Portland trying to steal Paul Millsap?

[Malapropism]

I still don't see why Portland does this deal. Why spend so much on a backup PF when they've got Aldridge?

because the cap-space is a one time deal, then it's gone. However, if Portland converts that cap-space into a good player, they then have a useful trade asset if nothing else.

There is also a little rumbling that Przybilla will opt-out after this season

and finally, like it or not, this is one division rival possibly weakening another

Yes, but if it cripples Portland's ability to re-sign Roy, Aldridge et al., it's a small victory. Utah is one opponent out of many. Making a move targeted to hurt one opponent is foolish.

It won't. Roy and Aldridge will get extensions this off season.

[Spykes]

I still don't see why Portland does this deal. Why spend so much on a backup PF when they've got Aldridge?

If you had watched the Blazers playoff series against the Rockets, you'd realize how big a problem it was for Portland to not having a banger PF down low. Brandon Roy said it was the teams biggest need after they lost that series.

Granted, most fans on the outside looking in target either the PG or SF spot as needing upgrades... And they do imo... But the options currently out there aren't attractive. They're particularly sparse in the FA market. The on SF who really fit what they wanted screwed them over (Hedo), then the other SF who fit what they wanted signed a contract early out of spite (Ariza). So nothing was left at SF and the Blazers came up empty on the trade front at that position since RJ and Carter had already been traded and neither the Wizards or Bobcats were willing to give up Butler or Wallace for cap space and young players.

At PG, the options are even harder to come by. There weren't any great fits on the FA market to begin with. Blazers didn't even bother getting in on the Kidd sweepstakes since the Mavs overpaid to keep him anyway. Bibby wasn't much of an upgrade over Blake. That really only leaves Miller, Felton and Sessions. Miller, at best, is a questionable fit with his age and inability to make a shot beyond 15ft. Felton, who I can't stand, is basically a unquestioned lock to be resigned by Charlotte (according to the Charlotte beat writer). And the Bucks just made a bunch of salary moves by dumping RJ and letting CV walk for nothing, in order to keep Sessions. On top of all that, there also is no PG really on the trade market right now. No one really knows if Hinrich is really available or not, if he is, its still questionable if he's THAT big of an upgrade over Blake to justify paying double the money for him.

Portland is at a point where they have to make a move to get the BPA. Right now, that's Millsap. Are there bigger needs? Probably. But none of those needs can really be addressed anytime soon. So go for broke on the best PF on the market and see what happens. If you get him, he'll be a nice backup and potentially a nice trading chip down the line. If the Jazz match, it forces them to move Boozer, creating some trade possibilities and if nothing else, just gets Boozer out of Utah.

[schneiderjazz]

As I understand, Wizenheimer, the maximum the Blazers can offer Sap is a 5 year deal starting at 8.9 million with 8.5% raise every year. That would be:

8.9 million
9.7 million
10.5 million
11.4 million
12.4 million

That's a 5 year 53 million offer. If they wanted to add a signing bonus, they'd have to reduce the average salary salary so they could fit a 20% bonus. The bonus would be 10.6 million, so the Jazz would have to pay this year: 8.9 + 10.6 + the luxury tax (around 14 million for Sap + another player to have the minimum 13 players on the roster). That would be a **** of money. Jazz would indeed be forced to trade someone.

[Wizenheimer]

As I understand, Wizenheimer, the maximum the Blazers can offer Sap is a 5 year deal starting at 8.9 million with 8.5% raise every year. That would be:

8.9 million
9.7 million
10.5 million
11.4 million
12.4 million

That's a 5 year 53 million offer. If they wanted to add a signing bonus, they'd have to reduce the average salary salary so they could fit a 20% bonus. The bonus would be 10.6 million, so the Jazz would have to pay this year: 8.9 + 10.6 + the luxury tax (around 14 million for Sap + another player to have the minimum 13 players on the roster). That would be a **** of money. Jazz would indeed be forced to trade someone.

I made a correction...it was pointed out to me that the maximum signing bonus is 17.5%, not 20%.

I also don't think Portland will go that high of a contract. Maybe 45-48 million. That would still be a sizable 1st year hit for the Jazz to absorb. Of course, it would make the remaining years of the contract more reasonable.

[Fido]

Almost--
First year salary would be reduced to accomodate the bonus so...
Salary........Bonus........Sal Cap......Cash payment
6.8............2.1...............8.9.........17.3........(6.8 salary + 10.5 bonus)
7.5............2.1..............9.6...........7.5
8.3............2.1.............10.4...........8.3
9.1............2.1.............11.2...........9.1
10.0..........2.1.............12.1...........10.0

So factor in $17.3 to Millsap in cash this year plus all that luxury tax stuff and I would expect another trade to go down to drive the salary cap figure down (of course).

[Blaze01]

First of all stealing? I certainly wouldn't characterize this move by POR as that....

As to why do they do this deal? I mean a 3-man rotation of Oden, Aldridge and Millsap would be very good....Przybilla is 30 yrs old, has a player option next year that he is rumoured to excercise, and he has more trade value than either Blake or Outlaw...

This opens up POR to deal Przybilla for some additional help at SF or PG, perhaps to a team like HOU who has literally NO starting center with Yao & Dikembe gone....Several other teams could use Przybilla as well, who is certainly a starting caliber center....

[Malapropism]

Almost--
First year salary would be reduced to accomodate the bonus so...
Salary........Bonus........Sal Cap......Cash payment
6.8............2.1...............8.9.........17.3........(6.8 salary + 10.5 bonus)
7.5............2.1..............9.6...........7.5
8.3............2.1.............10.4...........8.3
9.1............2.1.............11.2...........9.1
10.0..........2.1.............12.1...........10.0

So factor in $17.3 to Millsap in cash this year plus all that luxury tax stuff and I would expect another trade to go down to drive the salary cap figure down (of course).

That is some confusing **** right there.

CBA = Not to be **** around with.

[Fido]

Almost--
First year salary would be reduced to accomodate the bonus so...
Salary........Bonus........Sal Cap......Cash payment
6.8............2.1...............8.9.........17.3........(6.8 salary + 10.5 bonus)
7.5............2.1..............9.6...........7.5
8.3............2.1.............10.4...........8.3
9.1............2.1.............11.2...........9.1
10.0..........2.1.............12.1...........10.0

So factor in $17.3 to Millsap in cash this year plus all that luxury tax stuff and I would expect another trade to go down to drive the salary cap figure down (of course).

That is some confusing **** right there.

CBA = Not to be **** around with.

Seriously...that exercise hurt my head. Time to go lay down.

[Fido]

Or the Jazz simply counter with a 6th year on their deal.

[Malapropism]

Or the Jazz simply counter with a 6th year on their deal.

[Fido]

Recalculating on max 17.5% bonus due to an offer for a restricted free agent. This is the worst contract Portland could throw at Millsap:
5 year $52 mill
~$9 mill signing bonus
Salary........Bonus.......Cap Hit......Paycheck
7.1............1.8............8.9............16.1 ($7.1 mill salary + $9 mill signing bonus)
7.8............1.8............9.6............7.8
8.6............1.8............10.4...........8.6
9.4............1.8............11.2...........9.4
10.3..........1.8.............12.1.........10.3

I still think the Jazz could offer up a 6th year and make the entire package more palatable--not to mention a shot at starting on this team once the Boozer situation shakes out.

PS: This contract would also make Millsap more tradable later if he is owed less money than his salary cap hit remaining since it isn't horribly high.

[JD45]

Or the Jazz simply counter with a 6th year on their deal.

Once Milsap signs, there is no countering. Either match or not.

[StocktonShorts]

Or the Jazz simply counter with a 6th year on their deal.

Once Milsap signs, there is no countering. Either match or not.

It may be in Millsap's best interest to let the Jazz know what the Blazers' offer is before he signs it.

[schneiderjazz]

Recalculating on max 17.5% bonus due to an offer for a restricted free agent. This is the worst contract Portland could throw at Millsap:
5 year $52 mill
~$9 mill signing bonus
Salary........Bonus.......Cap Hit......Paycheck
7.1............1.8............8.9............16.1 ($7.1 mill salary + $9 mill signing bonus)
7.8............1.8............9.6............7.8
8.6............1.8............10.4...........8.6
9.4............1.8............11.2...........9.4
10.3..........1.8.............12.1.........10.3

I still think the Jazz could offer up a 6th year and make the entire package more palatable--not to mention a shot at starting on this team once the Boozer situation shakes out.

PS: This contract would also make Millsap more tradable later if he is owed less money than his salary cap hit remaining since it isn't horribly high.

We have a winner.
After I wrote my post, I thought about a number of things I had calculated wrong. I think you got it right, Fido. Still, basically the Jazz are **** if the Blazers sign Sap to an offer sheet that looks anything like that. They are gonna have to find a way to shed some salary.

[StocktonShorts]

I say call the Blazers' bluff. If they want to tie up Roy's/Aldridge's/Rudy's extension money on Paul Millsap... let 'em.

They still won't have a point guard and next year the Jazz can go after Aldridge or some other PF.

[Spykes]

I say call the Blazers' bluff. If they want to tie up Roy's/Aldridge's/Rudy's extension money on Paul Millsap... let 'em.

They still won't have a point guard and next year the Jazz can go after Aldridge or some other PF.

Aldridge and Roy will have extensions regardless of the Millsap situation.

[DaVoiceMaster]

I say call the Blazers' bluff. If they want to tie up Roy's/Aldridge's/Rudy's extension money on Paul Millsap... let 'em.

They still won't have a point guard and next year the Jazz can go after Aldridge or some other PF.

I'm sure Paul Allen has all of the facts before making the decision to spend lots of money on a free agent, knowing Roy & Aldridge are due extensions next year, Oden the year after and we'll see if Rudy is even with the team the year after that. Fortunately, the Blazers have one of the wealthiest owners in the NBA, if not the wealthiest. He has a history of overpaying when he feels it will be beneficial to winning a title. Paul Allen gave the green light for Pritchard to roll the dice so I'm not concerned about extensions for Roy, Aldridge, Oden, Rudy and whoever else might need one in the next couple of years..

[WetCoast]

I say call the Blazers' bluff. If they want to tie up Roy's/Aldridge's/Rudy's extension money on Paul Millsap... let 'em.

They still won't have a point guard and next year the Jazz can go after Aldridge or some other PF.

Assuming that's what the deal is for Sap, at least Aldridge will be out the door. You don't sign back up PF's at that price and have your PF at max. One way or the other, Portland adds a major upgrade with that trade, prolly PG.

[Jack wore plaid]

Aldridge is going nowhere

Joel Przybilla would more than likely be the odd man out. He can opt out after next season anyway. I think he likes Portland, and Portland certainly likes him, but Oden is the guy there and he likely knows it. He is an incredible defensive center who will bring back some value, especially if packaged with Outlaw and Blake or whatever. Oden, Aldridge and Maillsap can man the 3 front court spots with players like Pendergraph or whoever on the bench for insurance. With Millsap supposedly already saying he was fine backing up Aldridge, that's the way I see it going down. Aldridge is also skilled enough to play a few minutes at the 3 against certain players for a big line up of Oden, Millsap, Aldridge, Batum and Roy, And still be able to go small with a line up of Aldridge, Millsap, Batum, Roy and Bayless.


But again, I think this is an attempt to get Hinrich via a 3 way