2020 free agent targets and draft picks

[HoopsFanAZ]

I’d like to see a veteran PG who has a bit of size and grit for D. Dellavedova is near the top of my list.

As an Australian, I love Delly. Always have, always will.

But if you want someone who I would argue fits this team (albeit undersized) but who would be somewhat of an unknown I would like to see the Blazers take a look at Bryce Cotton.
...
He plays for the team I like the least in the Australian NBL, Perth Wildcats, but is head and shoulders above the overwhelming majority of players in the league (a league that has developed some NBA players). He has essentially played 3.5 seasons in the NBL now:
...
He's probably going to nationalize and play for the Australian Boomers in the Tokyo Olympics but the dude flat-out deserves to be an NBAer.

Given you're from AZ, you may already be familiar with him as he's from Tucson.

I’m a transplant from 20 years ago. Still an Oregonian.
I’m less familiar with the Tucson area. He’s definitely got the numbers and earned his way. But how’s his D?

[Village Idiot]

I think melo starts at pf and cov at sf or reversed with Hood as a backup sg/sf (CJ filling in backup ph role). Minutes dispersement as follows:

Dame (36)/CJ (12)
Cj(20)/ GTJ (15)/Hood (13)
Cov (22)/Hood (13)/Jones(13)
Melo (24)/ Cov (10)/ZCO (8)/ Jones (4)/Little (2)
Nurk (30)/ ZCo (10)/Kanter (8)

Unfortunately this eliminates little from the lineup but I suppose that’s to be expected with depth unless he really takes a step up

Melo could be starting PF, but Collins will start and play starters minutes, IMO. RoCo will start at SF. We are really loaded with backup wings. At the end of last season we had a big role for Trent. Now it looks like he is back to fighting with Simons for 3rd guard minutes, not much there to split up. I hope Stotts gives all the backup guard minutes to one player rather than splitting them.

If we were to start Melo I would really hope we'd also start Trent at SG and move CJ to first man off the bench with him and DJJ coming in for GT and Melo and Covington then sliding over to PF. In any case I'd like to have CJ as 6th man. He can also close out games which is supposedly more important than who starts. That we can get Lillard down to 34 minutes.

Dame 34, CJ 14
GT 24, CJ 18, Hood 6
Roco 18, DJJ 18, Hood 12
Melo 24, Roco 12, Collins 12
Nurkic 28, Kanter 16, Collins 2

crumbs to Little, Simons and Giles

[red_power]

RoCo-Hood and Melo-DJJ should be the forward pairs to play together.
This looks logical at least.

I like the first one to start and a second coming off the bench but injuries are eventually going to shuffle the whole picture anyway.

[dunlop212]

So now we have four injury prone bigs. Hopefully they stagger next year's surgeries.

[GEE]

Giles to the Blazers is a nice get, and fills out the depth nicely. Here's where we stand:

Dame / Simons /
CJ / GTJ / Jones / cj
ROCO / Hood / Little
Collins / Melo /
Nurkic / Kanter / Giles

Deep, Deep roster with maybe one more move to make? I think Olshey gets an A so far. Will he get the +?

Batum???

[d-train]

I like the skills Olshey added to the team. We have 3 high post big men that can score and make plays for others. We have rim defense and perimeter defense. We have wings that can shoot and defend. RoCo can defend the perimeter and the rim. We have a combo forward, Melo, who can shoot, pass, and make plays for others. We have ball handling from every player. We can get to the rim and finish. I don't see any holes other than lack of a single great floor general, but that's not really possible the way this team is built from the top. We are committed to playmaking by committee.

[d-train]

Last year I thought NO was a genius for replacing the 2016 overpays with Bazemore and Whiteside ...

Plan A was to get full-time minutes from Collins. Still, Whiteside, Bazemore, and Mario were disappointing.

Bazemore led to the contract that became RoCo. Letting Aminu walk was what led to DJJ. Bazemore also led to the TPE that got Kanter back.

[d-train]

If this team is healthy and Lillard can't lead this team to a championship, then Lillard is officially not a championship leader.

[Tim Lehrbach]

Giles is a surprise bonus! He's terrific depth and, I bet, gets several starts this season. Much as I like Gabriel, I can't blame Neil for taking the more developed player given the propensity for injuries in the frontcourt (although this is a trait Giles shares...). Ideally he'll still keep Wenyen or Jaylen around to develop, but that's looking less likely.

[d-train]

Melo taking the VME is the big story to me. He is signing on to be a great teammate.

[JasonStern]

14 roster spots filled means Olshey is probably done. Roster close to the luxury tax, which we are not exceeding. Could theoretically sign Elleby as a two-way player and add a minimum point guard, but I doubt Portland does that as it would take him away from their development staff.

Question for a cap guru like Wizenheimer - how close to the luxury tax are we?

[red_power]

If this team is healthy and Lillard can't lead this team to a championship, then Lillard is officially not a championship leader.

Aside from Dame and 52-year-old Melo this team literally zero players with all-stars pedigree on its roster.

And that's something supposed to be a prerequisite for a truly contending team.

[d-train]

If this team is healthy and Lillard can't lead this team to a championship, then Lillard is officially not a championship leader.

Aside from Dame and 52-year-old Melo this team literally zero players with all-stars pedigree on its roster.

And that's something supposed to be a prerequisite for a truly contending team.

CJ and Nurk are far better players than many all-stars in my life time. Heck, they are better than some multiple time all-stars.

[d-train]

14 roster spots filled means Olshey is probably done. Roster close to the luxury tax, which we are not exceeding. Could theoretically sign Elleby as a two-way player and add a minimum point guard, but I doubt Portland does that as it would take him away from their development staff.

Question for a cap guru like Wizenheimer - how close to the luxury tax are we?

I count 13 not including Elleby and Gabriel.

[DaVoiceMaster]

Will the Blazers sign CJ Eleby (or whatever his name is) or will they sign him as a 2-way player instead? I kind of hate to see him take a roster spot this season. I would still love to see the Blazers sign a defensive PG, someone they can use sparingly, but throw on the floor with any combination of Trent Jr, Jones, Covington, Collins, and Nurkic. I don't know that Trent Jr can handle that responsibility and I don't know anything about Jones to really know what he can do so maybe fills that role? Who are the 5 defensive players if the Blazers need a stop to win a game?

Is Austin Rivers the best defensive PG still available? Who else?

[d-train]

Rivers is very ball dominant on offense.

[Blazinaway]

for another big bring Skal back? or Vonleh? Kaminsky, Illyasova. Taj and there are others. Still some decent backups if we want that

forgot to add Giles, wouldn't mind takin a chance on him

VERY happy we are signing and taking the chance on Giles- great risk/reward for the minimum IMO

[GEE]

Do we still have our BAE? Regardless, clearly wise spending by Olshey, while adding this much talent. Lots of short deals as well. We have this 14 currently:

Dame / Simons /
CJ / GTJ / Jones
ROCO / Hood / Little / cj
Melo / /Collins /
Nurkic / Kanter / Miles

Now what? Do we still have the BAE? I'll assume we do, and if so, I would use it to negotiate a return of Batum. He allegedly has drawn interest from multiple WC playoff teams, but I don't believe any other team has more than a vet-min to use. I'm not saying we give him the whole BAE, but if money is the issue for him, we can make the best offer. I think this would be huge for us as well, because I feel he's the best option at backup PG, especially in the playoffs. Love Simons, but he ain't ready.

Offer Wenyen Gabriel the 15th spot, and offer cj a two-way. This would be the + to Olshey's current A.

Playoff roster:

Dame / Batum
CJ / GTJ
ROCO / Hood
Melo / Collins
Nurkic / Kanter

Simons / Jones / Little / Gabriel / Miles

[DaVoiceMaster]

Do we still have our BAE? Regardless, clearly wise spending by Olshey, while adding this much talent. Lots of short deals as well. We have this 14 currently:

Dame / Simons /
CJ / GTJ / Jones
ROCO / Hood / Little / cj
Melo / /Collins /
Nurkic / Kanter / Miles

Now what? Do we still have the BAE? I'll assume we do, and if so, I would use it to negotiate a return of Batum. He allegedly has drawn interest from multiple WC playoff teams, but I don't believe any other team has more than a vet-min to use. I'm not saying we give him the whole BAE, but if money is the issue for him, we can make the best offer. I think this would be huge for us as well, because I feel he's the best option at backup PG, especially in the playoffs. Love Simons, but he ain't ready.

Offer Wenyen Gabriel the 15th spot, and offer cj a two-way. This would be the + to Olshey's current A.

Playoff roster:

Dame / Batum
CJ / GTJ
ROCO / Hood
Melo / Collins
Nurkic / Kanter

Simons / Jones / Little / Gabriel / Miles

Giles, not Miles. Is he a PF or C? I've seen people on this forum refer to him as a C, but ESPN lists him as a PF. He's got the size to play C, but I'm hoping he has the speed and agility to guard PF's.

I believe the Blazers still have the BAE available for use.

[d-train]

Giles is a big man that can play PF or C, unlike Nurk and Kanter. I give Giles a small chance of beating out Kanter for consistent minutes off the bench.

Edit: There isn't 1 of our 13 players that isn't capable of earning rotation minutes.