dudleysghost

Pretty tough to predict. Even without the internationals, we've got 2 too many. If Miles is able to play, I think that might actually make us more likely to waive him. As an injured player, we have to hold onto him to have any hope of a medical retirement. If we waive him and he isn't playing, then there is zero chance he will sign with another team. But if he is playing, he could potentially sign with another team after he clears waivers, giving the Blazers some small amount of cap relief as well as the open roster spot, which may be the most they can get at this point.

Raef will definitely re-up, because nobody would pass up $12 million. We could definitely shop him though, since next season he will officially be in the last year of his contract. We want cap space, potentially, but if we can package Raef with some youth to get the kind of player we want to build around that way instead of as a free agent, we will. Jack is candidate number 1 to be packaged with Raef, but I think we will also consider adding Webster, Frye, Sergio, Green, McBob, our 08 or 09 picks ... anyone who isn't LMA, Roy, Oden or Outlaw. People in here will want to add veterans like Blake, Jones, Joel to Raef, but that doesn't work, because whoever is dumping a solid high-paid veteran for cap space will also want youth as well.

Basically, they will look to package Raef with young players/picks in a trade that gets us back something good and clears roster spots. Whether they are successful depends on what will be available.

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Jeff Van Gundy to the Houston Chronicle: "Everybody gets excited about youth except the coach, because he knows youth means mistakes, mistakes mean losses, losses means you're fired."