If Nic is in at more than 9mil/year, SnT him to Minnesota for Wes Johnson and picks whether we sign Hibbert of not. Nic is far too inconsistent to get that kind of contract as it will just limit what the FO can do next year as well.

The biggest problem with the "next year" mentality is that no top flight free agents will ever come to Portland. I mean, as a 20-30 year old male (more than likely black) how appealing is this: Come to Portland where it will rain 9 months out of the year, you will pay the state 10% income tax, you will be chastised because you are rich, and you'll stick out like a sore thumb because everyone is white. But hey, we have great fans and our traffic isn't that bad.

Portland has to draft well and/or overpay for free agents and there is no way around it. With all of these "super teams" popping up and players calling the shots when it comes to trades, Portland is looking to be irrelevant in the NBA. You have anomalies like OKC but their success is because of amazing drafting and having a star like KD who is all team oriented and just that star player that everyone can and does root for.

Crawford and Billups to Clippers

You keep your cap space because it also allows you to have flexibility. Paying just to pay only hand-cuffs the team with making moves down the road. Now I don't think Nic at 12/year is Eddie Curry but its still a stupid contract.

Is Allen or Crawford a better fit for the Clippers? I wanna believe Crawford had a down year with us, but maybe his game is just on the decline?

Raptors and Mavs are desperately looking for PGs. Raptors might get Lowry, but I really dislike Lowry. IMO Calderon > Lowry.

Everyone seems to have a "down year" with us when they get to Portland.

I think it is a deal of Crawford aging and losing some of his game. He had moments, but not many. In his defense, he was played out of position for many games which he was not happy with.

nash to los angeles will be interesting. kobe's not really the type of player who needs to be set up to get his shot, and with kobe handling the ball as much as he does, nash isn't really a stand still shooter. they don't really fit together... but that may or may not matter. lebron and wade don't really fit together, but they just won a title. carmelo and stoudamire don't fit well together, and new york is stuck in mediocrity. i still don't think the lakers are better than okc.... and maybe san antonio. depends what else they do.

Batum is only 23 years old and he's made improvements every year. He may or may not be worth 9 million next season, but I think it's a safe bet he would be 2-3 years down the road.

Most starting SFs not on rookie contracts make 9+ million

Danilo Gallinari (favorable comp)
$9,439,000
$10,146,925
$10,854,850
$11,559,225

Shawn Marion
$8,646,364
$9,316,796

Danny Granger
$13,058,606
$14,021,788

Luol Deng
$13,326,700
$14,312,125

Richard Jefferson
$10,164,000
$11,046,000

Stephen Jackson
$10,060,000

Thaddeus Young
$8,039,130
$8,600,000
$9,160,870
$9,721,740

I think that 45-50 million figure floating around is simply wishful thinking by Batum's amateur agent.

Blazers met with Batum today and told him they will match any offer, Jason Quick reporting Brandon going to sign with Minnesotta.

I'm really starting to hate Batum's agent, and thus Batum, since he's had no intention of ever listening to what Portland had to offer. He's been deadset on getting Batum to Minnesota and basically badmouthing Portland's front office. Portland should be dicks right back.

Looks like he signed offer sheet with minnesota 4 years 45 million, could get to $50 million with bonuses. I still don't think it would be the worst thing to let him go, but think blazers will match.

They'll resign him because there really aren't any SFs available that I'd say are starting quality or pieces to start your rebuilding around. Plus, if Indiana ends up matching the offer for Hibbert and let Batum go, then you don't have jack besides Aldridge and Lillard.

You should do a sign and trade.

Yeah, send him to an annual crapburger team like Minnesota. That'll show him.