Source: If Blazers losing by mid-Jan, LMA will ask out

[GreenRiddler]

I dont like Ibaka because he is undersized and extremely dependent on his athleticism. I would love Derrick Favors in here. He is a future stud I feel like

Yea beggars can't be choosers, if we can get Ibaka (a RFA) for 40mil/4yrs we do it. He would fit well with LMA and OKC would be unlikely to match since I think they will keep Harden unless he is injured this year. Favors will be impossible to get here.

[GreenRiddler]

LMA will be plenty happy when we have a core of him Lillard, Batum, 2013 top 10 pick, Leonard and Bynum. I am surprised to learn we are in the bottom 4 of the league in salary. With a possible 12.4mill in cap space if we don't move Matthews and 19.2mill if we do. we can instead go for Ibaka or Tyreke Evans for 4 yrs 40mill if Bynum(24yrs old) at 4 yrs 68mill doesn't work out.

[License2Lillard]

Can you name one reason why Bynum would want to sign here?

[PDXKnight]

I agree. I wouldn't want to trade him until next off-season at the earliest. Portland still has the possibility of flirting with some good FA's like Bynum and Harden--even if very unlikely. If they strike out there and don't add anything else of major substance that would help the following season or two, and they appear to be headed to a more serious rebuild, it might be time to start looking.

If by next off season you mean 2014 I disagree but the 2013-14 mid season would have some merit. If Aldridge ends up wanting out, the last thing the Blazers would want is to be forced to trade LA for scraps on the final season of his contract. Based on the Howard situation, the Blazers would probably be lucky to land one good pick on LA's last season, but if we make it the season before his last we're sure to get somebody who bids higher. In sum, yes I could see merit to waiting on LA so long as he isn't demanding to be traded immediately but if the signs point to him signing elsewhere at the end of the deal, Olshey and company can't hold onto our best trading chip for too long. LA could jump start a total rebuild quite a bit and I'd hate to lose out on that option because we held onto Aldridge in the scenario that he wants out.

The Howard situation was a unique entity mostly because Howard kept making huge problems for any team that would try to trade for him besides Brooklyn. Olrando was stupid and should have looked to trade Howard a year+ before now when he would have gotten far more value.

In the situation where Aldridge is willing to sign an extension with most teams you bet your ass we will get a decent amount for him.

If Denver and Utah can get decent payback on Melo and Williams we can do the same with Aldridge.

In fairness Melo and Williams were both valued higher in the NBA in terms of talent (and they still probably are).

The problem with predicting a situation before it unfolds is we don't have hindsight in our favor. There's no guarantee LA re-ups with someone else and there's also no guarantee he doesn't. If he's willing to resign with someone I'd bet they get more and obviously the Magic didn't exactly walk out with nothing in the worst case scenario either considering that they could have had Bynum.

[Clarity]

If I was a Blazer fan id like this move unless Lillard comes out & is immediately an All Star which could happen but is unlikely. Matthews & Batum are role players, really all Portland has is Aldridge & Lillard's potential.

Id move Aldridge for a big package of picks, young talent & rebuild this thing the right way. If Lillard is indeed great at worst case he can follow a Roy route. Roy led the Blazers to the 4th seed in the playoffs in his 3rd year. Rebuilds dont have to take 5 years if done properly.

[Effigy]

Can you name one reason why Bynum would want to sign here?

No, there's no chance.

[PDXKnight]

Can you name one reason why Bynum would want to sign here?

No, there's no chance.

Never say never but I tend to agree it would take a miracle (in other words a 50 plus win season) to even get Bynum to consider and even then its a push.

[Wizenheimer]

the Ibaka RFA fantasy is now dead (it was never really alive). OKC signed him to a 4 yr/48 million extension

[marsblazer]

Batums deal doesn't seem as bad now, at least we were matching an offer by someone overpaying. Can't see the reasoning OKC did that this early, ibakas most recent outings didn't exactly blow people away. They can't possibly resign harden and keep Perk now.

[Rhal]

the Ibaka RFA fantasy is now dead (it was never really alive). OKC signed him to a 4 yr/48 million extension

Everyone should hop onto the "OKC can't afford to give Harden a max contract so lets do it" Bandwagon.

[jhern87]

I just hope that if he does want out that our FO handles the situation more like the Jazz and D-Will and less like the D12 fiasco..

I know we're not likely to get as big of a package but we could get a combo of high picks or a pick and a nice young piece for Aldridge.. I think Olshey will find out well before if he's wanting out though and make a move before it becomes a problem.

I could live with

Lillard
Matthews
Batum
Hickson
Leonard

+ whatever we get in return for Aldridge.. If we're really struggling it could potentially be two high lotto picks.. We're not in a bad position.. Even if Aldridge doesn't want out cashing in on him for picks / young talent might be a good option if Aldridge shows he can't be the man on a playoff team.

[deanwoof]

i wonder if blazer ticket holders can get their money back if they're struggling by february too?

[PDXKnight]

I just hope that if he does want out that our FO handles the situation more like the Jazz and D-Will and less like the D12 fiasco..

I know we're not likely to get as big of a package but we could get a combo of high picks or a pick and a nice young piece for Aldridge.. I think Olshey will find out well before if he's wanting out though and make a move before it becomes a problem.

I could live with

Lillard
Matthews
Batum
Hickson
Leonard

+ whatever we get in return for Aldridge.. If we're really struggling it could potentially be two high lotto picks.. We're not in a bad position.. Even if Aldridge doesn't want out cashing in on him for picks / young talent might be a good option if Aldridge shows he can't be the man on a playoff team.

I'm far from excited about that lineup. If we could somehow get Gallo and Faried from Denver and swing Gallo in a 3 team trade for a high pick I'd be happier than having two high picks. I know Denver is a division rival but if we can acquire a replacement PF while getting a pick I'd be pretty darn happy. If Denver sweetens the pot with NY's first rounder I'd probably do that deal pretty quickly though if push came to shove Gallo plus Faried is a pretty darn lucrative package as it is. If we can get a high lotto pick out of Gallo or Batum it'd probably make sense considering that Gallo and Nic play similarly in some ways.

[Clarity]

Denver & NO are both in better shape now because of dealing Melo & CP3, teams ALWAYS overpay for a "star player" which im not even sure Aldridge is yet full time.

I would absolutely look into this option if it came up

[monopoman]

Denver & NO are both in better shape now because of dealing Melo & CP3, teams ALWAYS overpay for a "star player" which im not even sure Aldridge is yet full time.

I would absolutely look into this option if it came up

It's funny when people consider Williams a star player but not Aldridge when Williams struggled to make the all-star game quite a bit until recently. Melo makes the all-star game regularly but has yet to demonstrate playoff success barring one run with Billups being the true man in those playoff games.

Williams missed out on the all-star game his first 4 seasons.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

... considering that Gallo and Nic play similarly in some ways.

Naw, Gallo likes having the ball in his hand and has the strength to defend SF's in the post. That is why I think a wing rotation of those two would actually work out, although it would be significantly expensive.

[Wizenheimer]

Denver & NO are both in better shape now because of dealing Melo & CP3

you need to define "better shape"

Denver made it to the WC finals with Melo, but in the last two playoffs they've lost in the first round. And it looks like it will be a long time till they make it back to the finals. If they do, it will likely be more do to trading for Iggy then Gallo

NOH made it to the playoffs in 3 of the 4 seasons before trading Chris Paul and the one season they didn't make it, Paul missed 37 games due to injury. Looks to me like it will be a while before they even sniff the playoffs

Utah, with Deron Williams, made the playoffs 4 consecutive years which included making it to the WC semi-finals 3 times and the finals once. Since trading Deron, they missed the playoffs one year; and were the 8th seed the nest season when they got swept and lost the games by an average of 10 points.

Those examples sure don't look to me like teams that are in better shape after then before. Just the opposite.

I think people are engaging in wishful thinking when they expect the Blazers to end up in "better shape" after trading Aldridge

[Clarity]

you need to define "better shape"

Denver made it to the WC finals with Melo, but in the last two playoffs they've lost in the first round. And it looks like it will be a long time till they make it back to the finals. If they do, it will likely be more do to trading for Iggy then Gallo

NOH made it to the playoffs in 3 of the 4 seasons before trading Chris Paul and the one season they didn't make it, Paul missed 37 games due to injury. Looks to me like it will be a while before they even sniff the playoffs

Utah, with Deron Williams, made the playoffs 4 consecutive years which included making it to the WC semi-finals 3 times and the finals once. Since trading Deron, they missed the playoffs one year; and were the 8th seed the nest season when they got swept and lost the games by an average of 10 points.

Those examples sure don't look to me like teams that are in better shape after then before. Just the opposite.

I think people are engaging in wishful thinking when they expect the Blazers to end up in "better shape" after trading Aldridge

No Denver made it to the WCF with Chauncey, Melo as the leader never led them out the first round.

Denver is a much better team now then they were with Melo as the centerpiece, the offense is better, the defense is way better, they are just better.. The Knicks were certainly better before that Melo trade.

NO traded Chris Paul & because of that trade they are able to rebuild with a core of Davis/Gordon/Anderson & Rivers right now. Id take that rebuild over Chris Paul/David West floundering as a 1st round exit every year. If Davis turns out great they can turn this around very quickly & get back in the playoffs.

Utah is tough, they didnt get the package NO & Den did.. However Utah is loaded with young talent so I think it may be a bit too soon to compare Utah yet, thats why I left them out.

I live by the motto you either are a definite contender or you rebuild to become a definite contender. If Lillard is Roy impact type of great, Portland can be right back in the mix in 2-3 years which will still be in Aldridge's prime. The Batum deal will handicap them in how great they can become but Roy & a jump shooting Aldridge were a 4 seed in a stronger Western Conference. It all comes down to how good Lillard is.

[Wizenheimer]

I live by the motto you either are a definite contender or you rebuild to become a definite contender. If Lillard is Roy impact type of great, Portland can be right back in the mix in 2-3 years which will still be in Aldridge's prime. The Batum deal will handicap them in how great they can become but Roy & a jump shooting Aldridge were a 4 seed in a stronger Western Conference. It all comes down to how good Lillard is.

unless I misunderstood you, it sure seemed you were in favor of exploring trades for Aldridge "if it came up". That's what this thread is about anyway

if Lillard is really good but the Blazers trade away Aldridge for lesser players (and that's very likely what they'd get), Portland would not be in better shape then if they kept Aldridge

[GreenRiddler]

Can you name one reason why Bynum would want to sign here?

$$$ but seriously him and Doug Collins aren't gonna get along too well.