are the blazers better w/o randolph?

2) Are the Blazers better without Zach?
No.
Although LaMarcus is (or soon will be) a slight upgrade over Zach at power forward,
it's more than offset by how much worse we are at center with Not-LaMarcus,
no matter who that is (unless the pingy-pongs roll well and we land Oden).
Plus, Zach and LMA really compliment each other well;
they play together as a frontcourt big man pair really well,
which will only get better as they get more familiar with each other.
Remember, they've only been that starting big pair for just weeks now;
teams gel over the course of years.

That is, the COMBINATION of PF-Zach and C-LMA is better than
any non-Oden combination of PF-LMA and C-someone else,
even though PF-LMA is better than PF-Zach.

These are NOT the same questions!

Jaseyfield I'm pretty sure I'm all in with your take, well put.

Quality Pie, you are right-on that there are two different questions to wrestle with.  What I am not convinced about is that any combonation of PF-Zach and C-Lamarcus is better than any non-Oden combo of PF-LMA and someone else at C.  I am sensitive about universals.  Not to mention that given LMA's unique abilities we do not need to replace in this method, we can look at replacing PF or C for Lamarcus to work.  

Plus, when freeing up the money tied up in Zach is there not a possibility that we have immediate or near-future options and opportunities that we didn't previously have to improve in substantial ways in related or unrelated areas.  In a few years from now what will the combo of Zach - PF and LMA - C be costing us (along side Brandon, hopefully a Sergio who has an unbelievable future on horizion and whoever else is fortunate enough to be on the team)?  Will we be able to afford a second unit and reserves that are strong enough to take us into contender status?  

Another thing to consider:  A year ago Joel had a problem with Zach, Zach was the person that needed to go if Joel was to stay... obviously Joel changed his mind or was bluffing, but it was still said.  Zach has done a lot to prove his worth this season and I tip my hat to him.  Perhaps he convinced Joel... perhaps not.  Zach has "wowed" me this year and wish nothing but the best for him.  If Joel resigned with the Blazers under the stipulation that the Blazers assured him off the record that Zach was not long for this team, is that at all responsible for the "please take me out of this game because if you don't I'll commit fouls more rapidly than Ha" play we saw from Joel when he was "healthy" this year.  I do not know the answer to this question, but think if moving Zach would get us back Joel of old, I'd love to see healthy, hard-working, smart, team playing Joel get some C time with Lamarcus paired up at PF with him.  In fact I think that we could be in a really interesting situation where teams are focused on keeping Brandon and LMA away from the basket and guarded, slightly nervous about Ime hitting threes, and if Martell is on the same holds true for him.  Joel may be sitting open under the basket regularly, and have some low hanging fruit to grab.

I am not prepared to answer these questions but can't help but consider that Joel may be a BIG piece of this equation.  Will he return (and not as a shell of his former self)?  If he does what will that mean?  Will we know if he will return w/o moving Zach first?  What was going on this year?  It certianly would give us worlds more options w/o an extra penny spent... then we can use the pieces (hopefully many of them near-expiring contracts, especially if we aren't getting much stat value or true team play in return) that we acquired in the Zach trade to either slowly but surely cut away our salaries, giving us more FA and trade options or to try to trade for one more C or PF that will truly fit in with the system we are setting up and may not need as much "Me Time" as Zach (aka fine with the emerging centerpieces of the team remaining the centerpieces of the team).

Tough questions to answer.  Earlier this year this question was an easy one for me to answer... team better w/o Zach, net loss...  He has done enough this year to put me on the fence on that one.  I was always concerned over signing Joel again for health reasons though knew that we beggers couldn't be choosers when it came to a C at the close of last season and immediately post draft.  However when he was healthy his play never concerned me much until this season.  Now I am all confused....

And re Zach ... Mike Tokito says "...was at a Northeast Portland strip club Tuesday night, but had simply stopped in briefly before catching a red-eye flight to his hometown, a team official said."   link

I'm betting Zach is going to take this benching --and the resulting "better than Zach?" combination of Aldridge & Magloire as a challenge - no matter the reason for the non-start.  He came back strong after the suspension and I think he's matured enough to do the same in this situation.