BEdge Challenge: Ramon Sessions

by GonzoFan on May 25, 2009 5:35 PM PDT

That's right, it's back. The BEdge Challenge. Pondered by some, hated by others. To clarify, this is a post that is meant to challenge all of you future NBA execs out there to come up with a tested, realistic plan to acquire the player mentioned. There are many different websites that can assist you doing this.

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine, http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_Salary_Cap

Now, Ramon will be a free agent at the end of this season. That doesn't necessarily mean we can just sign him. There is chatter that he expects too much in return for his services. There are multiple sign-and-trade options we could consider. And then, of course, we will have to discuss whether or not your ideas are worthwhile and/or are moving us in the direction of our ultimate goal (and Brandon's burn) winning a championship starting next year.

Personally I am not sold on Ramon. Actually, the only two point guards I am sold on are named Chris Paul and Deron Williams. I believe the point guard position is the hardest to plan out, and that the answers will most often come from the last place you'd expect. Look at guys like Tony Parker, Rajon Rondo, even John Stockton and Terry Porter. All late draft picks that weren't expected to hold a roster spot much less become leaders of legitimate championship contenders. And then there are guys like Steve Francis, Stephon Marbury, and Sebastian Telfair. These guys were considered to be sure things and not one of them came anywhere close to living up to their potential. That being said, maybe Ramon is one of those "outta nowhere" types who will lead us to the promised land without costing us too much. For those of you who want to participate, I look forward to seeing what you can come up with and discussing your ideas. Good luck!

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My TV just reminded me of another guy who took a while to be viewed as a championship-calibre point guard and could have, at one time, been had by anyone.

Chauncey Billups.

"The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."

by GonzoFan on May 25, 2009 5:42 PM PDT reply actions

Billups makes any mid level team into a contender the minute he puts on the uniform

I just wish the uniform has Red and Black.

by svlittle on May 25, 2009 5:44 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah

Denver’s rise has NOTHING to do with Nene and Birdman, it’s 100% Billups.

by Zaig on May 26, 2009 12:42 PM PDT up reply actions

Pass... Sessions doesn't fit our greatest needs at the position

weak defender poor three point shooter. Unless you sign him via FA without giving anything up (I doubt this is even a possibility), it doesn’t make sense to go after him.

by as11osu on May 25, 2009 6:02 PM PDT reply actions

I know you like Conley.

I do too.

"The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."

by GonzoFan on May 25, 2009 6:34 PM PDT up reply actions

He and I have been on the same page as far as talent goes

the past 3 years. I’ve called for 7 of our 9 first round picks in that time.

by as11osu on May 25, 2009 10:30 PM PDT up reply actions

Did you miss Roy and Aldridge?

It’s okay. A lot of people liked the Stash and Foye.

by teenagemutantninjabayless on May 25, 2009 10:49 PM PDT up reply actions

missed on Freeland and Koponen

I feel however I should get a pass, since I didn’t know who the heck they were.

by as11osu on May 25, 2009 10:55 PM PDT up reply actions

use your magic ball and tell us who were are getting this year

by One Team to Rule Them All on May 26, 2009 6:12 AM PDT up reply actions

Francis actually had quite a few good years with Houston

"Smile! You're on a poster!!" - Mike Rice

by lefty6283 on May 25, 2009 6:06 PM PDT reply actions

He did.

His demise may have been more psychologically related than skill related. Still, I think his “mold” (little, balls-to-the-wall scoring guards) have consistently proven to turn teams into one-trick ponies. The only guard in modern times that lead his team to anything meaningful from this mold is Allen Iverson, and some would argue he did it at a time when the NBA was providing it’s lowest quality of product since the merger (thus making it almost a fluke).

"The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."

by GonzoFan on May 25, 2009 6:53 PM PDT up reply actions

As said in the trade drawer Bucks fans fear they will just let Sessions walk, so he would cost the MLE and then about an 8% increase each year. Maybe take back a contract like Elson in exchange for Sergio and a pick or so to make it more attractive to not

Hammond as a representative of Skiles (the more dominant personality) wants to move Sessions for Conley, but Kohl nixes that trade even though it would be beneficial to us, because he’s developed another emotional attachment to a player he wants to keep around at all costs. Skiles still doesn’t want Sessions to be running his team, and Hammond is conservative about acquiring players with big cap #‘s, so he stays up against the luxury tax, and even adds salary like Stoudamire’s (which doesn’t seem to make sense at the time), so he can provide the difficult dilemma for Kohl to either pay the luxury tax or watch his boy walk. In the draft Hammond chooses someone Skiles prefers to run his team more than Sessions. During the free agency period Kohl has an aversion to paying the tax, and would have to pay a substantial sum to 3 point guards, so he allows Sessions to walk.

Our point guards next season are Ridnour and an upperclassman draftee like Maynor or Lawson. Outside chance at Flynn, although I doubt it. I think Hammond/Skiles would desire a player who would be alternative to Ridnour next season, or at least definitely be ready after Luke becomes a free agent. That precludes underclassmen. Not that we’d draft a guy like Jennings anyways, he’d made Skiles pull out his 12 remaining hairs.

It’s possible that people like myself have been entirely too hard on Hammond given the senator handcuffs him, compelling moves that aren’t individually in the best interest of the team, or vetoing moves on other bases besides character and finances, which should be his only input if the Bucks aren’t to be a dysfunctional franchise. But it’s tough to weed through all the bull and sometimes all we have to judge are how things appear on the surface.

Damn, it’s hard work to be a fan of this team.

Bernman
Lead Assistant

Posts: 5069

by europa on Mon May 25, 2009 7:24 pm

If Sessions gets $5M and never improves beyond what he currently is, he’ll still be a guy who can start in this league and he’ll have a cheap contract making him a very desirable trade asset. To the best of my knowledge, there’s only one PG 23 years old or younger who has averaged more than 8 assists per game as a starter dating back to last season. And that one guy is Sessions. That’s pretty damn impressive in my opinion.

Signing Sessions for $5M-$6M is a no-lose proposition for the Bucks in my opinion. They’re not overpaying and they’re not saddling themselves with a contract they can’t move at a later date if they so desire. Again, the key issue with this whole story is what Sessions wants. If he’s asking for $5M and Hammond considers that “excessive,” then I’d have to seriously question Hammond’s thinking in this matter. If Sessions is asking for Mo Money then I’d agree with the Bucks that his asking price is excessive and they have every right to say they’re not going to overpay for him the way they did for Mo.

by Norsktroll on May 25, 2009 6:34 PM PDT reply actions

Not difficult.

If you want Sessions, that is. Milwaukee will not exceed the Luxury Cap. Signing Sessions puts them dangerously close to that. But if you are willing to pay him 8 million a year, Milwaukee wouldn’t match. 8 million is conceivable for the Blazers, under-the-salary-cap-wise. But Is Sessions worth that much? Not really.

Of all the things that can be expressed in the printed word – love, hate, fear, joy – true humor is the one that is the most difficult of all. Sarcasm, for example, is an art of delicate subtlety. Yet too many people wield it as a bulldozer – loud, smelly, ugly, and destructive – and think they are being funny.

by T Darkstar on May 25, 2009 6:34 PM PDT reply actions

Do you mean averaging $8 million a year over the life of the contract?

The most that Portland – or any team – can offer Sessions in 2009-10 is the average contract amount, which should be about the same amount as it was this past season (it was $5.585 million in 2008-09). It’s explained in Larry Coon’s FAQ in the section talking about the ‘Gilbert Arenas’ provision:

http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#Q37

Portland, if it had $8 million in cap room, could offer Sessions something like:

2009-10: $5.585 million
2010-11: $6.032 million
2011-12: $8.850 million
2012-13: $9.461 million
2013-14: $10.072 million

This would be a bigger offer than what Milwaukee could offer using Early Bird rights on Sessions. But it wouldn’t pay him any more money until 2011-12 than Milwaukee’s offer.

by Storyteller on May 26, 2009 10:11 AM PDT up reply actions