(OT) This is going to be a long summer

by bow4meow on May 30, 2008 8:03 PM PDT

Seems Portland Trail Blazer fans, in light of our eventual dynasty, have been somewhat exhuberant during the off-season about creating scenarios involving trades, acquisitions and similiar albeit fatiguing dialogue,

Personally adjunct to al the speculation is my wonder behind what motivates PTB fans to clamor for making trades in the first place. Certainly Paul Allen when giving the reigns to Kevin Pritchard concluded the team would be re-built through youth. All of our stud players, and yet signed Rudy Fernandez meet the bill. So why would KP at this point partake in dismantleship via trade? Isnt the course of the PTB going to continue to be to develop our young deep core, including if need be Jarrett "sour grapes" Jack, while having unloaded Darius Miles and sitting on Raef's contract for max value?

Am I making any sense? Please elaborate.

Poll

LIkelyhood Blazer options:

Jarrett Jack is traded

22 votes

#13 draft pick gets traded

15 votes

Raef gets traded along with a combo of players

11 votes

no trades, the PTB select at #13

14 votes

Shocking trade occurs involving core player(s)

1 votes

Cats secretly rule the World Order

14 votes

77 votes | Poll has closed

1 recs | Comment 47 comments

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Comments

I hear ya

I wish the draft would get over already so we can all move on.

I think I have a man crush on Bobby Flay.

by tominhawaii on May 30, 2008 8:43 PM PDT 0 recs

nice read

on to what?

If you dont talk to your cats about catnip, who will?

by bow4meow on May 30, 2008 11:49 PM PDT up 0 recs

Then we'll spend a few months

having polls about how many games we’re going to win, who the starters will be, and other engrossing stuff like that.

by pualo on May 30, 2008 11:52 PM PDT up 0 recs

true but unless

anything has changed, well still be able to enjoy …...... “at the door is a man who will greet you”

If you dont talk to your cats about catnip, who will?

by bow4meow on May 31, 2008 12:00 AM PDT up 0 recs

Yeah, what he said

I’m sick of everyone hating on my Blazers ohana.

I think I have a man crush on Bobby Flay.

by tominhawaii on May 31, 2008 12:53 AM PDT up 0 recs

You've Got to Diversify your Bonds!!

I think that KP looks at the team kind of like a stock portfolio. He has some blue chip stocks (Oden, Roy, LaMarcus) and some other useful stocks (Outlaw, Webster) and some stocks that aren’t particularly useful (Von Wafer). If KP thinks he can upgrade the total strength of his portfolio by ditching some of the lesser quality investments then he is going to do it.

I think that BEdgers like trying to do the same because everyone loves to try to play the stock market.

by tingeyga on May 30, 2008 8:49 PM PDT 1 recs

good way to look at it

but who trades stocks that are rising?

If you dont talk to your cats about catnip, who will?

by bow4meow on May 30, 2008 11:33 PM PDT up 0 recs

If the price of the stock has risen above its intrinsic value

then it is wise to sell before the stock price plummets back down when the bubble bursts. If a player (or his contract) has way more trade value than the benefit that he brings to the team, then KP should look into moving him for something better.

by tingeyga on May 31, 2008 12:25 AM PDT up 0 recs

say as this applies to Travis/Webster

then are you suggesting either of these two guys has reached their ceiling? I personally have been a huge Travis honk, and less impressed with Martell. If we continue the analogy, I would speculate Webster’s stock is as robust as its going to get, while Outlaws is about to split.

If you dont talk to your cats about catnip, who will?

by bow4meow on May 31, 2008 5:00 PM PDT up 0 recs

Ceiling

I think that Martell is closer to his personal ceiling than Travis is. But either way if KP is able to turn either of them into an asset that will improve the team, then KP needs to make that move regardless of the fans personal attachment to said player(s).

by tingeyga on May 31, 2008 6:06 PM PDT up 0 recs

despite personal attachment

theres nobody out there worth trading those guys for… isnt Paul Allen’s vision to see his core grow deep and experienced? I understand if Kevin McHale is willing to gift us Garnett (oops) or the L*kers get gifted Gasol (oops) there’s no sense in trading them for a might work player. Besides the fans want these guys to succeed as Portland Trail Blazers.

If you dont talk to your cats about catnip, who will?

by bow4meow on May 31, 2008 6:49 PM PDT up 0 recs

I think your analogy is a little off

Blue chip doesn’t mean the best performing stocks, it means the most predictable stocks, with the least upside, like a veteran player who is fully developed.

by pualo on May 30, 2008 11:54 PM PDT up 0 recs

ok

like who?

If you dont talk to your cats about catnip, who will?

by bow4meow on May 31, 2008 12:02 AM PDT up 0 recs

Blue Chips

I meant that the blue chippers are what you are going to build your portfolio around as they will give you the foundation that you need for long term success, not necessarily what will allow you to get a 20% return on a year to year basis. In that sense, Oden, Roy and LMA are like the Walmarts, IBMs and GEs of the stock world.

by tingeyga on May 31, 2008 12:29 AM PDT up 0 recs

portfolio's

I cant say I agree with our core being tantamount to Walmart stock, nevertheless, it is the foundation. dont you think Travis Outlaw and Webster are also a part of that foundation, and although his name isnt mentioned as often as it should be, Joel Pryzbila earns some mention as he is the rebar that solidifies the super-structure.

If you dont talk to your cats about catnip, who will?

by bow4meow on May 31, 2008 5:06 PM PDT up 0 recs

Outlaw and Webster to me aren't the foundation

Because they aren’t the face(s) of the franchise. Oden, Roy and LMA are.

by tingeyga on May 31, 2008 5:59 PM PDT up 0 recs

who said they were?

they are a part of the foundation. the pyramids werent carved from a monolith.

If you dont talk to your cats about catnip, who will?

by bow4meow on May 31, 2008 6:51 PM PDT up 0 recs

Good analogy.

"Besides, AnntheFan will be here any minute to #25 you." T Darkstar

by annthefan on May 31, 2008 7:02 PM PDT up 0 recs

OT people dont believe it

but I invented the ;>) wink

If you dont talk to your cats about catnip, who will?

by bow4meow on May 31, 2008 10:43 PM PDT up 0 recs

webster/ outlaw not foundation material?

doesnt the current franchise ad show all 5?

If you dont talk to your cats about catnip, who will?

by bow4meow on May 31, 2008 7:51 PM PDT up 0 recs

I live in Alaska

thus I very seldom run across Blazer ads, so if they all are on the current ad then I guess I stand corrected. I just see the Oden, Roy, LMA troika as being the foundation upon which all else is built and players like Outlaw and Webster being supports within the overall structure

by tingeyga on May 31, 2008 8:48 PM PDT up 0 recs

Invite me to fish PLEASE

Im not sure if you stand corrected or not, butmy point is simply Trout and Web are a part of the “CORE”

If you dont talk to your cats about catnip, who will?

by bow4meow on May 31, 2008 10:40 PM PDT up 0 recs

I really think we'll see

the second round picks and maybe some low end of the bench players traded for a role player, maybe a defensive minded wing or something, at the most. I’ll be surprised to see something drastic.

by raoulduke on May 30, 2008 9:23 PM PDT 0 recs

that makes sense

it seems sometimes fans want to make trades in the hopes we win it all next season….realistically isnt it going to take at least a couple of seasons to establish our reign? Whats the hurry?

If you dont talk to your cats about catnip, who will?

by bow4meow on May 30, 2008 11:35 PM PDT up 0 recs

A trade will come...

only if KP deems it a no-brainer. Otherwise, we’re still looking pretty. Brass will know a lot more after a year with Greg and Rudy.

by OregOden on May 30, 2008 9:57 PM PDT 0 recs

I do think there will be

trades…yes multiple. They could be of the minor variety though. I think there will be some consolidation of the picks ....maybe traded for future considerations for instance. I think some sort of veteran will be added (not a WWII vet like Jason Kidd). Not sure if we will get a point guard this summer. I vacillate on that one….some days I think it will Roy/Rudy backcourt …other days I think Calderon or Hinrich (or other). I guess we will find out but dang it will be a looooooong summer (hence the Dr Suess homage in another thread and all the spelling critiques).

"Be wary of strong drink. It can make you shoot at tax collectors... and miss" Robert A. Heinlein

by 92wastheyear on May 30, 2008 10:36 PM PDT 0 recs

Or the greatest backcourt of the 21st century

Roy and Mayo (which sounds like a hell of a drink!)

by BlazerD on May 30, 2008 11:11 PM PDT 0 recs

Okay, I voted that cats secretly rule ...

But now the cat’s out of the bag, as it were, and it’s not really much of a secret.

The problem with trades (aside from having to part with any of our beloved Blazers) is who ya gonna get? I think people are basically right who say there aren’t enough minutes to go around. So some kind of consolidation will have to occur eventually. But when? And is there really some team out there that would give us a player as good or better than one of: Oden, Roy, Aldridge, Outlaw, Webster, Pryzbilla, Frye, Fernandez, or Blake for some collection of Blazers I didn’t just name? If not, why don’t we just keep everybody and see what’s cookin’ in another year?

by CatMan2 on May 31, 2008 12:14 AM PDT 1 recs

like David Letterman FIRST SAID

you have chrystalized my thoughts eloguently

If you dont talk to your cats about catnip, who will?

by bow4meow on May 31, 2008 5:08 PM PDT up 0 recs

Ixnay on the atskay ulesray the earledway

its not a foregone conclusion according to my poll, Raef getting traded along with a combination of players could surpass the cat theory in the polls. (even tho we know they do)

If you dont talk to your cats about catnip, who will?

by bow4meow on May 31, 2008 5:13 PM PDT up 0 recs

Hold the Mayo, let the investments mature...

after all we are in a recession…..
and wait until a more advantageous time next year.

by spencerbutte on May 31, 2008 2:57 AM PDT 0 recs

KP's Chessboard

Oden and Fernandez make a young team younger. At the same time, all the pieces for a contender seem to be on the table with the exception of, at most, upgrading the PG and SF positions. Combine this with the cap space KP will have next year given LaFrentz, and it comes down to positioning to add those one or two pieces. To make good decisions now he needs to see Oden and Fernandez play awhile, and get a good read on the other young players. It’s one reason I think that unless a no-brainer comes along, that he’s really positioning to add those final pieces a year or so downstream when he has the cap space and a better read on the team, not right now. If one thing is certain, however, it is that with the #13 and three #2’s – including two of the highest in that round, he’s not going to draft and keep 4 more young players. As far as the draft, it’s clearly going to come down to the issue of whether or not the Blazers see and can get a guard that they are fully confident will be their other guard for the future, or would prefer to trade next year for experience at that position – which is the one spot on a team where playoff experience can be critical. If we do draft aggressively, then next year, there’ll only be one likely hole left to fill. Which is why I sometimes wonder if we don’t just grab the best small forward in the draft – and then trade for PG – rather than the reverse.

by Eben Calder on May 31, 2008 5:57 AM PDT 0 recs

re: upgrading the PG position

I dont agree we need to upgrade at SF, but regarding the point guard position, I dont think Steve Blake is getting fair recompense from enough fans. Watching Chris Paul makes any cat drool, and its hard not to say the PTB need to make some move to “upgrade.” Blakey needs the chance to play with Oden, Roy, Lamarcus, Outlaw, Fernandez, Webster, ... did I name everyone? What separates the wheat from the chaff in the NBA is usually 2 things… experience and comradery. Thats how the Drexler-Porter-Kersey-Duckworth- yea we added veteran Buck who did take us over the top, but that was then, not now. There’s no Buck Williams out there and there is no chance to obtain Chris Paul…yet.

Continue to develop what we have. The chemistry on this team is far removed from the carcinogenic atmosphere Bob Whitsett atrophied.

If you dont talk to your cats about catnip, who will?

by bow4meow on May 31, 2008 5:20 PM PDT 0 recs

Due to our full roster and 4 picks

I think we HAVE to make some kind of move… and I’m really not in favor of trading most of our guys.

It already is a long summer…

Blake brings it up on the right, swings it to Webster on the elbow, he moves around the key and passes to the low left block for Aldridge, Aldridge jukes baseline, turns back in and finds Roy cutting down the seam, ROY THROWS IT UP AT THE RIM FOR ODEN WHO THROWS IT DOWN FOR THE TWO HANDED MONSTER JAM!!! BOOM-SHAKA-LAKA!!! -Wheeler '08-'09

i can't wait

by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Jun 1, 2008 9:55 AM PDT 0 recs

a full roster is a good thing

its much better then a watered down version that has no chance to compete in crunch time

If you dont talk to your cats about catnip, who will?

by bow4meow on Jun 2, 2008 5:40 PM PDT up 0 recs

Hi there. Just wanted to let you know

my avatar is just a stopgap thingy until I install the one I told you about. I did feel like something was missing after a while, so I went out and got me a temporary fix.

by CatMan2 on Jun 2, 2008 6:13 PM PDT up 0 recs

your cat avatar would only cost a fraction of your wealth

lets do this

If you dont talk to your cats about catnip, who will?

by bow4meow on Jun 2, 2008 6:16 PM PDT up 0 recs

Well

I don’t know. I do want to immortalize my two kitties. Also, wouldn’t people be confused with a potential family resemblance of our avatars? And lastly, I’m kind of liking the one I’ve got right now. I’ve got to get out of my office in about 5-10 min. Will head home and check this board later tonight to follow up. Thanks!

by CatMan2 on Jun 2, 2008 6:20 PM PDT up 0 recs

Ha ha!! I like like your avatar too. I always figured you for a Blazers fan. How's linguistics?

"Besides, AnntheFan will be here any minute to #25 you." T Darkstar

by annthefan on Jun 2, 2008 6:34 PM PDT up 0 recs

Sorry, can't talk now--cat's got my tongue!

by CatMan2 on Jun 2, 2008 9:47 PM PDT up 0 recs

Ann, don't you think he's a Celtics fan?

Plus, isn’t it strange how none of our conversation makes any sense once I’ve uploaded a new avatar? I think they should keep the old ones in their original context. That would probably just get some poor computer all mixed up though. Or programmer.

by CatMan2 on Jun 2, 2008 9:53 PM PDT up 0 recs

OT --- I do this on Sunday a.m coffee and toast

its also on whatever paint program came installlled on my puter. lets talk… eemee

If you dont talk to your cats about catnip, who will?

by bow4meow on Jun 2, 2008 6:38 PM PDT up 0 recs

Hey, bow4meow, I've got my avatar up now!

Thanks for the kind offers of help. I eventually got it together to do the catscan. It’s a little dark, and a little tiny, but I like it. See ya around.

by CatMan2 on Jun 2, 2008 9:49 PM PDT up 0 recs