1. Regarding Freeland, it was a matter of player development needed and now (from Freeland's statements) playing time. Current bigs: Prz (UFA), KurtThomas (oldest in the NBA) with 1 year of contract, Hickson (waiting on a mid-June hearing regarding Bird rights) and a free agent, Thabeet (UFA), CraigSmith (UFA and black hole), Luke (I'll one day be a combo forward) Babbitt, and Aldridge.
Who is back (or should be)? Prz, Thomas (insurance policy or trade filler), Babbitt, Aldridge. Hickson is about 50-50 depending on cost and timing. In other words, with the draft first up, I'd expect a C or PF drafted (depth is needed)(and so long as there's a 2nd pick in the 1st round).
2. Room for Freeland to get minutes (and deserve them)? Likely.
3. Ability to pay more than $550,000 of the buyout? (The amount not counted against the salary cap for 2012-13) Yes. The amount in excess (and that which would count against the cap) is treated as a bonus and likely would be spread over several years. However, since Freeland has not been in college, lmcoon's new cap site (link provided below) has scenario applicable to the Blazers being under the cap this summer.
FAQ #49: When a team signs a first round draft pick within three years after he is drafted, they use the salary scale for the year in which he signs (usually the player signs in the same year he is drafted). After three years they have the option of either using the salary scale or signing him as if he was a free agent -- using their cap room or any available exception, with the standard raises. They can only do the latter if the player did not play intercollegiately in the interim. Such a contract must be for at least three seasons, and the salary in the first season must be greater than 120% of the applicable rookie scale amount.http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm[see also rule 74 for more info on this situation]
Choice 1: sign him as a free agent using caproom -- prior to re-upping Batum.
Choice 2: sign him as a rookie and pay him 120% of the rookie scale (+ the $550,000 not counting against the cap) so that the extra can be used to help pay his contract payoff -- this is done after free agent shopping.
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