View Poll Results: Are you in favor of obtaining Rashard Lewis at about $15.5 mil if we can trade Zach?

**Trader Ed** · 04-23-2007, 09:25 AM

I had read in one of our threads that Rashard was seeking $15.5 mil in a new contract. (Sorry I coudl nto find it this morning) Please link to it if you remember where it was. It was, as I recall, in a discussion with some of Nates comments as well.

Even if we are able to pull of a three way deal to send out Zach, and get Rashard Lewis in a S&T....

My question to you is...

Do we really want to obtain Rashard at that much money?

is it a potential boat anchor, after he is obtained?

It is even more money than Zach's contract is

Will he go the route of a player once signed to a lucrative contract, then suddenly become medioocre?

Just wondering what the consensus is

I say its too much money for him, and will put us in cap hell once we need to resign our young guns

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/or...l=7&thispage=2

Quote:

Pritchard said two offseason priorities will be landing a prolific starting small forward and an experienced point guard to add depth. He also hinted that a big man probably will fit into the equation..........

......Unless the Blazers land a high enough pick to draft Texas forward Kevin Durant, the team probably will have to fulfill its needs at small forward and point guard through a trade or free agency......

........When asked about the possibility of the Blazers acquiring a dynamic small forward such as Lewis and an experienced point guard, coach Nate McMillan was emphatic.

"I agree (that's what we need)," McMillan said. "And if you add that, we certainly should be in the playoffs next year."

........Because the Blazers are over the salary cap, they are limited in what they can offer a free agent. Signing a player such as Lewis, who has said he wants a maximum deal that starts at around $15 million a year, would require a sign-and-trade deal, meaning a high-priced Blazers player such as Zach Randolph ($13.3 million next season) would have to be included. It also probably would have to involve at least three teams.

Whether the Blazers are ready to part with Randolph remains to be seen, but without mentioning his star forward, McMillan this month raved at how the Blazers played without Randolph, who missed 13 of the team's final 16 games because of bereavement leave and a hand injury.

mediocre man · 04-23-2007, 09:30 AM

I voted no, but I wouldn't be upset if it happened. Our SF possition is horrible, and he would be a huge upgrade over anyone on our roster. It would also mean goodbye to Zach and all his off court issues

wastro · 04-23-2007, 09:32 AM

He's proven himself over the past 2-3 years to be a pretty stellar scorer. His ppg have gone up every season but two since coming into the league, and those setbacks were -.3 and -.4 ppg respectively.

Will he become an anchor? Depends how you view an anchor. And besides, if we sign him to the deal, we don't have Zach to worry about, which means that we'll only have one "big" contract on the books when it comes time to re-sign the rookies.

I don't think he'll become suddenly mediocre, because he's improved his game every year in the NBA, and he has a great relationship with Nate.

I'd be excited for Lewis because he opens the floor and would fit in with this lineup much better than Zach. Can you imagine a Sergio fast break with B-Roy cutting to the hoop or Rashard spotting up for a 3 on the wing? Gets me a little excited, I must admit.

Fork · 04-23-2007, 09:36 AM

It's not my money, so I couldn't care less what he makes.

He's a slightly better player than Zach and we have a solid replacement at the PF position, so it's a net upgrade in talent. It's not as if we're getting under the cap any time soon, so why not go for it?

Looking at the free agent market, Lewis is the best option we could realistically aquire. All the other big name free agents (Lebron, Carmello, Wade, Bosh, etc) aren't going anywhere.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_13008.shtml

Mr. Chuck Taylor · 04-23-2007, 09:50 AM

I really like Rashard, but is anyone else concerned that he's about 5 years older than the rest of our core? I'm hoping for a championship window in 5 or so years...right about the time when Rashard's window will begin to close.

Kmurph · 04-23-2007, 10:10 AM

Glad to see that a majority of the people on this board (at least those who have participated in this poll) have some common sense...

Rashard Lewis is a pretty good player...but "franchise" caliber and drawing a $15+ million per year salary?

HEEEELLLLL NO

Lewis isn't worth that much...He isn't a franchise player and he isn't they guy who would lead POR to an NBA title...

Heck he can't even carry SEA w\o Ray Allen...or even WITH Allen in the lineup...

It's_GO_Time · 04-23-2007, 10:47 AM

Sometimes small market teams have to pay a little extra to get that quality player. We aren't picking up a player of Lewis' caliber through free agency (or the draft IMO), so if we have to sign and trade and overpay to get that player, so be it. We picked up Raef's ridiculous contract to get Roy and haven't heard to many complaints about that. (Just look at it as they will be paying Lewis the same amount they pay Raef

)

We speak softly in the NBA (being a small market team), but we carry a big stick (having PA as the owner).

**Ruff Draft** · 04-23-2007, 10:50 AM

No. Nobody is going to offer him that. Wait just a little while and snag him for 10-13M. He's definately a piece the Blazers need though.

Quote:

Can you imagine a Sergio fast break with B-Roy cutting to the hoop or Rashard spotting up for a 3 on the wing? Gets me a little excited, I must admit.

Me too!

**Trader Ed** · 04-23-2007, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trader Bob

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/or...l=7&thispage=2

I found the link....

Quote:

Pritchard said two offseason priorities will be landing a prolific starting small forward and an experienced point guard to add depth. He also hinted that a big man probably will fit into the equation..........

......Unless the Blazers land a high enough pick to draft Texas forward Kevin Durant, the team probably will have to fulfill its needs at small forward and point guard through a trade or free agency......

........When asked about the possibility of the Blazers acquiring a dynamic small forward such as Lewis and an experienced point guard, coach Nate McMillan was emphatic.

"I agree (that's what we need)," McMillan said. "And if you add that, we certainly should be in the playoffs next year."

........Because the Blazers are over the salary cap, they are limited in what they can offer a free agent. Signing a player such as Lewis, who has said he wants a maximum deal that starts at around $15 million a year, would require a sign-and-trade deal, meaning a high-priced Blazers player such as Zach Randolph ($13.3 million next season) would have to be included. It also probably would have to involve at least three teams.

Whether the Blazers are ready to part with Randolph remains to be seen, but without mentioning his star forward, McMillan this month raved at how the Blazers played without Randolph, who missed 13 of the team's final 16 games because of bereavement leave and a hand injury.

Draco · 04-23-2007, 11:52 AM

I would give him the money if we traded Zach because I believe the addition of Rashard is worth more than the incremental cost over Zachs salary.

If we couldn't dump Zach in the process then I'd have to reevaluate it because thats a huge contract.

Masbee · 04-23-2007, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fork

It's not my money, so I couldn't care less what he makes.

He's a slightly better player than Zach and we have a solid replacement at the PF position, so it's a net upgrade in talent. It's not as if we're getting under the cap any time soon, so why not go for it?

Looking at the free agent market, Lewis is the best option we could realistically aquire. All the other big name free agents (Lebron, Carmello, Wade, Bosh, etc) aren't going anywhere.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_13008.shtml

LeBron, Carmello, Wade and Bosh have ALL extended already. I don't know what kind of list hoopsworld is making.

**Ruff Draft** · 04-23-2007, 11:56 AM

Is a ATL-SEA-PDX trade too much of a pipe-dream?

Masbee · 04-23-2007, 11:59 AM

I don't want to pay Lewis a MAX contract, which if the article is correct, would be $15mil TO START. Raises each year would have Lewis over $20mil in a few years.

No way I want to pay that, for a guy who is a good scorer, and, and, and....

Give him a raise over his current deal, currently at $10mil next year, and $10.9 the year after. Offer him $11mil to start, with raises.

If he isn't happy with that, he can go play for ??? What team is going to give him a MAX deal?

Samuel · 04-23-2007, 12:10 PM

A couple points:

- We're already on the hook for 13.3m, 14.6m, 16m, and 17.3m in 2010/11 for Zach Randolph, so we're only talking about taking on 2-5 extra million per year for Rashard Lewis, not the '15m!!!!!' that people are crying about. And the cap savings really wouldn't help Portland much because they won't be signing any free agents anytime soon (save for minimums and MLEs). As long as they stay under the luxury tax threshold they're fine. And even with the extra Rashard spending, they will be under the lux tax threshold.

- To the complainers about how Rashard isn't a 'franchise' player... well Zach really isn't a franchise player either, yea? With Rashard we'd take a step sideways in terms of overall production, but step way up in terms of coachability, chemistry, and with Aldridge stepping in at the 4, production at the SF position.

View Poll Results: Are you in favor of obtaining Rashard Lewis at about $15.5 mil if we can trade Zach?

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