The free-agency chatter begins this week
On Wednesday, NBA teams can begin talking to free agents and their agents, although they can’t sign anyone for a week. But already there are rumors about which teams are chasing which players.
I believe the Trail Blazers have their sights set on adding not one but two new players. And everyone seems to be saying they’re after Hedo Turkoglu. I must say that I’m a little surprised by that. While he’s a great guy and a very good player — as we saw in this season’s playoffs — I just don’t know that he fits real well with Brandon Roy.
Turkoglu seems to operate best when he has the ball. The Magic made best use of him in a 1-4 set, the same thing Portland often uses with Roy. When he doesn’t have the ball, Turkoglu tends to stand around a lot. And he’s not much of a spot-up shooter or defender.
Last season was far from his best year. He shot only 41.3 percent from the floor, 35.6 percent from three-point range. He averaged a nice 4.9 assists per game but that was mitigated by 2.65 turnovers per game.
I’m not sure that’s worth $10 million a year, which is what he’s seeking — although in today’s NBA I’m not sure he can get it.
The other player Portland is rumored to be seeking? Well, the Kirk Hinrich gossip just won’t go away. A player the Blazers could have had prior to the trading deadline, he has more value now because of a solid playoff series against the Boston Celtics.
If most of the free-agent budget is spent on Turkoglu, Hinrich is an available option through trade. It would probably cost the Trail Blazers Travis Outlaw (expendable with the arrival of Turkoglu) and one of the point guards, either Jerryd Bayless or Steve Blake. I’d guess the Bulls would want Bayless.
I’m not enamored with these moves. I’d much rather see Portland go get a better point guard in an unbalanced trade. I’m not in love with this free-agent class. Turkoglu is one of the better ones, but it’s a weak class. This is probably the Blazers’ last chance for quite a spell with this kind of cap space and I’m not sure Hedo Turkoglu is where you’d want to see that money spent.
One thing is sure, though. The NBA expects Portland to be big spenders. One NBA source, who has been in the league quite a while, expects the wallet to open and the Blazers to try to clear as much cap room as possible:
“They’re going to shift into ‘drunken sailor mode,’” he said.
NBA, Trail Blazers | Dwight Jaynes | June 28, 2009
Dwight Jaynes, free agents, Hedo Turkoglu, Kirk Hinrich, Portland Trail Blazers
Come on Dwight,
If you are going to bash the options of the Turk and Hinrich (i hate him too) give us some other options.
The Turk has managed to average around 5 assists a game despite having Jameer Nelson also on the team.
The Blazers really need another player who can create his own shot and create opportunities for others as well.
If the Bulls demand one of our guards, I would say pass on Hinrich. Honestly I was hoping they were going after a higher caliber pg
Turkoglu I do hope they get. He played great during the playoffs. In fact, he seemed the only person capable of scoring against the Lakers. He would also give us another option at the end of games, which would be a relief to Roy and not make us so predictable
Turkoglu also is used to playing with a big guy (Howard) and would fit right in with Oden. I have a feeling that a Roy, Turk, and Rudy on the floor at the end of games would put alot of pressure on oppossing defenses
#Trailblazers: -Blake -Outlaw -Webster +Kidd/Nash +Bass +Ariza
Tim… several times on local radio, here and other places I’ve spoken about this. I believe I would target Devin Harris, and use my cap space to try to get the Nets to take an unbalanced trade for him… He’s my No. 1 guy and all sorts of teams are making unbalanced deals because they’re in financial trouble. The nets have already made one such deal. I also prefer Kidd to Hinrich. Yes, I know he’s old. Know he’s not the defender he once was. But I think he’s a very smart player who would help the other guys a lot. He’s making threes better now than at any point of his career. Failing to get Harris, I’d take a run at Kidd.
Its really hard for me to see the Nets giving up Harris though.
True they are cutting salary, but wow for 7 million what Harris gives you is a bargain.
I would like to see Kidd too.
SF needs a veteran though. If you have 3 guys potentially starting you really dont have one in a way.
Hinrich would definately be an upgrade over our current PG’s.
Hedo would be nice, but I think PDX would be doing itself a dis-service by signing him to the type of money he will want…at his age, etc.
I still hold out hope (however unlikely) that we use LA as a hip. Bring in a Chris Paul or a Chris Bosh. Those guys deserve the money
Sorry I quick posted without any explanation, the brain doesn’t function as it should that early in the morning. I will overcompensate by writing too much.
PG
If Bayless is our 1 of the future, I think we need a true veteran mentor now because Blake isn’t going to teach him what a Nash or Kidd can. Both Nash and Kidd have built in expiration dates that will open the door for Bayless, but both have their up/downsides. I like Kidd better and re-teaming Nate with any member from the Olympic team is golden in my eyes and easier to get, but it seems like Kidd will be too expensive to pick up as a free agent. Nash on the other hand is still under contract and trading for him will help us with some much needed herd thinning.
SF
This is another slot where we have only second stringers and young talent taking up the minutes. I’m willing to scrap everyone in my Nash deal other that Batum and pick up a starter in the free agency. There has been a lot of talk about Turkoglu, and as much as I love watching him do some of the things he does, he’s just looking for a payday since he peaked two seasons ago and will now just want to hang out and shoot 3s. My money is on Ariza — the most bang for the buck even if you double what he was making. He’s athletic and defensively minded as Nate likes. His numbers match up closely with Outlaw’s but with the glowing exceptions of his steals and offensive rebounds because he is more active without the ball. Plus, when compared to Travis, Trevor just looks less skittery, much more comfortable on the floor.
PF
In this slot, as we look to pick up a player that can actually give LMA a rest on the bench every once in a while, I also want someone that strengthens the second unit if Bayless, Rudy, Batum and Joel/Greg are on the floor. I want another tank in there cleaning up around the hoop and blocking shots and holding our position while the starters rest. I was leaning toward the Birdman because I want to keep Portland weird, but Brandon Bass just seems too perfect to not pick up. That 5 alone seem like a group any of those rebuilding teams would salivate over having on the floor.
On top of those 10, my remaining 5 player on the roster? I like Patty Mills, but what I like most is finally having a team in which the last guy on the bench no longer knows when looking up the line that he is good enough to be on the floor. We need definitive starters and reserves and good guys to help out in the practice facility and who make some flashy moves in garbage time.
- r i a n
Name a better point guard who’s on the market.
Suckkio Rodrequest?
Dwight,
Hopefully I am not surprising you here, but I agree with you. Hedo is a nice player, but not worth 10 million or so a year. It would be nice to get Ariza, but I believe the Lakers will hold on to him. Devin Harris would be a huge upgrade for the team, and I agree that Kidd would be a nice consolation prize if we can’t get Harris.
Personally, since hearing that Detroit wants Hedo, I’d go for Tayshaun Prince, again another Olympian. I think we’re still going to need another PF though. If we’re looking at SF as a place of need, the list should start with Prince, followed by Gerald Wallace, Ariza, and Hedo.
As far as PG’s go, definately inquire about Devin Harris. I’d offer maybe Outlaw and Bayless for Harris and their worst contract now that Carter is gone. I think Kidd would be a nice consolation prize if Harris isn’t available, but only if we didn’t have to work out a sign and trade for him. Andre Miller wouldn’t be bad either though, but with them drafting Holiday, I’m not convinced that they’d be willing to let him walk. Holiday isn’t ready for the big show at the 1.
For PF’s, we should target Brandon Bass, Amir Johnson (if possible), maybe Gortat as a 4/5, and Ronny Turiaf. I’d like to see us do a sign and trade with Channing for one of these guys.
Back-up PF – I bet they’ll find a good one, likely from among some of the names mentioned. I always add Carl Landry, too, but maybe he’s re-signed already.
PG – NO to Andre Miller. As Dwight has written, a PG who plays opposite Roy has to be good without the ball. That isn’t just back-door cuts for alley-oops (tip of the cap to Rudy) but also, more obviously, the ability to catch and shoot.
SF – A couple of steals and now Trevor Ariza is quote the player, eh? I’m not sure how’s any better than what we have now x3.
Would Cleveland want Frye?
*quite* the player. Feel free to edit, Dwight.
Is money really the issue here? Or worrying about getting a bargain? Isn’t the real point that we were not that far away last year, and that with a couple medium sized upgrades we are going to be right in the mix? I suggest that the referenced league executive already answered how ownership and management feel about these questions.
I personally believe that we should start celebrating now in anticipation of what Santa Pritchard is going to put under the tree with the Blazer logo on it. Whoever he decides on, this is obviously going to be a great time to be a Blazer fan. It is a privilege to have an owner who is a genuine fan, and who has a pocket book to take us all along for the ride.
Hedo and Hinrich will NOT result in a championship for the Rose City. While they are both nice players, they are absolutely not difference makers.
KP, ego and all, is finding a way to screw up Portland’s window of opportunity. He got lucky in the 2006 draft, and it’s been all downhill since then. Heck he even found a way to screw the pooch with Raef’s expiring contract last year…
Amazing! I agree with Franklin about something. Then I read the 2nd paragraph.
Hedo is a long ranger bomber, and can penetrate extremely well but his 3 point game is a huge part of his overall game. Which is what the Blazers like because it frees up the bigs. He attempted 376 and the year before attempted 415. He made 134 and 166 total 3′s respectively.
The new point guard more or less would be Hedo, who would slip into Blake’s role. Hedo has 780 plus assists total over the last 2 seasons while Blake has had 760 or so.
Yes you read that correctly our vaunted PG Steve Blake, was out assisted and outshot by a 6’10 Turkish forward. Not to mention the 800 plus rebounds for Turkoglu which doubles up Blake easily in reb.
All in all, Hedo fits superbly to how the Blazers already play and how they want to play. He passes really well, he’s not afraid of the Lakers and the big stage, he rebounds, sets up others and can play a 2 man game with Oden, Aldridge, Rudy or Roy.
Brandon would be in heaven.
Dwight, I’m just about as certain as I can be that Portland will not spend that kind of dough on Turkoglu. There are three players on this team who have sacrificed long term deals just to play for this team ( Blake, Joel and Outlaw),and the 1st two are team leaders. How would those players feel about a journeyman like Turkoglu coming in with a fat deal like that? Because that’s what he is, a journeyman in a contract year and he just not going to put them over the top in the west. So spread the money between Kidd and the Dyse Man
I love Turk’s game but he probably is not the best of all fits. I say we low-ball him just to see if we can get the guy for cheap.
I hear all this about KP losing his mojo now that he doesn’t have the draft to pick up players,
Do you really think evaluating players in the NBA is in some way more difficult than evaluating players not playing in the NBA?
Come on, there are more smoke screens now than ever, if the casual observer can see someone’s not a good fit but the rumors keep coming around you can bet it’s a smoke screen,