FAs - Who do we have left?

by venjance on Jul 4, 2009 6:05 PM PDT

SO with Toronto basically spending all their $ to acquire Turky-Glue, Detroit having made it's 2 acquisitions, and Oklahoma City apparently choosing to sit pat on their cap$ until 2010, that puts us in control of the remainder of the FA signing period, at least as far as teams having and willing to spend potentially $10mil on a free agent (which I DON'T recommend we do) So....

We can still address our need for a tough backup PF by going after Brandon Bass for the MLE(?), which I consider a Good Deal, or possibly Antonio McDyess (who seems to want to resign with Detroit - but who knows?) or even Joe Smith (for less then the MLE? - which I would consider a BARGAIN!) Forget about David Lee (whom I love, but not for $50mil/5yrs as a backup - same for Milsap if he would even consider it)

The other FA options would be at PG with J Kidd being an option, albeit unlikely, or perhaps RAMON SESSIONS. What do you think about him> I know he isn't the best outside shooter, but he can dish assists and drive to the rim (which we are lacking) plus his D isn't bad, plus he is young, could be had for relatively cheap and could blossom into a potential star (He has had a 20+ assist game AND has gone off for 40+pts - Has Blake done either!?!) Whjy not take the gamble on him?

SO, Bass AND Sessions, reasonable contracts that fill some of our needs, what do you think?

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combing through that free agent list makes me sick to my stomach.

as anti Turk as I was, he probably made the most sense even if we had to overpay for him. Offering David Lee anywhere near 10 million would be idiotic. we have 2 centers (he is horrible as a 5) and he would play 10 min a game behind LA. he can’t play the 3, that makes even less sense than him playing the 5 and wost of all, a big contract offer to him would only piss off LA (he’s more sensitive than Rudy when it comes to this sort of thing).

you can just sub in the name Milsap for everything I just said about Lee. at this point, looking at the free agent list I’d say that I’ll be disappointed with signing any of them. unless theres a trade somewhere in the works it looks like its gonna be a long summer.

The Blazers as a whole are far more like my wife than like me in the sense of their physicality on defense.
-Dave

by chrischa on Jul 4, 2009 6:16 PM PDT reply actions

"Who do we have left?" - Brandon Bass

to fill Canning Frye’s slot and the backup POWER Forward need.

by spencerbutte on Jul 4, 2009 6:27 PM PDT reply actions

question:

do jeff pendergraph and cunningham see the court at all this season? I’m not arguing one way or another, I’m just saying…I’d like to at least see what pendy could do

The Blazers as a whole are far more like my wife than like me in the sense of their physicality on defense.
-Dave

by chrischa on Jul 4, 2009 6:36 PM PDT up reply actions

obviously neither of them will ever get to play for the duration of their contracts

if we have LA and a solid backup like bass. if anything, cunningham could slip in some minutes as a 3 cause he’s more versatile but I doubt he breaks through there either

The Blazers as a whole are far more like my wife than like me in the sense of their physicality on defense.
-Dave

by chrischa on Jul 4, 2009 6:37 PM PDT up reply actions

Pendergraph...

I like Pendergraph for what he “could” be for us, a tough, scrappy backup PF, who costs us next to nothing, has few expectations and the possibility of being just what we’re looking for at that position, OR he has enough upside (relative to his cost) to be an nice little bonus to any trade we want to work out. Either way, Pendergraph has value, so I like him! Can’t wait to see bayless throw him lobs in summer league!

by venjance on Jul 4, 2009 6:40 PM PDT up reply actions

so would you not want to go after a guy like Lee or Milsap then?

cause if we get any of those guys pendy will not see the light of day

The Blazers as a whole are far more like my wife than like me in the sense of their physicality on defense.
-Dave

by chrischa on Jul 4, 2009 6:44 PM PDT up reply actions

Bass is a better fit than Lee or Millsap

by as11osu on Jul 4, 2009 6:52 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree, thats just not my point

I guess i would just like to see what our rookies could do. LA + Bass equal no pendy or cunningham. ever.

The Blazers as a whole are far more like my wife than like me in the sense of their physicality on defense.
-Dave

by chrischa on Jul 4, 2009 6:56 PM PDT up reply actions

This team doesn't need holes

Not signing Bass for the purposes of seeing what you have in Pendy or Cunningham is downright dumb. You have tons of assets, go legitimize the whole of your front court by getting the player that we need. Someone that we already know is exactly what we need, at a price we can very easily afford and at a price where he’s never a hindrance to us, but a legitimate asset. In a market with more teams under the salary cap would have Bass getting paid 7-9 million per year starting out, and we can have him for just over 6. Do this NOW!

by as11osu on Jul 4, 2009 7:03 PM PDT up reply actions

here's a video of what brandon bass can bring to us:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqeTyYfkSCk&feature=related

i say sign him yesterday.

Roy Tribute
Treat people well because Karma can hit you at any second.

by Net Ranger on Jul 4, 2009 7:17 PM PDT up reply actions

was that a serious video post?

i’m a fan of signing brandon bass. not sure if you meant to do a different video but thats a video of bass getting the you know what swatted out of him

"Brandon, a 3-pointer out front... HIT IT!!! YES HE DID!!! OHHHHH YEAAA!"

by oregonduck4life on Jul 4, 2009 7:34 PM PDT up reply actions

Bass is short, like Diogu

and if we learned anything from the “Hedo pursuit”

length > strength

I’d like to see KP at least take a run at Odom, if nothing else than to make L*A overpay to retain him. Nate did say that he was impreesed with Lamar back in 2007, following the team USA workouts. So there may be some “mutual admiration” still there

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

by two4larue on Jul 4, 2009 8:06 PM PDT up reply actions

Bass is longer horizontally (wingspan), vertically (standing reach)

and has a better max vertical reach than Lee.

The difference apparently is that the tippy top of Lee’s head is a little over an inch above Bass’s. Apparently that is the measure we go by. I used to make so many plays with the tippy top of my head when I played… they used to call me Canseco.

by as11osu on Jul 4, 2009 8:18 PM PDT up reply actions

you know whats more important than verticle, reach, or length?

actual production.

brandon bass: 8.5 and 4.5

david lee: 16 and 11.7

the only reason bass makes more sense is that he would be cheaper. I could care less about his max vertical leap

The Blazers as a whole are far more like my wife than like me in the sense of their physicality on defense.
-Dave

by chrischa on Jul 4, 2009 8:37 PM PDT up reply actions

Bass plays much better defense and is a much more gifted offensive player

translation: better at offense, better at defense, more wins.

He also fits MUCH MUCH better on this team because of his elite mid range jumper. He’s takes up the same company in that category as Kevin Garnett, Pau Gasol, Jose Calderon Deron Williams, Mo Williams and Ben Gordon. And the bonus is he plays power forward (dragging big players out of the lane (you’re welcome Roy).

http://www.82games.com/0809/FGSORT7.HTM

by as11osu on Jul 4, 2009 8:43 PM PDT up reply actions

I won't argue defense

but I WOULD argue the more gifted offensive player part (actual points + rebounds > “length”). of course, we’re probably just gonna have to agree to disagree.

I seriously doubt we’re gonna change each others mind here :)

The Blazers as a whole are far more like my wife than like me in the sense of their physicality on defense.
-Dave

by chrischa on Jul 4, 2009 8:55 PM PDT up reply actions

The only reason I even mentioned length was two4larue's post

saying we prefer length to strength… even though both seem to be in Bass’s favor.

The numbers Lee puts up in D’Antoni’s system are quite inflate. His shooting percentages as well, as he’s running the floor getting open dunks, layups etc. Bass plays better ball in a system like ours. His jumper is already at an elite level at the age of 24 (Lee is 26). Also, Bass would be more content playing basically the same role for us as he played last year. I doubt Lee would be excited about getting his minutes cut in half from last year.

Lee is slightly better on the boards, but that’s our area of least concern (scoring and defense being the others). If you put Lee out there with Przybilla or Oden, you’re going to have a jam packed key and it’s going to crowd things up down there for Roy driving. Having Bass, a legitimately great mid range guy who can also take bigger 4’s off the dribble, makes Roy, Przybilla and Oden play their games that much more effectively.

by as11osu on Jul 4, 2009 9:19 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

+1

by MDBlazerfan on Jul 4, 2009 9:21 PM PDT up reply actions

There's only one little problem

KP is talking to David Lee’s agent, not Brandon Bass’ (at least, as far as we know…)

I just call ’em like I sees ’em

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

by two4larue on Jul 4, 2009 9:53 PM PDT up reply actions

NY Post "hipe" from

Mark Berman????

Only a quick quip from an agent drumming up hipe in the local “rag”.

“We had been talking, but we’ll talk now,” Lee’s agent Mark Bartlestein told The Post last night.

by spencerbutte on Jul 4, 2009 10:14 PM PDT up reply actions

Did you see this one

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4306502&campaign=rss&source=NBAHeadlines

A little more substantial

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

by two4larue on Jul 5, 2009 1:14 AM PDT up reply actions

Stats like that don't mean a lot unless you account for PT and pace

by ninjasocks on Jul 4, 2009 9:08 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm not even arguing that our rookies > Bass or ANY solid backup PF

I’d just like to see what they could do. but you’re saying use our assets to get the player we need. what if we can keep our assets and have the player we need? Guys like brandon bass come around every year. I like him, but he’s nothing special. remember: WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A BACKUP FORWARD.

The Blazers as a whole are far more like my wife than like me in the sense of their physicality on defense.
-Dave

by chrischa on Jul 4, 2009 8:34 PM PDT up reply actions

also, picking up another PF

means we just wasted 2 assets in this past draft. why didn’t we trade out? why would KP just throw away assets like that (drafting multiple PF’s in a weak draft)?

The Blazers as a whole are far more like my wife than like me in the sense of their physicality on defense.
-Dave

by chrischa on Jul 4, 2009 8:39 PM PDT up reply actions

Because he thought he we was getting Hedo

by as11osu on Jul 4, 2009 8:45 PM PDT up reply actions

touche

The Blazers as a whole are far more like my wife than like me in the sense of their physicality on defense.
-Dave

by chrischa on Jul 4, 2009 8:56 PM PDT up reply actions

"Guys like brandon bass come around every year."

But this is the year the Blazer’s need to add a very good, role-player, backup POWER F.

We have dropped Channing Frye and Outlaw does not have the body/muscle-mass needed.
No CAP space next year(s). Nor will a MLE get much next year, either.

Now is the time and Bass fits our need.

by spencerbutte on Jul 4, 2009 10:29 PM PDT up reply actions

sign sessions and bass

Truth never was or can be propagated by fire and sword - Albert Gallatin

by Zaron5551 on Jul 4, 2009 6:32 PM PDT reply actions

yes sir!

my favorite mod is prezofdelete

by In Walks Rudy on Jul 4, 2009 6:34 PM PDT up reply actions

Ok, fair enough...

Lets make a REASONABLE offer to BBass (say 4-5 yr/ $24-30mil?) which would still leave us enough extra Cap $ to do a slightly uneven trade at some point. Thats gives us a nice backup PF and the options of making a lop-sided trade, AND we still have Outlaw and Blake as assets for other trades if need be. I like this idea.
Go for VALUE/$ and keep OPTIONS OPEN, this is how we wont screw ourselves while still having opportunities for upgrades

by venjance on Jul 4, 2009 6:34 PM PDT reply actions

Dallas can top us (ala Raptors)

in this case with a MLE.

But can’t if we offer slightly higher.

by spencerbutte on Jul 4, 2009 9:07 PM PDT up reply actions

Brandon Bass it is

Sign him for around 7 million per year, starting off at 5.8. That’d leave us enough money to sign a solid 3rd string veteran point guard (Brevin Knight, Tyronn Lue).

Then focus on the Blake and Outlaw for Hinrich move provided you can’t find a way to get Rubio or Harris. If not Hinrich, see if there could be a sign and trade in the works for Sessions. If Travis can be traded for a draft pick next season both Sessions and Bass could still be had for deals that slightly exceed the MLE, and thus would be both of their best options.

by as11osu on Jul 4, 2009 6:43 PM PDT reply actions

Options...

I like the idea of trades and having options, this is what KP has been preaching for years. We are far from done yet, and still have the opportunity(s) to make significant upgrades to our roster w/o breaking the bank. Keep the ideas coming, who knows, maybe KP is reading this right now as the guests ask for more roman candles to fire over Lake-O!

by venjance on Jul 4, 2009 7:01 PM PDT reply actions

Man...

Can’t we just save it for next offseason :(

If only….http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=13175

My avatar is 3 years into the future for sure...

by Taskmaster on Jul 4, 2009 7:53 PM PDT reply actions

2010 is a sellers market

Everyone and their mother is saving up for next summer. We’d be bidding against a lot more folks with a heckuva lot more cap room.

by ninjasocks on Jul 4, 2009 9:10 PM PDT up reply actions

Nope!

Use it or lose it man, just use it wisely

by venjance on Jul 4, 2009 8:30 PM PDT reply actions

Looks like our prayers for a SF have been answered:

http://www.nba.com/blazers/news/Darius_Miles_Meets_with_Media-116892-41.html

Roy Tribute
Treat people well because Karma can hit you at any second.

by Net Ranger on Jul 4, 2009 8:44 PM PDT reply actions

Sessions

He’s played to season and shows promise. I think he could be one of those all around triple double type pg’s like a poor mans kidd.

by Jonny1time on Jul 5, 2009 1:28 AM PDT reply actions

i like Bass

"We didn’t pick Blair because of his history of fat-assery" -BlazerTag

by 5212872 on Jul 5, 2009 2:49 AM PDT reply actions

Blazers needs? The Blazers still need a back up power forward and IMO Antonio McDyess is that player that they need at that spot. And McDyess is a very good Vet.
Mark ‘Dyess’ down for a double-double each night. After re-joining Detroit mid-season, the polite veteran posted a workmanlike 10 points and 10 rebounds per game. McDyess could replace Yao in Houston, where he, coincidentally, has his off-season home. But if KP can Make him an offer and let him know Portland is where he needs to be if he wants a RING. The Blazers need McDyess as their back up power forward/Center. And he won’t cost as much as Lee and IMO you get the same thing from both players. And I like D.Harris better then A.Miller and that just MO

by billyjoejack on Jul 5, 2009 12:11 PM PDT reply actions