if they through in a first round pick lottery, protected of course, I would do it.

I strongly dislike Battier for some reason. Just was never a fan. I’d much rather like to keep Webster and see if he can step up. Plus I’d hate giving away a guy that I feel like will turn out to be better. Don’t do it.

But this is like the 20th just for this Battier Guy. You guys must really like him. Me I like Frye and Webster and their crazy potential.

I would have jumped at this prior to the draft, but I’m really wanting to see the team play as it currently stands. I’ve come to the conclusion that Battier is not young enough for KP to pull the trigger.

The biggest benefit is the dropping of the cap holds. That would give Portland more room after the season and make Darius a moot point. Portland would just let RLEC expire.

I’ve come around to think that KP is looking at getting Prince. We’d need a third team and I have been unable to make it work.
(If it was Webster and Frye for Prince, I’d do it yesterday.)

The potential to burn you five years down the road is what you worry about. But then again Frye and Webster might not be a part of this team at all even two years down the road. But then again are the Blazers good enough to be in “right now” or even “next three years then diminishing returns” mode yet?

Ugh…tough decision.

—Dave

is a good glue guy who could D up, grab some boards and score without once demanding the ball. Webster doesn’t do much for me and seems a little lost out on the court. Frye seems like a nice guy, but not someone that we absolutely need to keep.

I voted yes, but would feel better if Houston threw in a 2nd round pick.

But I think they would want Outlaw. And, to against popularity, I would do that too. I know, I’m a moron. But Shane does so many little things so well.

But not worth losing two guys who will likely both be more valuable than Battier by the time the Blazers are in potential dynasty mode (3 years).

I also doubt the Rockets would consider it. They’re in win now mode. Why would they trade away a solid, veteran three guy (even if they’re dissatisfied with him and he overlaps Artest) for two young, developing players? Does it make them better this year? Artest is a UFA and Martell is a RFA this summer, so instead of having Battier at bargain basement pricing, they potentially have nobody, or two guys demanding to be overpaid.

Also, the Rockets are apparently regarded as a numbers-oriented team. When they picked Batum, the draft analysts predicted trade immediately (b/c Batum’s numbers weren’t good). The bad news: Martell is not likely to be enticing for a numbers-oriented team. I think they would take Outlaw/Frye, probably, but Martell’s 12-something PER (with bad D) and subpar +/- is probably not getting it done. That’s why they’re unhappy with Battier, I think.

On the flipside, Frye’s numbers – especially +/- – are pretty good. That’s why I think they might consider Outlaw/Frye. But for the reasons Dave explained on the podcast, that’s not a good move for the Blazers. Leaves them with all launchers and no slashing from the three spot.

The Rockets have just given themselves a great opportunity the adding Ron A. Battier gives them depth and all the other attributes we are talking about. How would a project like Outlaw or Webster help them now? Frye makes sense for them, but would you trade Battier for a back up 4? They are going to want way to much for him. Something like, Webster AND Outlaw AND Frye, for Battier and a scrub to make it work salary wise.

I think KP is waiting for Outlaw and Webster to increase their trade value.If he want to deal them, it’s too early now.For Houston fans, what they really hope is getting rid of Me-Mac, if Billups+Hamilton is available, the team is hard to defeat.

“we already have the team I want to watch.” raoulduke

Hell, the hijinx have already started:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3512419

They’ll still need Battier next season and the next

I think the trade makes sense for us, and would set us up nicely- addition by subtraction- as far as contracts and minutes go.
But I don’t think Frye will be hurting for minutes- he’ll be the choice off the bench for LMA a lot of the time, and Greg and Joel will be in foul trouble enough that he’ll log minutes at center every once in a while too.
I also really really want to see how Martell does with the bunches of wide-open looks from 3 he’ll have this year. The NBA has turned into a “pick the guy to beat you” league, and Martell is certainly that guy in our starting line-up. And his D can only be helped by having Greg and LMA erase his mistakes.
Either way, I’m happy.

Really I doubt they would trade with us for semi-projects (okay players, but still developing). Yao and McGrady are entering their 30s and the time for the team to win is now. Otherwise the team will be mediocre for years, and we all know how fun that is to be a low seed in the playoffs or lottery bound with a chance at the potential superstars. Teams try to avoid that. And as Ben said, the fewer questions about consistency and injuries (and who replaces the injured player’s role), the better a team will do. McGrady is injury prone, so Battier as a back-up (or Artest) would work well for them.

But if the Rockets started to free-fall from they’re gamble on Artest, I think they could look at moving Battier. And if we could trade Web/Trout and Frye for him, do it.
-Get a intelligent and consistent 3 to help us now. Remember the difference in having James Jones basketball savvy did for us last year? Battier > Jones. The fit is good, he is defense and team-oriented that plays within our system.
-His wealth of knowledge could help develop the other 3. Always a good thing to have a mentor for the two players on our team that came out of high school (one of which barely played basketball before the NBA).
-Fits our team’s character.
-Roster spot opens up.
-His contract expires at the perfect time to make a decision on what we need to compete for a championship.
-If it’s not working his track record will make him valuable for years in other trades. Could even package him with another project to consolidate talent if our timeline speeds up.

“Hopefully, he’s not fighting anymore and going after a guy in the stands,” Yao said, according to the Chronicle.

When asked about those comments, Artest said Yao had bought into “all the propaganda” about him.
“I understand what Yao said, but I’m still ghetto,” Artest said, according to the report. “That’s not going to change. I’m never going to change my culture. Yao has played with a lot of black players, but I don’t think he’s ever played with a black player that really represents his culture as much as I represent my culture. Once Yao Ming gets to know me, he’ll understand what I’m about. If you go back to the brawl, that’s a culture issue right there. Somebody was disrespecting me, so he’s got to understand where I’m coming from. People that know me know that Ron Artest never changed.”

The agreed-to deal sending Artest to Houston cannot become official until Aug. 14. And Artest, who has one year remaining on his contract, also said he was looking for a long-term deal from the Rockets, according to the report.

“We’ve still got to make sure there’s still a commitment [from the Rockets],” Artest said, according to the Bee. “That’s the main thing, is to make sure there’s still a commitment. When I speak to the powers-that-be of the Houston Rockets’ organization, we’re going to find out how much they really want me there. We’ll find out. I’m still waiting to find out if this is just a trade or if this is like a long-term commitment-type thing. I haven’t spoken to anybody yet. I’m still waiting.”

He also said he’s waiting for a phone call from Yao. “I guess once Yao Ming approves [the deal], I’ll be a Houston Rocket,” Artest said, according to the report. “[Yao] probably should’ve called me first. But at the same time, it’s Yao Ming’s team.

“Whatever Yao Ming wants me to do, I’ll be there. Whatever Tracy McGrady tells me to do, that’s how it’s going to go down. Ultimately, whatever [Rockets] coach Rick Adelman tells me to do is exactly what I’m going to do.”

but I think Artest has a reason to feel slighted. The only answer Yao should have given was, “Ron’s an outstanding player. We’re lucky to get him. I’m looking forward to playing with him.”

With this one comment, the Rockets have already used up their grace period with Artest. How do you think he will react if there’s another slip of the tongue from Yao or anyone else in the organization? He hasn’t even joined the team and it’s already walking-on-eggshells time.

When asked about those comments, Artest said Yao had bought into "all the propaganda" about him.
"I understand what Yao said, but I’m still ghetto," Artest said, according to the report. "That’s not going to change. I’m never going to change my culture. Yao has played with a lot of black players, but I don’t think he’s ever played with a black player that really represents his culture as much as I represent my culture. Once Yao Ming gets to know me, he’ll understand what I’m about. If you go back to the brawl, that’s a culture issue right there. Somebody was disrespecting me, so he’s got to understand where I’m coming from. People that know me know that Ron Artest never changed."

whether Webster and Frye have a future beyond this season. Both are free-agents next summer so this is the last chance to trade them if they don’t have a future in Portland.
Ideally we should wait till December/January to make this trade. That way it’ll give Webman 2-3 months to show us(and Nate and of course, KP) just how much he has improved. Martell knows just how important a summer it is cause it is his contract year. If he doesn’t improve his defense, team and one-on-one, his shooting, his ball-handling, and his overall consistency, then I say trade him and Frye for Battier.
We just gotta be patient and see how Webster does between October and January.

No.

and how do you spell ware? were? whear, wair, where. I hate that stupid word. my wittle bwain hutz

The pressure to play for his country in the Olympics is enormously high, yet he clearly isn’t healthy yet. Let me go out on a limp (no pun indented) and say that after the Olympics Yao won’t be healthier than he is now. And that’s if he is lucky and Howard, Boozer or some other heavy dude doesn’t land on his foot again.

I’m so happy the Blazers try everything to bring Oden slowly back into the full contact training process.

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/53860/20080803/yao_im_only_60_to_70_percent/

Houston would not make this deal… not because of concerns over Artest, but because they could get more in exchange. I think they would do it for Outlaw (who can play some PF) and Frye, but I don’t see KP doing that deal.

Portland would/should make this deal in a heartbeat if possible for the following reasons:

1. Battier’s game – with his defense, shooting, and the fact that he doesn’t need the ball in his hands to be effective, this team would become A LOT BETTER over the next three years. Yes Frye and Webster are nice players with potential but let’s face it, they are redundant and unnecessary pieces of the puzzle, plus they can mess things up…

2. Next summer – Battier’s contract makes things that much easier for us next summer during our Cap Space Window Of Opportunity (CSWOO). Frye and Webster will make things worse unless A.) we renounce them (in which case they are worthless), or B.) they sign for a combined salary less than Battier’s (unlikely given their career arcs). And even if they did re-sign, what does that mean for…

3. Our prospects beyond 2011 – Yeah Battier will be 33 and a free agent in 2011, but so what? At that point in time you would have (further moves aside):

Oden – 23 years old
Batum – 23
Bayless – 23
LMA – 26
Rudy – 26
Roy – 27
Trout – 27
Pryz – 32

Given those eight guys and whomever else is on the roster at that point (Koponen, Diogu, etc. etc.), I can’t see Webster or Frye making a huge impact over those guys anyway (well maybe Batum if he hasn’t developed).

So yes, if I’m KP, I’m making that deal in a second. If I’m Houston, I’m saying thanks, that’s a lot of talent, but I want a better PF if I’m going to give up Battier.