As the Portland Trail Blazers plan out their most important off-season of the last decade, they have to weigh their options for every nonessential piece of the puzzle, starting with their only player in need of a qualifying offer: Joel Freeland. The extension of such an offer would make Freeland a restricted free agent, allowing Portland the opportunity to keep him on for at least one more year. Per CBA expert Larry Coon, here is how it works:
"In order to make their free agent a restricted free agent, a team must submit a qualifying offer to the player between the day following the last game of the NBA Finals and June 30. The qualifying offer is a standing offer for a one-year guaranteed contract, which becomes a regular contract if the player decides to sign it. This ensures that the team does not gain the right of first refusal without offering a contract themselves."
Every ounce of the Trail Blazers’ attention and monetary flexibility will be devoted to the stars this summer, potentially leaving Freeland the odd man out. He assuredly does not register as a high priority in Portland as far as free agents go. Are the Trail Blazers prepared to extend a $3.8M qualifying offer in order to make Freeland a restricted free agent? If so, are they then prepared to match a higher offer sheet in the event that his services are requested elsewhere?
The answer is a bit tricky. Freeland was paid $3.1M in 2014-15 and could fetch the same or more on the open market. However; this year, the Trail Blazers have to pay the piper, as well as LaMarcus Aldridge, Wesley Matthews, etc, if they want to keep their once inexpensive core together. Suddenly, the seemingly marginal increase to $3.8M for Freeland makes his contract a steep price.
Considering the rapid development of young forward-center Meyers Leonard, the Trail Blazers have little incentive to allocate their resources to Freeland anyway, who received just 12.9 minutes per game in 2014-15 when he wasn’t injured. This is unfortunate, as Freeland’s ability to contribute remains great despite his diminishing overall value to the team.
Supposing the Trail Blazers re-signed him regardless, it would not be unheard of for another franchise to take notice of Freeland’s skill. A 28 year-old bench player with a talent for rebounding may not prove an essential building block, but could certainly add to an already established roster that lacks a little second unit grit. Supposing, once more, that such a team made themselves known, mutual interest that would force Portland’s hand seems likely.
Freeland’s prime (albeit understated) is happening right now and, so far, the Trail Blazers have essentially missed it. Could anyone truly blame Freeland for considering his options if someone like Chicago or Houston tried to put more money in his pockets and his name on a jersey? He only has so many seasons left in which to make decent wages and possibly contend.
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Fortunately, potential suitors are unlikely to exceed Portland’s $3.8M offer if the Trail blazers make him restricted. There is a good possibility that his aforementioned injury kept him just far enough outside the dim glow of the limelight’s edge to erase his stock in free agency. In which case, the Trail Blazers could theoretically let him become unrestricted and re-sign him for pennies on the dollar (unlikely).
Yet, if fortune seemingly broke Portland’s way, Freeland could break another. There is a third option for Freeland if left unrestricted. A return to Europe. In the case that nobody wants to pay him a reasonable amount for his contributions, he could simply take them home. Whether or not Freeland plays in the NBA at all next season could depend on this qualifying offer.
Most likely, the Trail Blazers will opt to keep him if they feel that they can. They have until June 30 to extend the offer, so they are not afforded the luxury of seeing how their other free agents shake out first. Deciding whether or not to commit nearly $4M to Freeland for the 2015-16 season will be one of the Trail Blazers’ first and possibly toughest decisions this summer.
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