SB Nation User Blog: douglast

Next free agent target: None of the Above

douglast — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 06:47:59 -0000

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. ;-)

So let's assume it's Hedo

douglast — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:16:42 -0000

This may all be moot tomorrow, but what the heck. Let's try and play catchup here. Assume the offer KP is going to make tonight is to Hedo, and that he accepts (obviously won't be official yet, but that's just academic). Where does that leave our lineup. My assumption is that Hedo gets about half his minutes each game at PF - so there's our backup to LMA right there. Let's see:

PG: Blake 24, Bayless 18, Roy 6
SG: Roy 28, Rudy 20
SF: Hedo 16, Batum 20, Rudy 12
PF: LMA 34, Hedo 14
C: Greg 30, Joel 18

Totals - 9 man rotation:
Blake 24
Bayless 18
Roy 34
Rudy 32
Hedo 30
Batum 20
LMA 34
Greg 30
Joel 18

First off, Hedo pretty much eats up all our capspace, so any other additions must come through trade or minimum contracts.

But second, notice who's missing? Martell and Travis. Obviously you can sub Martell in for Batum if you like, but either way we have 2 extra pieces who should be used in a trade rather than letting them wilt on the bench. Or 1 extra piece if Martell isn't ready to go come fall. So, is the plan then to use Blake, Travis and either Martell or Batum as trade bait for a new PG, either in a straight up trade or a sign and trade? It would seem to make sense to me. That's going to be 8.7 to 12.5 million outgoing salary - enough to bring in almost anyone we could want, assuming we can find a willing trade partner.

So, if Hedo's the guy come 12:01, hopefully this post helps illustrate the logical next step.

Still hoping for Harris...

douglast — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:41:01 -0000

The latest from HoopsWorld speculates the Nets could be looking to shed even more long term salary, possibly even including Devin Harris and his 4 years, $35 million deal

if they moved Harris, but considering all their issues it might sense if they could get an ending contract and a young point guard (meaning someone on a rookie scale contract).

The same post intimated that the Nets would love to get ride of Bobby Simmons' $10.6 million dollar expiring deal as well, preferably for nothing in return. Maybe there is some way we can make a pitch for Harris, either by agreeing to take Simmons too, or just as a straight up acquisition. Any thoughts?

If they truly would move Harris for a young PG and an ending contract, how about Bayless (2.1 million), and Outlaw (3.6 million). Throw in our 2010 1st rounder, and any of our Euros, maybe some cash too. That would still be a steal. I'd even throw in Rudy (1.1 million) if it was absolutely required.

Any ideas on how to make this work?

Blazers Summer 2009 Cap Space

douglast — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:39:58 -0000

Numbers via Storyteller

Post-Draft, here's the situation:

Assumptions:
- Frye, Shav, Ruffin, Raef are renounced
- Travis and Blake are NOT waived

Under Contract: (10 players)
- Joel 6,857,725
- LMA 5,844,827
- Greg 5,361,240
- Web 4,319,654
- Blake 4,000,000
- Roy 3,910,816
- TO 3,600,000
- JBay 2,143,080
- Rudy 1,165,320
- Nic 1,118,760

On books:
- Miles 9,000,000

Holds:
- Claver 1,012,900
- Koponen 824,200
- Freeland 824,200

Scenarios:
- Keep all holds: 49,982,722 (7.3 under 57.3 estimated cap)
- Keep Claver/Freeland: 49,158,522 (8.15 under)
- Keep Claver only*: 48,791,910 (8.5 million under)
- Renounce or trade all holds**: 48,236,598 (9.1 million under)

* Roster charge of 457,588 applied
** 2 roster charges applied

Keep in mind rights to any of our 3 Europeans can be traded away without regards to salary slots - all of them have a trade value of $0 both outgoing and incoming.

Short story - moving Sergio cleared about 1.5 million off our summer books.

Post Game & Post Season Vent Thread

douglast — Fri, 01 May 2009 04:07:26 -0000

a place for all heat of the moment knee jerk reactions. Hopefully we'll return to normal tomorrow

I'll probably edit here later with my thoughts, but want to get this up in a hurry

A A A A A AA A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A AA A A A A A A A A A A A AA

Congrats and Good Luck

douglast — Fri, 01 May 2009 03:24:22 -0000

Well, I knew going into this series that Houston was the worse possible matchup for my Trail Blazers. Sadly, that turned out to be true.

The Rockets and Blazers played a tough hard fought, evenly matched series. The Rockets wanted it more, had the experience they needed, and when they needed it most, their players came up with the plays.

Going into the series, I thought the Blazers had an advantage on the bench. But Houston's subs outplayed the Portland subs consistently throughout.

Games 3 and especially 4 were the key to the series. Both went down to the wire. Both could have gone either way. But Houston made the big plays both nights, and Portland didn't. All Portland needed was one of those two. Game 4 was there for the taking, but it was not to be.

Big props to Houston tonight. They came out ready to play and they took it to Portland all night long.

I have only one more thing to say:

KICK THE LAKERS' ASSES!!!

PS - We'll see you next year

Tonight's Referees

douglast — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:33:45 -0000

Tonight's Referees

Game 4 postgame Vent Thread (a.k.a. the "insert name heresucks thread")

douglast — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 03:53:35 -0000

PLEASE try to avoid starting 37 different fanposts tonight...

The story of this series is this:

In games 3 and 4, Houston executed and made big plays in the final 5 minutes. Portland didn't.

Hats off to the Rockets - they are playing clutch ball.

Portland had a ton of chances to take either game in Houston, but our lack of experience I think told the story. But don't take anything away from Houston, they made plays when they needed to. The offensive rebounding in the 4th quarter was obviously the key to the win. Some of that is great hustle by Houston, and some of it is just poor boxing out and rebound by Portland.

Congrats Houston

douglast — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 03:50:35 -0000

The story of this series is this:

In games 3 and 4, Houston executed and made big plays in the final 5 minutes. Portland didn't.

Hats off to your guys - you are playing clutch ball.

See you on Tuesday

Gotta Love ESPN. Turn on the 11pm sportscenter. They lead with Lakers/Jazz then move to...

douglast — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 06:09:59 -0000

Gotta Love ESPN.
Turn on the 11pm sportscenter. They lead with Lakers/Jazz then move to Cavs/Pistons. Ok great, time for Blazers/Rockets.

Nope, they switch to early season base ball highlights.

SB Nation User Blog: douglast

Next free agent target: None of the Above

So let's assume it's Hedo

Still hoping for Harris...

Blazers Summer 2009 Cap Space

Post Game & Post Season Vent Thread

Congrats and Good Luck

Tonight's Referees

Tonight's Referees

Game 4 postgame Vent Thread (a.k.a. the "__insert name here__sucks thread")

Congrats Houston

Gotta Love ESPN. Turn on the 11pm sportscenter. They lead with Lakers/Jazz then move to...

Game 4 postgame Vent Thread (a.k.a. the "insert name heresucks thread")