Free Agents in 2009?

by blazer91 on Jul 9, 2008 4:50 PM PDT

So, I have reviewed the ESPN list of free agents in 2009, and I can't come up with any UNRESTRICTED free agents the Blazers would actually want to fill a need on their roster, with one exception. That name is:

RON ARTEST.

I know, I know, culture and all that rot, but toughness is something we are going to need down the line, and seomething Ron Artest will supply in spades. Yes, I think Oden will add that toughness to some extent, but our Center can't be our only "enforcer." Okay to have one bad apple among the choir boys, isn't it?

By the way, here's the link to the list:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=FreeAgents-09-10&campaign=rsssrch&source=nba+free+agents

Am I missing something on other unrestricted FAs for that summer? I don't even see any restricted FAs, other than the PGs we already have heard about getting locked up soon. It seems odd that Pritchard keeps talking about preserving our cap flexibility for next summer, when it seems like 2010 is the summer we really will want to be in the mix. Any chance we MAKE IT to 2010 with significant cap space left?

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No.

His game would be great with this team but he’s just too crazy. If there was a guy you’d take the chance on, it wouldn’t be the one who punched a fan.

by MGNNoah on Jul 9, 2008 5:34 PM PDT 0 recs

Artest

I just hope L.A. doesn’t end up with him.

Witty Unpredictable Talent and Natural Game

by iDea on Jul 9, 2008 5:47 PM PDT 0 recs

I think that too

Foreseeing LA with Artest makes me think the Blazers should take him, if that makes any sense. If it’s bad for us for LA to have him, it’d be bad for everyone if we had him. Plus he might punch K*be in the face!

by 50backflips on Jul 9, 2008 10:46 PM PDT up 0 recs

There are options if PG isn't set after this year

If our PG options look like they either aren’t ready yet or aren’t going to work we have some PG options next year. Those include Andre Miller, Mike Bibby and Jason Kidd. One of those guys on a 1 or 2 year contract would give us more time if Blake isn’t getting it done and Bayless/Koponen/Sergio aren’t ready yet.

Also, I didn’t realize Joel had an early termination option next year. I wonder if he’s considering that?

by danielfarrell on Jul 9, 2008 5:51 PM PDT 0 recs

He's a psycho...

But he’s not likely to command a huge contract. We could get him for only like 8 mil or so.

I’m not sure KP would go for it but crazy is good sometimes right?

Ugh… I can’t believe I am considering signing Ron Artest. Hopefully Travis, Martell, or Batum fills that role for us.

A Time For Heroes,
It's not right for young lungs to be coughing up blood
And it's all
It's all in my hands
And its all up the walls
Well the stale chips were up and the hopes stakes were down
Until Kp came into Town!
'Sing it Petey!

by Dheepan on Jul 9, 2008 6:22 PM PDT 0 recs

Technical question

I’ve looked at these lists and come to the same conclusion. The big names are in 2010. However, Roy and Aldridge are restricted free agents in 2010, which I assume means the Blazers will go WAY over the cap that summer.

So here’s the question: If the Blazers can maintain their cap space, will they be able to snag a big free agent in 2010 AND still resign Roy and Aldridge?

by jtanzer on Jul 9, 2008 6:47 PM PDT 0 recs

Probably not

Our window is really next year, or trading salary (RLEC) this year for an expensive good player.

by Replacement Level Poster on Jul 9, 2008 7:27 PM PDT up 0 recs

I took a look at this a few weeks back

Pretty much no way to be under the cap by any significant amount that summer, unless we are willing to let LMA and/or Roy become unrestricted free agents…

by douglast on Jul 9, 2008 7:29 PM PDT up 0 recs

Oh I got some targets!

I think we ought to go after Josh McBob and Taureen Green, sure they will be restricted free agents, but I think we can make a play for them. Maybe Jarrett Jack as well.

by Replacement Level Poster on Jul 9, 2008 7:37 PM PDT 0 recs

lol

"These are dreams that we have." --Rudolfo Fernandez

by bfan on Jul 9, 2008 9:15 PM PDT 0 recs

The interesting 2009 targets are mostly restricted

So we would have to make big frontloaded offers to teams with little or no cap space. Apart from pipe dream Deron Williams, Danny Granger in Indiana would have been such a prime target since they would have had very little room, but that was before the O’Neal deal. Others would be Rashad McCants, Hakim Warrick, maybe Brevin Knight.

But as we have seen this year, an “untinteresting” free agent class can become pretty exciting with one major player opting out. I trust in KP to acquire our target via trade or free agency.

Coach, I promise I wasn't running hard ...

by Norsktroll on Jul 9, 2008 9:18 PM PDT 0 recs

Cap space is not necessarily about free agency.

It is also the opportunity to trade without impunity. No longer do salaries have to match, no longer does the Base-year compensation bugaboo rear its ugly head. With cap space, we can trade like they do in Baseball: Cy Young award winner for prospects. All in exchange for cap space. We do not need to restrict ourselves to free agents, but anyone, anyone who can be traded can be had.

One of Two Official Blazer's Edge Poets Laureate for the 2008-2009 Season

I will miss Jarrett Jack, but getting Jerryd Bayless is helping ease my pain.

by T Darkstar on Jul 9, 2008 10:12 PM PDT 0 recs

If Martell & Outlaw don't step up by the trade deadline

and we are in the hunt for a decent playoff seed I am all for getting artest for the rest of the year. We would only have him for 4 months if it didn’t work out. Sacramento will probably be eyeing our point guards anyways to help make the deal.

I’ve always liked Artest’s toughness and game. I also hate the thought of him going to the L@kers and shutting down Roy.

by tweener on Jul 9, 2008 10:33 PM PDT 0 recs

Ahhhh

I would totally be against trading one of our guys for Ron Artest. Signing him is one thing but trading away one of our quality citizens for Ron TimeBomb Artest is not something I would consider.

by Dheepan on Jul 9, 2008 10:42 PM PDT up 0 recs

I understand, but the only way to get him midseason is a trade

Since Pryzbilla is the only player who makes a similar salary as Artest, this makes it difficult to arrange this deal. If we gave them RLEC that is kind of silly for them since they get an inferior player and would have to give up another player or two to match.

Oh well I’m over it and I just hope he doesn’t go to the L@kers.

by tweener on Jul 11, 2008 1:05 AM PDT up 0 recs

Nope.

Totally against it. And I REALLY like Artest. Just in a “wow, he’s great.. right over there.. away from my team.. far away from my team..” kind of way.

"Well, Travis just showed us that we can go to Travis Outlaw." - Nate McMillan

by 12sharks on Jul 9, 2008 10:47 PM PDT 0 recs