him on a affordable contract are ridiculous, because that is never going to happen. Name me one contract Cronin has signed a player to that was.

Grant?
Nurkic?
Little?
Simons (the 1st one)?

Let’s review shall we?

Grant - One of the worst contracts in the league

Nurkic - So bad, that PHX sent a 1st round pick just to get off his contract

Little - PHX ate\stretched several years of his deal just to be rid of him

Simons - Just last off-season, other teams signed better/comparable players to better deals than the one Cronin gave to Simons 3 years ago

Yeah, I’m sure if he resigns any of the vets, they will not be on “team friendly”deals, wishful thinking

I never said Simon's was anywhere close to Lillard. As you mentioned, he's not close to CJ either. However, he is, as I mentioned, a SG in a PG body who does not play defense. I don't want to resign him even if he signs cheaply. He is not the type of player I want on the roster.

[PDXKnight]

Joe Cronin: But you can let home grown talent walk for nothing! And he’ll have MORE value with an extended contract!!!

Me: *drinks bleach*

I will never understand the hate most people have for most of the players on this roster.
Simons is still a 19ppg/5apg undersized combo guard that, at 25, can still fill a role on a rebuilding team.
Now, if you stipulated that he gets resigned at $20M+, then I can see the concern.
But crying about having a 25 year old 19ppg/5apg player on the roster instead of prime Dame isn't going to bring prime Dame back. It just means you have a competent role player on the roster.
Giving all of Simons minutes to Murray and boasting how we cut the salary level down isn't really going to excite me as a fan.
And if retaining a competent role player on a reasonable contract is enough to make you consider drinking bleach, seek help. It's just a game.

Personally, I don't think Simons or Ayton get offered extensions until next season due to the team being up for sale. Just use pick #11. Shop Thybulle/Timelord for money saving reasons. Then roll out another lottery bound team next season until our future overlords take over.

Has anyone said the Blazers should get rid of Simon's and give his minutes to Murray? I've not seen it. I want Simon's gone, not because he's not Lillard, but because he's like Lillard. I'm tired of short tweeter guards who don't play defense. He's a chucker and I am ready to move on from that. The team played better without him. He has some value so cash in before he becomes another Grant.

Yes he's like lillard only about a tenth of the shot creator. Prime Dame was worth the defensive liability but you have to be elite offensively to negate giving up 30 points a night and simons isn't elite

I do think its an interesting question if prime Dame or prime jrue is a better number 3 on a contender though. Yes at the surface its Dame but as Miwaukee found out often times big names only make paper champions and 15-20 ppg with elite defense doesnt get nearly enough credit. The answer likely depends on the top 2 players but in most cases you want a more passive 3rd option if you have any wish of contending

[DaVoiceMaster]

The playoffs are all about defense, which is what we are seeing right now. A few years back, the Pelicans swept the Blazers in the playoffs because they had Jrue Holiday and Rajon Rondo. Those two single-handedly shut down Lillard and CJ. And them they had Anthony Davis looming behind them. Dame might have been the better PG, but Jrue proved more valuable.

[Tim Lehrbach]

The playoffs are all about defense, which is what we are seeing right now. A few years back, the Pelicans swept the Blazers in the playoffs because they had Jrue Holiday and Rajon Rondo. Those two single-handedly shut down Lillard and CJ. And them they had Anthony Davis looming behind them. Dame might have been the better PG, but Jrue proved more valuable.

That series was such an important lesson. Dame is still the more valuable player because you can build a playoff-worthy offense around him with very little help, whereas it takes a team to build a strong defense. But Jrue, Rondo, and AD showed us the superior value of good offense, elite defense vs. great offense, poor defense. Jrue was so impressive that series, jeez. As much as it hurt to watch being a Blazers fan, it's one of my all-time favorite defensive lockdowns, along with the times Andre Iguodala just completely swallowed Brandon Roy whole -- in both cases, they were basically the only guys who could do to our star what they did.

[Wizenheimer]

The playoffs are all about defense, which is what we are seeing right now. A few years back, the Pelicans swept the Blazers in the playoffs because they had Jrue Holiday and Rajon Rondo. Those two single-handedly shut down Lillard and CJ. And them they had Anthony Davis looming behind them. Dame might have been the better PG, but Jrue proved more valuable.

That series was such an important lesson. Dame is still the more valuable player because you can build a playoff-worthy offense around him with very little help, whereas it takes a team to build a strong defense. But Jrue, Rondo, and AD showed us the superior value of good offense, elite defense vs. great offense, poor defense. Jrue was so impressive that series, jeez. As much as it hurt to watch being a Blazers fan, it's one of my all-time favorite defensive lockdowns, along with the times Andre Iguodala just completely swallowed Brandon Roy whole -- in both cases, they were basically the only guys who could do to our star what they did.

it was Jrue and occasionally Rondo or E'Twaun Moore cutting off Dame's driving lanes while AD and Mirotic cut off Dame's passing lanes. The Pels basically sold out their defense to stop Dame, get the ball out of his hands, and said CJ couldn't beat them. And CJ couldn't; he could score but he couldn't carry any burden but his own offense against the nonchalant single-coverage. It also didn't help that Nurkic melted against AD

[Tim Lehrbach]

Yeah, definitely a team effort for NOP. Part of the lesson too was that Dame is a great but not-quite GOAT level offensive engine. He floor-raised the heck out of the Blazers those years, but an even better player would have solved that NOP scheme to at least some extent. Or maybe it really was more about the limitations of CJ and the rest of the roster. But this is all a big tangent. Carry on!

[Blazinaway]

I can only imagine a new owner coming in and both Simons & Ayton are signed to new deals and Grant is still here b/c no team met Joe’s “price” and the team still needs to extend Camara & Deni and field a roster w/o going over the tax

Hopefully given that the team is now for sale that might temper "overpay Joe" from offering stupidly high extensions - one can only hope

[Wizenheimer]

Yeah, definitely a team effort for NOP. Part of the lesson too was that Dame is a great but not-quite GOAT level offensive engine. He floor-raised the heck out of the Blazers those years, but an even better player would have solved that NOP scheme to at least some extent. Or maybe it really was more about the limitations of CJ and the rest of the roster. But this is all a big tangent. Carry on!

one player being both the #1 scoring option and the only player who could run the offense effectively was always a major vulnerability for the team. That's especially true because the basket is still 10' off the floor, the average player height was 6'7, and Dame was 6'2

[Walton1one]

Yes, and this is why it is a bad idea to rely on Simons as a "go to guy" or even as a starter (let alone define him as clutch, which Cronin did) & as long as he is in POR is what he will be, nor is he worth anywhere remotely close to $25-$30mil\year.

If teams can shut down Lillard & CJ, they can easily neutralize Simons, all while they hunt\abuse him on the defensive end, and if Simons is not scoring, then he is not worth having on the floor b\c there is little else he provides of value.

I never said Simon's was anywhere close to Lillard. As you mentioned, he's not close to CJ either. However, he is, as I mentioned, a SG in a PG body who does not play defense. I don't want to resign him even if he signs cheaply. He is not the type of player I want on the roster.

I know you didn't and I was not trying to imply you did, I was just commenting how absurd it is\will be? if Cronin resigns him to large contract, given that he is a shell (CJ) of a shell (Dame) of a player that could not win either. If you have a player like Dame, then you scheme your team around him b\c he is so good at one end, POR (Olshey\Cronin) spectacularly failed to do that.

Simons is not that player, which makes him not worth paying a ton of money to, especially given that they have another younger\bigger player at the same position (Sharpe) Paying $60+ million for (2) players who play the same position and neither of whom are your best player, is idiotic.

BTW, regarding AAV, maybe Wizenheimer can break it out, but what Cronin SHOULD be doing (if he believes in the team is better than a star concept) is mirror what IND\Pritchard are doing. They have locked up a lot of their rotation players to good deals and now are reaping the benefit.

What are the AAV for these players, given their salary? Notice how few of these guys are $30, scratch that $20+ million?

* salary starting this last season
Toppin - 4yr\$58mil deal - $12.9\$14\$15\$16
Nesmith - 3yr\$33mil deal - $11\$11\$11
Nembhard -3yr\$58mil deal - $18\$19.5\$21
McConnell - 4yr\$44mil deal - $10\$11\$11.8\$11.8
Halliburton - 5yr\$244mil deal - $42\$45.5\$50\$52.3\$55.6
Siakam - 4yr\$189mil deal - $42\$45.5\$49\$52.3

That is $146mil tied up in (6) key rotation players + $20.7mil in (4) young players on rookie deals, so $166.7mil total and they are going to have issues staying below the cap given Turner is a UFA and Mathurin will be a RFA after next year.

Luxury tax next year is $187\$195 (1st apron)

IND is in the EC finals for the 2nd year in a row, they have a star player (Halliburton) which POR does not, and a clear #2 (Siakam) which maybe POR has (Deni?) if we are being optimistic.

POR is not even a play in team, and if they resign Simons to $30+mil and pay Sharpe $30+mil (mind you they still have to find a way to pay their (2) best players Deni\Toumani) they would be @ $141mil or so in 26/27 with another $70+mil to pay Deni & Toumani? That is $211mil, Tax in 26/27 is $206/apron $215

What affordable contract has Cronin signed a player to? Simons was at 20% of the cap, Grant 24% of the cap

Ask yourself this, would IND trade Nembhard straight up for Simons? Would you? and he is making under $20mil, Simons is making OVER $25mil and likely over $30mil if Cronin resigns him. Does Cronin really believe that Simons is a 20% AAV player?

It is easy to believe (and it may be true) that Kolde is the one causing all the roster problems\indecision, but the evidence is certainly building that Cronin has been the problem all along.

[Wizenheimer]

It is easy to believe (and it may be true) that Kolde is the one causing all the roster problems\indecision, but the evidence is certainly building that Cronin has been the problem all along.

there are enough rumors that Kolde meddles to make it rather credible that he actually does, at times. How much we don't know

But I'm pretty skeptical that it was Kolde, over Cronin's objections, ordering Cronin to give Nurkic 70M; Simons 100M; and Grant 160M. I'm skeptical Kolde told Cronin to hard-cap the Blazers by signing Gary Payton. I'm also a bit skeptical that Kolde ordered Cronin to match the offer sheet for Thybulle; or spend a 1st round pick on Kris Murray

I suppose it might have been pushing by Kolde that generated the rumors for 2 years that the Blazer front office was lusting after Ayton, but I doubt it. I also doubt it was Kolde that told Cronin to roll the dice on Timelord's injury history

we've already been thru this exercise. There were all kinds of rumors that during Neil Olshey's tenure it was Paul Allen ordering Olshey to make all those bad moves like matching the Crabbe offer sheet or signing Evan Turner

it's way too convenient for PA to be blamed for all of Olshey's bad moves while Olshey got credit for the good ones. It just seems like it's deja vu for Kolde to be blamed for Cronin's bad moves while Cronin gets credit for the good ones. So, if Kolde is responsible for the Grant contract, then Kolde is responsible for the Avdija trade. It's either that or Cronin is the GM and all the bucks stop at his desk

[Tim Lehrbach]

Yes, and this is why it is a bad idea to rely on Simons as a "go to guy" or even as a starter (let alone define him as clutch, which Cronin did) & as long as he is in POR is what he will be, nor is he worth anywhere remotely close to $25-$30mil\year.

If teams can shut down Lillard & CJ, they can easily neutralize Simons, all while they hunt\abuse him on the defensive end, and if Simons is not scoring, then he is not worth having on the floor b\c there is little else he provides of value.

I never said Simon's was anywhere close to Lillard. As you mentioned, he's not close to CJ either. However, he is, as I mentioned, a SG in a PG body who does not play defense. I don't want to resign him even if he signs cheaply. He is not the type of player I want on the roster.

I know you didn't and I was not trying to imply you did, I was just commenting how absurd it is\will be? if Cronin resigns him to large contract, given that he is a shell (CJ) of a shell (Dame) of a player that could not win either. If you have a player like Dame, then you scheme your team around him b\c he is so good at one end, POR (Olshey\Cronin) spectacularly failed to do that.

Simons is not that player, which makes him not worth paying a ton of money to, especially given that they have another younger\bigger player at the same position (Sharpe) Paying $60+ million for (2) players who play the same position and neither of whom are your best player, is idiotic.

BTW, regarding AAV, maybe Wizenheimer can break it out, but what Cronin SHOULD be doing (if he believes in the team is better than a star concept) is mirror what IND\Pritchard are doing. They have locked up a lot of their rotation players to good deals and now are reaping the benefit.

What are the AAV for these players, given their salary? Notice how few of these guys are $30, scratch that $20+ million?

* salary starting this last season
Toppin - 4yr\$58mil deal - $12.9\$14\$15\$16
Nesmith - 3yr\$33mil deal - $11\$11\$11
Nembhard -3yr\$58mil deal - $18\$19.5\$21
McConnell - 4yr\$44mil deal - $10\$11\$11.8\$11.8
Halliburton - 5yr\$244mil deal - $42\$45.5\$50\$52.3\$55.6
Siakam - 4yr\$189mil deal - $42\$45.5\$49\$52.3

That is $146mil tied up in (6) key rotation players + $20.7mil in (4) young players on rookie deals, so $166.7mil total and they are going to have issues staying below the cap given Turner is a UFA and Mathurin will be a RFA after next year.

Luxury tax next year is $187\$195 (1st apron)

IND is in the EC finals for the 2nd year in a row, they have a star player (Halliburton) which POR does not, and a clear #2 (Siakam) which maybe POR has (Deni?) if we are being optimistic.

POR is not even a play in team, and if they resign Simons to $30+mil and pay Sharpe $30+mil (mind you they still have to find a way to pay their (2) best players Deni\Toumani) they would be @ $141mil or so in 26/27 with another $70+mil to pay Deni & Toumani? That is $211mil, Tax in 26/27 is $206/apron $215

What affordable contract has Cronin signed a player to? Simons was at 20% of the cap, Grant 24% of the cap

Ask yourself this, would IND trade Nembhard straight up for Simons? Would you? and he is making under $20mil, Simons is making OVER $25mil and likely over $30mil if Cronin resigns him. Does Cronin really believe that Simons is a 20% AAV player?

It is easy to believe (and it may be true) that Kolde is the one causing all the roster problems\indecision, but the evidence is certainly building that Cronin has been the problem all along.

As hard as this is for me to accept, Pritchard has done a fantastic job with the Pacers.

[BlazersBroncos]

Yes, and this is why it is a bad idea to rely on Simons as a "go to guy" or even as a starter (let alone define him as clutch, which Cronin did) & as long as he is in POR is what he will be, nor is he worth anywhere remotely close to $25-$30mil\year.

If teams can shut down Lillard & CJ, they can easily neutralize Simons, all while they hunt\abuse him on the defensive end, and if Simons is not scoring, then he is not worth having on the floor b\c there is little else he provides of value.

I never said Simon's was anywhere close to Lillard. As you mentioned, he's not close to CJ either. However, he is, as I mentioned, a SG in a PG body who does not play defense. I don't want to resign him even if he signs cheaply. He is not the type of player I want on the roster.

I know you didn't and I was not trying to imply you did, I was just commenting how absurd it is\will be? if Cronin resigns him to large contract, given that he is a shell (CJ) of a shell (Dame) of a player that could not win either. If you have a player like Dame, then you scheme your team around him b\c he is so good at one end, POR (Olshey\Cronin) spectacularly failed to do that.

Simons is not that player, which makes him not worth paying a ton of money to, especially given that they have another younger\bigger player at the same position (Sharpe) Paying $60+ million for (2) players who play the same position and neither of whom are your best player, is idiotic.

BTW, regarding AAV, maybe Wizenheimer can break it out, but what Cronin SHOULD be doing (if he believes in the team is better than a star concept) is mirror what IND\Pritchard are doing. They have locked up a lot of their rotation players to good deals and now are reaping the benefit.

What are the AAV for these players, given their salary? Notice how few of these guys are $30, scratch that $20+ million?

* salary starting this last season
Toppin - 4yr\$58mil deal - $12.9\$14\$15\$16
Nesmith - 3yr\$33mil deal - $11\$11\$11
Nembhard -3yr\$58mil deal - $18\$19.5\$21
McConnell - 4yr\$44mil deal - $10\$11\$11.8\$11.8
Halliburton - 5yr\$244mil deal - $42\$45.5\$50\$52.3\$55.6
Siakam - 4yr\$189mil deal - $42\$45.5\$49\$52.3

That is $146mil tied up in (6) key rotation players + $20.7mil in (4) young players on rookie deals, so $166.7mil total and they are going to have issues staying below the cap given Turner is a UFA and Mathurin will be a RFA after next year.

Luxury tax next year is $187\$195 (1st apron)

IND is in the EC finals for the 2nd year in a row, they have a star player (Halliburton) which POR does not, and a clear #2 (Siakam) which maybe POR has (Deni?) if we are being optimistic.

POR is not even a play in team, and if they resign Simons to $30+mil and pay Sharpe $30+mil (mind you they still have to find a way to pay their (2) best players Deni\Toumani) they would be @ $141mil or so in 26/27 with another $70+mil to pay Deni & Toumani? That is $211mil, Tax in 26/27 is $206/apron $215

What affordable contract has Cronin signed a player to? Simons was at 20% of the cap, Grant 24% of the cap

Ask yourself this, would IND trade Nembhard straight up for Simons? Would you? and he is making under $20mil, Simons is making OVER $25mil and likely over $30mil if Cronin resigns him. Does Cronin really believe that Simons is a 20% AAV player?

It is easy to believe (and it may be true) that Kolde is the one causing all the roster problems\indecision, but the evidence is certainly building that Cronin has been the problem all along.

As hard as this is for me to accept, Pritchard has done a fantastic job with the Pacers.

He has a small market team in the ECF and has done so without any serious FA signings and only 2 really high picks (Mathurian and Walker). He built that team on a bevy or smart trades and moves. Its a pretty legit masterclass of talent acquisition for a small market team with no true needle moving blue chip draft pick.