Trail Blazers Salary Cap Scenario

Yesterday, the NBA announced the 2009/10 NBA salary cap which will be $57.7 million. It is only the second time since 1984 that the cap has gone down The Blazers are currently $7.7 million under that new cap number. This gives Portland the flexibility to sign a free agent and pay them $7.7 million next year or make an uneven trade with a team seeking cap relief. Also, Blazer's Edge points out that if the Blazers renounce rights to Koponen and Freeland, our cap space, after all is said and done would be around $9 million.

Right now there seems to be a large division among Blazer fans on what to do with the cap space. One side believes Portland needs to sign someone now and take advantage of the cap space via free agency. While there is another group willing to be patient and use the space for a financially unbalanced trade. Both sides have advantages and disadvantages, but the key point is that Pritchard needs to do something.

Free agency has been a struggle thus far for Portland. A lot of our best options were snagged up early and the guy we went after is eating Kebab's in Toronto. The playerss who remain don't seem to fit as well. David Lee wants big money and would be a back-up. Andre Miller is getting older and as many of you have pointed out, he doesn't shoot the three well which would ultimately hurt BRoy. Brandon Bass is still out there, and I think we will make a push to get him, but that's about it.

The unbalanced trade option is optimal but requires patience. If we could pull off one of these slick manuevers by next years trade deadline, life in Blazer land would be good. There are problems with this route too though. It's a risk/reward situation because the clock is ticking. If there isn't the right guy by the next deadline, then what? Also, in an unbalanced trade there is always a team looking for relief, but that's no guarantee. We need the right guy and a team willing to trade. This could get stressful.

I am currently leaning towards waiting. I have a feeling Bayless will tear up summer league and make a push for the starting position. That leaves the vacancy at back-up power forward which can be filled by either Brandon Bass or possibly Pendergraph. If however, we do have cap space during the season we should have a few opportunities to trade, it's just a matter of who's the right guy.

What are your thoughts on the situation? I know where some of you stand but it's a pretty simple question; should we make a move now or sit tight and be patient?