i decided to take a look at how we look for the 09 season.  i made some assumptions.  we bring over rudy next year, and kopenen and freeland in 09.  we think we will have a bunch of cap room in 09, so i wanted to see if that was true

so i see our rost as:

Rudy at                2 mil
Roy at                  3 mil
sergio at              2 mil
LA at                    5 mil
oden at                5 mil
mcroberts at        500 thou
and green at        500 thou
08 1st rounder     2.5 mil
09 1st rounder at 2.5 mil

these are all rookie scale contracts: they total 23 mil and take up 9 roster spots

then we have non-rookie contracts:

outlaw at            6 mil
miles at              8.5 mil

they total 14.5 mil and take two more roster spots, giving us totals of 37.5 mil and 11 roster spots.  

assuming that the cap is 55 mil that leaves us with 17.5 mil to do with whatever we please.
 assume we spend all 17.5 on an all star of some some sort, we can then bring over freeland and kopenen.  that gives us 14 roster spots.  the 15th spot could be filled by our 09 second rounder.  meaning that we have exactly 15 roster spots used.  our roster looks like this:

pg:  sergio
       kopenen
       green
sg:  roy
       Rudy
sf:   outlaw
       miles
pf:   Aldridge
       mcroberts
C:   Oden
       Freeland

we then have 09 1st rounder, 08 first rounder, 09 second rounder, and the all star we sign in FA  we obviously need help at c and sf.  the 17.5 mil could sure up one of those spots.
if all of this happens we give away to FA Frye, Martell, James Jones, Jarret, Pryzz, Raef, and Blake.  also if miles retires, we would then have 26 mil, in which case we can bring in one great player, and 1 all star.  making us even better, but i assumed he would live out his contract...ok, shoot it full of holes..

what do we really have?  why does everyone seem to think we need to make another trade?  i think our roster might be set:

pg: blake
      Jack
      Sergio
      Green
Sg:  Roy
       Webster
Sf:  Jones
      Outlaw
      Miles
Pf:  aldridge
      Frye
      Mcroberts
C; Oden
     PRyzbilla
     Lafrentz

Isn't that a full roster?  send the euro's home for one more year...let these guys develop then add rudy next year.  i don't see why we need to make a move...  you could assume that green, mcroberts, miles are inactive....and sometimes lafrentz could be inactive if mcroberts needs to get some minutes...seems liek were ready to go to fall to me

so what is going to happen?  obviously baring injusry we have at least 3 guys playing.  two of our guys for those teams would play the same spot.  aldridge vs. oden right now would be a lopsided mis match, but in 8 months?  i am really curious to see what happens there?  do they even play each other?  just some food for thought...

what do we make out of all of this?  i think the coach was right.  we do need better spacing.  also i think the big thin gis that we really miss brandon roy.  we NEED his perimeter defense.  and even more, we need his offense and ability to drive, score, dish and make everyone else better.  the blazers are missing that leader on the floor.  i think the oden project will get better, though he will not save the world this year, give him some time.  i also think that aldridge, if healthy is in route for a big year.  probably 18 and 8 or something of the sort.  i am curious to see what they do at 3, if its outlaw or martell, becasue i think ime is down the road for fiscal reasons.  i also am curious as to how good sergio can be, and if jack is really the guy to lead the ship to the promised land.  i think the draft next year can fill a need at point guard.  and i think that freagency in 09 will fill the 3, if need be.  but one things for sure, we need better perimeter defense, 3 point shooting, and a floor general.  most of that comes with roy so don't read too much into game one.  what do you think about all this?