no poll? scared of Douglast or something?

is gonna get to choose which position we need more. Obviously we could improve at the 1 or the 3, and I think KP will trade for the best available 1 or 3 that makes sense and fits into our movement and culture. Whether it be a higher profile trade like getting battier, wallace, or prince, or some other player we havent thought of yet. But I do believe we will trade for someone. This is probably our one chance for awhile to nab a player with a larger contract. We probably wont be under the cap for awhile after RLEC is gone.

The one that KP thinks will help us the most.

That depends on how things develop over the next 3 months, probably. Alternatively, we may not trade at all, if our current guys show that they are likely to fill the needed roles in a year or two.

I don’t see Frye as a part of any trade, and the decision to keep Randolph reinforces that. Frye, after all, is settling in at the second team PF, but is also slated as the third team Center. Which is what we saw in the last pre-season game. Any time you have a player that can fill two positions – teams almost always keep them. After all, if you trade him you then have to find two players to replace him.

As far as the SF vs. PG argument, that’ll be decided after Webster comes back, and after we see how Bayless and Sergio develop and Rudy fits into the general offensive scheme.

Websters injury did demonstrate one thing, and that is that whereas Outlaw is a good option off the bench, he doesn’t appear to be a good starting SF, given that he’s a combo PF/SF, his defense against the better SF’s appears to be lacking – and we don’t need his offense on the first team. Batum, in turn, as he showed in the last pre-season games, has defensive ability and some passing skills, but his offense needs development. So, for the next year or two it’s going to come down to Webster as the starter. What’s evident, ironically, is that whereas Outlaw is slated at the #2 SF spot, he’s not an ideal replacement for the #1 SF if that player is injured. This means that we have to keep Outlaw as is, but have the time to develop Batum to step in in case of injury to the #1 SF, and to then be the lock down defender we may need off the bench for other situations. The net result is that if Webster doesn’t fill the role he’s slated for – then look for him, not Outlaw or Batum, to be part of trade/cap deal.

 As far as PG, the issue isn’t can Sergio or Bayless fill the second team spot, the issue is can either of them replace Blake. If not, then you have to decide if Blake is your current and future PG. If the answer is no, and neither Sergio or Bayless can step into his shoes downstream, then you’ll likely look at a two for one trade in combo with cap space – and Blake would be a part of that trade.

I don’t see any of this happening, however, until next spring at the earliest, and more likely even later. And, as far as who, that’s an open question. It’s not just about free or restrcited agents, after all. Miles and LaFrentz give Portland options on cap space as well, and when teams decide to rebuild, then any number of deals become available.

If Webster doesn’t shine this year, he’s probably gone. If he does, then Outlaw may be gone, or we may keep Travis as the backup with Batum as injury cover and long term potential.

I can easily see Bayless starting next to Roy and Sergio as his backup within a year or two, with Blake either gone or injury cover. But I could also see Blake holding the job, with one of those two guys as the backup. If Blake holds the job this year and next, only one of them stays.

We can win a championship with Blake. I wish his defense was better, but he’s good enough to win with, that’s for sure.

Bayless and Batum. patience, please.

I agree – a little patience with the rookies. We expect everyone else to take some time, why not Batum and Bayless? Sometimes I think we forget that Roy had 4 years of college ball and Aldridge 2, that Webster and Sergio have two years of the NBA under their belt, Rudy has had 5 years or so of Euro league, and the like.

I think both Batum and Bayless are good picks. But, lets face it. How many kids (which is what they still are), with one year of college ball, or a couple of years of Euro ball can come in and tear up the NBA? Answer? I don’t know – but I’ll bet you have more fingers on one hand than it would take to count them.

I was a little amused to read about Oden “trying” too hard, or Bayless being a little too vocal, or even Sergio regressing in his second year. What do we expect? They have to grow. How mature were any of us at 19 or 20 – or do we dare even bring it up?

After the season, I suspect we’ll see a few changes, although I have no one in my scope right now.

And some of it, given cap space, may be more opportunistic than anything. You have to wonder just how long Phx, Dallas, or even Houston will keep running down the tracks they’re on before they run off the rails, what Memphis or Chicago will do with those extra guards, or where Iverson will end up, or what Charlotte will do next year if the rookie out of Texas starts to put pressure on their current starting PG? Etc.

Miles gave it a shot – but it didn’t work and isn’t likely too. So, Portland has some very interesting options coming up – and that, from where I sit, will really get the juices flowing next spring. Even if the team is gelling and playing better – you know very well KP will be the center of a lot of “conversation”. And frankly, it could take us places no one is even thinking about.