Stars aligning for Lewis

by VegasNed on Jun 30, 2007 3:56 PM PDT Comment 29 comments

Clarification: The purpose of this post is not to promote the following trade proposal, but instead, try to get some insight into what K Pritch might be trying to do with his draft day positioning. It's been touched upon in the previous diary post by Dave and EngineerScotty, but worth more examination. It seems to me that the stars and planets are aligning just so to get Rashard Lewis in a sign and trade.

Seattle: Sign and trade Rashard Lewis

Portland: 1. Steve F's contract after buyout

Rudy F
Sergio (Rudy's old teammate) or Koponen

Needs: Seattle needs a SG and an upgrade at the PG position. The don't need these players immediately and can afford to be patient. Portland got great value in getting Rudy F (SG) and Koponen (PG), and in reading a lot draft websites, these players are hot commodities because of their potential and their abilities.

On paper, Lewis looks to be a good fit on the Blazer roster as a scorer and a shooter.

History: Nate's relationship with Rashard is a big factor. There's also been a lot of speculation earlier in the year that Portland might be a destination for Rashard.

Instead of letting Rashard leave with no compensation, Seattle would get be a potential backcourt to go along with a solid nucleus.

Sound of Blazer fans...does anybody know the Francis contract situation well enough to speculate on whether this trade scenario can even happen? Do you think this trade makes sense for both organizations? Would you want to see this trade go through?

Before the draft, I didn't think Ptown had much of an opportunity to get Lewis...but now after reviewing the draft, it almost looks as if the Francis trade and the two later picks in the first round were designed to get Portland in position to trade for Lewis. You could draft up a similar scenario for getting Marion from the Suns...but with Rashard's history with Nate and with his 3 pt shooting ability, Rashard seems to be a cozy fit.

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Is Portland talking to Seattle now?

It sounded like SEA/OKC was interested in Z-Bo, but the Blazers didn't want to send him there. Would they really want to help their rivals at this point?

by rockingharder on Jun 30, 2007 4:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Blazers are NOT trading with Seattle...

Seattle is collecting SFs.
We are not going to supply them with their missing pieces.

spencer

by Eugenefan on Jun 30, 2007 4:10 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I agree

with the folks who think there's no chance in hell we make any kind of deal with Seattle. Even if they move to OKC, they're still going to be competing with us for western conference power of the future honors (they're even freeing up cap space for 2009, the same year we're targeting). I doubt we could get a gum-for-mint deal brokered between these two teams at this point.

by howlingfantods on Jun 30, 2007 4:15 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Would have to really like Lewis

Agree,...I think KP and Nate would REALLY have to like Rashard Lewis in order to make this thing go down.

More food for thought though....while Rashard is a proven NBA commodity, Rudy and Kopo are still unproven in the NBA. There is no guarantee that these guys will step up their game to the next level and be productive for Seattle.

by VegasNed on Jun 30, 2007 4:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't want to do this

with Sergio being moved though would like Rashard on our team. I think we need to stick with a couple of PGs for a while and am not convinced that JJ will be one of them. Sergio has far too much upside to move now.

I'd consider moving Rudy F and Koponen though also hear that their upsides are tremendous (and since they won't all pan out, it would be nice to hang onto some to keep in Europe until it looks like they are really ready to go. Removing Francis certainly would be great, but if we were to sign and trade for Lewis wouldn't that put us in a poor cap position for 2009 & 2010s free agency classes? If so I question that we'd want to bring in a long, large Lewis contract right now...

We aren't going to be contenders this year, so what's the rush, wait it out and see who has value when we really need it to begin many years of serious title runs... starting in the summer of 2009.

In the meantime we'll have a lot of fun getting better and better, probably be 1st or 2nd round eliminations in the playoffs. Will be winning everything possible as our younguns season, and possibly still getting some draft picks around 20ish to decide if we should hang onto or package and trade.

Basically, I think that we should be very careful about taking on any new contracts that don't expire in 2 years to keep our options open when we need them, this is my fear of a Rashard Lewis sign and trade, not that he wouldn't be a welcome asset, he would be, but if he's not the one for the position permanently (and I don't think we can say if he will or won't be for a couple of years) do we want to risk taking on a really big contract that will run many years right now?

by drawingjeremy on Jun 30, 2007 4:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Wait...

are you suggesting we send them Sergio + our europeans?

That would be horrible for us. I say if we're willing to take on Rashard's soon-to-be massive contract, we just make him an offer, instead of giving up valuable pieces.

I'm not personally inclined to pick up Rashard. Wouldn't mind him, but that contract is going to be ridiculous.

by supremepuntiff on Jun 30, 2007 4:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Good Lord.

I wish we'd stop dreaming of Rashard. He's not on the same timetable as the rest of our team, and he's going to command a high-dollar contract--you know, the kind we just traded? We've got Martell, Ime, and now James Jones to hold down the fort at SF until we can sign a long-term solution in the summer of 2009 or 2010. There's absolutely no harm in giving all the new guys we just got 2 years to gel, and then bringing in a closer to push us over the top. Who knows, Martell might even develop into the guy we want long-term at the 3. Let's just be patient ...

by bfan on Jun 30, 2007 4:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, agree here

I wouldn't mind a smaller trade or our MLE for other good rotation guys (maybe JJ for Childress if that's still alive, or some kind of smaller sign and trade for Nocioni).

But I'm not sure it's time to commit to our starting SF of the future yet, we don't even know what profile of a Sf we're most going to want to. For instance, I'm not sure I could answer whether we need to get a Bowen-type lockdown defender on the wing to pair with Roy, or whether we need a Kyle Korver release valve spot up shooter to space out the floor for our guys in the middle more, or whether we need a slasher athletic finisher like Gerald Wallace. I kind of would like to see our guys play together a bit before we make any huge push for this piece, and we have time.

by howlingfantods on Jun 30, 2007 4:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

No rush, let's see them play. We won't be contending YET. Lets not risk picking the wrong guy w/ a big contract 2-3 years before we really need him.

by drawingjeremy on Jun 30, 2007 4:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

My guess is

we won't make a move for that last, premium player until we're more sure what kind of player we need and until we can afford him.

--Dave

by Dave on Jun 30, 2007 4:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Jeff Green?

Could it be Jeff Green that's coming.....Seattle gets Frye and Rudy???!

I've been thinking about other possible young SFs we could be targeting. Jerry West apparently really likes Kaponen. Kaponen and Rudy F for Rudy G???? We could be going nuts to round out our starting lineup by trading Kaponen, Rudy F, Sergio, Martell, and Frye for Gay and Conley......that sounds a little far fetched....

Marvin Williams from Atlanta??? Do they still want JJ?

I imagine KP is targeting someone who is in their early rather than late 20s to grow with the rest of our studs....which would count out big contract guys like Marion and Lewis.

I have been racking my brain. Please let this happen soon so I can rest easy. My girlfriend informed me that I was talking about the draft and potential trades in my sleep last night.

I'm losing it.

by nlj on Jun 30, 2007 5:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Too much money

Rashard costs too much. I was really high on him until I thought about that a little. Let's send Darius Miles to NY because Thomas likes him. It would make sense considering that we are waiting for this NY deal to clear timewise so we get the rest of our value out of the trade. Perhaps that is the small forward deal that is contingent. For what in return? I dunno. Maybe NY wants Rashard badly enought to swing a three way-Seattle, NY and Portland. I know i am only guessing but look how badly we want to clean house.

maybe we know somebdy that wants Francis, that would take some more sting out of the buyout.

by irishda on Jun 30, 2007 5:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I would not be unhappy with Lewis

but I would be more happy if we could either sign/trade for a shooter like Nocioni, Kapano, or Korver, or develp Webster.

We talked about this on the main page, but I would really like to have two guys playing the 3: a shooting specialist, and a defensive specialist. Wrapping that into one package means big dollars.

It would be smart if, 4 years from now, our starting 5 didn't account for $75 million.

by matthewcc on Jun 30, 2007 5:54 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

the guy ive thought of

is danny granger. hes good but not great, averaged 13.9 in his 2nd year. indiana didnt have any draft picks and there was a lot of rumbling that they're unhappy with jamaal tinsley at pg.

i dont know that much about granger so i'm not advocating this by bringing it up.

ignacio

by ignacio on Jun 30, 2007 6:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

thats an interesting name

I think Indiana is pretty happy with him though. He's one of their few good, young players, and they're going into rebuilding mode.

I suppose if we gave them a good package, we could tempt them.

by matthewcc on Jun 30, 2007 6:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

C'mon guys, get with the program

Sergio's strength (and and it is very, very strong) is the ability to make pinpoint passes. If you can get open, he will find a way to get you the ball. Half court or running, it doesn't matter. He can make the pass. Rudy will be the perfect 2 guard with Sergio because his very ample strength is moving without the ball and scoring. Rudy will also be perfect in tandem with Roy when Roy plays the point. We aren't getting rid of Sergio or Rudy, they are going to be dynamite with Roy!
The only thing our team needs is a running assassin of a small forward. I assure you that Rashard Lewis is at the top of KP & Nate's wish list. They don't think small, they want the best. Well, the best available anyhow.
Since Rashard has a team in Orlando that will allow him to walk, he holds the trump card in deciding which team he would go to in a sign and trade. Seattle doesn't want him to walk so their going to trade him to a team that he wants to go to. (Enter the Blazers with their twin towers, rich owner, Shard's favorite coach... and the potential for him to be our 1st option of offense.) Orlando and Houston with their big men don't have the assets to trade for Shard like the Blazers do.
Open your eyes, it's going to happen. The sonics are going to get to pick between Jack, Green, Koponen, Pryzbilla/Magloire and Martel.
Our core is Oden, Aldridge, Roy, Rudy and Sergio. The rest doesn't matter if we can get Lewis to go with that group. It's championship caliber.
The only FA in 2 years that will fill our needs better than Lewis is Lebron... and that very likely isn't going to happen. If we can't get Kevin Durant, we can get a poor man's version of him in Rashard.

by graybeard on Jun 30, 2007 8:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Simply not gonna happen.

If our window for a championship were opening next year, then I'd say yes, make it happen. But as is, we won't contend for at least 3 years, and Rashard will be on the downslope by then. He'll simply cost too much money in the meantime, and his salary will prevent us from signing the RIGHT player when our window opens. We all have our eyes open. Do you?

by bfan on Jun 30, 2007 8:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

To Old?

In 3 years Rashard will be 31. That's to old? I say hogwash. In the meantime, Rashard will be carrying the scoring load for the young blazers, so that they get used to winning. I'm sure Nate doesn't want them growing up with losing attitudes.

by graybeard on Jun 30, 2007 10:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

no way.

If you were Seattle you would just say no to:
1. Steve's contract. Blocks their abilty to goto FA market.
2. a pg (Seattle has a glut of pg)
3. helping the blazers get over the top, especially now that the blazers rumoredly would not trade zach to them for rashard.

The blazers simply do not have anything they are willing to give up that could make Seattle take on Steves contract. Without Steves contract there isn't enough money for Rashard to sign up with.

by mrwonderfull on Jun 30, 2007 10:00 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Steve?

Who is the heck is Steve?

by graybeard on Jun 30, 2007 10:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Steve

the artist formerly known as "Franchise."

by knickfan on Jul 1, 2007 12:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Francis???

How did Franchise get into this conversation? He can't be traded for at least another 60 days, right?

by graybeard on Jul 1, 2007 1:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The whole premise

was based on Steve's contract moving. It may be that they can't do it for 60 days, but that doesn't eliminate the possibility. If Steve's contract isn't moving, how do you propose that this can happen? We don't have anywhere close to the cap space needed to sign Lewis in Free Agency.

Regardless, I said it before and will say it again, it is premature to make such a big move. A lot can happen in 2-3 years and Lewis may not be all that valuable when his contract is growing and many are not convinced he's the type of SF we want anyhow. I don't know if he is or not, think it's too soon to tell until we see our core in action. The only trades we should be considering are those that allow us to have free cap space in 2 years when we will really need to assess and make some serious moves.

In addition Travis may develop a whole lot more and be able to run the show at SF, he was really beginning to get it at the end of last season (and is only 22). He will not be the defensive liability that he has been now that ZBo is gone and Oden has entered. Infact I think he'll mostly be a positive contributor on defense due to his knack for blocking shots. I certainly think that he has enough to be on level with the team as it stands while our core gets used to being the core. In a couple of years we'll see if he can actually fill the role for good. There is a good chance he won't be able to, but maybe we've found our back-up SF in the process.

We'll do fine, we won't develop a "losing attitude". I think as is our team will go about 43-39 next season. We'll get eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. This is significant progress and will feel great to our young guys, but still keep them motivated because they can learn to do much better. What is more motivating than having your future begin to win games now, empowering them?

by drawingjeremy on Jul 1, 2007 10:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Francis can be moved anytime

as long as it is by himself. If you want to package him with another player you must wait 60 days.

by Blazerholic on Jul 1, 2007 12:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Add them up.

Jack, Martel, McRoberts and Pryzbilla/Magloire would be plenty to match Lewis's new contract. No one team that Rashard would be interested could offer more... Next question?

by graybeard on Jul 1, 2007 12:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ok, what is the big hurry?

I do not think I am alone in thinking we need to let this team have time to develop. The addition of someone like Lewis is just going to
set this team up to fail in the eyes of many. No matter how far they progress, there will always be the Naysayers who think that it was not good enough. Pardon me, but good things come to those that wait. Just my 2 cents, but those of you who are in such a hurry for a championship need to step back and take a deep breath. The only SF that could possibly get us there plays for Cleveland...short of that is just pie-in-the-sky, wishful thinking.

by coastrider on Jul 1, 2007 1:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree

Acquiring Lewis would take the pressure off of our younsters to score. Obviously you haven't been listening to Nate & KP lately. They want to pursue a FA small forward and possibly a backup shooting guard.

by graybeard on Jul 1, 2007 2:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

and have been listening to what Nate and KP have been saying. It sounds to me like it is unlikely that we would make such a drastic move and I think much of that is due to the reasons you and others have outlined. No rush, we'll be fine w/o a star small forward for now then check out the options when the FA market is plentiful and we are more desirable in 2-3 years. KP keeps talking about long term plans, setting ourselves up for the next 10 years, etc.

by drawingjeremy on Jul 1, 2007 6:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs