Free Agents Thread

[gesa2]

I would still think about taking a flier on Oden. His slow recovery is predicted with the surgery he had, and the fact that he might miss next year is possibly the only reasons the trailblazers wouldn't match an offer.

"Taking a flier" implies you aren't risking much on the idea that he might recover. The reality though, is that he's going to cost at least the mid level exception(if it still exists by the time we would sign him), and probably significantly more. So to get him we'd have to give up up our cap flexibility for the next 3-4 years. If it doesn't work, and he never gets to the point where he's at least the second or third best player on an elite team, we probably won't have a team good enough to convince Wall to stay. Are you willing to bet that he pans out against Wall leaving? That's a big gamble, probably too big for Ernie to take.

[closg00]

Portland already has a place-holder on Oden, unless someone is willing to offer a crazy contract, he's staying a Blazer.

[no D in Hibachi]

If I were a Blazer fan and watched that youtube video just one time I'd fall asleep crying every single night. He would have been pure bliss to watch and the Blazer fans have been rob. From a strictly sports watching perspective it's sort of like Sean Taylor. He was one of the most incredible athletes to watch compete. I don't go two Skins games without thinking about watching him with our pathetic sack of losers and think what might have been. I'm sure Blazer fans think that regularly.

I'd take a chance on him, but unlike with Morrison/Yi/Thornton/Armstrong I'm sure every GM in the league would take a chance on Oden as well. You're not going to get him by giving away Quinten Ross. It'll cost you.

[theboomking]

I would still think about taking a flier on Oden. His slow recovery is predicted with the surgery he had, and the fact that he might miss next year is possibly the only reasons the trailblazers wouldn't match an offer.

"Taking a flier" implies you aren't risking much on the idea that he might recover. The reality though, is that he's going to cost at least the mid level exception(if it still exists by the time we would sign him), and probably significantly more. So to get him we'd have to give up up our cap flexibility for the next 3-4 years. If it doesn't work, and he never gets to the point where he's at least the second or third best player on an elite team, we probably won't have a team good enough to convince Wall to stay. Are you willing to bet that he pans out against Wall leaving? That's a big gamble, probably too big for Ernie to take.

As much cap room as we have, a MLE is not going to cost us John Wall. I think the offer we would have to make is actually higher, 8.9 million. We could still offer him a huge one year deal with a team option for a second year, and have the ability to cut ties before the 2012 FA period if Oden isn't recovering.

If I were a Blazer fan and watched that youtube video just one time I'd fall asleep crying every single night. He would have been pure bliss to watch and the Blazer fans have been rob. From a strictly sports watching perspective it's sort of like Sean Taylor. He was one of the most incredible athletes to watch compete. I don't go two Skins games without thinking about watching him with our pathetic sack of losers and think what might have been. I'm sure Blazer fans think that regularly.

I'd take a chance on him, but unlike with Morrison/Yi/Thornton/Armstrong I'm sure every GM in the league would take a chance on Oden as well. You're not going to get him by giving away Quinten Ross. It'll cost you.

I feel exactly the same about Sean.

[Ruzious]

If the Wiz have a choice between the Young guns - Nick v Thaddeus (18.4 PER this season) in free agency - and they cost roughly the same and we do have just enough cap space - which do you prefer?

[hands11]

I say move forward.

As long as they sign Nick to something reasonable, he is movable if they need to do that later.

The key is not getting stuck in bad risky contracts like Gils. What they did with Hughes and Jefferies was the right moves at the time, though I wish they would have moved Hughes for something a year earlier. Same with Gil. Same with AJ.

Where the team is right now, we wait to see what our pick is and plan on resigning Nick. There is young talent on this team, and talent be be had in the draft. It's not time to swing for the fences yet with this franchise.

No yet. Right now. You just keep building by making the next sound smart move.

[Ed Wood]

Tough call on Young v. Young. The other one is probably a better player in the abstract, more productive when playing time is factored in, and would fit very well alongside Wall considering he's an undersized power forward who thrives in the open court. On the other hand my guess is he'll be a little more expensive, he isn't a very good shooter (granted we're comparing a guard to a combo forward who's better at the four, for a big man Thad is a pretty good shooter) and he is unquestionably undersized for his best position (he measured out as an NBA 6'7" with a decent wingspan pre-draft, it's possible he's grown since), plus he's a so-so rebounder.

I'd be more into Thaddeus if I had somebody who I was fairly confident could compensate for his tweener status defensively at the other forward (ie a small forward with size) and Rashard doesn't count anymore. Nick, on the other hand, contributes in only one (maybe two) areas but creates no issues defensively at his position. I think it would depend really heavily on what price each player could be had at and what the team does in the draft. I wouldn't want to draft a power forward and then play Thad at small forward but if I ended up with someone like Vesely I might consider him as a complement who's more of an interior player and who would be another component of a very uptempo lineup.

[Ruzious]

Yeah, I'd like to see what Thad could do as a starting 3. Physically, he's a near perfect 3 - a physical specimin - and way undersized at 4. When Philly picked Turner, I figured - that's probably it as far as Thad being part of their future - because he's got to play the 3 to reach his potential - and with Iggy and Turner at the wings, Thad's going to have to stay at 4 fer Philly. He's an outstanding defender. The question is - like Ed alluded to - can he develop a consistent outside shot? Thornton had the same issue and didn't develop. But as athletic as Thornton was, Thad is moreso and a little bigger, and I believe he's actually still younger than Thorny was as an NBA rookie. Thad with a consistent 3 point shot would be an all-star caliber player. Lock him in a gym all summer shooting 3's. Plus, Young really stood out the other day on the big stage of the playoffs - showing the kind of attitude we need.

[GhostsOfGil]

can someone please clear something up for me? if the new CBA states that a max contract can only be set to 12 million (hypothetical), what happens to current max contracts that exceed that amount? do they stay the same for the remainder of the contract or are they renegotiated.

[Dat2U]

I think Thad has proven he isn't a very good 3, but as an undersized 4 he brings a lot to the table. Physically he's built like an ideal 3 like Ruz states but skill wise he simply doesn't stand out there. He's much more apt to take advantages of speed & skill advantages he has at the 4. He can stretch the defense and not kill you on the defensive end.

In reality he's probably the ideal 6th man on a playoff team. A change of pace supersub that can create instant offense, get out in transition and abuse slower 4s.

As for Nick, I've made my feelings known about him for a while. I just get the feeling we'd regret giving him a long term deal. Nothing against the kid but I don't think his game is versatile enough to be a starter in a winning situation. He's somewhere in that JR Smith / Jamal Crawford level of SGs and frankly unless I'm convinced a guy can be a key starting component of a contender, I'm not interested in paying him. Paying for backups before you have your starting pieces in place is just ass backwards IMO.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

Interesting break down of TYoung... could be future description of Derrick Williams??


Does anyone think Memphis re-upping Zach Randolph, as well as Gay last offseason, could make Gasol obtainable?

[gesa2]

I think Derek Williams is a much better shooter than Young, so could handle the 3 position reasonably well on offense at least. Young can prob defend 3's better tho.

You do wonder if Gasol will be available.

[Hoopalotta]

Unfortunately with Thaddeus, he really hasn't been very productive at the small forward position as a scorer according to 82 games. I haven't really watched them this year and there might be some scheme or personnel issues, but I think the main thing is that he's not a good enough of a ball handler to go to work against 3's.

But I've liked him. He's extremely athletic n' coordinated with a passable jumper combined with the disposition to attack inside. You'd have to wonder how playing with Wall would go for him too as that could mitigate his offensive limitations to an extent.

Choosing between the two, I'd go with Thaddeus and hope that he could achieve greater heights through chemistry with Wall, but you'd want to have a more comprehensive understanding of why he hasn't been a scorer at the 3 than what I just laid out if you're really putting an offer on the table.It better be fixable.

As it so happens, the Sixers' cap situation is poor with them not having a center under contract other than Speights, who isn't a center. I'd expect that they want to match on Thaddeus, but it looks like something has to give somewhere or another for them.

[DMVleGeND]

Unfortunately with Thaddeus, he really hasn't been very productive at the small forward position as a scorer according to 82 games. I haven't really watched them this year and there might be some scheme or personnel issues, but I think the main thing is that he's not a good enough of a ball handler to go to work against 3's.

But I've liked him. He's extremely athletic n' coordinated with a passable jumper combined with the disposition to attack inside. You'd have to wonder how playing with Wall would go for him too as that could mitigate his offensive limitations to an extent.

Choosing between the two, I'd go with Thaddeus and hope that he could achieve greater heights through chemistry with Wall, but you'd want to have a more comprehensive understanding of why he hasn't been a scorer at the 3 than what I just laid out if you're really putting an offer on the table.It better be fixable.

As it so happens, the Sixers' cap situation is poor with them not having a center under contract other than Speights, who isn't a center. I'd expect that they want to match on Thaddeus, but it looks like something has to give somewhere or another for them.

Everything you said is true. He usually plays PF because he's a better scorer the closer he is to the basket. His outside shot isn't consistent and he doesn't have the handles to consistently break down opponents from the perimeter.

[nate33]

If the Wiz have a choice between the Young guns - Nick v Thaddeus (18.4 PER this season) in free agency - and they cost roughly the same and we do have just enough cap space - which do you prefer?

Thad Young is the better player but might not be the better fit. We already have a pretty good tweener forward in Booker, and we might add another in the draft. Also, I think it's highly unlikely that they'll cost roughly the same. Thad is going to cost more because of his superior PER and the fact that he's on a playoff team.

I'd take Nick at $6M a year over Thad at $8M a year. If they cost the same, I'd take Thad. Or rather, if they both cost $6M, I'd take Thad. I wouldn't pay $8M for either.

Note, when I say $6M a year, what I really mean is a Nick Collison contract that pays $12M in the first year, and $4M a year for the next 3. I'm not in love with the notion of paying either guy $6M a year, but if we can front load it so that their cap hit in 2012/13 and beyond is just $4M, I'd be willing to do it. There's not much else to do with our 2011/12 cap room anyhow.

[Rafael122]

Thad Young at one point was 4-16 last night against the Heat. Seriously? Impressive specimen but eh...I wouldn't give $6 million per for this guy. I'd rather keep Noodles.

[Hoopalotta]

Noodles is a nice shooter, but no stranger to 4-16 either.

[Ruzious]

Thad has taken a lot of shots in the 1st 2 games. Whoa, Turner made 3 for 3 3's. I spect that's because when Lebron's covering Turner, he's not covering Turner; he's playing free safety.

[fugop]

Thad Young at one point was 4-16 last night against the Heat. Seriously? Impressive specimen but eh...I wouldn't give $6 million per for this guy. I'd rather keep Noodles.

And his 25% was roughly what the rest of the team (aside from Turner) was shooting. Miami's defense was good, Philly's offense was bad.

I still think T. Young will end up as a Gerald Wallace-style SF. At the same age, Young has better numbers across the board:

http://bkref.com/tiny/tJ4ai

[SUPERBALLMAN]

Seems to me we had a similar type player with Thornton and he got waived.