If Portland is smart, they wouldn't and shouldn't overpay for Dragic or Lopez. Maybe, Deron Williams or even *cough* Jeremy Lin (that should be a little weathered as well), but not the other two. It's fools gold. They do not need to sign anyone, like Javale McGee, Nick Young, or etc. What is this about Portland, not being able to get sure thing, they have a good shot of getting a top 6 pick. Harrison Barnes, Brad Beal, Andre Drummond, or Michael Gilchrist. The later pick, they could trade, if a player is good enough. I do not see the rush in getting a guy to fill spot and overpaying him.
Portland should really try to grab Scola/Lowry/Martin with these picks + Wes Matthews. Add few players here and there to make it work salary wise...but from their point of view, if they keep Batum, they could look at this potential line up: Aldridge Scola Batum Martin Lowry Scary as hell. We get our draft picks and start our rebuilding. They get a legit chance to win the west.
The team that drafted Greg Oden and Martell Webster did better than Morey, who has routinely turned mid-low draft picks into gold?? Plus, didn't they lose Oden at the same time he could be amnestied, whereas Morey was hamstrung by the timing of our injuries?? Them doing a "hell of a better job than Morey" is definitely debatable to say the least.
Portland could keep their own draft picks and possibly sign Deron Williams, and still be able to stay under the cap. Aldridge cannot play center, while Scola is near done at peaking and is in his 30s. They possibly could find a rookie in the draft who is comparable Kevin Martin, not quite as expensive. Lowry is one they could look at, but I wouldn't give up that high pick for him, maybe the one in teens, especially when you can sign a comparable or better point guard in free agency.
Slow down on shipping off Lowry, guys - we don't have exclusive rights on Dragic. And why give up assets for Lowry when you could just sign someone else and keep your draft picks? Blazers want to build around Aldridge and Batum, and I seriously doubt they have any interest trading their picks just because we'd like to have them. More like: Chase after Nash (Williams is going to Dallas)...with Lin and Dragic as plan B Chase after Hibbert (longshot)...with Lopez as plan B Draft Lamb or Beal #5...unless you think Batum can slide to the 2 and make room for Barnes. Draft Zeller, Leonard, Sullinger, Jones III, or Kendall Marshall They could have a solid starting 5 so long as they manage to fill two spots well via FA.
It absolutely is a problem if they want to trade draft night or before the draft then it is a problem because they are way over the cap right now. Yes if they wait until summer then they can trade those picks freeley to take back salary. But then also they are guessing on who teams want and if they want both players they drafted or not. Unless somehow they work out a trade draft night then wait until July to pull it off
The reasons Portland would want to trade the NJ pick for Lowry is that Lowry is on the most team-friendly, best contract for a PG in the NBA, considering his production versus salary. They can trade a pick for him, then still have max room for another free agent. If they sign D-Will for the max, they're one and done. Dragic doesn't leave them max room if they sign him. And that $5M turns into hefty penalties once you go into the luxury tax. So, I could definitely see them making a play for Kyle.
Well, if that NJ pick pans out, it would allow the Rockets to get a high lotto player without having to ever have tanked -- their dream scenario. We already know the Blazers like Lowry, plus, he's a low-cost guy which allows Portland to maintain their flexibility. A trio of Batum, Aldridge, and Lowry with plenty of cap space to spare is a great way to reboot. I just threw out Lowry because people mentioned them targeting Dragic. I can't see that, not when he'll get an inflated salary in a year when so many teams have cap space. Portland is too smart to force something like that.
Why do they add Scola's contract when their franchise player Aldridge is making max money at the PF position and they still need a center?
I don't think they would, but maybe they would like that trade if they think Aldridge can play the 5. I bet Portland loves Lowry and Scola. Aldridge is 7 foot with a 7'5" wingspan, but he's a bit light for a center. They probably would rather keep him at the 4 but I guess it's possible. What would Portland think of a lineup like this: Lowry Martin Batum Scola Aldridge ? Is that worth giving up 2 lotto picks?
That trade with New Jersey for Gerald Wallace was absolute highway robbery the moment it was announced... someone with the Nets should be fired. But as the 5th worst team, the Nets still have a better than 1 in 4 shot of getting a top 3 pick, which means it wouldn't go to Portland in that scenario. If that happened, and the Nets can trade that top 3 pick for something (Dwight?) that entices Deron to stay ... their 2013 pick (which would go to Portland instead) would be relatively worthless compared to the potential of this 2012 pick. Portland will be loving it though if they come away with a 4-7 pick in that trade. My goodness. And there will be plenty of Dragic suitors, with or without Portland. Phoenix and Toronto both come to mind.
Phoenix might be able to re-sign Nash, and/or decide to go with Brooks. Does Dragic want to play in Toronto? Cold weather for much of the year, and their team sucks. The more I think about it the less suitors I can think of who a) Don't suck b) Will want to overpay for Goran beyond the point we can offer just by adding an additional year and bigger yearly raises
If we offer Lowry and the Knicks pick for the Blazer's top 5 pick I don't see how they can turn that down. They get a proven point guard on a discount contract and can still draft a guy like Leonard to fill the whole at the 5.
I could be wrong,but unless you have made 1st team all nba,you can't get a max deal. That's part of the reason westbrook didn't get it,love didn't get it and harden nor any other fa except deron or howard the yr after can get max dollars. If I were portland, I wuld go after williams,resign batum,and draft bpa with the picks. I wouldn't sign nash and lopez-aldridge combo is too similar to pair together.
