Andre Miller is a welcome addition, now for a Forward....

by Portland Dynasty on Jul 24, 2009 2:05 PM PDT Comment 33 comments

It is exciting to be getting Andre Miller. I was of the camp that getting Andre Miller two seasons ago would have been a "great" move, in pairing Miller up with B.Roy. Instead we have had Steve Blake in that role, while Miller had put down two of the best seasons in his career and redefining the 76ers into a team that wins games in the playoffs. So, I more than welcome Andre Miller. Especially if we all remember how under-whelming Steve Blakes game play was during the playoffs vs. Houston.

So now we need to look at the rest of our roster. Clearly our two pressing holes are for a

1.) a strong-playing back-up PF (RFA Glen Davis $5M or UFA Drew Gooden $2M)

2.) play-making wing depth at SF (RFA Marvin WIlliams $5M or RFA Carlos Delphino $2M)

For you ESPN insiders, check back toChad Fords list of available Free Agents here.

Other than those players I noted above as options to fill Portland's two most glaring roster holes, who else is out their for acquisition?

Is KP going to move either Steve Blake or Travis Outlaw as long been rumored?

LINKS: Please link any applicable stories of potential targets to your posts below.

Poll

Now that is looks like Portland is going to bring in veteran PG Andre Miller, which of these free agents would you like to see added to Portland's roster for 2009?

6'9" FC Glen "Big Baby" Davis, RFA - Celtics ($5-$7M)

45 votes

6'8" SF Marvin Williams, RFA - Hawks ($5-$6M)

62 votes

6'10" PF Drew Gooden, UFA - Spurs ($2.5-$4M)

95 votes

6'6" GF Carlos Delphino, RFA - Raptors ($2-$4M)

1 votes

6'6" GF Marquis Daniels, RFA - Pacers ($2.5-$4M)

3 votes

6'8" SF Linas Klieza, RFA - Nuggests ($3-$5M)

31 votes

237 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 33 comments

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Comments

Ummmmm

Unless we are going do attempt a sign and trade, we shouldnt be looking at free agents. We just used all of our cap space on Miller.

by TrailBlazer4Life on Jul 24, 2009 2:09 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

don't we still have about 2 million if we waive our Euros?

That would be enough for Gooden. Thats a pretty good quality backup PF for a cheap price

Woof

by Charles Barkley McLovin on Jul 24, 2009 2:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think we would have 2.2 million if we

waived both Euro’s .

But waiving them adds to the cost, in that we would be losing out if either of them develop

by TrailBlazer4Life on Jul 24, 2009 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

well it sounds like Joel freeland might sign a long term contract in Europe

might be worth it. I don’t think Koponen is worth holding onto if we can get Gooden

Woof

by Charles Barkley McLovin on Jul 24, 2009 3:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dont we get the $2.2 million once the season starts?

Doens’t the euro cap hold only apply during the summer — and dont we get it back after the season starts? Maybe KP will wait before bringing in the backup PF, or other player…

by FromAfar on Jul 24, 2009 5:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Correct, I think.

"A bizarre and extremely rare hybrid Blazer/Laker fan, Timbo has always struggled to contain the Beast Within, like Dr. Jekyll, Bruce Banner, or Ted Kennedy." — Miled Animal

by timbo on Jul 24, 2009 8:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Marquis Daniels signed w/ the Celtics.

by Sabasdaman on Jul 24, 2009 2:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Joe Smith?

Draft Cole Aldrich 2010

by jlarose78 on Jul 24, 2009 3:00 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

maybe

Joe played for 1,440,000 last year, and KP still has that trade exception from the Diogu deal (1.9mil, IIRC)

but I’d like to see what KP could get for Travis (3.6mil) or Outlaw + Bayless (5.7+mil) as well…if Smith was added and Outlaw wasn’t subtracted that would be a major forward logjam

When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Jul 24, 2009 3:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

why trade bayless?

when both blake and outlaw are expiring contracts. I’m sure there are teams out there in need of saving money

Woof

by Charles Barkley McLovin on Jul 24, 2009 4:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think we will just pick up a veteran for the exception.

by Escrote on Jul 24, 2009 4:04 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Why? Cunningham and Pendergraph look ready.

Travis will likely be our primary backup 4. When we need size, Dante and Jeff will be serviceable enough, methinks.

Portland Trail Blazers, Future World Champions 2010-2021.

by Majikj0n on Jul 24, 2009 4:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

sounds like we are good to go then

by Escrote on Jul 24, 2009 4:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

another big PF sure could help if we have any injury problems this year

that way we dont have to rely on rookies for big minutes if any of our big guys go down for an extended period of time

Woof

by Charles Barkley McLovin on Jul 24, 2009 4:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No ! This is a bad deal !

Andre Miller will not help our defense or our chemistry !
When you have GREAT chemistry, you don’t make trades or
sign FA just to do something. You make the right move because
their is a FIT ! You listened to the brain dead press KP ! Bad move !

It's GO time !

by walkoff41 on Jul 24, 2009 4:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

every hoops website has listed PG as a need for Portland....

And you post to the contrary that strongly? This is a fantastic deal. We addressed our PF needs in the draft and got a very good PG at a decent price. Chemistry is important but all the chemistry in the world didn’t help the Cavs and Kobe is known as a hard guy to play with and they did. Your post seems a little out of line and over the top.

by eclecticspider on Jul 24, 2009 4:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why is it out of line . . .

to state my opinion ? If you disagree that’s fine, but over the top ?
I’ll listen to your reasons.

It's GO time !

by walkoff41 on Jul 24, 2009 9:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Andre Miller is a FIT...

I totally disagree with walkoff41…

Two off-season’s ago, and prior to Philly signing Andre Miller, I was totally all about Miller’s “Fit” in Portland next to Brandon Roy. He is a big guard with classical PG skills (as shown by his great assist numbers) and he is an effective scorer. Miller is not bad on defense, however he is not great either and it seems that our PG-defensive-standards have been raised to Kirk Hinrich or bust. There are NO SIGNS WHATSOEVER pointing to Andre Miller being a player to come in a “ruin” chemistry. Miller is a hard working professional with no real baggage, his team mates and coaches like him and he has been playing the best hoops of his career these past two seasons…. and that was with his supporting cast in Philly!

Surround Andre Miller with the Blazers roster and Andre Miller has a better than good chance of playing at an even higher level. The fit is there, the skills are there, the NEED was filled for the Blazers and Miller is now on a contending team. Make no mistake, this is a big move… probably a better fit for Portland than Hedo Turkoglu wouldve been.

by Portland Dynasty on Jul 24, 2009 5:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cant say I agree

Most say he’s good, better than Blake

by goblazer1 on Jul 24, 2009 5:33 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Miller was my second choice

behind Hinrich. I’ve never understood how you can make it to the NBA as a guard and not be able to shoot, but IMO we have enough shooters. His defense also kills me, but I can live with that if he is racking up 8 assists and 16 points a night. I was looking either for great defense or great playmaking and Miller can bring playmaking. He is a good fit.

"I been ridin' the midnight train, got ice water in my veins." -Bob Dylan
"Sasha? That's a sissy name." -Mike Rice

by koyote on Jul 24, 2009 6:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Drew Gooden

but he has to shave his beard

"shaq and zach randolph have the same trainer... "

best one liner i ever heard.

by bowdown on Jul 24, 2009 5:09 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Facial Hair is Awesome...

Just think how cool Drew Gooden would look on NBA Live video game with that facial hair.

I dig this guy, think he is pretty solid and intimidating in the middle. Adds rebounding and scoring.

by Portland Dynasty on Jul 24, 2009 7:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow …. Desire for Gooden, talking Live….

shakes head in discust

He is terrible.

by Qreatine on Jul 24, 2009 7:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Marvin, obvs, but realistically Shavi

Gooden sucks a @&*#

by goblazer1 on Jul 24, 2009 5:30 PM PDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

warrick

trade with memphis for warrick

by hayeclan on Jul 24, 2009 6:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I think we still need to bring in a banger at back-up PF

Right now our second unit will consist of Rudy (at 2) Batum (at 3) and Travis (at 4). That seems like too many rangey wing type players for one unit.

I know that many people have high hopes for Pendegraph, but I’m not so sure. He may turn out to be no more valuable than Channing was in that spot. He reminded me of Channing watching him in the summer league games.

I voted for Big Baby in the poll. I wouldn’t mind Gooden either. I’d like to see the Blazers move Travis and bring in more of a traditional Power Forward for our second unit.

by ajinoregon on Jul 24, 2009 6:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I signed up just to say...

Drew Gooden is garbage, hot stinky basura.

That is all

by Qreatine on Jul 24, 2009 6:54 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Drew Gooden definitely is not liked by all...

There are PLENTY of people on this site who vocalized their feelings toward Drew Gooden being as far from desireable as humanly possible, and there are others like me who really like him for what he provides and at what cost.

Complaints about Drew Gooden are generally that he is a space-cadet defender, an aloof team mate, and not good enough to be the man in the post. Yet Drew has played for a handful of teams and consistently puts up numbers in the 13ppg and 8rpg range. I think this 27 year old forward still has a ton of talent and plenty of upside. Drew Gooden has done good for good teams… what would he be capable of with a great team surrounding him? I really think Drew Gooden should be our next player. That would be awesome for such a cheap price.

by Portland Dynasty on Jul 25, 2009 2:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

ABP

Where is my NONE OF THE ABOVE option?

"A bizarre and extremely rare hybrid Blazer/Laker fan, Timbo has always struggled to contain the Beast Within, like Dr. Jekyll, Bruce Banner, or Ted Kennedy." — Miled Animal

by timbo on Jul 24, 2009 8:44 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

We could...

look at an offer sheet for warrick, he’s a young guy who seems like he would run the floor well with miller, plus memphis just withdrew their offer to him
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4354901

or we could more realistically trade outlaw + blake and their expiring contracts for a combo forward from a team that needs capspace.

by SuperCrazy on Jul 24, 2009 9:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

I think Warrick is a player with a ton of upside.

by paddyb on Jul 24, 2009 10:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I also like Hakeem Warrick a ton...

Although he doesn’t have that body of a “banger” that most of us have been craving, Warrick is an extremely athletic post-forward. Hakim is pretty much equal to Tyrus Thomas or best upside of an Antawn Jamison. Warrick definitely has the youthful raw talent to fit extremely well with the Blazers…. but is he as good or better than Travis Outlaw? Outlaw currently controls the backup PF role… and maybe as a backup, Outlaw could be your guy at PF2, but he is far from a banger….

by Portland Dynasty on Jul 25, 2009 2:14 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Williams!

I agree with Yahoo’s Kelly Dwyer. Williams would be a great fit for Portland. Yes, he went too high in his draft and his potential has not yet materialized. Still, he is a SOLID forward and he could play both slots for the Blazers. I would like to see him take it to the rim more instead of settling for jump shots but he is a good defender and pulled down a lot of boards when ATL had him filling in at PF last season.

Also, Gooden would be a solid veteran for the 2nd Unit PF slot. He seems to have a higher propensity for rebounding than LMA too and that will help us out.

I’m not sold in Big Baby yet.

by paddyb on Jul 24, 2009 9:59 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs