Very Interesting Martell Interview (Listen!)

by TheOdenator on May 16, 2008 8:02 AM PDT

I was listening to the game (95.5) last night during Courtside and they had Martell on for a very interesting interview. Mike Barrett links to it in his blog: http://mikebarrettsblog.blogspot.com/ . In the interview Martell talks about the work he is going to put in during the off-season, and is surprisingly candid about what he thinks the Blazers need in order to become a championship team. He starts off talking about how they don't really need anybody and that with LMA, Greg, Brandon, himself, and SERGIO as point guard, that is all that they need (edit: he talks about the team at around 6:20).

While we all know that Sergio is a popular teammate, do you think the front office has talked to Martell about what they see as Portland's direction in the future? Martell is not an idiot; he was clearly saying something about who he included and who he left off of that list.

Oh and there is also a funny little bit where they talk to Martell about what he thinks about Rudy and he asks them what position Rudy plays, I can't tell if he is messing with them a little bit, and Mike and Mike say well he is would probably be most comfortable in the 2, without saying that well he pretty much will be directly competing with Martell for playing time. Anyways absolutely excellent interview, and was Martell signaling the fact (from inside the organization) that Steve, JJ33, Travis (sorry ann), and Jack are on the chopping block?

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I heard parts of it

and grabbed a quote for my signature. But a couple of other items also got my attention (for those of you who haven’t time to listen). He has volunteered to go to Summer League to work with Rudy. I don’t know in particular what he had in mind, but it looks like he is taking a lead in making Rudy feel welcome.

He thinks he will be given more ball handling duties and is looking forward to playing some 2. (!) Either we’re going to field a team of multi-position players or there is going to be some interesting competition come fall camp. (After the interview the broadcasters brought up the fact that Rudy can play the point and perhaps he and Roy would be sharing the duty…)

When asked if he thought we needed to make a trade for a significant addition Martell replied, “we have everything we need.” I have a feeling that many of these guys don’t want to break up this team.

As far as Martell having “inside” information – I doubt it. I don’t think either Nate or KP know what’s going to happen and I really don’t think they’d be discussing any possibilities with Martell. He may be expressing what he’d like to see happen, but I don’t think he really know who might be on the trading block.

"As far as having a chip on our shoulder - we all have that." Martell Webster, May 15, 2008.

by jorga on May 16, 2008 8:20 AM PDT 0 recs

Martell

was definitely sending a strongly worded message to our two point guards that are starting ahead of Sergio. Would he be willing to do this if he wasn’t fairly confident that they weren’t going to be around next year? I don’t know, but i would think not. Martell has to deal with the people he talks about, unlike us, and it’s not in his best interest to upset our starting point guards. I think that this is about as much of a candid inside view as we could possibly get on what is happening in the Blazers organization. If the front office had said this, they might be using it to send a message to other teams. If it were BE or sportswriters, they are just guessing, I am just not so sure that this comment can be so easily dismissed…

(Woody)

by TheOdenator on May 16, 2008 11:14 AM PDT up 1 recs

After listening to it...

I think Martell was just talking about young talent. Although I admit it is fun, I think we are all just reading too much into this.

by The Graduate on May 16, 2008 12:25 PM PDT up 0 recs

Is it me???

Or does everyone want to see TO go? He is my 4th favorite player here and I see no reason to put him behind Webster on the chopping block. Remember his defensive outbursts last year? Remember his offensive outbursts this year? I don’t think we should gamble with him. We have him at a great price, and I am more confident about him being able to put it all together than Webster. Webster was supposed to be the next Glen Rice with more athleticism. What did anyone expect out of Trout? Not much. They both have trade value, especially if paired with one of the usual suspects and our pick. That’s really interesting about Sergio though! Wonder if that means the Vanilla Gorilla had anything to do with Sergio’s pt? Did they intentionally not pair them together because Joel’s too slow? Every time Sergio came in that I remember, Frye was playing. I bet Oden can get up and down pretty quick…

by MGNNoah on May 16, 2008 8:22 AM PDT 0 recs

It's you.

by LaughingJon on May 16, 2008 10:10 AM PDT up 0 recs

Wait... if Rudy signs, he's playing summer league???

I thought he wouldn’t join the team in that case until training camp b/c he has Olympic obligations. Anyone know more???

by spikex on May 16, 2008 9:09 AM PDT 0 recs

you can't really take everything mike & mike say as fact

Perhaps they just had a brain fart and forgot about his olympic obligatons. Or perhaps there is a little between the lines and he’s still playing in the in the olympics and is forgoing time off to get aclimated to the nba game by playing a few summer games. I seriously doubt any player would forgo the olympics for summer league.

I know if i was going to Euro to play ball I’d want to play a few games before camp so i had a feel for it and didn’t look like a tool because I forgot some of the rules.

by DephlatorMouse on May 16, 2008 9:43 AM PDT 0 recs

that's probably it

still funny though since MB is the level headed one and he didn’t say anything. Martell I could understand since he doesn’t know much about Rudy. Anyway, awhile ago someone said 8/16 is USA vs. Spain, looking forward to that. And I dig what Martell’s doing, just wish Sergio would do the same instead of booking interviews.

by spikex on May 16, 2008 10:18 AM PDT up 0 recs

Wouldn't it be funny if ...

Martell went down to Vegas to play with Rudolfo and found out that Rudolfo is WAY better than him? Would we see the return of sourpuss Martell? I guess that wouldn’t be too funny.

by bfan on May 16, 2008 11:01 AM PDT 0 recs

I think that would drive him

Martell wants to become big and I think he is more than willing to make the sacrifices and put the time in to get there. I don’t think he would mope. I think he would be pissed.

by BlazerD on May 17, 2008 12:36 AM PDT up 0 recs