Next free agent target: None of the Above

by douglast on Jul 3, 2009 11:57 PM PDT

With Hedo and Kidd off the market, put me down for not wanting any of the remaining free agents. To me, none of them fit our needs for shooting/playmaking, and none of them are clearly going to improve our team. Rather than overpay just for the sake of making a signing, I'd rather keep our cap space (for now). So what's the plan you ask?

1) work the unbalanced trade routes all summer long. you never know when someone's priorities may all of a sudden change. Look for a big splash move that's going to net you a veteran starter who can create off the dribble and set up his teammates. shooting and defense would be nice too (Sorry, Kirk fans, he isn't a big enough upgrade for me to blow my 2 expiring assets on)

if nothing happens before the season, then roll with what we have and work on improvement from within. But come January/February, it's on to:

2) trade deadline deals. Maybe someone is going to blow up their team. Maybe someone is looking to cut salary in a hurry to get in on the 2010 sweepstakes. Find a deal, and use the cap space and expiring contracts to eat salary and get a topnotch upgrade. Failing that, we have one last ditch effort to improve:

3) Draft 2010. We are still on 09-10 salaries, which means we still have almost 10 million in space. Put it to work, take advantage of teams trying to make that last ditch effort to clear more space for summer 2010 by getting rid of talented big contracts. Who knows, maybe Hedo will be on the block. ;-)

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Funny about Hedo

I wouldn’t trade for him hes over paid.

"Knowledge will get you from A to B. Creativity will get you anywhere." Einstein

by Garden of ODEN on Jul 4, 2009 12:14 AM PDT reply actions

Not horrible but it pushes out our window and it risks getting nothing

I still like going after Andre Miller as well as a cheap back-up 4 in McDyess or Bass. They are still out there and I think achievable. We have needs now, and they help fill them.

by LaoTzu on Jul 4, 2009 12:17 AM PDT reply actions

Why does Charlie Villanueva have no eyebrows?

Just wondering? Anybody KNow?

by cavejunctionblazer on Jul 4, 2009 12:27 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

There is nobody else.

I was looking at the 2010 free agent list and it’s utterly depressing to see the list of players after the big names. All old guys or restricted free agents.

The best thing the Blazers can do is hold out during the summer and try to do a lopsided trade this year. Hope that someone is willing to take Blake, Webster, or Outlaw for a playmaker to further the development Oden and take the pressure off Roy.

"I'm at the thingamajig talking the yakety-yak" - Kenny Smith

by blzrfan on Jul 4, 2009 12:27 AM PDT reply actions

Thanks douglast...

I was already thinking about both of those opportunities for next year. Glad to hear someone else is on the same wavelength (and your knowledge of the cap, reassures me that my thoughts were warranted).

by The Graduate on Jul 4, 2009 12:58 AM PDT reply actions

Amen.

The prayer of the overly faithful Blazer fan.

by jayzien on Jul 4, 2009 1:47 AM PDT reply actions

How can you say that Hedo

was not right for us and then say that what we need is shooting/playmaking. Don’t you know that its what Hedo does best? I get that you are still in denial but Hedo would have improved us. We would have overpayed him but he would have made us better.
There are still some interesting free agents still out to be signed up like Odom, Bass, Millsap, Kidd, Bibby, Miller, Lee, Robinson, Marion, Barnes,Sessions,A.Carter, Varejao, Felton and Murray.
Odom would be nice but he isn’t a good enough playmaker and finding minutes for him will be tough.
Bass is one we all want and would be a nice fit but signing him only solves half of our problems.
Kidd is the best option at PG that we could sign but we have to get moving on him cause he’s about to make a decision on either NY or Dallas.
Miller, I absolutely hate the idea of him playing with our guys cause he can’t shoot worth a lick and he’s what like 35!
Sessions also can’t shoot but I don’t like him either cause he’s too young and inexperienced.
Basically the guys we ought to look to sign are Kidd, Bass, A.Carter,Varejao and Bibby.
We should also make our interest known to Odom and possibly try and sign Millsap to an offer sheet so we can drive their prices up.

by VinnyB on Jul 4, 2009 4:47 AM PDT reply actions

Miller

is 32 and Kidd is 35-37 something like that. so besides the age whats the differance. they are both the same age and same types of players.

What's the differance of 3-6 mil? oh about 20+ more losses, and the chance to watch the only star leave by the end of the season. Suck it Hedo!

by in~ur~fizace on Jul 4, 2009 9:28 AM PDT up reply actions

Brandon Bass... huh?

I don’t know why people keep mentioning brandon bass. He clearly thinks he can be a big tme starter in the league. He’s going to want minutes and he’s going to want opportunity to grow into a starter… neither of which he will get backing up LaMarcus Aldridge. No way he comes to Portland. How would that possibly make sense for him? Are you implying he can play the 3 or that we will trade Aldridge? (I don’t think he can and i don’t think we will.)

Can someone explain why bass would want to play in Portland behind Aldridge?

by seablaz on Jul 4, 2009 7:37 AM PDT reply actions

Where do you get that idea?

ESPN had an article on him just a week or two ago in which he was quoted as saying he doesn’t expect to start, but be the perfect back up off the bench and have a role on a good team. Bass would be a good pick up, he wouldn’t make this team a championship contender by himself, but he would still be a good pick up.

Ben II Blazersedge.com || New to Blazers' Edge?

by usmcr3049 on Jul 4, 2009 9:22 AM PDT up reply actions