We are pretty set at every position except SF where we don’t have anyone who can play defense.

It’s possible to make your team better even if you have to give up more talent. I still think Martell and Trout are redundant (two streaky SF’s who are mediocre defenders) and one needs to go. I can’t think of a SF I’d rather have than Battier.

Who do we have on this team that can even slow Kobe down? Battier is 29 and the best 2/3 defender in the league, a team guy who isn’t going to complain about shots or minutes and will just reinforce the KP culture.

What’s to say if Trout/Martell really improve they aren’t going to start pushing for a bigger role, one that doesn’t exist?

I think the hidden story from yesterday is that we are giving both of these guys a legitimate shot to lock up their spot in our future. If we were going to move them, I think we would have either done so yesterday, or at least brought in another SF during the day. We head into the season figuring these guys will split the SF minutes, and we hope one of them becomes our long term starting 3.

• they both prove they belong, and we go forward with the 2-headed SF
• one of them steps up and the other gets moved
• both fail and we package them and other assets for a quality veteran starting 3.

We have 10 good players right now.
We have all of our cap space, and we have 4 – #2’s. Add to this the fact that we have six guards, of which Sergio and Koponen are 5 & 6, three SF’s, of which Batum is #3, and 6 PF/C types of whichDiogu and Lafrentz are 5 & 6.

I don’t think we’ll see any more substantive action until early next spring. We might shuffle a few fringe players, but consider several Blazer Brass Comments.]

1) KP – I realy love our top 10 players.
2) Outlaw will be the starting SF next year.
3) We just nailed down Bayless to add to Blake, Roy and Fernandez.. Fernandez wouldn’t have come if they didn’t promise him a real shot, and Bayless – at #4 on KP’s board in this draft – isn’t going anywhere. You don’t, after all, trade the 4th best player in the draft. Those types are keepers.

Now, granted, we have all the pieces for a trade come early spring before the deadline hits. Cap space, 4-#2’s, and other players which, if the only position left is SF, could include Webster if the player was right.

What I can’t see right now, however, is any further action on guards. After all, Bayless may mature into a very good PG. Remember, he was moved to SG at Arizona because of injuries. At the same time, at 6’3” and 200 lbs, he has some superb physical skills, to include the ability to defend other PG’s as well as fit with Roy. We didn’t need a pure “PG”, because Roy will also handle the ball at times. Bayless will also do both. The team will grow. After 50 games of the season, both Outlaw and Webster will have showed more of what we can expect. If it’s good enough – they’ll stay. If not, KP stockpiled all the pieces required to get a Vet if and when he chooses.

He’s one of the best lockdown defenders in the league. Despite what people say about defense being effort only, those guys don’t grow on trees.

That being said, the fact he is already 30 makes this a no go for me. If he were 27 I’d think long and hard about it. Another veteran presence would be much valued in the locker room, and he’s about a classy a guy as they come.