Basically you have Kanter Dragic Knight Jackson off the table which is 80% of what we talked about here.

I dont want to overpay for Wes Matthews. The only guy I think Id over pay for is Monroe right now--he becomes target A Id have to imagine.

Knixkik wrote:Obviously this all but eliminates Dragic as an option. This trade deadline was extremely busy and has put a lot of the dominos in place leading to the offseason. Afflalo is probably more than just added depth for a deep portland run, he's insurance as he's a cheaper alternative to Matthews and can bring most of the same things to the table. You get the feeling that he is Matthew's replacement. Matthew's seems to be a popular target for us, and now becomes very realistic. He also doesn't make any potential draft picks redundant, as we are likely to draft a big man or Russell, who would likely be groomed as PG. Monroe also seems like a possiblity. I expect Detroit to make a run at Draymond Green. Any other big names we have a high chance at? Is possibly getting Matthews (along with other role players) as the main piece an acceptable offseason? Is he good enough to be asked to do more than be the high caliber role player he is in portland now, and become a 2nd option?

the sixers are really tanking hard now so it's gonna be a race to the bottom...

mreinman wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:This was kind of like preemptive strikes for next years FA

Basically you have Kanter Dragic Knight Jackson off the table which is 80% of what we talked about here.

I dont want to overpay for Wes Matthews. The only guy I think Id over pay for is Monroe right now--he becomes target A Id have to imagine.

which is why these fantasy ideas are mostly a waste of time.

I like talking about moves that already happened.

Well than I guess you talk about nothing than right? Because anything conjectured is fantasy. So the team you see is the team you have.

BRIGGS wrote:

mreinman wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:This was kind of like preemptive strikes for next years FA

Basically you have Kanter Dragic Knight Jackson off the table which is 80% of what we talked about here.

I dont want to overpay for Wes Matthews. The only guy I think Id over pay for is Monroe right now--he becomes target A Id have to imagine.

which is why these fantasy ideas are mostly a waste of time.

I like talking about moves that already happened.

Well than I guess you talk about nothing than right? Because anything conjectured is fantasy. So the team you see is the team you have.

Yep, some posters think we should just complain about everything all the time. I don't mind venting, but it would be nice if they actually mixed things up a bit.

BRIGGS wrote:

mreinman wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:This was kind of like preemptive strikes for next years FA

Basically you have Kanter Dragic Knight Jackson off the table which is 80% of what we talked about here.

I dont want to overpay for Wes Matthews. The only guy I think Id over pay for is Monroe right now--he becomes target A Id have to imagine.

which is why these fantasy ideas are mostly a waste of time.

I like talking about moves that already happened.

Well than I guess you talk about nothing than right? Because anything conjectured is fantasy. So the team you see is the team you have.

we could talk about anything ... the knicks getting lebron or signing arod but they both have very litter chance of happening.

the draft is a bit intriguing when we get closer since it is very tangible.

and, the team I see is all I know so I like watching them to and forming opinions based on what we have and what we did not assemble or dissemble it.

If there is a trade rumor, then it would make sense to discuss it.

UFA's are somewhat relevant though I don't care to spend too much time on it until we are closer to the FA signing period but I do comment here and there out of boredom.

Anyway, to each their own, fantasy is a very popular sport which I personally don't care too much for since it is just fantasy.

I do love discussing the passed because it actually happened and much can be derived and learned from it.

You like projecting which is fine ...

EnySpree wrote:I think Wesley Matthews is a legit target for us no matter who we draft.

He and Monroe would be a nice offseason (along with our pick.) Both are now very realistic. Only reason we pass on Monroe is if we get Okafor. They may be redundant. Matthews will fit with anyone we draft.

C Koufos or Lopez
PF Okafor
SF Melo
SG Matthews
PG Calderon

or

C Monroe
PF Cheap defender
SF Melo
SG Matthews
PG Calderon/Russell

or

C Monroe
PF Towns
SF Melo
SG Matthews
PG Calderon

smackeddog wrote:

EnySpree wrote:I think Wesley Matthews is a legit target for us no matter who we draft.

He didn't seem very keen on Ny or leaving the Blazers though, which is why I became a bit more doubtful.

It's called being a professional and not talking out of your ass like some people

gunsnewing wrote:

smackeddog wrote:

EnySpree wrote:I think Wesley Matthews is a legit target for us no matter who we draft.

He didn't seem very keen on Ny or leaving the Blazers though, which is why I became a bit more doubtful.

It's called being a professional and not talking out of your ass like some people

VCoug wrote:

smackeddog wrote:Ha, I just typed a new thread about this, so I'll paste it here and mods can lock the other one.

Phil's done what he needed to do- he's cleared Felton and JR's salary off the books and given us about $30mil spending money. We've got some cheap players on low contracts to make up the bench (Early, Tim Jr, Gallo, Thomas, Larkin, Acy, Cole, Amundson). Calderon I don't mind especially with FA PG options diminishing. we've got a top first round pick hopefully coming our way too.

The trades at the deadline have made Dragic and Reggie Jackson very unlikely. Also you can cross Patrick Beverley off the list too because Houston failed to upgrade their PG spot, so they're more likely to keep him. Suns have lost IT and Dragic so they'll definitely match any offers to Knight. Also now the Bucks no longer have to pay Knight, they are more likely to match offers for Khris Middleton.

On the positive side, maybe Monroe is more available (will the Pistons go Max on both Monroe and Reggie Jackson, especially with Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings still on the books?). Also, Blazers just traded a first for Afflalo, which hopefully means Wes Mathews may be more available (it's doubtful, but not impossible they pay both of them).

I still think Kevin Love is a possibility- I don't like him, but if the Cavs go out early in the playoffs, and they continue to struggle to integrate him, maybe he can be sold on the big market and an offense that is actually Taylor made for him.

So overall, we have little chance of upgrading the Pg spot, however SG is very possible (Wes, Afflalo, Green), as is PF (Monroe, Milsap and Kevin Love). C is looking a bit thin (Robin Lopez and Asik). I'd say that makes Towns and Russell more attractive as draft options.

But we won't have $30M to spend. After the draft, we'll have something like $4M less to spend depending on exactly where we draft. And if we're going to keep Larkin, Acy, Cole, Thomas, and Amundson that's another $5M-ish. And that doesn't include Wear or Shved. In your scenario, we have something like $20M to spend on free agents and if we want to keep Wear that's another $1M and Shved would be another $4M.

You simply don't count all those bums. Yoy try to get the upgrades you need. Then you look to resign the bench fodder. You renounce whoever is necessary to get the big guys here. Right now acy, wear and Cole should be after thoughts. They had a long look and they are terrible.