Come 7/1/2009, here's an estimated glance at the Portland Trail Blazers financial situation.

be available at a one-year, minimum-level contract. My personal preference would be to go after a veteran 7-footer with championship experience (e.g., Rasho Nesterovic) to provide depth behind Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla; though, the likelihood of the big Slovene signing here at a reduced price and limited playing time is next to nil.

signed last season as high-end second-round picks, so that must be handled early on in the free agency period. In addition, I’d prefer to have both Pendergraph and Dante Cunningham — with the latter of whom I still think was a bad selection — under contract before summer league starts in Las Vegas.

underrated Mike Miller. Also, the only way I’d go after Ime Udoka is if Battier isn’t available from Houston at a reduced price — which, of course, would be due to the Yao Ming injury — since the PSU alum could be a great mentor and practice fodder for Nicolas Batum.

room come the summer of 2010. Since Tracy McGrady’s colossal contract is set to end after this season, Houston could be major players in free agency come next summer.

Rockets. At any rate, the mintues per game situation would be Brandon Roy (32), Battier/Miller (24), Rudy Fernandez (24), and Nicolas Batum (16). Lastly, I also think Martell Webster has basically no trade value; yet, he’d just be filler in a deal for Miller, as Travis Outlaw would be the main piece going to Washington.

Maybe Battier and Brent Barry for Kamen?

Their last team can still hold their rights, like a restricted free agent. It’s hard to track though, since some might have been waived during some house cleaning that wasn’t reported. And usually a player gets taken off the record one year after his last pro contract ended (which e.g. would be the case for Marcelo Nicola). According to some sites AK’s info is correct, but as I said it’s hard to know the exact contract situation for a team.

I’m still replaying the final win in the playoffs.

I’d like to see how Bayless runs this team. I also want to see how fast this Mills guy is.

I’m looking at the Blazer’s roster in the summer of 2010 and seeing where they could possibly have twice the cap space space as they do this summer.

Either way, though, it’s pretty much a given that Frye will be renounced by the ballclub early on next month.

That’s also a good point about non-guaranteed summer league contracts, although I still expect that Jeff Pendergraph will sign a contract that dips slightly into the salary cap space.

I’m waiting for a big move… hasn’t KP alluded to a very big move for more than two years? These moves are OK, but like you said — underwhelmed.

I just don’t see a lot of really high quality players available for the price we are able to pay. I like this move better than getting Jefferson, Carter or Shaq, which is all we’ve seen so far, as far as big names are concerned. What makes this series of trade appealing to me is addressing our weaknesses while not giving up our strengths.

A big splash? No, not at all. But it does reasonable shape the team to be even better for some years to come. I’d be happy with this scenario. If KP can do better, I’ll be even happier.

underwhelmed by Battier and Hinrich? That combo immediately makes us one of the best defensive teams in the league, and teamed with our vaunted offensive efficiency….. legitimate shot at the 2010 title.

according to Sportscenter. Or a L@ker.

But I, for one, remain unconvinced that it is an option. As for your post, you’ve got a few factual errors and a few (IMO) unrealistic expectations that make your proposal a lot less likely:

1) Aldridge and Roy can each make the maximum amount starting in 2010-11. The maximum for them will probably be at least $13 million. Now even if LMA doesn’t take a maximum extension, the total raise in salary for those two players will easily be closer to $14 million than to the $8 million you are suggesting.

2) Przybilla cannot get and does not need to get a qualifying offer. He has a player option for 2010-11 that will absolutely count against the cap if it is exercised. Is there a chance that it isn’t exercised? Yes. But even then, he’ll count against the cap as a FA, unless you want to simply waive him and lose Bird rights. I think that most believe that he’ll be a Blazer in 2010-11 after picking up his player option.

3) You refer to the idea of combining exceptions to be able to offer a player more money than would be possible using just one option. Impossible. Cannot be done. You also refer to having cap space and also using the MLE. Again, impossible. Cannot be done. If Portland is under the cap in the summer of 2010, then they lose their ability to use the MLE or the BAE in the 2010-11 season.

4) Are you also accounting for the cap holds of Claver, Freeland, Koponen and 2010’s 1st round pick? I don’t know because I’m not sure exactly how you’re getting that $16.5 million figure. Are you also accounting for the prediction that the salary cap not only goes down this summer but also next summer as well?

timg56, it’s a nice idea, given the types of FA’s that appear will be available next summer. But, given Portland’s situation, I don’t see any chance of it happening. 2009 is the summer for KP to add to the team. I believe strongly that the time for player evaluations is over for many players and that decisions need to be made as to whether or not they belong. The Blazers have been positioning themselves to make moves this summer, and I think they’ll take advantage of that during the next couple of months.

Rubio. Kahn would probably demand Jerryd Bayless, too, although y’all probably know by now I’m likely the biggest hater of his on here.

Anyway, Ricky Rubio isn’t walking through those doors. I, for one, wouldn’t want to see Nate McMillan ruin the kid, while it’s also unlikely the Spanish sensation would even agree to come to the Pacific Northwest..