Your 2008-2009 Portland Trailblazers?

by manzell on Jul 21, 2008 9:16 AM PDT Comment 23 comments

Guards:

Jared Bayless
Steve Blake
Rudy Fernandez
Sergio Rodriguez
Brandon Roy
Von Wafer??

Forwards:

LaMarcus Aldridge
Nicolas Batum??
Ike Diagu
Channing Frye
Travis Outlaw
Martell Webster

Centers:

Raef LaFrentz
Greg Oden
Joel Przybilla

I guess I don't think of Von Wafer as being part of next years 'Blazers. I also can't imagine Batum being served by being the 12th man this year rather than playing back in Europe.

From what we've been discussing, it seems like Wafer goes, Koponen stays. But who is taking Batum's spot? A summer league player? A FA? Do we end up 'eating' Wafer?

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Eurpean team

I still think Paul Allen should buy a stake in a European team to give the Blazers even more flexibility with players. We could gather Kop and Bantum and Freeland together on that team.

We could also send over one of our coaches/scouts and we’d also have great eyes and ears in Europe for future propects.

Cheers, Alistair

by holder on Jul 21, 2008 9:38 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'll second this recommendation.

But then I have no problem when it comes to spending Allen’s money for him.

Still, not a bad idea.

by timg56 on Jul 21, 2008 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Von Wafer' s contract has expired

I’m pretty sure his contract ended at the end of last season. I noticed Hoopshype shows him still on our payroll but with an empty field (ie no dollar amount for 2008/09). Maybe he had a team option, if so, there is no way we were picking it up.

Please anyone correct me if I’m making a blatant error in Von Wafer’s stiuation.

by NWfan on Jul 21, 2008 9:50 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

You're not making an error

Hoopshype has many things wrong with their page of Blazer salaries.

They have Sergio’s contract amount all wrong. They have Francis’ contract amount all wrong. They still have Miles on the books. And they have Von Wafer as potentially pulling a salary from the Blazers even though Wafer just finished playing for the Knicks’ Summer League team.

I would recommend either my site (www.storytellerscontracts.info) or Sham’s site (www.shamsports.com) for more accurate salary information. Or just bring up the trade checker at ESPN.com and look at the numbers listed there.

by Storyteller on Jul 21, 2008 10:08 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You have to love Rudy's salary

Including team options, he is signed until June 2012 for $1,084,080; $1,165,320; $1,246,680; $2,180,443. For a player who already has over five years of professional experience and is still only 23 that is simply an amazing bargain. Instantly one of the most attractive contracts in terms of risks and rewards in the NBA.

If the team picks up Sergio’s option next year, he will make more than his countryman. That might be an interesting dinner conversation: What, I play three times your minutes and you make more??? ;-)

Coach, I promise I wasn't running hard ...

by Norsktroll on Jul 21, 2008 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The dinner conversation would be more like

“What, I play three times your minutes and you make more??? You pick up the tab!”

by jamon51 on Jul 22, 2008 12:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

here it is

Active Roster
—-—-—--

Guards (in order of playing time): Roy, Blake, Rudy, Bayless, Sergio
Forwards: Aldridge, Outlaw, Webster, Frye, Diogu
Centers: Oden, Przybilla

Inactive/D League
—-—-—-—-—
RLEC, Batum, Kopenen

Boomshakalaka

by jksnake99 on Jul 21, 2008 10:02 AM PDT reply actions 3 recs

DING DING

we have a winner!

by usmcr3049 on Jul 21, 2008 10:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, this looks like the most plausible scenario to me too.

I think both Euros will be signed. If anything, they’ll be good for defense. They have amazing physical tools with length and quickness. Yeah, they could develop in Europe. However, not everyone is like Rudy. They could never come here if they aren’t signed. Tiago Splitter of the Spurs is an unfortunate example of this.

Both seem to be worthwhile prospects. This is still somewhat of a developing year even if we’re going for wins since we already have 3 rookies to develop.

by poster on Jul 21, 2008 10:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

JK...

Who do you think plays the majority of the crunch time minutes? Thinking back, Blake always seemed to be off the floor when Roy shifted over into “Roy Wonder” mode (the fourth quarter) and it seems like Bayless has shown (at least in D-League) that he can do Jarrett Jack-esque things (get to the basket, make foul shots, create his own shot, etc)...

I’m thinking Blake gets the nod as the starter because he’s extremely consistent, but late in the game, I think McMillan goes with whoever has emerged from the Rudy/Bayless battle. Martell Webster could also be an option if we went Roy – Webster – Outlaw – Aldridge – Oden but that line would have a hard time guarding any of the league’s quick point guards.

Talk about lineup options, though. Our blow out lineup could be: Sergio – Bayless – Frye – Diogu – Pryzbilla. Has a team ever been 3 deep at every position before?

"Now, you take a bobcat or a Jayhawk. You know they'll run if you give 'em the chance. But when one don't run, why, you shoot him and shoot him quick. Raef's my dog, Pa. I've gotta do what's right..." Old Yeller (1957)

by RoyGoesTheDynamite on Jul 21, 2008 11:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No Jeol

Reaf would be in if it was a true blow out.

by usmcr3049 on Jul 21, 2008 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Blake will be in there early...

... but I agree that Nate seems to like having an extra slasher late in games. At some point, I agree that you will see Rudy or Bayless in there at crunch time, but they’ll have to earn Nate’s’ trust.

Boomshakalaka

by jksnake99 on Jul 21, 2008 12:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's more fruitful to conceive of things this way, not that I am particularly disagreeing with Snake...

Linemen (2): Oden/Przybilla + Aldridge/Frye/Diogu

Skill players (3): Roy/Blake/Rudy/Webster/Outlaw/Bayless/Sergio

The latter are going to get shuffled like crazy.

"He shoots....................... he scores!!!"

by timbo on Jul 21, 2008 7:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

KP [on Bayless]: "He's going to have to learn to play with 3 other really talented players..."

................................ Meaning, I reckon, visions of starter are dancing in KP’s head.

"He shoots....................... he scores!!!"

by timbo on Jul 21, 2008 7:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

There seems to be a real love affair with an open slot … along with Batum … that I’m not sure I understand.

"He shoots....................... he scores!!!"

by timbo on Jul 21, 2008 7:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Batum is going to be signed because KP hearts me

I never said he will play but when he signs- please believe I will be ordering the number 88…

-Phia

That which prematurely arrives at perfection soon perishes. - Marcus Fabius Quintilian (35-95AD) Roman Rhetorician, Critic

by BlazerFan1 on Jul 21, 2008 9:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

reaf never comes in

they would stick in frye before reaf

by KObeHater on Jul 21, 2008 11:43 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

KP's interview this morning on 95.5

Looks like jksnake nailed it about the roster.

The only question mark is regarding PK. They still want to discuss him some more.

95.5’s Podcast of KP interview.

LMA's reign as "LaMonster of the Low Post" has just begun!

by LaMarvelous on Jul 21, 2008 12:22 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I probably shouldn't be

commenting without listening to the podcast, but just from the interviews I read earlier I am afraid they are not going to sign PK. That would make me very sad as I think he has a real upside and unless Sergio has had an amazing summer I would prefer PK to him. (Maybe not in the rotation at the moment, but at least under contract and safe from other teams.)

There seems to be a real love affair with an open slot … along with Batum … that I’m not sure I understand. I fully believe that if a veteran that we’ve lusted after becomes available that we’ll get him whether or not there is room today. Diogu hasn’t proven himself yet and Sergio is on the bubble and there’s always RLEC.

"We, as Blazer fans, are perhaps the luckiest fans in the league."-Idog1976, July 19.

by jorga on Jul 21, 2008 1:53 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

well, if we sign PK...

... then to get that veteran we’d have to let someone go. RLEC is not going to be bought out- Allen already had to buy out Steve Francis’ giant contract- he won’t want to do it again. Diogu and Sergio have proven more than Kopenen- I wasn’t nearly as impressed with PK as some… his shot was off and he turned the ball over A LOT under good defensive pressure by the likes of Pooh Jeter.

I can’t really see Petteri playing much for the next several years. I would understand sending him to the D League but I would also understand letting him take a ~4 year deal in Europe and see if he turns into something. Sergio is better than him right now, no question in my mind.

Boomshakalaka

by jksnake99 on Jul 21, 2008 2:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sergio is better

at dribbling and better at seeing the floor, and slightly better at getting the ball to the open man, but Koponen’s shooting is much better as is his defense. I think defense and shooting are more needed than a flashy passing point guard.

And I am still a Sergio fan. But what I’ve seen of Koponen I like more.

But mainly I think Blake combines the two. He dribbles well against pressure, passes well, plays defense, and shoots the lights out.

With that said, I hope Koponen makes the squad. They can always waive him. Of course, that means they give up their draft rights to him and he can sign on with a different team. Maybe that’s why they want to stash him overseas for 4 years and see what he becomes.

by jamon51 on Jul 22, 2008 12:48 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kopenen's D looked better...

... in summer league. We don’t know if this will translate to the NBA. I’m also how we can say Kopenen’s shooting is “much better.” He shot 38% from the field and 25% on threes in summer league. This is a small sample size, so we can’t really draw conclusions one way or another, I’m just curious as to why everyone has concluded that he’s a good shooter.

Boomshakalaka

by jksnake99 on Jul 22, 2008 8:15 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Batum's scoring was mostly off

But I really liked what I saw from his defense, passing, rebounding, and knowing what to do. Since most athletic marvels who are 19 usually only focus on their offense and have no clue how to play defense, I love that Batum has the opposite going on. The offense will come.

With his defense and smart team play, I think he can be a pretty good player and one that fits us very well. I think he has a lot more chance of being a rotation player a few years down the road than Petteri does, but not through any fault of Petteri’s. We got Roy/Rudy/Bayless/Blake. For Petteri to be better than any of them would be amazing.

When I look at Batum on defense and how he played WITH the team on offense, I see the next Teyshaun Prince. With Travis Outlaw, I do not see that. Batum is eons ahead of where Travis was when he joined the team, and is already ahead of Travis defensively and passing wise.

Batum played mostly poorly, but I see something there that isn’t common with other 19 year olds who get by on their athleticism.

Mortimer

by Mortimer on Jul 22, 2008 1:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs