Chris Kaman to Portland

[elindholm]

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i...ers_chris_kaman_reach_agreement_on_2-yea.html

I guess he'll back up Robin Lopez, which is kind of a bizarre concept.

 

[sunsfan88]

Another big men that Miami missed out on to keep LeBron happy and in Miami.

Now its Pau or nothing.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'd like to get Meyers Leonard. IMO, he is not a good fit in Portland and he has not been given the opportunity to develop. IMO, he would be a better fit with the Suns. Put Plumlee, Len and Leonard together and see who wins.

 

[KloD]

I'd like to get Meyers Leonard. IMO, he is not a good fit in Portland and he has not been given the opportunity to develop. IMO, he would be a better fit with the Suns. Put Plumlee, Len and Leonard together and see who wins.

Meh. Not a fan myself. I'd much rather have Plumlee and Len plus someone on a one year deal man the Center position for this upcoming year and see what's available next year rather than get locked into a contract with what's out there now. That and next years draft class has some good looking center prospects coming out. The Suns likely could have 3 pretty decent draft picks they might be able to trade to move up if the Lakers pick ends up being in that 6-10 range.

 

[HooverDam]

Kaman is a perfect fit for Portland. He looks like every young male in that city.

 

[KloD]

Kaman is a perfect fit for Portland. He looks like every young male in that city.

I beg to differ. Oh, I guess I'm not young though.
Spencer with his Foxnews mentality certainly wasn't a fit for Portland. Glad they didn't bring him to their team.

 

[overseascardfan]

Another big men that Miami missed out on to keep LeBron happy and in Miami.

Now its Pau or nothing.

I believe Pau was and is the major FA they wanted. He is asking for $10M - $12M which is what MIA reported as having available in cap room. Anthony was never going to take less to join the Big 3.

Gasol
Bosh
James
Wade
Napier

That's one hell of a starting 5, they would just have to fill out their bench with aging vets willing to take minimum deals for a chance at rings.

 

[Suns_fan69]

I believe Pau was and is the major FA they wanted. He is asking for $10M - $12M which is what MIA reported as having available in cap room. Anthony was never going to take less to join the Big 3.

Gasol
Bosh
James
Wade
Napier

That's one hell of a starting 5, they would just have to fill out their bench with aging vets willing to take minimum deals for a chance at rings.

That's easier said than done though. They need better depth all around beyond the likes of a washed up Rashard Lewis, Birdman and Battier. They need greater depth at the wing positions especially, given the games off Wade will get and how old Allen is.

 

[95pro]

I believe Pau was and is the major FA they wanted. He is asking for $10M - $12M which is what MIA reported as having available in cap room. Anthony was never going to take less to join the Big 3.

Gasol
Bosh
James
Wade
Napier

That's one hell of a starting 5, they would just have to fill out their bench with aging vets willing to take minimum deals for a chance at rings.

Napier is still unproven. Wade is an old man. Bosh and Gasol are soft inside.

 

[sunsfan88]

Bosh and Gasol are soft inside.

They still have a combined 4 championships between them despite their softness. And they did it while being key players on those title teams.

 

[elindholm]

They still have a combined 4 championships between them despite their softness. And they did it while being key players on those title teams.

Maybe they should bring in Robert Horry while they're at it.

 

[sunsfan88]

Maybe they should bring in Robert Horry while they're at it.

If Horry wasn't a dirty douche while being 43 years old then sure.

 

[AzStevenCal]

If Horry wasn't a dirty douche while being 43 years old then sure.

The point was that neither player is at that same level today. Not all players age at the same pace. Gasol is still somewhat effective offensively but he's a ninja on defense and Bosh looks a bit worse for the wear too. Although Chris might bounce back in the right setting, Pau's decline was glaringly obvious long before Dantoni was hired and supposedly ruined his career.

Steve

 

[sunsfan88]

The point was that neither player is at that same level today. Not all players age at the same pace. Gasol is still somewhat effective offensively but he's a ninja on defense and Bosh looks a bit worse for the wear too. Although Chris might bounce back in the right setting, Pau's decline was glaringly obvious long before Dantoni was hired and supposedly ruined his career.

Steve

Gotcha. I agree on everything especially Bosh bouncing back.

 

[overseascardfan]

The point was that neither player is at that same level today. Not all players age at the same pace. Gasol is still somewhat effective offensively but he's a ninja on defense and Bosh looks a bit worse for the wear too. Although Chris might bounce back in the right setting, Pau's decline was glaringly obvious long before Dantoni was hired and supposedly ruined his career.

Steve

Pau averaged over 17 ppg, 10 rpg, 3 apg, 1.5 bpg on over 50% FG & 70% FT. I would be ecstatic if PHX could get that kind of production from 1 PF. Now I agree Pau is not a fit in DA's system but he is the best FA big in this year's class. Bosh may have youth over Pau and a higher PER despite having been much less productive this year than Pau.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Pau averaged over 17 ppg, 10 rpg, 3 apg, 1.5 bpg on over 50% FG & 70% FT. I would be ecstatic if PHX could get that kind of production from 1 PF. Now I agree Pau is not a fit in DA's system but he is the best FA big in this year's class. Bosh may have youth over Pau and a higher PER despite having been much less productive this year than Pau.

When he was playing defense and shooting 59% from 2 point range he was arguably the best big man in the game. Now, he avoids defense and he's shooting 48%. That's not very good for someone that shoots from where he does. He's declined considerably and it started before Dantoni. He and Kobe used to be enough to build around but that stopped, again, before Dantoni. If he'd wanted to be in Phoenix and if Kupchak had been willing to let him go for a decent price (one pick) he'd be on our roster already.

He'd be a decent addition even being a soft defender but we don't appear to be on his list. Bosh is a much better defender but I'm not thrilled about him either. If Lebron wanted one of them to play beside him in Phoenix then I'd say pull out all the stops. Otherwise, add James, try for Jordan Hill and move on.

Or, in a return to reality, re-sign Bledsoe and Frye and attempt to bring in Jordan Hill for big man depth. Take a small step forward next year and try the FA thing all over again next summer. Or pull off a killer trade. But, mostly, be content with small steps until the right moment comes along. Just don't over reach in the interim. Honestly, Kaman would have been a great addition for us.

Steve

 

[overseascardfan]

When he was playing defense and shooting 59% from 2 point range he was arguably the best big man in the game. Now, he avoids defense and he's shooting 48%. That's not very good for someone that shoots from where he does. He's declined considerably and it started before Dantoni. He and Kobe used to be enough to build around but that stopped, again, before Dantoni. If he'd wanted to be in Phoenix and if Kupchak had been willing to let him go for a decent price (one pick) he'd be on our roster already.

He'd be a decent addition even being a soft defender but we don't appear to be on his list. Bosh is a much better defender but I'm not thrilled about him either. If Lebron wanted one of them to play beside him in Phoenix then I'd say pull out all the stops. Otherwise, add James, try for Jordan Hill and move on.

Or, in a return to reality, re-sign Bledsoe and Frye and attempt to bring in Jordan Hill for big man depth. Take a small step forward next year and try the FA thing all over again next summer. Or pull off a killer trade. But, mostly, be content with small steps until the right moment comes along. Just don't over reach in the interim. Honestly, Kaman would have been a great addition for us.

Steve

Oh, I didn't mean PHX should sign Pau. My point was that Pau would be a good fit in MIA with the Big 3. The only way I would sign Pau if I were PHX is on a 1 year deal so we could pursue Love next year. I agree that Lebron coming here and asking PHX sign Gasol then so be it but I honestly feel James is staying in MIA so this scenario won't happen.

 

[slinslin]

The way things are going Pau Gasol will get at least 12M$ from someone.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Oh, I didn't mean PHX should sign Pau. My point was that Pau would be a good fit in MIA with the Big 3. The only way I would sign Pau if I were PHX is on a 1 year deal so we could pursue Love next year. I agree that Lebron coming here and asking PHX sign Gasol then so be it but I honestly feel James is staying in MIA so this scenario won't happen.

Oh, sorry, I missed that. Yes, he'd fit there nicely and probably with Chicago too. Two places that need scoring and have enough defense to assist Pau in that area.

I agree James stays in Miami. I think too much has been made of his salary demands, as if it signals a problem with the Heat. He has some concerns with the Heat for failing to re-sign Miller and use their exceptions to acquire other help but I think the max salary demand is something else. Rumors abound that the players association has asked him to help grow the high-end player salaries rather than limiting them by setting the bar lower for other talented stars. As it is, the owners are getting exactly what they want and the union wants them to have reason to re-visit the current structure when they return to the bargaining table.

Steve

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

Kaman is a perfect fit for Portland. He looks like every young male in that city.

Also, considering Portland's long history with oft-injured centers, I'd have to agree that he'll be a perfect fit.

 

[SirStefan32]

Also, considering Portland's long history with oft-injured centers, I'd have to agree that he'll be a perfect fit.

It goes beyond Centers. Portland's medical staff destroyed Brandon Roy's career. If I were a player with ANY history of injuries, I would run away from the Blazers.

 

[AzStevenCal]

It goes beyond Centers. Portland's medical staff destroyed Brandon Roy's career. If I were a player with ANY history of injuries, I would run away from the Blazers.

I think you might be making too much of this. Bill Walton says the Portland medical staff made him the man he is today.

Steve

 

[BC867]

I think you might be making too much of this. Bill Walton says the Portland medical staff made him the man he is today.

Steve

'Got rid of the stutter, huh! After all, the man he is today is a commentator.

 

[Suns_fan69]

Walton was quite a while ago, while there was a pretty damning report of the Portland medical staff a couple years back from another sports trainer. Who's to say what actually happened (after all Roy himself pretty much forced his way on to the court in the playoffs against the suns) but it did not paint a pretty picture at all.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Walton was quite a while ago, while there was a pretty damning report of the Portland medical staff a couple years back from another sports trainer. Who's to say what actually happened (after all Roy himself pretty much forced his way on to the court in the playoffs against the suns) but it did not paint a pretty picture at all.

Yeah I remember that article and the comparison to our own staff. I don't know how true it was as there appeared to be an agenda but you're right, it did not paint a pretty picture.

Steve