Portland - 2016 Offseason

[Fitz303]

I said it once and I said it again, I'd love to have Batum back. It would be a great starting 5 with him at either SF or PF.

I already changed my mind several times about what I expect from our offseason. But atm I'm going with:

- Keeping CJ no matter what
- Resigning Crabbe and Henderson
- Sign Batum
- Make some sort of deal with Phillly to get either Okafor or Noel to play PF (not giving up CJ)

My ideal lineup would be something like:

Dame / vet pg
CJ / Henderson
Batum / Aminu
Noel / Vonleh
Plum / ?

There are few problems here. You're not getting Philly to trade Noel or Okafor without giving up CJ. There are just no assets to trade for them that would be, in any way, appealing. Second, Noel is NOT a PF. He's a center. Whenever Philly has tried to play him at PF this season, he has struggled. He is a Center through and through. And Third, I don't see Batum coming back to Portland. I just don't see any way Olshey can convince him to sign back here when he'll have the same size contract offers elsewhere, and none of those GMs will have to explain why they traded him a year prior.

[Case2012]

Outside of Dame and CJ the rest of the starers would be better suited as role players. We wouldve won 60 games if wes hadnt gotten hurt and we kept everyone while resigning Aldridge...

Dame/CJ
CJ/ Wes/ Crabbe
Batum/ Aminu/ Crabbe
LMA/ Davis
Lopez/ Plumlee/ Kaman

We'd be in luxury obviously but damn thats a solid team.

[GreenRiddler]

We aren't going for Nic tbh. He still has the same problems he always has had. For 17mill? No thanks. Parsons is intriguing though.

[PDXKnight]

Outside of Dame and CJ the rest of the starers would be better suited as role players. We wouldve won 60 games if wes hadnt gotten hurt and we kept everyone while resigning Aldridge...

Dame/CJ
CJ/ Wes/ Crabbe
Batum/ Aminu/ Crabbe
LMA/ Davis
Lopez/ Plumlee/ Kaman

We'd be in luxury obviously but damn thats a solid team.

Or a dream scenario is take out rolo and Wes and add plumlee's cheaper deal thus negating the tax issue. Added bonus would be getting hendo as backup sg without losing batum. Ultimately keeping la would have been huge but Post injury Wes is relatively replaceable and rolo would have been a key contributor to putting this team in cap hell. Not sure anything would have kept la here with sa wooing him big time but man that team looks better now than it did then

[Wizenheimer]

looks like Chandler Parsons is going to have another season-ending knee surgery. This one isn't as serious as the last one but still, that has to be a major concern for any team thinking about pursuing him. That might especially be true for Portland

[Blazinaway]

I wonder if Brook Lopez will be shopped by the Nets, given the unlikely scenario we get a top or very good FA this summer, trading for a guy like Lopez might be the way we have to go, I think he'd be a good fit here

[The Sebastian Express]

looks like Chandler Parsons is going to have another season-ending knee surgery. This one isn't as serious as the last one but still, that has to be a major concern for any team thinking about pursuing him. That might especially be true for Portland

I wouldn't go after Parsons now. It may sound crazy but I'd have more faith in a guy coming back from ACL than a guy who had meniscus. Maybe I'm just still scared and scarred after the events with Roy, but we all know that doesn't grow back and nothing can be done to alleviate the wear and tear if it happens again.

[Wizenheimer]

looks like Chandler Parsons is going to have another season-ending knee surgery. This one isn't as serious as the last one but still, that has to be a major concern for any team thinking about pursuing him. That might especially be true for Portland

I wouldn't go after Parsons now. It may sound crazy but I'd have more faith in a guy coming back from ACL than a guy who had meniscus. Maybe I'm just still scared and scarred after the events with Roy, but we all know that doesn't grow back and nothing can be done to alleviate the wear and tear if it happens again.

it would probably depend on how much damage is being repaired. The report seems to imply the damage is minor. However, that's 2 surgeries now on the same knee (right), and that's at the minimum a bright waving amber flag, if not a red one. Logically, this should knock down the price of his new deal, but if Matthews is a gauge for injured players, there might not be much logic in contracts signed this summer

if SF is the position the Blazers 'want' to upgrade, the selection is pretty slim. After Parsons, there is Batum of course. I still think he'd be a good SF for the Blazers, especially considering Portland desperately needs another playmaker. But Batum is going to be expensive and I'd doubt he has any interest in returning to Portland. Paul Allen doesn't seem inclined to pay for do-overs either unless it's Steve Blake

Luol Deng seems to old and he sure looks to be on a steep downslope right now. Jeff Green isn't really an upgrade over Aminu. Harrison Barnes is RFA and likely heading toward a max deal, which could be a real trap type of contract.

Lance Thomas is UFA but he's not much of a play-maker or rebounder. He is a good 3 point and mid-range shooter though and he gets to the FT line at a good rate, certainly better then any Blazer perimeter player except Lillard. He might be worth a shot

I do like the notion of Derozan, probably because the connections he has with Lillard and Davis make the chances seem better then normal. However, I'm fairly well convinced that Olshey won't make any move that could jeopardize CJ's playing time, and signing a better SG then CJ would certainly do that

[deanwoof]

Bargain bin: lance Stephenson. Sigh.

[Run PDX]

If Golden State signs Durant, then I think Portland should make a max offer to Harrison Barnes. But, I would have to wonder if OKC might make a similar offer under those same circumstances...

If Durant doesn't sign with Golden State, then I think Golden State will keep Barnes, and we should turn our attention towards Ryan Anderson.

We need a power forward who can stretch the floor, and it would be helpful if they had a back-to-the-basket game. Those two players would be good fits in Stotts' system and alongside Dame and CJ.

[Norm2953]

It would be interesting to speculate on how Nic would have played this season for he might
have fit well alongside of Aminu and his ability to operate as a point forward might have
allowed Dame and CJ freedom to concentrate on scoring.

I'd like the team to add a scorer up front but the team is going to have to be creative for
seemingly every team is going to have some cap space and unless we collapse down the
stretch, have no draft picks. Team is going to have to be smart with our free agents and
third year players eligible for an extension.

[GreenRiddler]

We need a power forward who can stretch the floor, and it would be helpful if they had a back-to-the-basket game. Those two players would be good fits in Stotts' system and alongside Dame and CJ.

Ibaka is so underutilized under the new Thunder coach. Would be perfect here with his floor stretching/rim protection.

[Downtown]

I've got a bit of a dark horse idea. From what I've read in the Canadian papers Toronto wants to sing both Derozen and Biyombo, plus find an athletic power forward. They are going to need to lose some salary.

If they can exchange Terrence Ross( and what will be his newly kicked in three year $11mil per contract), who can play both small forward and shooting guard, and who is stuck behind Derozen, plus Lucas Nogueira, the young Brazilian defensive centre, who I think is ready to step into a bigger role, but who will be stuck behind Valancuias and Biyombo, plus a draft pick, then maybe the cheaper Al-Farouq Aminu might be a good option for the Raptors at power forward.

Portland gives up around $5mil( Ross's $11mil plus Nogueira's almost $2mil, to Aminu's $8mil), but gets a young defensive seven footer and a versatile player on both ends of the floor with a pretty good three point shot in Ross, plus a pick. Davis and Vonleh man the power forward spot next year with Plumlee and Nogueira in the middle. And Ross might be a good addition at a good age to fit in with the rest, plus there's no telling how things will shake out with free agents Crabbe, Leonard, and Henderson, especially with the cap going up so much to the point some teams may throw some crazy figures at them.

The Blazers would have Ross and Nogueira still under contract and not expiring, plus the same with a pick, therefore not having to overpay for a free agent plus it would make it easier to retain McCollum and have money for the year after next. I guess I'm trying to balance things out and not get too deep in the team salary so knowing they likely won't be contenders next season either but could take a step up and be in a position the year after to go after the player either as a free agent or trade that could be a difference maker.

Just another idea to kick around and it obviously depends on how Olshey sees the market for Leonard, Crabbe, and Henderson, not to mention Harkless and what it would do for/to the team to re-sign all of them as far as cap flexibility for the year after next.

[Soulyss]

I've got a bit of a dark horse idea. From what I've read in the Canadian papers Toronto wants to sing both Derozen and Biyombo, plus find an athletic power forward. They are going to need to lose some salary.

If they can exchange Terrence Ross( and what will be his newly kicked in three year $11mil per contract), who can play both small forward and shooting guard, and who is stuck behind Derozen, plus Lucas Nogueira, the young Brazilian defensive centre, who I think is ready to step into a bigger role, but who will be stuck behind Valancuias and Biyombo, plus a draft pick, then maybe the cheaper Al-Farouq Aminu might be a good option for the Raptors at power forward.

Portland gives up around $5mil( Ross's $11mil plus Nogueira's almost $2mil, to Aminu's $8mil), but gets a young defensive seven footer and a versatile player on both ends of the floor with a pretty good three point shot in Ross, plus a pick. Davis and Vonleh man the power forward spot next year with Plumlee and Nogueira in the middle. And Ross might be a good addition at a good age to fit in with the rest, plus there's no telling how things will shake out with free agents Crabbe, Leonard, and Henderson, especially with the cap going up so much to the point some teams may throw some crazy figures at them.

The Blazers would have Ross and Nogueira still under contract and not expiring, plus the same with a pick, therefore not having to overpay for a free agent plus it would make it easier to retain McCollum and have money for the year after next. I guess I'm trying to balance things out and not get too deep in the team salary so knowing they likely won't be contenders next season either but could take a step up and be in a position the year after to go after the player either as a free agent or trade that could be a difference maker.

Just another idea to kick around and it obviously depends on how Olshey sees the market for Leonard, Crabbe, and Henderson, not to mention Harkless and what it would do for/to the team to re-sign all of them as far as cap flexibility for the year after next.

It's not a terrible idea, but I have a hard time believing NeO will trade Chief given how heavy he recruited him last season.

[Blazinaway]

how much do you guys think it will take to keep Harkless? 3 yrs at 5-7 mil per?

[nybluemeadow]

This has been bouncing around the internet for a while. I just wanted to get the opinion of a blazers' fan. Would portland be interested in...

CJ McCollum for Jahlil Okafor

sixers are putting Okafor on the market and looking for a guard. Would the blazers be interested in a young big or is the team happy enough with McCollum?

[DusterBuster]

This has been bouncing around the internet for a while. I just wanted to get the opinion of a blazers' fan. Would portland be interested in...

CJ McCollum for Jahlil Okafor

sixers are putting Okafor on the market and looking for a guard. Would the blazers be interested in a young big or is the team happy enough with McCollum?

I think it's a bunch of internet hot air. I think Olshey's value of McCollum is a million times higher than the average internet poster and as such, I don't think he'd even entertain the idea of CJ to Okafor.

Oddly enough, while looking up Okafor's stats for the year, I also found out that somehow Elton Brand is still earning an NBA paycheck (and starting in place of Sixers injured players!) and that Philly is where Carl Landry ended up (thought he was still in Sac).

[skoharry]

as far as who portland resigns... i think it goes like so
crabbe - yes
harkless - yes
henderson - maybe
leonard - no
kaman - no{might sign as big man coach}

now while if it keeps working smoothly, i wouldn't mind harkless as our future starting pf. but if we can sign or trade for a significant upgrade @ C or PF like monroe, drummond, whiteside, valincunis, or whoever. what i think we will need if we re-sign who i think we will is a bacup pg. i know cj can run the offense, but it would be nice to have someone else who can run it so cj can focus on scoring. someone like matthew delladova, langston galloway, or ish smith.

[Wizenheimer]

as far as who portland resigns... i think it goes like so
crabbe - yes
harkless - yes
henderson - maybe
leonard - no
kaman - no{might sign as big man coach}

now while if it keeps working smoothly, i wouldn't mind harkless as our future starting pf. but if we can sign or trade for a significant upgrade @ C or PF like monroe, drummond, whiteside, valincunis, or whoever. what i think we will need if we re-sign who i think we will is a bacup pg. i know cj can run the offense, but it would be nice to have someone else who can run it so cj can focus on scoring. someone like matthew delladova, langston galloway, or ish smith.

about a backup PG...an actual PG...it's probably a good idea, depending on the price of course. CJ has been running the offense as a secondary play-maker, but he's not really a PG. Among players who have played 70% of their team's games, he's tied for 37th in assists/game; 54th in assists/48; 55th in assist/turnover ratio; and 139th in assist rate (ESPN) or 67th (bbref)

since CJ is a score first SG you wouldn't expect him to rank very high in those metrics. But we've seen the offense bog down several times at the top of the 2nd and 4th Q's when Lillard sits and CJ is running the show. CJ's recognition and vision is not that of a PG, although I assume he'll get a bit better at that.

Playing with another PG would almost certainly help him. He does significantly better with Lillard on the court rather then off the court. His eFG% is .530 with Lillard on court and .491 with him off; and his 3pt% is .438 with Lillard on the court and .361 with Lillard sitting ...and his assisted FG rate is .492 with Lillard and .190 without. Now, part of that is very likely because when Lillard is on the floor he always draws the other team's best perimeter defender and occasional double teams. This leaves CJ better shooting opportunities

Meanwhile, Lillard doesn't get any significant bump with CJ on the floor over when he's not. Lillard actually shoots a better FG% with CJ sitting; and his eFG% .498 with CJ and .494 without

in other words, CJ is drafting off of Lillard but he doesn't return the favor. So, maybe a true backup PG would help Lillard as well as help CJ.

the problem of course is that CJ gets around 12 minutes a game at backup PG. If you give those to a real backup PG, then available SG minutes drop from around 24 to 12, and that impacts Crabbe and Henderson, and pushes them to more SF minutes which in turn impacts Aminu and Harkless. I don't think that an accident either. I think Olshey was determined to clear the field for CJ. Matthews, Barton, Blake and Afflalo were all 'dumped' last season and summer, and no backup PG was added. So that makes me wonder if Olshey would actually add any players that might challenge CJ for minutes.

[Masterfully]

This has been bouncing around the internet for a while. I just wanted to get the opinion of a blazers' fan. Would portland be interested in...

CJ McCollum for Jahlil Okafor

sixers are putting Okafor on the market and looking for a guard. Would the blazers be interested in a young big or is the team happy enough with McCollum?

I don't know Olshey's thoughts but I suspect CJ's trade value in the Blazers office has gone beyond the pale. It would take an insane offer for Portland to consider it.

As for me, I advocated for that very trade earlier in the season. I still have serious doubts about CJ being Portland's long term answer at starting SG. But then Okafor had knee surgery and I lost all interest. Keep knee issues out of Portland!