John Collins...Our Third Star

[mvossman]

If the choice is between spending $17mm-$18mm to keep Hardaway, I think the team would be better off spending $20mm for one year younger Powell?  The fact that Portland has his Bird rights is meaningless unless we are talking about a max contract.  

At some point, you are just looking for improving weaknesses without giving up strengths.  Powell is more than a catch and shoot guy.  He is also a good shooter as the ball handler in the PnR.  When compared to THJ, he's better in ISO, as a Finisher as a Defender and is more efficient across the board.  Hitting 50% of his corner 3's vs. THJ's .388 would be huge.

THJ's biggest contribution is his 3 point shooting, but Powell is just as good if not better at most types of 3 point shots.  I'm not sure what you give up going from Hardaway to Powell, but I know what you pick up.

I agree with all of this, and would definitely rather have Powell (who I am much more confident penciling in the starting rotation due to defense).  However, the fact that Portland has his bird rights means they can sign him for significantly more over his current salary and over the cap, right?  Given that they are over the cap, and have no way to replace him if he walks, it seems like they are going to have a stronger incentive to keep him than we are to get him, right?  I would think that is relevant from the standpoint that we would likely have to pay higher than market value to pry him away.