LaMarcus vs Hedo - RLEC (and the "Big 3")

I’m sure someone has made that joke before. I’m sorry.

He’s a good shooter. He has a funny face. I think we would win more games, but I would enjoy watching the Blazers less.

but I’m not sure how much longer He(can)do.

Seems like that dude has been around forever. I remember him on the Kings from way back. He might be only around 30 years old but in the NBA that is definitely on the downslope.

His face is kind of cute, isn’t it? In kind of a rugged Euro sort of way? He eyes suggest kindness, a soft heart and a depth of soul.

But no Hedon’t. Not on the Blazers anyway. We have three good SFs already.

It’s very possible KP is eyeing him. He would make us instantly better. My concern is that he will probably command a very large contract, which could cripple our chances at upgrading the PG spot…btw I think our PG situation is fine right now and don’t think it’s a problem, but if we could get a marquee PG like Calderon or Parker we would be instant title contenders.

that Hedo operates as a “point forward” at this point in his career. That should lessen the need for a marquee PG. It could be argued that this would be “too many cooks for the stew,” but I think having multiple players at different positions who can handle the ball can’t be a bad thing.

I looked at that wrong – he is just barely under 39% career from 3pt.

38% for his career, and 41.5% this year from 3pt.

The thing I like best about adding him is that we don’t have to give up a bloody thing. Take a look at this…

PG: Blake / Sergio / Jerryd
SG: Roy / Rudy
SF: Hedo / Martell / Batum
PF: Aldridge / Outlaw / Frye
C: Oden / Przy

The best part is we have the money to do all of that. Numbers crunch much? Yep… it certainly will be. But after they’re all Portland assets, then we can worry about trading 2 for 1 or 3 for 1, or if that case were to hold up, 6 for 1. Every other trade scenario that has us giving up the cap space, has a negative net sum. Unless the trade we do this year preserves enough money to sign a FA like Hedo (hopefully Hedo), I’m hesitant to do it.

I would be fairly certain that he is on KP’s shortlist of potential free agents to watch. Of course he will command too much money, that’s the only scenario under which Orlando will let him go. So he is a bit too old, a bit too expensive. But still an upgrade.

What would you rather like to do: See Hedo take the big contested shot and cringe at his looks, or see Travis take the big contested shot and cringe at the shot?

The only potential upgrades I see in this team are a backup bruiser at the 4/5, and a top flight veteran point guard to guide us through for awhile until Surge or Rex are ready to take the reins. (Not that we HAVE to upgrade, given how we’re playing right now… but if we did upgrade, those would be the places)

Hedo gives us nothing that we don’t already have, and in some areas he is a step backward (slow footed defender, needs ball to be effective).

It’s a nice thought and yes he is one of the best of the available 2009 FA’s, but upon further review I’d pass.

I love LMA, he is a great player, and a great guy. But I just have a hard time falling in love with jump shooting Power (soft) Forwards. He is a baller, I like him. I just like banging PF’s more. But as long as we’re winning, let’s keep what we got.

Too slow for 3, too small for 4. Great shooter but too much of a liability on the defensive end. Another guy to drive Nate nuts. – Elgin

I’m comparing Hedo and LaMarcus because they could both be considered so-called “big three” players. What position they play has nothing to do with it. “Big three” players come from all five positions.

If LaMarcus is our second most important player, why wouldn’t we consider bringing in another starter at a different position who has comprable, if not better, stats?